(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/) #YouClapForMeNow: Video highlights role of black and minority ethnic key workers during coronavirus pandemic | The Independent
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A video featuring black and minority ethnic key workers reading a powerful poem has been circulated widely on social media.
The poem, titled “You Clap For Me Now”, highlights the important role essential workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are playing during the coronavirus pandemic as they continue working as doctors, teachers and delivery drivers, among other professions.
The verse, which was written by illustrator and typist Darren James Smith, implores members of the public to continue supporting key workers once the worst of the pandemic is over.
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The video was produced by creative director Sachini Imbuldeniya and includes several key workers from black and minority ethnic families making statements such as: “Don’t say go home. Don’t say not here. You know how it feels for home to be a prison. You know how it feels to live in fear.”
The short film opens with several individuals emphasising the severity of the Covid-19 crisis, stating: “It’s finally happened. That thing you were afraid of. Something’s come from overseas. And taken your jobs. Made it unsafe to walk the streets. Kept you trapped in your homes.”
“You clap for me now. You cheer as I toil. Bringing food to your family. Bringing food from your soil. Propping up your hospitals,” they say.
“Not some foreign invader. Delivery driver. Teacher. Life saver.”
The poem ends with the video participants calling upon others to support their communities during these troubling times.
“Come all you Gretas. You Malalas. You immigrants. See what we have learned. It only takes the smallest thing to change the world.”
Creative director Imbuldeniya explained in the video’s caption on Instagram that the poem was written “to remind us all that a large majority of ‘key workers’ are from Black and Minority Ethnic families”.
“It is read out line-by-line by first, second and third-generation immigrants including doctors, nurses, teachers, shopkeepers, dentists, social workers, care workers, delivery drivers, broadcasters and more,” Imbuldeniya said.
“Despite long, shameful histories of facing racism and hostility, immigrants globally are showing kindness and solidarity by delivering essential aid and services to their nations.
“Because we know — and they know — it doesn’t matter where you come from.”
Imbuldeniya ended her caption by stating that society must make sure “we never go back to a time where we ignore, hurt or disrespect people because of their religion, profession, of the colour of their skin”.
Since sharing the video on Instagram and Vimeo, the #YouClapForMeNow hashtag has been gaining traction on social media, with many people praising the poem’s “poignant” and “moving” message.
Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS
Show all 32
Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London. Briton's were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura', a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS'
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London. Briton's were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura', a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS'
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
“#YouClapForMeNow is such a brilliant message,” one person tweeted. “A stark reminder of how much our country and our lives are enriched by immigration.”
“When this outbreak is over, let us never again forget who puts their lives on the line to keep us all safe,” wrote Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita.
Television news anchor Charlene White stated that “as a child of immigrants”, she found the video “powerful” and “emotional”.
It was recently reported that black and minority ethnic people are more likely to be seriously impacted by Covid-19 than white people.
The study of nearly 2,000 coronavirus patients was conducted by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre.
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