Name: We were lied to
Uploaded: 2024-08-22T14:23:10Z
Duration: 13 min 8 s
Description: "Leaving out information can be just as detrimental as a lie,” says multidisciplinary artist Paul Rucker. In a talk bookended by two cello performances, he shares photographs of the history we often omit — and introduces Cary Forward, his new museum aimed at spotlighting histories of exclusion and perseverance.

Paul Rucker: We were lied to

We were lied to

"Leaving out information can be just as detrimental as a lie,” says multidisciplinary artist Paul Rucker. In a talk bookended by two cello performances, he shares photographs of the history we often omit — and introduces Cary Forward, his new museum aimed at spotlighting histories of exclusion and perseverance.

Much of what people know about history comes from stories told at home or in school, but many painful chapters—like the murder of Emmett Till or the genocide of Native Americans—are left out. Omitting these truths, whether to protect or for convenience, causes real harm. By collecting 50,000 artifacts and creating a new museum, Cary Forward, the work spotlights voices and events long excluded, such as the Harlem Hellfighters and pioneers like Maria Tallchief. Sharing these stories empowers communities to rethink the past and protect future generations.