A recent article in The Diamondback highlights “Things We Imagined: Black Futurity and Academic Life,” a documentary film examining the experiences of Black scholars in higher education. The film, which features multiple University of Maryland faculty members, was screened at UMD’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on March 27, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, moderated by Dean Kimberly Griffin.
The article features Griffin and Distinguished University Sharon Fries-Britt, who told The Diamondback that for many Black scholars in predominantly white institutions, “It is often a very challenging, difficult pathway. But it doesn’t mean we’re not joyful or know how to make it work.”
The documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at navigating a predominantly white academic space and uses storytelling and interviews to reimagine what more inclusive institutions could look like. Through personal narratives, the project explains both the challenges and possibilities within higher education, emphasizing the importance of representation and cultural change in shaping the future of education.
