[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] as a kid when I was in grade 3 I wanted
as a kid when I was in grade 3 I wanted
as a kid when I was in grade 3 I wanted to be a Disney princess for Halloween
to be a Disney princess for Halloween
to be a Disney princess for Halloween like every little girl I wanted to be
like every little girl I wanted to be
like every little girl I wanted to be Cinderella
Cinderella
Cinderella when I told my friends they took one
when I told my friends they took one
when I told my friends they took one look at me and laughed
look at me and laughed
look at me and laughed they said granades you cannot be it
they said granades you cannot be it
they said granades you cannot be it doesn’t he puts rolla ween you don’t
doesn’t he puts rolla ween you don’t
doesn’t he puts rolla ween you don’t even look like one you don’t have her
even look like one you don’t have her
even look like one you don’t have her hair her eyes or her skin color
hair her eyes or her skin color
hair her eyes or her skin color I remember my favorite television shows
I remember my favorite television shows
I remember my favorite television shows Kim Possible Lizzie McGuire and Bob the
Kim Possible Lizzie McGuire and Bob the
Kim Possible Lizzie McGuire and Bob the Builder all these shows had one thing in
Builder all these shows had one thing in
Builder all these shows had one thing in common and that was little or no racial
common and that was little or no racial
common and that was little or no racial diversity my younger self felt distant
diversity my younger self felt distant
diversity my younger self felt distant from these characters I wasn’t like them
from these characters I wasn’t like them
from these characters I wasn’t like them I wasn’t the same color and like many
I wasn’t the same color and like many
I wasn’t the same color and like many children are various kinds of
children are various kinds of
children are various kinds of ethnicities I could not really now if
ethnicities I could not really now if
ethnicities I could not really now if there ever was a character that did have
there ever was a character that did have
there ever was a character that did have a role it was usually a very
a role it was usually a very
a role it was usually a very stereotypical one a character that fell
stereotypical one a character that fell
stereotypical one a character that fell under this category was a Punahou theme
under this category was a Punahou theme
under this category was a Punahou theme up till in from The Simpsons he’s the
up till in from The Simpsons he’s the
up till in from The Simpsons he’s the one who owns that old sister yeah now
one who owns that old sister yeah now
one who owns that old sister yeah now the thing that bugged me about Appu was
the thing that bugged me about Appu was
the thing that bugged me about Appu was he was a man with fractured English a
he was a man with fractured English a
he was a man with fractured English a bizarre religious practices an arranged
bizarre religious practices an arranged
bizarre religious practices an arranged marriage and an illegal immigration
marriage and an illegal immigration
marriage and an illegal immigration status the day I found out he was voiced
status the day I found out he was voiced
status the day I found out he was voiced by a man named Hank Azaria a Greek
by a man named Hank Azaria a Greek
by a man named Hank Azaria a Greek Caucasian American I finally understood
Caucasian American I finally understood
Caucasian American I finally understood after all these years why Appu being an
after all these years why Appu being an
after all these years why Appu being an Indian sucked at his own accent he was a
Indian sucked at his own accent he was a
Indian sucked at his own accent he was a brown man voiced by a white man voicing
brown man voiced by a white man voicing
brown man voiced by a white man voicing a brown man many South Asians in America
a brown man many South Asians in America
a brown man many South Asians in America felt insulted by this guy all these
felt insulted by this guy all these
felt insulted by this guy all these ideas that they had about Appu they
ideas that they had about Appu they
ideas that they had about Appu they related to the South Asian community and
related to the South Asian community and
related to the South Asian community and this is not really quite the case it
this is not really quite the case it
this is not really quite the case it wasn’t really applied to everybody now
wasn’t really applied to everybody now
wasn’t really applied to everybody now thanks to up who I met a countless
thanks to up who I met a countless
thanks to up who I met a countless number of non South Asian people who
number of non South Asian people who
number of non South Asian people who came up to me with their depiction of an
came up to me with their depiction of an
came up to me with their depiction of an Indian accent now I would give their
Indian accent now I would give their
Indian accent now I would give their Indian accent maybe a seven or an eight
Indian accent maybe a seven or an eight
Indian accent maybe a seven or an eight eight point five on a scale of a hundred
eight point five on a scale of a hundred
eight point five on a scale of a hundred they thought that their Indian accent
they thought that their Indian accent
they thought that their Indian accent would impress me but in reality it was
would impress me but in reality it was
would impress me but in reality it was kind of offending so guys please don’t
