FREE RENTY tells the story of Tamara Lanier, an African American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede possession of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. The daguerreotypes were commissioned in 1850 by a Harvard professor to "prove" the superiority of the white race. The images remain emblematic of America’s failure to acknowledge the cruelty of slavery, the racist science that supported it and the white supremacy that continues to infect our society today. The film focuses on Lanier and tracks her lawsuit against Harvard, and features attorney Benjamin Crump, author Ta-Nehisi Coates and scholars Ariella Azoulay and Tina Campt.
Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs.
JOIN OUR MAILING LISTThe Firehouse Center for the Arts is adjacent to Newburyport's scenic waterfront park. The Firehouse Center is a hallmark for local culture and arts. Programming is broad-based, and includes dance, music, theater, and art.
See mapThe Screening Room is Newburyport’s gem of a cinema. This 99-seat theater has been running reels nightly since 1982. The Screening Room is one of the only places on the North Shore that shows independent and foreign films.
See mapThe Newburyport Public Library occupies a historic federal mansion in downtown Newburyport. The Tracy Mansion has an impressive history of early guests including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
.svg)