Montreal’s Black Community Resource Centre (BCRC) is using virtual reality to help fight racism and hopes to bring the technology to the Montreal police. The youth-led project called “Through Our Eyes” lets users experience discrimination through different simulated scenarios. “We are hoping to foster empathy. That is our major objective,” said project coordinator Ayana Monuma. At the end of the scenario, users are prompted with questions meant to encourage reflection and given resources on what to do if they find themselves in a similar situation. For example, in one scenario, users stand by and watch as an officer wrongfully stops a Black man on the street. “People have lost their lives over things like that,” said Eniola Oyinloluwa. The 22-year-old Concordia University film student is the project’s creative dir “These microaggressions exist, systemic racism exists, anti-Black racism exists,” said Monuma. “We’re able to get people to understand that these things happen.” The project was already in development before recent allegations of racism and misconduct surfaced against 16 officers from station 39 in Montreal North. Those allegations sparked protests and led to a public meeting last week, where police chief Fady Dagher responded to the community’s concerns. The BCRC plans to bring “Through Our Eyes” into classrooms and workplaces and hopes to introduce it within the Montreal police force. The group says it is scheduled to meet with the SPVM next month to hold a ‘dialogue’ session and present the project. “I think that the recognition will lead to the change that we need,” said Monuma.
