Excuse the lateness!
This was really tough for me, because my goals were mainly about myself and didn't really require enlisting others. I wanted to be sure I got something out of the assignment and having myself as my customer seemed almost like cheating. Douglass suggested using one of the many social justice causes I work on, which I thought was a good idea. The problem is that I tend to focus on building self-sustaining communities, and my work comes from the community itself. In other words, I insert myself where there is an expressed need, so I don't have to convince others to sign on (in effect they've convinced me to sign on).
As I thought deeper about this, I realized that one of my many creative projects might be a better fit for this type of assignment. These projects typically have a social justice lens, and for the project to be successful, people have to sign on: viewers, grantors/funding sources, actors, directors, etc. For a while now, I've been dabbling with a web-series script. I submitted it to one contest (it was rejected) but haven't done anything with it since, despite the fact that I'm sure I want to continue working on it. The series is (tentatively) called Cash & Cookies and follows the story of 4 women of color living in Portland, who work tech jobs.
I don't remember whether this is something Anton came up with or something we were supposed to do, but I liked the idea of defining the project with five words. This is what this project means to me:
Creating Opportunity By Exposing Bias
This was really tough for me, because my goals were mainly about myself and didn't really require enlisting others. I wanted to be sure I got something out of the assignment and having myself as my customer seemed almost like cheating. Douglass suggested using one of the many social justice causes I work on, which I thought was a good idea. The problem is that I tend to focus on building self-sustaining communities, and my work comes from the community itself. In other words, I insert myself where there is an expressed need, so I don't have to convince others to sign on (in effect they've convinced me to sign on).
As I thought deeper about this, I realized that one of my many creative projects might be a better fit for this type of assignment. These projects typically have a social justice lens, and for the project to be successful, people have to sign on: viewers, grantors/funding sources, actors, directors, etc. For a while now, I've been dabbling with a web-series script. I submitted it to one contest (it was rejected) but haven't done anything with it since, despite the fact that I'm sure I want to continue working on it. The series is (tentatively) called Cash & Cookies and follows the story of 4 women of color living in Portland, who work tech jobs.
I don't remember whether this is something Anton came up with or something we were supposed to do, but I liked the idea of defining the project with five words. This is what this project means to me:
Creating Opportunity By Exposing Bias
In terms of the deeper purpose within what I'm trying to do- I'm tired of the narratives around black people in Portland. We're spoken about as if we're the great buffalo who no longer roams the majestic plains. We may suffer, but we're not a tragedy. We've been targeted, but we're not just victims. We are individuals with unique lives and our real stories deserve to be told. Gentrification is real, and does continue to push out people of color to the margins, but Portland is also rapidly diversifying- 40% of kids in school are POC, and that number's expected to rise to 60% in only a few years.
There are black folks here. We have unique experiences that deserve to be recognized and amplified. I see this project as part of making sure marginalized voices are heard. If marginalized voices don't have representation, and the narrative of the oppressed non-white Portlander continues, we may face a disempowered majority and economic apartheid in the near future, which affects crime rates, neighborhood livability and a host of other factors.
If a story is told really well, it can resonate with another, whether that person's privileged or marginalized. I want to put privileged viewers in this person's shoes, so they can start to see the perspectives of their coworkers and colleagues who might be experiencing the same issues. Hopefully, showing our shared humanity can break up the power of stereotypes and assumptions. I also want to show people how, well-meaning as they might be, they are still contributing directly to the suffering of others.
Worldview, who is it for, what is it for:
The goal is to create a web series about the experiences of 4 black women in tech, living in Portland. When I was working in tech, I wrote down a lot of my experiences as a coping mechanism of sorts, and I found when I retold the stories to others, they naturally took a humorous lens. It was a way to process the constant micro-aggressions in revitalizing ways, through laughter and shared community.
I run a Meet-up group for POCs in tech that has also reinforced for me the power of shared community in acting as a protective barrier in hostile situations. Community is a tool for resiliency. One of the purposes of the show is to not only shed light on the experiences of women of color in tech, but to show how their shared bond protects them. I'm aiming to write this series for people who might experience similar issues in a way that'll allow them to see their own stories reflected in the characters. The characters have their own unique personalities, but they are archetypes- they represent a compilation of experiences that often happen to the marginalized in these environments.
Who is it for: It's for marginalized people who may feel out of place, and who feel the constant discomfort of being the only one. Also for young millennials who think it's their parent's racism, not their own, that keeps people down.
What's it for? For marginalized people to finally get recognition of their struggles and the courage to move forward from negative experiences. When I worked tech, the leadership at the company where I worked did their best to gaslight me and make me feel worthless. I didn't think I could do better so I stayed and put up with the BS. It was not until after I left that I realized my worth, and I would not want that to happen to someone else.
It's also to help progressive, well-meaning liberals recognize the part they play in upholding oppressive conditions.
Who is your customer? What is the story she tells herself, who does she think she is, what does she care about?
