What will you give to racism

In 2017 there was a purler of a campaign released for the Human Rights Commission, "Give nothing to racism" (Black, 2017; Human Rights Commission, 2017). I had always meant to find out who the creative brain was behind the fabulous video which the current New Zealander of the Year, Taika Waititi, fronted. 

At the time, Professor Paul Spoonley - a long time academic writer and researcher of New Zealand culture and racist behaviours - praised the campaign for the creative stance it took to highlighting systemic racism in Aotearoa (Black, 2017). The video (Human Rights Commission, 2017) can be seen here:

Professor Spoonley suggested that we call out racism by responding to racist comments with a "What you just said, I found offensive", noting that such a response "either stops [the racist comments], or escalates" them (Black, 2017). I am not sure that I could respond that way... it seems too confrontational. However, I guess that is the point of what Professor Spoonley is making: that we challenge such statements. 

Most of the campaign feedback assumed that Taika was the writer, director and creative brain behind this. However, we make these associations without knowledge, and I decided that I would try to find out who the writer, director and creative brain actually was.  

It MAY have been Christine Ammunson from E-Tangata (2023) but am awaiting confirmation from HRC.

Sam

References:

Black, E. (2017, June 15). Don't let it slide: what to do when someone is racist. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/93710789/dont-let-it-slide-what-to-do-when-someone-is-racist

Human Rights Commission. (2017, June 15). Give Nothing To Racism [Taika Waititi, video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/g9n_UPyVR5s

E-Tangata. (2023). Christine Ammunson. https://e-tangata.co.nz/about/