Eye Opener (2004)

In Glasgow, Scotland, internationally recognized diversity advocate Jane Elliott leads her powerful "Blue-eyed, Brown-eyed Exercise" with thirty-five volunteers from across the UK. The exercise profoundly impacts participants; many initially privileged "blue-eyed" individuals are shocked by their own reactions to suddenly experiencing powerlessness. Meanwhile, many "brown-eyed" participants are surprised by how readily they comply with discriminatory actions, even when aware of their wrongness. Through this experience, everyone gains a deeper understanding of systemic racism and how their choices – or lack thereof – can contribute to its continuation. *Eye Opener* demonstrates the exercise's enduring relevance and necessity in the UK, echoing its impact from its origins in Riceville, Iowa, in 1968.