Anti-Racism Film Project Final Report

Racism affects everyone. Just as Freire (1970) pointed out half a century ago, oppression does not only negatively impact those being oppressed but also those doing the oppressing. Thus, counteracting racism and messages of hate benefits everyone. In our world which has rapidly shifted online, racist attitudes have also infiltrated these spaces. This project was born from the curiosity of what might happen if research-based, real-life stories of people experiencing racism could be shared through social media. The purpose of this research was both to examine the attitudes of Manitobans, and also to educate the general public on the experiences of racism in the province while prompting discussions about racism. We were interested in examining what comments these experiences would inspire when shared on social media. By creating films, we hoped to amplify the voices of those who experience racism while challenging viewers to learn how to become actively anti-racist.

This mixed-method study included a survey of 500 Manitobans, eight focus groups, the creation of four short films, accompanied by a facilitation guide, toolkits of educational resources for each film, multiple presentations in classrooms and professional development settings, and a follow-up survey. This report summarizes key findings from all stages of the project, presented together with relevant literature and illustrative quotes from participants. Recommendations that address the findings are included.