This video acts as a wake-up prick to our social conscience which tends to subconsciously slot everything into pre-decided societal categories.
UNICEF films a six-year old child actor -Anano- first in a rich garb and then in shabby ones at different locations.
Whether on the street or in a restaurant, the seemingly affluent kid garners instant concern and affectionate behaviour, while the sooty-faced ‘obviously’ poor kid does not elicit even a second glance, and even when she does, gets shooed away instantly.
Notice the customers holding their belongings a little closer, as if it’s a given that the child is a potential thief.
The experiment had to be stopped as Anano was overwhelmed by the rejection she faced in her ‘poor’ avatar.
That is something that is sure to haunt us for a long while.
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