An image from Jose Jordan's anti-racism video, which has gained a lot of traction since being shared on social media this week.

By Troy Gillard

A VOICE FOR THE FUTURE

Notre Dame student creates video to share message of hope

Sep 24, 2020 | 11:59 AM

What started out as a class project by a Grade 12 student in Red Deer focusing on hope during dark times has quickly grown to become something much bigger.

Jose Jordan started his video project last spring when his social studies teacher at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School challenged students to create something that would make an impact on society.

In a bid to amplify the video’s message, he invited students from Red Deer’s other high schools to get involved in the video, which they did.

“I wanted to give the chance to teens to share their voice and opinion to the events,” Jordan explained. “Rather than just working as individuals, we all worked as one to show and express what we truly believe and what we think is right.”

He first wanted to share it following the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota earlier this year. But it was this week when a teacher told him of the violence at an anti-racism event in Red Deer last Sunday that he felt it was time to share it with everyone.

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“I was frustrated and sad to see the image that the society has seen of Red Deer. I want to show and give the future, us teens, a voice and prove to society that there is light rather than darkness that awaits us,” he said.

Jordan knows first-hand what it’s like to be an immigrant in Red Deer as he came to the city eight years ago when his family moved from Mexico City. He says what happened last weekend is not a true of reflection of the community he knows.

“We’re a multicultural city. There are a lot of people that come here for a better opportunity, a better life. The city has been great to me and my family and I want to prove that yeah, maybe something wrong happened on Sunday, but we’re all human. We all make mistakes, but the future is bright in the end.”

His 12-minute video starts out showing clips of news coverage on anti-racism events around the world before turning to clips of anti-racism events held earlier this year in Red Deer. Jordan then appears on camera to share the reasoning behind his video before showing a montage of submissions from other students from across the city.

Jordan’s video features three songs he says fit well with the message he is trying to send.

“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by The Hollies was featured in the movie Remember The Titans about a racially-integrated football team in 1970s Alabama. There’s also “Where is the Love” by Black-Eyed Peas and “Winds of Change” by The Scorpions, a song synonymous with the fall of the Berlin Wall and conveys a spirit of unity.

The video has been seen by thousands of people since going out on social media this week. Jordan says he’s excited that people are taking inspiration from it.

“You don’t have to be a famous celebrity. If you believe in something and are passionate about it, you truly can make an impact,” he said.

“It’s really amazing to see how much of a positive impact it’s had. I didn’t really expect it to grow this big and bring joy to a city that’s had a lot of criticism.”