I never could have imagined when I sat down with my surly eight-year-old ants
down with my surly eight-year-old ants
down with my surly eight-year-old ants in a grass hut on our family farm on
in a grass hut on our family farm on
in a grass hut on our family farm on Mount Kilimanjaro that our conversation
Mount Kilimanjaro that our conversation
Mount Kilimanjaro that our conversation that day would forever change the course
that day would forever change the course
that day would forever change the course of my life even though I grew up
of my life even though I grew up
of my life even though I grew up spending my childhood summers on that
spending my childhood summers on that
spending my childhood summers on that farm in Tanzania I was a kid more
farm in Tanzania I was a kid more
farm in Tanzania I was a kid more preoccupied with playing or reading or
preoccupied with playing or reading or
preoccupied with playing or reading or listening to Bowie on my Walkman I was
listening to Bowie on my Walkman I was
listening to Bowie on my Walkman I was really into being American and less
really into being American and less
really into being American and less invested in learning about my cultural
invested in learning about my cultural
invested in learning about my cultural heritage but when I hit my 30s I started
heritage but when I hit my 30s I started
heritage but when I hit my 30s I started thinking about having kids of my own and
thinking about having kids of my own and
thinking about having kids of my own and I realized that there was a lot I needed
I realized that there was a lot I needed
I realized that there was a lot I needed to learn about my Tanzanian family so
to learn about my Tanzanian family so
to learn about my Tanzanian family so that I could have something tangible to
that I could have something tangible to
that I could have something tangible to pass down and so I set out to make a
pass down and so I set out to make a
pass down and so I set out to make a film about my family and culture but it
film about my family and culture but it
film about my family and culture but it ended up being about the lens that we
ended up being about the lens that we
ended up being about the lens that we bring to the stories of our lives the
bring to the stories of our lives the
bring to the stories of our lives the stories that we inherit about who we are
stories that we inherit about who we are
stories that we inherit about who we are and where we come from and how we filter
and where we come from and how we filter
and where we come from and how we filter the stories that we passed down to the
the stories that we passed down to the
the stories that we passed down to the next generation and you can really see
next generation and you can really see
next generation and you can really see how speaking our truth has the power to
how speaking our truth has the power to
how speaking our truth has the power to transform and heal not just the speaker
transform and heal not just the speaker
transform and heal not just the speaker but the listener as well and that to me
but the listener as well and that to me
but the listener as well and that to me is the beauty of stories and it’s why
is the beauty of stories and it’s why
is the beauty of stories and it’s why our stories are so important but just to
our stories are so important but just to
our stories are so important but just to be clear by stories I’m not talking
be clear by stories I’m not talking
be clear by stories I’m not talking about our highly sanitized you know
about our highly sanitized you know
about our highly sanitized you know curated Facebook feeds what I’m talking
curated Facebook feeds what I’m talking
curated Facebook feeds what I’m talking about is the vulnerable deeply
about is the vulnerable deeply
about is the vulnerable deeply considered truth seeking that explores
considered truth seeking that explores
considered truth seeking that explores those deeper questions of Who am I why
those deeper questions of Who am I why
those deeper questions of Who am I why am I here and where do I belong as a kid
am I here and where do I belong as a kid
am I here and where do I belong as a kid I was obsessed with stories and in
I was obsessed with stories and in
I was obsessed with stories and in particular my origin story because even
particular my origin story because even
particular my origin story because even at five I knew how unlikely my my
at five I knew how unlikely my my
at five I knew how unlikely my my existence was and how wildly the
existence was and how wildly the
existence was and how wildly the universe had to conspire just so my
universe had to conspire just so my
universe had to conspire just so my parents could meet and fulfill their
parents could meet and fulfill their
parents could meet and fulfill their destiny of having me
my father was born and raised on that
my father was born and raised on that coffee farm on the slopes of Mount
coffee farm on the slopes of Mount
coffee farm on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro he was the youngest of six
Kilimanjaro he was the youngest of six
Kilimanjaro he was the youngest of six and a member of the chaga tribe and
and a member of the chaga tribe and
and a member of the chaga tribe and growing up he would tell me stories
growing up he would tell me stories
growing up he would tell me stories about walking for miles to fetch water
about walking for miles to fetch water
about walking for miles to fetch water and sleeping in a grass thatched hut
and sleeping in a grass thatched hut
and sleeping in a grass thatched hut with his family together with their cows
with his family together with their cows
with his family together with their cows and goats he ended up doing so well on
and goats he ended up doing so well on
and goats he ended up doing so well on his final exams that he got a
his final exams that he got a
his final exams that he got a scholarship to study in the US and so at
scholarship to study in the US and so at
scholarship to study in the US and so at the age of 18 he took off meanwhile
the age of 18 he took off meanwhile
the age of 18 he took off meanwhile halfway around the world my mother was
halfway around the world my mother was
halfway around the world my mother was also the youngest of six growing up in
also the youngest of six growing up in
also the youngest of six growing up in Seoul South Korea which at the time was
Seoul South Korea which at the time was
Seoul South Korea which at the time was actually even poorer than Tanzania she
actually even poorer than Tanzania she
actually even poorer than Tanzania she also aced her exams and received a
also aced her exams and received a
also aced her exams and received a Fulbright scholarship to study in the
