Do You See Me Like You • Empathy with Mei Chern

Mei Chern is a singer / songwriter based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I chased and recorded her through the streets of George Town, Penang, while on a visit. In the old town, you can encounter in just a few blocks different faiths, skin colors, eye shapes, foods and languages.

Malaysia is a true melting pot of cultures. Malaysians termed “Bumiputers” make up about 67% of the population, those with Chinese ancestry are about 25% while those of Indian descent make up about 7% of the population. As I walked with Mei, we talked about the various stereotypes that each ethnicity in Malaysia has been branded with and why there are so many prejudices between them.

“Empathy is the art of stepping imaginatively into the shoes of another person, understanding their feelings and perspectives, and using that understanding to guide your actions.”

That’s what her song is about, the ability to have empathy with others who are different than oneself.

Thank you Mei Chern!

Excerpt From: Roman Krznaric. “Empathy.”