Immigrant students win national video contest on diversity

from Crissy Spivey, I AM THIS LAND Producer

We are pleased to announce that the winner for the I AM THIS LAND contest on diversity is ‘Role Call,’ (http://iamthisland.org/watch-and-vote/videos/role-call-2/) a fun and thought-provoking video made by a team of students and alumni at Flushing International High School (FIHS) in Queens, New York. The MTV-style video - of a student in class daydreaming about gender, cultural expression, and racial stereotypes - won the judges over.

“The video was created in response to several incidents of violence in our school, and our desire to use media to promote respect and tolerance in our school and beyond,” said teacher Dillon Paul. "Our students come from approximately 40 different countries and speak 20 different languages. Like most high schools, however, cultural differences, sexual and gender identity can be sources of discomfort and fear, leading to bigotry, bullying and violence.” From Jean Franco Vergaray (a student, and Lead Director and Editor on the film), “That we could portray one person being all these different personalities, all these different identities, was just a way to say, diversity is okay. People shouldn't be labeled.”

The Breakthrough media team met with the students at FIHS and we were really touched by their story and determination to push for tolerance. Watch the video interview here: http://iamthisland.org/videos/breakthrough-interviews-fihs-top-winner-of-i-am-this-land-contest/