‘The Cost of Colour’: New Documentary Lays Bare the Realities of Racism in Northern Ireland
By Matthew Howard (Common Home TV)
The Cost of Colour, directed by Mona Hareesh and Redemptorist missionary Mans Boli, is a documentary that weaves together candid interviews and expert insight to look at what it means to live as a person of colour in a society still navigating the legacy of sectarian division and conflict.
Against the backdrop of Belfast’s shifting social landscape, The Cost of Colour offers a rare and intimate look at the lives of those navigating racism and belonging in a post-conflict society. Through personal stories, the film explores how questions of identity, acceptance, and justice intersect in a place still marked by division — but also rich with possibility.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland Programme Director, appears in the film and praises its honest portrayal. “Belfast is a wonderful and increasingly diverse city,” he says. “This wonderful film shows all the beautiful colours of our rainbow on display, but also shines necessary light on the racism which plagues our community.”
“Racist hatred and racist violence — including by sinister paramilitary gangs — are growing problems which need to be addressed urgently by both police and political leaders,” Corrigan adds. “Everyone has a human right to live in dignity and free of prejudice and fear. This film shows both the prize of a diverse society and the challenges still to be overcome before we can fully claim it in Northern Ireland.”
Corrigan’s comments echo the film’s core concern: that for all the surface progress, Northern Ireland remains a place where racial minorities can feel unsafe and unheard. From experiences of harassment to the lingering threat of politically motivated violence, The Cost of Colour documenting of discrimination is a wider invitation to reflection on how society can move toward greater inclusion and justice.
Among those featured is Jahswill Emmanuel, a Nigerian community worker who has dedicated himself to promoting inter-community relations and encouraging sports participation among diverse groups. He is the founder of Multi-Ethnic Sports and Cultures NI (MSCNI), an initiative he created as his own way of fighting discrimination—by bringing people together through the unifying power of sport and culture. Emmanuel shares his personal story of surviving a racially motivated attack in which his jaw was broken—an experience that underscores both the persistence of racist violence and the strength of those who continue to work for peace and inclusion.
For Mona Hareesh, who hails from India and is a graduate in Media and Broadcast Production from Queen’s University Belfast, the project is rooted in both lived experience and deep conviction. “In the year ending June 2024, the UK welcomed around 1.2 million immigrants, and the Migration Advisory Committee has shown that skilled migrant workers contribute more to the economy than the average Brit, yet anti-immigrant attitudes continue to rise,” Hareesh tells Common Home Tv from her residence in Belfast. “In a world shadowed by these anti-immigrant attitudes, hate crimes and growing division, this documentary calls for understanding, compassion, and change. I believe the story of people like Jahswill Emmanuel, who have suffered racist violence and still contributed to this society, is an inspiring story in these unfortunate times.”
That moral urgency is also echoed by co-director Mans Boli, whose ministry is grounded in grassroots justice and inclusion. “The Cost of Colour is a call to action,” he says. “To educate ourselves, reject stereotypes, and foster inclusivity. By sharing these narratives, we aim to inspire collective efforts to combat racism, encouraging everyone to contribute to a more equitable society. Let this documentary open our eyes and hearts, motivating us to build a world where diversity is celebrated, not feared.”
