Ava DuVernay Makes History With Ben & Jerry’s Ice Company

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 05: Ava Duverney attends the guest artistic director panel with Ava Duverney at the AFI Fest 2022 at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on November 05, 2022 in Hollywood, California.
(Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
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Ava DuVernay just keeps winning and we are here for it! 

The Oscar nominated and Emmy Award-winning director has officially made history by becoming the first Black woman to be on a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. The ice cream was created by DuVernay and it is called “Lights! Caramel! Action!

It is made up of vanilla ice cream with graham cracker swirls, pieces of chocolate chip cookie dough, and salted caramel. There is also a non-dairy version which is made with almond milk. 

She released a statement expressing her history-making moment. “Because I love them and I eat them in real life. First of all, chocolate chip cookie dough. What more needs to be said?” 

She went on to say, “There’s no women of color overall [on Ben & Jerry’s pints]. And so they understood that that’s something that they wanted to change, and I’m happy that I was able to be involved in being a part of that change, and I’m happy that I was able to be involved in being a part of that change. I’m not taking it too seriously, but I do think that’s important to walk through doors that have not been opened. It is an action that needs to be taken. And so I’m glad that they’ve done it. And if I can support that, I’m happy to do it.”

The “Queen Sugar” director also explained that her flavor has a social justice angle to it. “When I thought of the name of ‘action’- that’s what we’re asking people to take. Whether it’s you’re deciding what you want to consume in the way of ice cream, how you feel when you walk out of a film and actually taking action.” 

DuVernay added, “And not just letting it entertain you, but rising to the challenge of what the story might reveal about history, about people. The whole word ‘action,’ and the idea of it, is a big one for me in my life. Social action, social justice and ice cream.” 

The ice cream will be shipped nationwide January 2023 and sales proceeds will go to her non-profit ARRAY Alliance.