On the first day of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) hosted the latest iteration of ourThe Story of Us series, “The New McCarthyism: Why Authoritarians Fear Storytellers,” moderated by Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-founder and executive director of AAPF, featuring Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay; Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer Viet Thanh Nguyen; and former President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Cinema and Media Studies professor Jacqueline Stewart.

We explored the McCarthy era’s roots in anti-Black racism and the connections between racism and authoritarianism, as well as outlined our highest aspirations for a more creative, free and inclusive future in the arts. Our event featured powerful artivism performances by two-time Tony Award-winning actor Kara Young (Purlie Victorious, Purpose) and Tony-nominated actor Jon Michael Hill (Purpose, Elementary, Detroit 1-8-7, A Man in Full), directed by Associate Professor of Theatre and Africana Studies at Oberlin College, Justin Emeka.

Cinematic storytelling has long been a battleground upon which competing visions of a more inclusive democracy play out in Hollywood—a battle disproportionately impacting Black artists. In 2025, the fight over representation and the arts escalated dramatically, with the defunding of public art and media, high-profile attacks on late-night comedians and the erosion of democratic norms that once upheld the freedoms of speech and expression.

If you couldn’t attend the event in-person, you’re in luck: On Wednesday, February 11th, AAPF will host a virtual broadcast of the event and a live talkback featuring Justin Emeka, Kara Young and Jon Michael Hill for supporters far and wide to see!

RSVP early to save your spot for this unforgettable experience!