A video featuring black and minority ethnic key workers reading a powerful poem has been circulated widely on social media.

The poem, titled “You Clap For Me Now”, highlights the important role essential workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are playing during the coronavirus pandemic as they continue working as doctors, teachers and delivery drivers, among other professions.

The verse, which was written by illustrator and typist Darren James Smith, implores members of the public to continue supporting key workers once the worst of the pandemic is over.

The video was produced by creative director Sachini Imbuldeniya and includes several key workers from black and minority ethnic families making statements such as: “Don’t say go home. Don’t say not here. You know how it feels for home to be a prison. You know how it feels to live in fear.”

The short film opens with several individuals emphasising the severity of the Covid-19 crisis, stating: “It’s finally happened. That thing you were afraid of. Something’s come from overseas. And taken your jobs. Made it unsafe to walk the streets. Kept you trapped in your homes.”

They continue, referencing the weekly Clap For Our Carers event.

“You clap for me now. You cheer as I toil. Bringing food to your family. Bringing food from your soil. Propping up your hospitals,” they say.

“Not some foreign invader. Delivery driver. Teacher. Life saver.”

The poem ends with the video participants calling upon others to support their communities during these troubling times.

“Come all you Gretas. You Malalas. You immigrants. See what we have learned. It only takes the smallest thing to change the world.”

Creative director Imbuldeniya explained in the video’s caption on Instagram that the poem was written “to remind us all that a large majority of ‘key workers’ are from Black and Minority Ethnic families”.

“It is read out line-by-line by first, second and third-generation immigrants including doctors, nurses, teachers, shopkeepers, dentists, social workers, care workers, delivery drivers, broadcasters and more,” Imbuldeniya said.

“Despite long, shameful histories of facing racism and hostility, immigrants globally are showing kindness and solidarity by delivering essential aid and services to their nations.

“Because we know — and they know — it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Imbuldeniya ended her caption by stating that society must make sure “we never go back to a time where we ignore, hurt or disrespect people because of their religion, profession, of the colour of their skin”.

Since sharing the video on Instagram and Vimeo, the #YouClapForMeNow hashtag has been gaining traction on social media, with many people praising the poem’s “poignant” and “moving” message.

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fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS' Getty Images Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow Getty Images Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Redcar Pier lit up in blue Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities Instagram/clarencehouse/PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters

“#YouClapForMeNow is such a brilliant message,” one person tweeted. “A stark reminder of how much our country and our lives are enriched by immigration.”

“When this outbreak is over, let us never again forget who puts their lives on the line to keep us all safe,” wrote Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita.

Television news anchor Charlene White stated that “as a child of immigrants”, she found the video “powerful” and “emotional”.

It was recently reported that black and minority ethnic people are more likely to be seriously impacted by Covid-19 than white people.