Instead of laughing along, we should undercut the caricature-building right in its tracks and replace lies with truths. Gregory Maurice has acquired hundreds of films and is now focused on more authentic portrayals of immigrant experiences and contributions. He’s building out a platform called Zaka Connect for the advancement of immigrants and to highlight their contributions. For example, 42% of startups in America are founded by immigrants and immigrants make up 45% of Fortune 500 workforces. You may not know this based on the most popular films and tv shows, but Maurice believes pushing back against negativity with affirmations is better than leaning into comedic relief. Similarly, Ruth Jean-Marie has been collecting stories and perspectives from Haitians in Haiti as part of a coffee table project launching next year. The stories are intended to be objective portrayals that counter more dominant narratives.
