What an honour it was to appear as one of the first batch of people in the Human Rightsâ Commissionâs Give Nothing to Racism campaign. Taika Waititi, New Zealander of the Year (and a Lucire feature interviewee from way back) introduced the campaign with a hilarious video, and it was an honour to be considered alongside my old classmate Karl Urban, and other famous people such as Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Neill, Neil Finn, Lucy Lawless, and Hollie Smith. Somewhere along the line the Commission decided it would get some non-celebs like me.
The idea is that racism propagates through each of us. Laughing along with a joke. Letting casual racism in social media comments carry on. Excusing racist behaviour. Or simply accepting it as âthe way it isâ. Thereâs no place for it in 2017, certainly not in this country, and for those who seek to indulge in it (Iâm looking at certain people in politics and the media in particular), youâre simply covering up the fact youâve very little of substance to offer. I #givenothingtoracism.
I #givenothingtoracism. We should call out racist jokes, racist reporting, racist postsâwhether theyâre coming from people around us, or those in the public eye, such as political leaders. If an organization is doing it, donât give them your time or business. We might not be as bad as some countries, but itâs not to say that itâs absentâand I want to live in a country where we all get on as Kiwis, regardless of our race. Check out http://givenothing.co.nz (link in bio) where you can make your own video. Join me as well as many other New Zealanders who are giving nothing to racism. 😑 #Wellington #Aotearoa #whanganuiatara #NZ #humanrights #humanrightscommission