kind of offending so guys please don’t
kind of offending so guys please don’t try that now Apple was a man who
try that now Apple was a man who
try that now Apple was a man who promoted all these stereotypical ideas
promoted all these stereotypical ideas
promoted all these stereotypical ideas and I didn’t really like that and I
and I didn’t really like that and I
and I didn’t really like that and I didn’t really support that now not
didn’t really support that now not
didn’t really support that now not having enough people in the media has a
having enough people in the media has a
having enough people in the media has a huge impact on beauty standards beauty
huge impact on beauty standards beauty
huge impact on beauty standards beauty standards in India especially skin
standards in India especially skin
standards in India especially skin lighting this is a huge thing where I
lighting this is a huge thing where I
lighting this is a huge thing where I come from back in India
come from back in India
come from back in India lots of people support this brand called
lots of people support this brand called
lots of people support this brand called fair and lovely it sells fairness creams
fair and lovely it sells fairness creams
fair and lovely it sells fairness creams and many little girls in India are
and many little girls in India are
and many little girls in India are brought up with idea that fairness
brought up with idea that fairness
brought up with idea that fairness equals beauty so they use these skin
equals beauty so they use these skin
equals beauty so they use these skin lightening creams Bollywood India’s
lightening creams Bollywood India’s
lightening creams Bollywood India’s thriving film industry has actresses
thriving film industry has actresses
thriving film industry has actresses that are only fair and their fairness is
that are only fair and their fairness is
that are only fair and their fairness is associated with beauty and little girls
associated with beauty and little girls
associated with beauty and little girls they idolize these actresses so they use
they idolize these actresses so they use
they idolize these actresses so they use this cream in order to look like them
this cream in order to look like them
this cream in order to look like them which they don’t I don’t really think
which they don’t I don’t really think
which they don’t I don’t really think these fairness creams actually work they
these fairness creams actually work they
these fairness creams actually work they actually cause more harm than good than
actually cause more harm than good than
actually cause more harm than good than they do now Baron Levine cells not only
they do now Baron Levine cells not only
they do now Baron Levine cells not only parks for women but also for men so men
parks for women but also for men so men
parks for women but also for men so men are also dragged into this idea that
are also dragged into this idea that
are also dragged into this idea that white equals beauty the media has a huge
white equals beauty the media has a huge
white equals beauty the media has a huge impact more than that we can think it
impact more than that we can think it
impact more than that we can think it results in discrimination many people
results in discrimination many people
results in discrimination many people tend to believe whatever they see in the
tend to believe whatever they see in the
tend to believe whatever they see in the media an example of this would be
media an example of this would be
media an example of this would be portraying Arabs and Muslims as
portraying Arabs and Muslims as
portraying Arabs and Muslims as extremists and terrorists who are
extremists and terrorists who are
extremists and terrorists who are violent and uncivilized
violent and uncivilized
violent and uncivilized I was watching another TEDx talk in
I was watching another TEDx talk in
I was watching another TEDx talk in which I learned that in the opening song
which I learned that in the opening song
which I learned that in the opening song of Disney’s Aladdin there is a merchant
of Disney’s Aladdin there is a merchant
of Disney’s Aladdin there is a merchant who sings where they cut off your ear if
who sings where they cut off your ear if
who sings where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face it’s barbaric
they don’t like your face it’s barbaric
they don’t like your face it’s barbaric but hey it’s home now what would the
but hey it’s home now what would the
but hey it’s home now what would the impact of this be on a child watching
impact of this be on a child watching
impact of this be on a child watching the song or the movie or anything they
the song or the movie or anything they
the song or the movie or anything they would think that anybody who was
would think that anybody who was
would think that anybody who was middle-eastern who looked like that man
middle-eastern who looked like that man
middle-eastern who looked like that man would want to hurt them now after 9/11
would want to hurt them now after 9/11
would want to hurt them now after 9/11 Muslims Muslims were pushed into the
Muslims Muslims were pushed into the
Muslims Muslims were pushed into the global media people’s perceptions began
global media people’s perceptions began
global media people’s perceptions began to change and this fuel the idea that
to change and this fuel the idea that
to change and this fuel the idea that anybody
anybody
