Echoes of History: Memory as Resistance Defending Culture in Authoritarian Times

Описание: Tyler Green, author, historian, and host of the Modern Art Notes Podcast moderates a panel about authoritarian threats to arts and culture with speakers Rafael Gonzalez of Grand Performances, Renee Tajima-Pena of UCLA, and Hamza Walker of The Brick. JANM's Democracy Center hosted the symposium Echoes of History: Inspiring Civic Action and Building Democracy on January 23, 2026. It brought together thinkers, artists, organizers, and civic leaders confronting authoritarianism today. The Democracy Center is a place to discuss ideas and issues. The opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Japanese American National Museum. Thank you to our sponsor, the California Wellness Foundation.

0:00 Tyler Green introduces panelists
01:54 Rafael Gonzalez on threats of erasure and the importance of stories
07:06 Renee Tajima-Pena on attacks of public broadcasting and need for collective action
12:58 Hamza Walker on protecting artists' voices and the different risk thresholds of large and small organizations
16:28 Renee Tajima-Pena on universities' failure to support protest pre-dating Trumpism
19:10 Panelists debate the unraveling of affirmative action and the authenticity of institutional DEI initiatives vs. true social justice
23:27 How is institutional responsibility different now from a few years or a few decades ago?
29:57 Hamza Walker on working with Kara Walker for MONUMENTS exhibition
37:30 Renee Tajima-Pena and on Rafael Gonzalez on building a communities of young filmmakers and performing artists
43:34 Renee Tajima-Pena shares a short film from the May 19 Project about the Hmong community speaking out during the George Floyd protests
50:53 The panel discusses the current administration's attacks on content in museums and models for doing the work outside a power structure.