GRIOTS REPUBLIC - AN URBAN BLACK TRAVEL MAG - AUGUST 2016

GREEN BOOK
REVISITED
A Q&A with Ric Burns, director and producer of the
feature-length documentary, Driving While Black.
new ways of looking at and thinking
about the complex nature of freedom,
mobility and race in America.
We want the film to be a catalyst for
discussion about race and equality
and with that ultimate goal in mind,
Gretchen and our team have been
working to develop a number of
wonderful partnerships.
As an example, we are partnering
with the International Coalition of
Sites of Conscience, a global network
of historic sites, museums,
and memory initiatives whose mission
is to connect past struggles to
today’s movements for social justice,
to develop a dialogue program
that will involve training facilitators
and conducting community discussions
throughout the country.
Our hope is to create a space in
which all Americans can reflect on
shared experiences and values—the
freedom to travel, the joy of driving,
the sense of wonder and adventure
on the open road, the fear of seeing
police lights in the rear view mirror
— but also on those experiences
that divide us, which document a
powerful and deeply troubling, but
often inspiring, history of struggle
and perseverance.
How does this documentary compare
to your previous work? How
does it feel different?
Although my colleagues and I have
a very systematic approach to research,
each time out a film, very
early on, develops its own specialness
– it demands a certain stylistic
approach, for example. In this
case, I am very excited about the
oral histories. Hearing from people
who were “there” so to speak,
who have first-hand knowledge and
experience, is always thrilling and
often very moving. And of course
the opportunity to collaborate with
Gretchen on this project, which she
has really been developing for decades,
is a privilege.
What type of response do you receive
from people when you tell
them about the film?
It is interesting the way that some
projects come about, just at the
right moment. Our sense is that all
of us need and want to be talking
about race in this country. Open
any paper on any day and you’ll
very likely find a story that in one
way or another resonates with the
title of our film – which is “Driving
While Black.”