By: Charlotte

Ava Duvernay was born on August 24th 1972.

MAIN IDEA: Ava Duvernay was known for being the first Black woman to be offered $100 million to make a Disney movie. Ava won many awards for films she made. She hopes to inspire other kids, in an interview she said “You’re blossoming. Our whole life is blossoming. It's who we’re meant to be until the end of it. That’s what I’d tell kids. Stay open, stay flexible, and just go out and get it.’’

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Ava grew up near Compton, a mostly Black and Latinx part of Los Angeles. Ava spent her summers at her father’s house, which inspired her to make a movie about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.

CHILDHOOD: When she was a child Ava’s aunt had to take care of her. Her aunt loved art so she encouraged Ava to explore movies, she was the one that introduced Ava to movies. Her mom was always open to Ava’ s creativity. Her father lived in Alabama where a civil rights march happened so she knew a lot about it.

CHALLENGES: Ava grew up in a place where no one except her family said she was good enough, she never thought she could do great things like white people did. She wore glasses and felt nerdy and awkward. Unlike the white students, she never thought she was beautiful.

FUN FACTS: Ava is trying to tell kids that they are beautiful which is why she made movies not just about race but also age and gender. She did not pick up the camera until she was 32. She said kids should be encouraged and it is important not to label other people.

CHARACTER TRAITS:

ACTIVIST: Her mom taught her to “say something through art.”

CREATIVE: I think she is creative because she directed so many movies about different topics.

CURIOUS: I think she is curious because when her aunt introduced her to West Side Story she was so curious to learn more.

ONE QUESTION I WOULD ASK MY INDIVIDUAL: What was your mom's name and age?

SIGNIFICANCE TODAY: Ava Duvernay is significant today because we need to learn that black people are important and can do anything.