Valarie Kaur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valarie Kaur
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Valarie Kaur, in 2016
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| Born | February 14, 1981 Clovis, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Stanford University (BA) Harvard Divinity School (MA) Yale Law School (JD) |
| Occupation | Documentary filmmaker, activist |
| Spouse(s) | Sharat Raju |
Valarie Kaur (born February 14, 1981) is an American activist, filmmaker, lawyer, and leader who inspires people through her faith. She started the Revolutionary Love Project. Her first book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, came out in June 2020. It shares more ideas from her popular TED Talk.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Valarie Kaur grew up in Clovis, California. Her family, who are Indian-American and Sikh, had been farmers there since 1913.
She went to Stanford University and earned a degree in Religious Studies and International Relations. Later, she studied at Harvard Divinity School and Yale Law School. She is now a member of the California Bar, which means she is a licensed lawyer.
Valarie Kaur's Career and Activism
After a family friend, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was killed in a hate crime after September 11, 2001, Valarie Kaur began to record similar crimes. She documented hate crimes against Sikh and Muslim Americans. This work led to her award-winning film, Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath.
Since then, she has made many films and led campaigns that use stories to bring about change. Her work has focused on important issues like hate crimes, racial profiling, and immigration detention. She also worked on topics such as solitary confinement, marriage equality, and Internet freedom.
Key Projects and Organizations
Valarie Kaur founded the Groundswell Movement, which is a large online network for people of different faiths. This group is known for making faith-based organizing stronger in the 21st century. She also helped start Faithful Internet, which brings together people of faith to protect net neutrality.
She is the founder and director of the Revolutionary Love Project. This non-profit group creates tools and programs to help people understand and use love as a way to achieve justice.
Kaur also started the Yale Visual Law Project. This project aims to inspire and prepare new generations of advocates to use film and storytelling for social change.
Speeches and Collaborations
Valarie Kaur has given speeches at important places like the White House and The Pentagon. She has also spoken at the Parliament of the World's Religions.
She often works with her husband, Sharat Raju, who is also a creative partner. Together, they have produced several documentary films:
- Stigma (2011): About the impact of the "Stop and Frisk" policy in New York City.
- Alienation (2011): About immigration raids.
- The Worst of the Worst: Portrait of a Supermax (2012): About solitary confinement in prison.
- Oak Creek: In Memorium (2012): About the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting.
After the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Valarie Kaur gave a speech that became very popular online. It was viewed over 30 million times around the world. In 2017, she gave a TED Talk called "3 Lessons of Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage."
Books by Valarie Kaur
In June 2020, Valarie Kaur's first book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, was published. This book shares more about the ideas from her famous TED Talk. In 2024, she also published Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory.
Recognition and Awards
Valarie Kaur has received many honors for her work. The Center for American Progress called her a "standout figure" in faith-based activism.
Awards and Honors
- 2007: Won Outstanding International Documentary at the ReelWorld Film Festival for Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath.
- 2007: Won Audience Choice: Best Documentary at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles for Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath.
- 2012: Received the American Courage Award from Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles.
- 2013: Named "Person of the Year" by India Abroad.
- 2013: Named one of eight Asian American "Women of Influence" by Audrey Magazine.
- 2015: Recognized as a "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum.
- 2016: Awarded the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Honor by Harvard Divinity School.
- 2022: Named Honorary Doctor of Divinity by Meadville Lombard Theological School.
See Also
- Discrimination and National Security Initiative
