“Can’t Catch Cab” is a documentary film (currently in production) about the impact of racial and ethnic discrimination on health.
Research indicates that stress has a negative effect on health. This film will show that racial and ethnic discrimination are types of stress, and that they too can lead to illness, such as breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. In other words, people who experience discrimination are more likely to develop illness and/or worsen preexisting illness than those who do not experience discrimination.
The bulk of the filmmaking involves interviews——interviews with scores of New Yorkers about their experiences with discrimination; a series of interviews with researchers and public health workers who devote their time to this field of study; and a few case studies of people who would like to share, in more detail, their experiences with, or thoughts about, discrimination.
Historically, people of color, mainly Black and brown people, in New York have reported difficulty in trying to hail a taxi. This would be an example of the everyday discrimination that has been shown to increase stress, consequently contributing to poor health. But there are many other forms of discrimination that taint and diminish typical social interactions. So while this isn’t a taxi documentary——there are, after all, ethnic and racial minorities who don’t experience this on a systemic level——this type of unfair treatment is a starting point for exploring differences in discrimination based on race and ethnicity.
Plenty of studies have been conducted that show the connection between discrimination and health. Unfortunately, they haven’t been popularly reported or accepted. Through interviews, this film will try to present the research in a straightforward and accessible way.
If the path between discrimination and illness becomes clear, are we more likely to do something about it?
If this is your first time here, you might want to read about the film in more depth. Also, use the links on the margins of the page to learn more about the research and technical aspects (blog-style) of this documentary. If you have comments or questions feel free to contact us.