anybody Middle Eastern was a threat now Muslims
Middle Eastern was a threat now Muslims
Middle Eastern was a threat now Muslims were not the only targeted people are
were not the only targeted people are
were not the only targeted people are they’re highly targeted minorities
they’re highly targeted minorities
they’re highly targeted minorities include Hispanics and African Americans
include Hispanics and African Americans
include Hispanics and African Americans and Sikhs Hispanics are constant given
and Sikhs Hispanics are constant given
and Sikhs Hispanics are constant given the rules of uneducated janitors and
the rules of uneducated janitors and
the rules of uneducated janitors and cleaning staff and african-americans are
cleaning staff and african-americans are
cleaning staff and african-americans are caustic you in the walls of criminals
caustic you in the walls of criminals
caustic you in the walls of criminals and gangsters and these people they
and gangsters and these people they
and gangsters and these people they accept these rules because they don’t
accept these rules because they don’t
accept these rules because they don’t really have any other ones that they can
really have any other ones that they can
really have any other ones that they can accept there needs to be more talented
accept there needs to be more talented
accept there needs to be more talented people that are of color they need to be
people that are of color they need to be
people that are of color they need to be given more opportunities in order to fix
given more opportunities in order to fix
given more opportunities in order to fix this so in order to fix this problem the
this so in order to fix this problem the
this so in order to fix this problem the media is the main means of mass
media is the main means of mass
media is the main means of mass communication it includes television
communication it includes television
communication it includes television newspapers radios and the internet
newspapers radios and the internet
newspapers radios and the internet everybody’s favorite
everybody’s favorite
everybody’s favorite now all these begin shaping our
now all these begin shaping our
now all these begin shaping our perception on race at a very young age
perception on race at a very young age
perception on race at a very young age the things that we see and hear impact
the things that we see and hear impact
the things that we see and hear impact the way that we think and that is why
the way that we think and that is why
the way that we think and that is why many people believe what they see now
many people believe what they see now
many people believe what they see now according to a study done at Templeton
according to a study done at Templeton
according to a study done at Templeton University many children are affected by
University many children are affected by
University many children are affected by what they see in the media if they are
what they see in the media if they are
what they see in the media if they are shown as having more opportunities and
shown as having more opportunities and
shown as having more opportunities and they’re and they’re over-represented
they’re and they’re over-represented
they’re and they’re over-represented they think they can succeed more and if
they think they can succeed more and if
they think they can succeed more and if they’re underrepresented they see
they’re underrepresented they see
they’re underrepresented they see themselves as having fewer opportunities
themselves as having fewer opportunities
themselves as having fewer opportunities has anybody here heard of the Clarke
has anybody here heard of the Clarke
has anybody here heard of the Clarke doll experiment anybody at all no no
doll experiment anybody at all no no
doll experiment anybody at all no no okay
okay
okay oh two three for those of you haven’t
oh two three for those of you haven’t
oh two three for those of you haven’t I’ll give a short explanation so
I’ll give a short explanation so
I’ll give a short explanation so basically there is children of color
basically there is children of color
basically there is children of color they’re told to sit down in front of
they’re told to sit down in front of
they’re told to sit down in front of them there are two dolls that are placed
them there are two dolls that are placed
them there are two dolls that are placed one of them is dark skinned and the
one of them is dark skinned and the
one of them is dark skinned and the other one is light skinned and then
other one is light skinned and then
other one is light skinned and then they’re asked a series of questions
they’re asked a series of questions
they’re asked a series of questions ranging from which doll is the good doll
ranging from which doll is the good doll
ranging from which doll is the good doll which doll is the bad doll which doll
which doll is the bad doll which doll
which doll is the bad doll which doll looks like you and most of these times
looks like you and most of these times
looks like you and most of these times that these children they answer with
that these children they answer with
that these children they answer with that the dark skinned doll is bad and
that the dark skinned doll is bad and
that the dark skinned doll is bad and they actually relate to the dark skinned
they actually relate to the dark skinned
they actually relate to the dark skinned doll and they tend to become a little
doll and they tend to become a little
doll and they tend to become a little sad after this experiment yeah yeah so
