GOOD TALK WITH JENNIFER TAKAKI

Director Jennifer Takaki has a background in journalism. Her focus is on people, history, food and culture. She believes in the importance of knowing one’s own family history and has worked as a hired documentarian to help people tell their family history in a film format.

Her feature documentary film, PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE provides a first-hand account of fifty years of Asian American activism through the lens of Chinese American photographer Corky Lee. She can speak to the importance of documentation and archival footage, knowing one’s own history, as well as the power of photography as a tool for action, advocacy and social change.

Expertise
It was a privilege to follow Corky Lee for close to 20 years on his mission to pursue
“photographic justice.” Corky empowered generations of Asian American, Native
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) to be proud of their heritage and see
beyond stereotypes. I learned so much from him and am so honored that he trusted
me to tell his story. Through this film, Corky's legacy will live on and those of us
fortunate to have known him, will be able to make sure the next generations are
aware of his contributions to the world.

Speaking History
I have made both in-person and virtual presentations to Johnson & Johnson as well
as a virtual Q&A to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as well as many other
organizations and universities, including a guest lecturer at Sidney Poitier New
American Film School at Arizona State University.