For the third consecutive year I created portrait films for MensenrechtenMens — three powerful stories about people fighting racism in the Netherlands, produced in collaboration with Roel Smit of Hoeksjan, Redactie en Communicatie.

Racism isn’t abstract. It has faces, names and stories.

Mpanzu Bamenga — Eindhoven Mpanzu is a civic activist fighting against ethnic profiling. After being wrongly treated as a suspect at the airport by the Royal Marechaussee, he took legal action against the Dutch State together with human rights organisations. His case contributed to the Royal Marechaussee announcing they would stop ethnic profiling. Since this film was made, Mpanzu has been elected as a member of the Dutch parliament for D66.

Lida van den Broek — Peize Lida is the founder of Kantharos, a bureau specialising in ethnic diversity, and author of the book ‘Wit is nu aan zet’. For over 40 years she has been helping people recognise racism in themselves, others and within institutions.

Marjorie Malbons — Rotterdam Marjorie runs Stichting MAIT, offering debt counselling and budget coaching in Rotterdam-Zuid. Drawing from her own personal experiences with debt and exclusion, she helps others find their footing and feel human again.

Three portraits. Three stories that needed to be told.