Whitfield Students Present Human Rights Documentary Films at Holocaust Museum

Students in Dr. Michal Kwiecien’s Human Rights & Genocide course recently presented original documentary films at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum as part of a culminating research project examining major mass crimes and human rights violations throughout world history.

Over the course of three months, students conducted in-depth research on topics including genocides, refugee crises, ethnic cleansing, and cultural assimilation. Following a competitive selection process, four finalist groups were chosen to present their films publicly at the museum on May 6.

The featured projects included:

• Stolen Voices: The Experiences of Muslim Women in the Uyghur Genocide by Kennedy Ituen, Sophia Beuc, Jason Chien, and Tate Kao, which explored the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China.
• Echoes of Ethiopia: Stories of the Derg by Michael Fentaw, Misha Levin, Dani Kovalic, and Jack Lynch, focusing on violence against Ethiopian civilians under the Derg regime.
• “We Didn’t Do It”: The Truth Behind Holocaust Denial by Kaitlin Cochran, Bryce Schultz, Hayden Blix, and Maya Becker, examining Holocaust denial across different cultural contexts.
• A People Left To Rot by Jaden Jones, Rosie Davidson, Beckett Lindsey, and Kiran Wolfgram, investigating England’s contested role in the Irish Potato Famine.

The opportunity to present at the museum provided students with a meaningful platform to share work grounded in historical research, critical analysis, and thoughtful storytelling. Through their films, students examined the lasting impact of injustice while encouraging greater awareness, empathy, and reflection.