The viewer is two fold- a marginalized person in tech, who doesn't see a lot of people like them at work or at tech events. They think they're alone, but they're not. They care about their career, to some extent they enjoy being pioneers, and they want to show people they are a credit to their race, but not be defined by racist assumptions.
The viewer is also a race-conscious liberal, who feels secure in their anti-racism. They care about being a just person and living in a just world.
Then, from her perspective, what is your service or product or idea for? How does it transform her?
For the marginalized person, this show is for the relief of knowing they're not alone. For the comfort of shared community experiences. This might function the same way "Church" does. It transforms her by knowing she's not alone (empowerment through community). It shows them that these experiences are neither normal or acceptable. She can point to the experiences shown and say "that happened to me!" and begin to talk about those feelings, rather than suffering alone.
For the liberal: the show is to allow them to recognize patterns of unconscious bias in a comedic, non-threatening way. Unconscious bias and inadvertent racism does as much harm as it does because it is invisible, and the people who experience bias/racism and call it out often are retaliated against, despite strict legal anti-retaliation policies. These experiences often lie in a "gray area" and because unconscious bias and inadvertent racism is difficult to prove, it often goes unaddressed. HR departments know the company is not liable legally and so they choose to do nothing. I want to shine a light on unacceptable practices and actions so that they become socially taboo, since waiting on laws (designed for the benefit of white men) to catch up to sexism and racism's changing face is untenable.
The show has the potential to turn perpetrators of unconscious bias and racism into valuable allies against it. It will be in their best interest to speak up, since they will improve their relationships with their peers (at least the marginalized ones, who are slowly becoming the majority of the country), which will prepare them to thrive in a diverse world.
The connection between your (1) WHY, (2) who your customers want to be and (3) and what your product does is the magical utility. How can you provide magical utility to others?
Why: Empower POCs to make their workplace better, show non-marginalized how to be allies and not perpetrators of injustice
Who: POCs & women in tech and other fields where they are marginalized. They want the perks (high pay, freedom) of these jobs without having to give up their dignity. They want opportunities to rise to the top and to find support along the way.
Possible allies in those fields as well. They want to be a cosmopolitan, just person, a world citizen. They want to thrive in a rapidly changing world and they want to contribute to a justice world. They want diversity, creativity, unique experiences.
Magic Utility: The show shows marginalized folks in tech that they are not alone, and empowers them to stick up for themselves, fight for what they deserve. I hope to normalize these conditions without naturalizing (shows that although this is common, it's not ok). I'm hoping it shows how well-meaning people can still be perpetrators of racism, how even "friends" and good people sometimes have to be called out.
For allies I hope to show common instances of bias so they become recognizable to the general public, increasing the likelihood of people speaking up.
The goal is to create a web series about the experiences of 4 black women in tech, living in Portland. When I was working in tech, I wrote down a lot of my experiences as a coping mechanism of sorts, and I found when I retold the stories to others, they naturally took a humorous lens. It was a way to process the constant micro-aggressions in revitalizing ways, through laughter and shared community.
I run a Meet-up group for POCs in tech that has also reinforced for me the power of shared community in acting as a protective barrier in hostile situations. Community is a tool for resiliency. One of the purposes of the show is to not only shed light on the experiences of women of color in tech, but to show how their shared bond protects them. I'm aiming to write this series for people who might experience similar issues in a way that'll allow them to see their own stories reflected in the characters. The characters have their own unique personalities, but they are archetypes- they represent a compilation of experiences that often happen to the marginalized in these environments.
Who is it for: It's for marginalized people who may feel out of place, and who feel the constant discomfort of being the only one. Also for young millennials who think it's their parent's racism, not their own, that keeps people down.
What's it for? For marginalized people to finally get recognition of their struggles and the courage to move forward from negative experiences. When I worked tech, the leadership at the company where I worked did their best to gaslight me and make me feel worthless. I didn't think I could do better so I stayed and put up with the BS. It was not until after I left that I realized my worth, and I would not want that to happen to someone else.
It's also to help progressive, well-meaning liberals recognize the part they play in upholding oppressive conditions.
What is your WHY? Will people trust your why?
My why is a more racially equitable world. More representation of alternative perspectives in popular media benefits us all. The marginalized benefit from having their voices heard and non-marginalized people love creativity and novelty. Using creativity to fight dominant narratives and change minds is something I've always wanted to do.
My why is a more racially equitable world. More representation of alternative perspectives in popular media benefits us all. The marginalized benefit from having their voices heard and non-marginalized people love creativity and novelty. Using creativity to fight dominant narratives and change minds is something I've always wanted to do.
Who is your customer? What is the story she tells herself, who does she think she is, what does she care about?
The viewer is two fold- a marginalized person in tech, who doesn't see a lot of people like them at work or at tech events. They think they're alone, but they're not. They care about their career, to some extent they enjoy being pioneers, and they want to show people they are a credit to their race, but not be defined by racist assumptions.
The viewer is also a race-conscious liberal, who feels secure in their anti-racism. They care about being a just person and living in a just world.
Then, from her perspective, what is your service or product or idea for? How does it transform her?
