Refugees are regularly stereotyped in unflattering or cruel ways. Whether they’re cast as hapless beggars, faceless members of a horde refusing to assimilate, or drains on a society’s resources, descriptions of refugees around the world rarely emphasize their individual talents and capabilities, or their all-too-human stories.
Two students from the Miami Ad School want to change this unfair reckoning. Recently, Kien Quan and Jillian Young began challenging preconceptions by highlighting the many contributions refugees have made to US society with their new project “Made by Refugees.”
“I think there has been a large amount of xenophobia worldwide,” Quan told Global Citizen. “Whether it is China, Western Europe, USA, or other nations, most nations have low approval for refugees. At the same time, this has been a repeating issue throughout every single crisis. Because this topic is top of mind, I do agree that the current political climate is essential to [the project’s] meaning.”
Read More: This Is America: Celebrating Faces of Immigrants & Refugees
To counter this negative stereotype, the pair created a label that says “Made by Refugees” and they’re going throughout New York putting it on products and items that were made possible by refugees.
It’s fun and whimsical, but also a dead-serious project. The labels are simple paper cut-outs, clearly taped onto the products, and their directness is funny. But they also broadcast a message about the stakes of helping refugees, and what could be lost if societies refuse the claims made upon them by those most in need of help.
“It makes people realize that migrants have been a part of our lives all along in the goods we consume,” said Quan. “This perspectives makes people question their views.”
So far, the pair have hit up corner markets, supermarkets, music stores, and libraries.
Queen and Bob Marley records: Freddy Mercury and Bob Marley were refugees.
Sriracha hot sauce: made by entrepreneur, David Tran, a Vietnamese refugee.
Books explaining the theory of relativity: made by Albert Einstein, a refugee from Germany.
Mini Coopers: designed by inventor, Sir Alec Issigonis, a Greek refugee.
Birth control: invented by Carl Djerassi, an Austrian refugee.
The Bible: Jesus was a refugee.
Quan and Young encourage anyone from around the world to print out the labels and stick them onto products and items in their towns and cities.
Read More: Global Citizens' Letters to Refugees Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity
The world is going through the worst refugee crisis since World War II and countries everywhere seem embroiled in existential debates about how to respond. For example, US President Donald Trump banned all refugees for 120 days and far-right anti-refugee leaders in Europe are rising. Meanwhile, only the most resource-strained countries seem to be taking in refugees in any meaningful way.
The more reminders there are that refugees are human beings, too, full of talents and inspirations, the more welcoming societies will become. Ultimately, the artists want people to realize that refugees are far more than suffering and need and that we can all benefit by extending a helping hand.
“I do not think one project will dismantle all stereotypes but if I can change one person’s view in the world, I think this was a success,” Quan said.