The Role of Art and Forgiveness in Democracy | Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Wendy Whelan | TED

Can art pave the way for a politically divided nation to move forward? Artist, cultural strategist and TED Fellow Marc Bamuthi Joseph reflects on the role of art, forgiveness and remembrance in the pursuit of public healing — especially at a time when trust is contested and community forums fractured. Wendy Whelan, associate artistic director of the New York City Ballet, joins him on stage for a rendition of “The Carnival of the Animals,” exploring how the cuckoo bird exemplifies the cycles of inaction that lead to injustice. It's more than a performance — it's a reckoning. (Recorded at TEDNext 2024 on October 24, 2024)

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Post from TED on May 25, 2025

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