Dr Ken Fero launched his latest documentary films as part of the Nursing Narratives: Racism and the Pandemic conference in Sheffield on 5 March. The slate of films – 19 individual documentary profiles and a documentary feature Exposed – examine the intersections between racism and the pandemic.
Black, Brown and migrant health workers make a critical contribution to the NHS and social care. The Coronavirus outbreak laid bare structural inequalities and disproportionally affected racialised minorities, including health care workers. In the first month of the UK lockdown, 72% of the NHS and social care staff who died were from Black and Brown backgrounds.
The films tell the stories of the working lives of Black and Brown staff who reflect on their struggles and advocate the changes they would like to see. As part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council supported investigation, the documentary films expose the racism that participants experienced, indicating how it is damaging for staff, patients and society, with worsening incidences of harassment. Exposed highlights racism as a pandemic that must be confronted.
Dr Fero, who teaches documentary production on BA Film & Screen and is Course Leader on MA Media and Digital Communications at Regent’s, said: ‘This has been a major piece of work with critical impact, and current students on BA Film & Screen, as well as some of our alumni, have been given meaningful roles on the project working as crew, researchers and in marketing.’
Natalie Dykes, now in her final year of studying film production, said: ‘Working on these documentaries brought me to tears in gratitude and appreciation for those who have been working on the frontline to take care of everyone during this global pandemic; those who sacrificed so much to go above and beyond their mission. Hearing them tell these stories, on set and in front of us, made me want to help make an impact and help do my part in tackling racism and discrimination, which is still being overlooked by institutions under the NHS.’
The film project also worked with its participants to write a manifesto to demand an actively anti-racist health service as a fundamental principle for the treatment of all staff with respect. It is being supported by a number of grassroots nursing and midwifery organisations.
More details on the project, including how to watch the films, can be found here.