Black History Month Film Screening “Free Renty: Lanier vs. Harvard”

Join us in honoring Black History Month with a special screening of Free Renty: Lanier vs. Harvard, a powerful documentary exploring the fight for justice, ownership, and legacy surrounding one of the earliest known photographs of an enslaved person. REE RENTY tells the story of Tamara Lanier, an African American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. The daguerreotypes were commissioned in 1850 by a Harvard professor to prove the superiority of the white race. The images remain emblematic of America's failure to acknowledge the cruelty of slavery. Come learn, reflect, and discuss this compelling story that connects history, identity, and the ongoing pursuit of truth.