Plot Summary

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.

Movie Details

Original Title
Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard
Status
released
Original Language
en

Where to watch free (US)

Kanopy
Hoopla
Plex
Plex Channel
The Roku Channel
Fandango at Home Free
Tubi TV

Production Companies

David Grubin Productions logoDavid Grubin Productions