Growing up just a few blocks from the United Nations in New York City, Sarah Lewis was drawn to narratives that shape who belongs and who counts – often reflecting on what schools were neglecting to teach.

An Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, Ms. Lewis is also the founder of the Vision & Justice programme there, which bridges research, art and culture to foster equity and justice.

Speaking to UN News’s Ana Carmo while at UN Headquarters to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Ms. Lewis highlighted the importance of education in the fight against racism, emphasizing that ignorance is a key enabler of racial injustice.