For the marginalized person, this show is for the relief of knowing they're not alone. For the comfort of shared community experiences. This might function the same way "Church" does. It transforms her by knowing she's not alone (empowerment through community). It shows them that these experiences are neither normal or acceptable. She can point to the experiences shown and say "that happened to me!" and begin to talk about those feelings, rather than suffering alone.
For the liberal: the show is to allow them to recognize patterns of unconscious bias in a comedic, non-threatening way. Unconscious bias and inadvertent racism does as much harm as it does because it is invisible, and the people who experience bias/racism and call it out often are retaliated against, despite strict legal anti-retaliation policies. These experiences often lie in a "gray area" and because unconscious bias and inadvertent racism is difficult to prove, it often goes unaddressed. HR departments know the company is not liable legally and so they choose to do nothing. I want to shine a light on unacceptable practices and actions so that they become socially taboo, since waiting on laws (designed for the benefit of white men) to catch up to sexism and racism's changing face is untenable.
The show has the potential to turn perpetrators of unconscious bias and racism into valuable allies against it. It will be in their best interest to speak up, since they will improve their relationships with their peers (at least the marginalized ones, who are slowly becoming the majority of the country), which will prepare them to thrive in a diverse world.
The connection between your (1) WHY, (2) who your customers want to be and (3) and what your product does is the magical utility. How can you provide magical utility to others?
Why: Empower POCs to make their workplace better, show non-marginalized how to be allies and not perpetrators of injustice
Who: POCs & women in tech and other fields where they are marginalized. They want the perks (high pay, freedom) of these jobs without having to give up their dignity. They want opportunities to rise to the top and to find support along the way.
Possible allies in those fields as well. They want to be a cosmopolitan, just person, a world citizen. They want to thrive in a rapidly changing world and they want to contribute to a justice world. They want diversity, creativity, unique experiences.
Magic Utility: The show shows marginalized folks in tech that they are not alone, and empowers them to stick up for themselves, fight for what they deserve. I hope to normalize these conditions without naturalizing (shows that although this is common, it's not ok). I'm hoping it shows how well-meaning people can still be perpetrators of racism, how even "friends" and good people sometimes have to be called out.
For allies I hope to show common instances of bias so they become recognizable to the general public, increasing the likelihood of people speaking up.
Stephanie, I absolutely love all of this. ALL of this. You did an excellent job articulating your why. The next thing I want to see is a plan, and the one suggestion I would make is to think about your minimum viable product - what's the least complicated way to make this show happen and get it out into the world?
ReplyDeleteI made it up.
ReplyDelete"I realized that one of my many creative projects might be a better fit for this type of assignment."
ReplyDeleteI barely even know you, but I know you have a lot of things going on (or at least you make it seem like it). I like the idea and all, but you start straight out the gate with, "eh this is just one of my many things that I'd like to do I guess."
Your underlying principle is solid:
Creating Opportunity By Exposing Bias
This is real. I see it where I work. For example, my CEO works with this program called These Numbers Have Faces. We sponsor refugee families from Rwanda. Their family moves here, we give their academically gifted child a job, help them get into college, etc. One family has moved over so far. This kid ended up doing the most basic routine work at our company. I am guessing he probably ends up doing whatever is told and does not understand the social aspects of the workplace and how to move up or to negotiate for himself.
We're about to sponsor another family. This time their daughter is the academically gifted one. There are less than 10 women in our ~100 person company. I can already see her falling into whatever role she is given.
The point I'm trying to illustrate is our CEO who wins best company of the year awards and articles about him in the newspaper as being a philanthropist does not make sure the playing field is even back in the US for those he "sponsors".
With the first paragraph above I was simply trying to get you to think deeper about something that you really... really want... need to do.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I recently sat in an interview at my work. This Vietnamese dude is sitting in front of myself and four white males. He had a reasonably thick accent. He failed to understand a couple of questions and I watched one of my co-workers literally laugh at him. I was the only person trying to actually listen to him. Based on his experience he probably would have done a better job than half of the people we hire.
So what is it you want to do... make a web series? Keep on doing what you're doing - being involved in a lot of different things and see what sticks? What is the #1 thing that you bring to the table that you can apply.
Steph - My provoking question for you: what do marginalized people in tech want to become? What do they want to transform themselves into? Dig deep into that customer persona (ask for Beth's help). Then how can your product be the Yoda-like guide for them? Or, thinking expansively, is there a product that better suits those goals?
ReplyDeleteThis is difficult, b/c in my mind marginalized people in tech are perfect the way they are, and it's not that they have to become anything, but the system around them has to change. I'm tempted to say I want them to be more courageous and speak up, but I've seen the effect of this: the person is punished in some way or another and nothing changes. I can't in good conscious wish for someone to become something that might end up harming them. :/ I have to think more about this...
DeleteIs a web series the best way to accomplish want you want to accomplish and transform your target? Or can you think creatively for something more, something better? I'm just pushing you further, encouragingly. Prompt 3 will be a big one for you.
ReplyDelete