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30 Mar 2023
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“21 March : International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”


On 21 March, 1960, a rally against the apartheid policy in Sharpeville, South Africa resulted in the sacrifice of 69 civilians. In order to honor the victims and raise awareness, the United Nations General Assembly designated 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

 


The "International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination," which came into effect in 1969, defines discrimination in Article 1, as follows:


"This Convention defines racial discrimination as any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.“


As immigration continues to increase and the number of the immigrants‘ children grows, Korea is also transforming into a multiethnic and multicultural society. However, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the National Human Rights Commission, 54.1% of respondents believed that our society holds a hateful or discriminatory attitude towards immigrants. This means that 1 in 2 people perceive that immigrants are discriminated in our society. Prejudice based on racial discrimination still persists in our society, and it is easily accessible through various media.

How about taking a moment to reflect on our own biases and awaken our consciousness on racial discrimination, in order to create a society where no one is left behind and everyone can live equally? As we hope for a world where the discriminative glances can be replaced with warm and inclusive perspectives, we recommend 5 movies related to racial discrimination.

1. Green Book (2019)

: Based on a true story that occurred in the 1960s, this movie portrays the harsh reality of racial discrimination against African Americans, particularly in the southern United States. Through the process, heartwarming bromance that develops between the unlikely duo of Tony and Don Shirley creates an infinite amount of emotion.

#AfricanAmericanCivilRights #BasedOnATrueStory

2. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
: Solomon, a free African-American musician, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. He spends 12 years as a slave and endures unimaginable hardships. Based on a true story, the film portrays the reality of the brutal slave trade and the struggle for human rights.
#BlackRights #BasedOnATrueStory

3. The Help (2011)

: The Help also portrays racial discrimination in the American South during the 1960s. The movie shows the lives of black women who worked as maids and nannies in white householdes at the time, and the discrimination and injustices they faced, such as not able to use the restroom of a white family. The maestral performance of the actors brings out the emotional impact of the story.

#BlackWomen #BasedOnATrueStory

4. After Yang (2021)

: "After Yang" follows the story of a multiethnic family who live with their android "Yang". When Yang suddenly stops functioning, the family searches for a way to repair him. In the process, they discover a special memory bank within Yang and explore his memories, leading to a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the connections between humans and machines.
#Inclusivity #MultiethnicFamily

5. GOOK (2017)

: This movie portrays a glimpse of the multiethnic society in the United States, where various ethnicities live together. It depicts relationship between Korean-American and African-American characters both humorously and sadly.

#AsianDiscrimination #LifeOfImmigrants


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WHRCF SECRETARIAT
1-2F, 5, Jungang-ro 196beon-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea
Tel: +82-62-226-2734
Fax: +82-62-226-2731
E-mail: whrcf@gic.or.kr
Copyright WHRCF All rights reserved.