Fulbright scholarship to study in the
Fulbright scholarship to study in the States where she met my dad and they
States where she met my dad and they
States where she met my dad and they fell in love and three months later they
fell in love and three months later they
fell in love and three months later they were married so lying in bed I would
were married so lying in bed I would
were married so lying in bed I would think about all the random life choices
think about all the random life choices
think about all the random life choices that had to happen extended back
that had to happen extended back
that had to happen extended back generations right that had to happen
generations right that had to happen
generations right that had to happen just that my parents could meet and have
just that my parents could meet and have
just that my parents could meet and have me and then as I got older I realized
me and then as I got older I realized
me and then as I got older I realized that everyone has stories that are epic
that everyone has stories that are epic
that everyone has stories that are epic in scope even if their families had
in scope even if their families had
in scope even if their families had lived in the same town for generations
lived in the same town for generations
lived in the same town for generations every one of us is the embodiment of the
every one of us is the embodiment of the
every one of us is the embodiment of the life stories of our parents our
life stories of our parents our
life stories of our parents our grandparents our ancestors we carry
grandparents our ancestors we carry
grandparents our ancestors we carry these stories forward with us whether
these stories forward with us whether
these stories forward with us whether we’re conscious of them or not but make
we’re conscious of them or not but make
we’re conscious of them or not but make no mistake we are all here because of
no mistake we are all here because of
no mistake we are all here because of our stories so as a kid I was raised in
our stories so as a kid I was raised in
our stories so as a kid I was raised in the suburbs of DC and both my parents
the suburbs of DC and both my parents
the suburbs of DC and both my parents worked for branches of the United
worked for branches of the United
worked for branches of the United Nations so a lot of our family friends
Nations so a lot of our family friends
Nations so a lot of our family friends were International couples with
were International couples with
were International couples with mixed-race kids many of whom were
mixed-race kids many of whom were
mixed-race kids many of whom were first-generation American like me
first-generation American like me
first-generation American like me and so just about anyone who knew me
and so just about anyone who knew me
and so just about anyone who knew me knew my parents so I didn’t have to
knew my parents so I didn’t have to
knew my parents so I didn’t have to explain or justify who I was or how I
explain or justify who I was or how I
explain or justify who I was or how I identified but that all changed when I
identified but that all changed when I
identified but that all changed when I went to university and I remember one
went to university and I remember one
went to university and I remember one night sitting in a introduced sociology
night sitting in a introduced sociology
night sitting in a introduced sociology class and I was the only visible student
class and I was the only visible student
class and I was the only visible student of color in a class of about 400 and my
of color in a class of about 400 and my
of color in a class of about 400 and my professor he was white and
professor he was white and
professor he was white and mail was expounding on the violent
mail was expounding on the violent
mail was expounding on the violent mixing of blood between slave owners in
mixing of blood between slave owners in
mixing of blood between slave owners in their slaves and the resulting politics
their slaves and the resulting politics
their slaves and the resulting politics of skin color privilege that continues
of skin color privilege that continues
of skin color privilege that continues to plague the african-american
to plague the african-american
to plague the african-american communities to this day and the whole
communities to this day and the whole
communities to this day and the whole time he’s talking he’s looking directly
time he’s talking he’s looking directly
time he’s talking he’s looking directly at me I was like oh my god this guy he
at me I was like oh my god this guy he
at me I was like oh my god this guy he thinks he’s telling my story and with
thinks he’s telling my story and with
thinks he’s telling my story and with this crazy intense eye contact he’s
this crazy intense eye contact he’s
this crazy intense eye contact he’s letting me know you know I got this I
wanted to bolt out of that classroom so
wanted to bolt out of that classroom so bad but I stayed put and he continued to
bad but I stayed put and he continued to
bad but I stayed put and he continued to glare right through me and I felt
glare right through me and I felt
glare right through me and I felt completely exposed and completely unseen
completely exposed and completely unseen
completely exposed and completely unseen and I felt the devastating power of
and I felt the devastating power of
and I felt the devastating power of having someone just take one look at you
having someone just take one look at you
having someone just take one look at you and construct their own narrative about
and construct their own narrative about
and construct their own narrative about who you are and then feel completely
who you are and then feel completely
who you are and then feel completely entitled to turn around and share that
entitled to turn around and share that
entitled to turn around and share that narrative of the world I was livid but I
narrative of the world I was livid but I
narrative of the world I was livid but I woke up that night I woke to the reality
woke up that night I woke to the reality
woke up that night I woke to the reality of what it means to be a black woman
of what it means to be a black woman
of what it means to be a black woman living in this country at this moment in
living in this country at this moment in
living in this country at this moment in time and I realized that the history of
time and I realized that the history of
time and I realized that the history of black people in the United States is
black people in the United States is
black people in the United States is necessarily my history simply because
necessarily my history simply because
