Valarie Kaur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valarie Kaur
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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 was born on February 14, 1981. She is an American activist, which means she works to bring about change. She is also a filmmaker who makes documentaries, a lawyer, a teacher, and a faith leader. Valarie started something called the Revolutionary Love Project. Her first book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, came out in June 2020. This book shares more ideas from her popular TED Talk.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Valarie grew up in Clovis, California. Her family came from India and followed the Sikh faith. They settled there as farmers in 1913.
Valarie went to college at Stanford University. She studied religion and how countries work together. Then, she earned a master's degree from Harvard Divinity School. She also got a law degree from Yale Law School. She is now a member of the California Bar, which means she can practice law.
Valarie's Work and Activism
After the events of September 11, 2001, a friend of Valarie's family, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was sadly killed in a hate crime. This made Valarie start making films. She wanted to show how Sikh and Muslim Americans were treated unfairly. This led to her famous film, Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath.
Since then, Valarie has made many films. She has also led campaigns to tell important stories. Her work focuses on stopping hate crimes and unfair treatment. She also works on issues like how immigrants are held, and how people are treated in prison. Valarie also cares about equal rights for all people and keeping the internet free for everyone.
She started the Groundswell Movement. This is a large online group of people from different faiths. It helps people of faith work together for good causes. She also helped create Faithful Internet. This group works to protect net neutrality, which means all internet content should be treated equally.
Valarie is also the founder and director of the Revolutionary Love Project. This group creates tools and lessons. It also organizes large events. Their goal is to show that love can be a strong force for fairness and justice.
Valarie's films and activism have covered many topics. These include preventing gun violence and stopping unfair police practices. She also works on how immigrants are held and prison rules. She teaches people to fight hate crimes against Muslim and Sikh Americans. She also started the Yale Visual Law Project. This project helps new advocates learn how to use film to make a difference.
Valarie has given speeches in important places. These include the White House and The Pentagon. She also spoke at the Parliament of the World's Religions.
Valarie often works with her husband, Sharat Raju. They have made several documentary films together. These include Stigma (2011), which looked at police practices in New York City. They also made Alienation (2011) about immigration raids. The Worst of the Worst: Portrait of a Supermax (2012) was about solitary confinement in prison. And Oak Creek: In Memorium (2012) was about the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting.
After the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Valarie gave a speech. This speech became very popular online, with over 30 million views. In 2017, she gave a TED Talk. It was called "3 Lessons of Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage."
Valarie's Books
In June 2020, Valarie's first book was published. It is called See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. It was published by One World, a part of Penguin Random House. This book shares more ideas from her TED Talk. Valarie also published Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory in 2024.
Awards and Recognition
Valarie Kaur has received many honors for her important work. The Center for American Progress called her a "standout figure" in faith-based activism.
- In 2012, she won the American Courage Award. This was from Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles.
- In 2013, India Abroad named her a "Person of the Year."
- Also in 2013, Audrey Magazine named her one of eight Asian American "Women of Influence."
- In 2015, the World Economic Forum recognized her as a "Young Global Leader."
- In 2016, Harvard Divinity School gave her the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Honor.
- In 2022, Meadville Lombard Theological School gave her an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
Film Awards
- ReelWorld Film Festival
- Won: Outstanding International Documentary (2007) - for Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath
- Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles
- Won: Audience Choice: Best Documentary (2007) - for Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath
See also
- Discrimination and National Security Initiative
