(Originally published on Kickstarter on July 19)
We're $53 away from reaching 50%! Whoever helps us reach 50%, I'll name a character after them (assuming you're comfortable with me using your name).
So, during a production meeting last night, I was chatting with Maitely Weismann, The Most Fabulous Producer Ever, and we were talking a bit about growing up, and the stereotypes that plague us as kids. Maitely and I kind of grew up together near Albany where I went to boarding school, and we recently found each other again in the city after all these years.
Before I met Maitely in Albany, I moved around a lot. No, my father wasn't in the military, at least not actively (he was in the Reserves). I think it was a combination of job opportunities and my mother getting bored of one place. So, come September, I was often the new kid with no friends (which was awful because my birthday is September 10).
Now, for some reason, the teacher's roll book only allowed for 6 letters in a child's first name. With a name like Jennifer, we can fill in the blank when we see Jennif. However, with Viviana, it always cut off the A and left me with Vivian. Which is lovely in its own right, but ultimately not my name. So I would sit there in a new school and about seven times a day (different classes) for about a week (till teachers remembered my name) I would politely correct my new teacher and say, "it's Viviana". Suffice it to say, I didn't have any friends. Which was sad, but it later led to my independence and ability to go to the movies by myself, so...
Later on, when it got a lot worse due to braces and glasses, but then it got better due to my going to college in NYC, a lot of friends (yes, I finally made some) would say to me, "I really didn't like you when I first met you, you seemed stuck up". I would say, "yes, that's because I'm shy and I have an extra A on my name." But really? I'm a fun-loving gal. And it's a shame that lots of kids never found that out. And some kids grew up and are still judging others based on a name, based on whether they're quiet, based on what they wear. Look, I'm no saint, I flinch every time I see Birkenstocks. But I wouldn't not be that person's friend based on their shoe selection.
This is what White Alligator is about just as much as racism. And we all experience it. I want to invite people to share their White Alligator stories. You can post them as comments here, or just email them to me to vent! I was trying to make our Facebook page a community page for this purpose, but it hasn't caught on yet, so I'll bring the community vibe to our Kickstarter page! After all, Kickstarter is all about community! So, let's hear from all of you...
We're $53 away from reaching 50%! Whoever helps us reach 50%, I'll name a character after them (assuming you're comfortable with me using your name).
So, during a production meeting last night, I was chatting with Maitely Weismann, The Most Fabulous Producer Ever, and we were talking a bit about growing up, and the stereotypes that plague us as kids. Maitely and I kind of grew up together near Albany where I went to boarding school, and we recently found each other again in the city after all these years.
Before I met Maitely in Albany, I moved around a lot. No, my father wasn't in the military, at least not actively (he was in the Reserves). I think it was a combination of job opportunities and my mother getting bored of one place. So, come September, I was often the new kid with no friends (which was awful because my birthday is September 10).
Now, for some reason, the teacher's roll book only allowed for 6 letters in a child's first name. With a name like Jennifer, we can fill in the blank when we see Jennif. However, with Viviana, it always cut off the A and left me with Vivian. Which is lovely in its own right, but ultimately not my name. So I would sit there in a new school and about seven times a day (different classes) for about a week (till teachers remembered my name) I would politely correct my new teacher and say, "it's Viviana". Suffice it to say, I didn't have any friends. Which was sad, but it later led to my independence and ability to go to the movies by myself, so...
Later on, when it got a lot worse due to braces and glasses, but then it got better due to my going to college in NYC, a lot of friends (yes, I finally made some) would say to me, "I really didn't like you when I first met you, you seemed stuck up". I would say, "yes, that's because I'm shy and I have an extra A on my name." But really? I'm a fun-loving gal. And it's a shame that lots of kids never found that out. And some kids grew up and are still judging others based on a name, based on whether they're quiet, based on what they wear. Look, I'm no saint, I flinch every time I see Birkenstocks. But I wouldn't not be that person's friend based on their shoe selection.
This is what White Alligator is about just as much as racism. And we all experience it. I want to invite people to share their White Alligator stories. You can post them as comments here, or just email them to me to vent! I was trying to make our Facebook page a community page for this purpose, but it hasn't caught on yet, so I'll bring the community vibe to our Kickstarter page! After all, Kickstarter is all about community! So, let's hear from all of you...
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