sad after this experiment yeah yeah so
sad after this experiment yeah yeah so this experiment proves that the children
this experiment proves that the children
this experiment proves that the children are quite actually affected by what they
are quite actually affected by what they
are quite actually affected by what they see in the media min helmet on II a
see in the media min helmet on II a
see in the media min helmet on II a professor at the University of Toronto
professor at the University of Toronto
professor at the University of Toronto agrees saying quote ethnic minorities in
agrees saying quote ethnic minorities in
agrees saying quote ethnic minorities in Canada do not see themselves being
Canada do not see themselves being
Canada do not see themselves being in the media this perpetuates the
in the media this perpetuates the
in the media this perpetuates the feelings of rejection trivializes their
feelings of rejection trivializes their
feelings of rejection trivializes their contributions and devalue their roles as
contributions and devalue their roles as
contributions and devalue their roles as citizens in their Nations now you guys
citizens in their Nations now you guys
citizens in their Nations now you guys may be wondering who is in charge of
may be wondering who is in charge of
may be wondering who is in charge of these shows that we watch according to a
these shows that we watch according to a
these shows that we watch according to a report from Mattel from a reality
report from Mattel from a reality
report from Mattel from a reality television there the report stated that
television there the report stated that
television there the report stated that the breakdown of nbc’s new york senior
the breakdown of nbc’s new york senior
the breakdown of nbc’s new york senior staff was 96% white now the pump would
staff was 96% white now the pump would
staff was 96% white now the pump would this is that every time there is casting
this is that every time there is casting
this is that every time there is casting for lead roles in a movie or a show
for lead roles in a movie or a show
for lead roles in a movie or a show these people of higher positions
these people of higher positions
these people of higher positions subconsciously choose their own race
subconsciously choose their own race
subconsciously choose their own race over the other so this results in the
over the other so this results in the
over the other so this results in the other races getting negative roles or
other races getting negative roles or
other races getting negative roles or smaller roles and they usually release
smaller roles and they usually release
smaller roles and they usually release to your typical also so also physical
to your typical also so also physical
to your typical also so also physical media such as magazines lack diversity
media such as magazines lack diversity
media such as magazines lack diversity in 2014 19 point 7 percent of covers had
in 2014 19 point 7 percent of covers had
in 2014 19 point 7 percent of covers had some kind of person of color in the next
some kind of person of color in the next
some kind of person of color in the next year this was bumped up by 0.1 percent
year this was bumped up by 0.1 percent
year this was bumped up by 0.1 percent nineteen point eight now this is an
nineteen point eight now this is an
nineteen point eight now this is an improvement but not one that is
improvement but not one that is
improvement but not one that is appropriate in this age of
appropriate in this age of
appropriate in this age of multiculturalism and diversity there
multiculturalism and diversity there
multiculturalism and diversity there needs to be more people of color on
needs to be more people of color on
needs to be more people of color on these magazines because these are the
these magazines because these are the
these magazines because these are the things that we see every single day the
things that we see every single day the
things that we see every single day the only way to remove these barriers is
only way to remove these barriers is
only way to remove these barriers is have patience and persistence and what
have patience and persistence and what
have patience and persistence and what we believe is right it is difficult to
we believe is right it is difficult to
we believe is right it is difficult to enact drastic measures and towards more
enact drastic measures and towards more
enact drastic measures and towards more people of color that make it to the top
people of color that make it to the top
people of color that make it to the top ranks of the media and entertainment
ranks of the media and entertainment
ranks of the media and entertainment industries many television shows
industries many television shows
industries many television shows continue to portray these minorities
continue to portray these minorities
continue to portray these minorities quite negatively and they place them as
quite negatively and they place them as
quite negatively and they place them as inferior so let’s hope that 2017 is a
inferior so let’s hope that 2017 is a
inferior so let’s hope that 2017 is a year of change change in the media or
year of change change in the media or
year of change change in the media or change simply in the way that we think
change simply in the way that we think
change simply in the way that we think thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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