Richmond youth tackling racism through photos and film

A Richmondite will launch an anti-racism project this year, featuring young people talking about the beauty and power of multiculturalism. 

Teresa Hanul Seo, a UBC psychology student, will collaborate with other young adults to use photos and short films to discuss the importance of cultural diversity in Metro Vancouver. 

The project, scheduled to take place in a Richmond studio this week, aims to create conversations and hopefully inspire more people to join the fight for racial equality, said Seo.

“Although human beings go through different experiences, we are growing relatively in the same way. So sometimes we just need to put aside the prejudice and differences we see in others and focus on the fact that we are one,” said Seo. 

The beauty of the project is that it has connected millennials from various communities, age groups, cultural and career backgrounds to share their journeys of being accepted and talk about their struggles with prejudice and racism, said Seo. 

Being half Black and half Korean, Seo immigrated to Canada from Korea with her family in 2004. They initially experienced a huge culture shock but slowly adapted to Canadian society. 

The death of George Floyd and the Atlanta Spa shootings had a significant impact on her as a Black woman, triggering her to launch a project to show support for those fighting racism. 

She feared her and her family could also become potential targets of racism, despite being integrated into the community.

“I hope this project encourages other young creators to express and appreciate the diversity in the city more,” said Seo.