You Clap For Me Now
You Clap For Me Now was a personal project produced and directed by HOO CEO Sachini Imbuldeniya and written by HOO CCO Darren Smith during the UK's first COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020.
Within 24hours of sharing it on social media it went viral, amassing more than 300million views worldwide. It was picked up by media globally - from The Washington Post to Al-Jazeera and everything in between, and retweeted by the likes of JK Rowling, Jameela Jamil, Gary Lineker and Sadiq Khan. It was also selected by the United Nations as one of its official messages of hope and solidarity during an incredibly uncertain time.
This powerful poem was inspired by Sachini’s mum’s own experience of arriving in the UK as a 'Windrush’ immigrant after a desperate plea to fill the massive labour shortages in the NHS during the 60s. It reminds us all that a large number of ‘key workers’ are from Black and Minority Ethnic families and is read outline-by-line by 39 first, second and third-generation immigrants from 19 different ethnicities - including doctors, nurses, teachers, shopkeepers, dentists, social workers, care workers, delivery drivers, broadcasters and more.
Despite long, shameful histories of facing racism and hostility, immigrants globally showed a continuous kindness and solidarity by delivering essential aid and services to their nations during the COVID-19 crisis. Jobs that were once deemed as 'unskilled' were suddenly seen as vital to keeping the public safe and alive.
Because we know – and they know – it doesn’t matter where you come from. During this pandemic we were all humans together, fighting a common enemy.
You Clap for Me Now was a reminder to us all, that when we finally emerged from lockdown, we must never forget those who put their lives at risk to help us and our loved ones through it.
We must ensure that we never go back to a time where we ignore, hurt or disrespect people because of their religion, profession, or the colour of their skin.
This important piece of history now lives on as part of the People's History Museum Collection in Manchester and also in the Poems For A Pandemic book compiled by retired NHS nurse Angela Marston, edited by Darren Smith and published by Harper Collins.
Credits:
Creative Direction and Production: Sachini Imbuldeniya, Words: Darren Smith, Video Editor: Ruben Alvarado
You Clap For Me Now
You Clap For Me Now was a personal project produced and directed by HOO CEO Sachini Imbuldeniya and written by HOO CCO Darren Smith during the UK's first COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020.
Within 24hours of sharing it on social media it went viral, amassing more than 300million views worldwide. It was picked up by media globally - from The Washington Post to Al-Jazeera and everything in between, and retweeted by the likes of JK Rowling, Jameela Jamil, Gary Lineker and Sadiq Khan. It was also selected by the United Nations as one of its official messages of hope and solidarity during an incredibly uncertain time.
This powerful poem was inspired by Sachini’s mum’s own experience of arriving in the UK as a 'Windrush’ immigrant after a desperate plea to fill the massive labour shortages in the NHS during the 60s. It reminds us all that a large number of ‘key workers’ are from Black and Minority Ethnic families and is read outline-by-line by 39 first, second and third-generation immigrants from 19 different ethnicities - including doctors, nurses, teachers, shopkeepers, dentists, social workers, care workers, delivery drivers, broadcasters and more.
Despite long, shameful histories of facing racism and hostility, immigrants globally showed a continuous kindness and solidarity by delivering essential aid and services to their nations during the COVID-19 crisis. Jobs that were once deemed as 'unskilled' were suddenly seen as vital to keeping the public safe and alive.
Because we know – and they know – it doesn’t matter where you come from. During this pandemic we were all humans together, fighting a common enemy.
You Clap for Me Now was a reminder to us all, that when we finally emerged from lockdown, we must never forget those who put their lives at risk to help us and our loved ones through it.
We must ensure that we never go back to a time where we ignore, hurt or disrespect people because of their religion, profession, or the colour of their skin.
This important piece of history now lives on as part of the People's History Museum Collection in Manchester and also in the Poems For A Pandemic book compiled by retired NHS nurse Angela Marston, edited by Darren Smith and published by Harper Collins.
Credits:
Creative Direction and Production: Sachini Imbuldeniya, Words: Darren Smith, Video Editor: Ruben Alvarado
