Directors: Khansaa Maar and Valeria King  |  Status: Actively Fundraising

A letter from the filmmakers and how you can support the project:

“What’s the point of studying the minutiae of this life if we can’t examine ourselves?”

As two Black women scientists, we wanted to change this world through our science. Instead we found that the world of science itself seems to need much change for us to do so. We certainly didn’t intend to become filmmakers. But we couldn’t be silent with the racism we experienced and observed. And we found we weren’t alone.

BLACK MATTERS will unearth the history of anti-Black racism in science while also charting a course towards the creation of a more equitable field. Featuring the personal journeys of Black scientists at all career stages across the country, the film draws a throughline from the racist origins of Western science through our contemporary experiences as Black academics to help recontextualize our experience in science and to create a more inclusive field for all.

This film will face hard truths with a deep desire to fix what is broken. How can we break a cycle of inequity? A documentary film creates a space for the discussions that too often are hidden behind closed doors or don’t happen at all.

Our goal is to fundraise $250,000 for the next phase of production for the Black Matters Film. We hope you will join us in making this documentary a reality.

~ Khansaa Maar & Valeria King, scientists & filmmakers

Black Matters will follow on the global impact of Picture a Scientist which changed the dialogue around women in STEM.