JAYFORCE

Look at this.

Blindfolded, Jasirah Bin Hitam is an Aboriginal Australian who decided to put her faith in humanity; specifically, the humans from outside her culture who have traditionally be less-than-kind to her kind. Filmed at Cottesloe Beach, Jasirah stood with open arms and offered the ultimate and most basic act of acceptance and universal care for another…a hug.

Even if it’s no big deal to you, think of how big a deal it is in a place where people think it’s a big enough thing to film it. Big enough to reach 200k viral within hours.

“The video is creating important conversation about attitudes toward Aboriginal Australians,” said ICEA [Indigenous Communities Education and Awareness] founder and CEO Lockie Cooke. “It’s so powerful to have created something that has been so popular in our community, which inspires us to continue the work we’ve been doing in the reconciliation space. The way in which the video has been embraced shows that ICEA’s froth is strong and our message, mutual respect for all Australians, is important and relevant to our society.”

Creating positive shared experiences, building enduring relationships and promoting cultural understanding – that’s ICEA, that’s Jasirah Bin Hitam hugging folks on a beach… and that’s pretty damn cool.

– @ojones1

Read the rest of this entry »