necessarily my history simply because people will assume it to be my history
people will assume it to be my history
people will assume it to be my history and so I went back in I’d go back in and
and so I went back in I’d go back in and
and so I went back in I’d go back in and I reread the stories of the civil rights
I reread the stories of the civil rights
I reread the stories of the civil rights movement queer liberation women’s lib
movement queer liberation women’s lib
movement queer liberation women’s lib anti-violence movement and I saw how at
anti-violence movement and I saw how at
anti-violence movement and I saw how at critical moments in our history like
critical moments in our history like
critical moments in our history like this one we’re in right now our
this one we’re in right now our
this one we’re in right now our collective stories can contribute to the
collective stories can contribute to the
collective stories can contribute to the groundswell that leads to change okay so
groundswell that leads to change okay so
groundswell that leads to change okay so now fast forward 12 years and my career
now fast forward 12 years and my career
now fast forward 12 years and my career in crisis counseling is winding down and
in crisis counseling is winding down and
in crisis counseling is winding down and one day I hear a song driving to work
one day I hear a song driving to work
one day I hear a song driving to work that evokes memories of my summers in
that evokes memories of my summers in
that evokes memories of my summers in Tanzania and in particular my favorite
Tanzania and in particular my favorite
Tanzania and in particular my favorite drive from our farmhouse up in the
drive from our farmhouse up in the
drive from our farmhouse up in the mountain down to the nearest town in the
mountain down to the nearest town in the
mountain down to the nearest town in the plains
plains
plains we’re on any given day I could look out
we’re on any given day I could look out
we’re on any given day I could look out my car window and see elephants gazelle
my car window and see elephants gazelle
my car window and see elephants gazelle zebra ostriches just grazing by the side
zebra ostriches just grazing by the side
zebra ostriches just grazing by the side of the road this was at National Park
of the road this was at National Park
of the road this was at National Park this was just our drive into town and
this was just our drive into town and
this was just our drive into town and this vision is playing out so vividly in
this vision is playing out so vividly in
this vision is playing out so vividly in my mind that it suddenly hits me their
my mind that it suddenly hits me their
my mind that it suddenly hits me their video video would be the most effective
video video would be the most effective
video video would be the most effective way for me to go back to Tanzania
way for me to go back to Tanzania
way for me to go back to Tanzania collect my family stories so that I can
collect my family stories so that I can
collect my family stories so that I can share them with my future kid
share them with my future kid
share them with my future kid never mind that I had zero experience in
never mind that I had zero experience in
never mind that I had zero experience in filmmaking or storytelling that night I
filmmaking or storytelling that night I
filmmaking or storytelling that night I went home and I signed up for an intro
went home and I signed up for an intro
went home and I signed up for an intro to filmmaking class and seven months
to filmmaking class and seven months
to filmmaking class and seven months later My partner and I quit our jobs
later My partner and I quit our jobs
later My partner and I quit our jobs bought our equipment on eBay and one-way
bought our equipment on eBay and one-way
bought our equipment on eBay and one-way tickets to Tanzania now when we landed I
tickets to Tanzania now when we landed I
tickets to Tanzania now when we landed I found that chaga culture if I thought of
found that chaga culture if I thought of
found that chaga culture if I thought of it was on the verge of disappearing and
it was on the verge of disappearing and
it was on the verge of disappearing and so I made it we made it our mission to
so I made it we made it our mission to
so I made it we made it our mission to try to capture and preserve what we
try to capture and preserve what we
try to capture and preserve what we could of this fading culture right but
could of this fading culture right but
could of this fading culture right but it was frustrating because I didn’t feel
it was frustrating because I didn’t feel
it was frustrating because I didn’t feel like we were filming anything that felt
like we were filming anything that felt
like we were filming anything that felt authentic to me and then I realized why
authentic to me and then I realized why
authentic to me and then I realized why now playing the role of that sociology
now playing the role of that sociology
now playing the role of that sociology professor was me here I was I bought my
professor was me here I was I bought my
professor was me here I was I bought my Western gaze to Tanzania I was pointing
Western gaze to Tanzania I was pointing
Western gaze to Tanzania I was pointing my camera anything that even remotely
my camera anything that even remotely
my camera anything that even remotely resembled capital see culture write to
resembled capital see culture write to
resembled capital see culture write to me written songs dance folklore
me written songs dance folklore
me written songs dance folklore spirituality healing practices all of
spirituality healing practices all of
spirituality healing practices all of this completely bound up in my own
this completely bound up in my own
this completely bound up in my own projections when I realized what I was
projections when I realized what I was
projections when I realized what I was doing I was so disappointed because
doing I was so disappointed because
doing I was so disappointed because soothly having been on the receiving end
soothly having been on the receiving end
soothly having been on the receiving end of someone else’s imposed narrative how
of someone else’s imposed narrative how
of someone else’s imposed narrative how could I turn right around and do the
could I turn right around and do the
could I turn right around and do the same thing to someone else I should know
same thing to someone else I should know
same thing to someone else I should know better
better
better so I abandoned our culture search and
so I abandoned our culture search and
so I abandoned our culture search and turn my focus back on my family and I
turn my focus back on my family and I
turn my focus back on my family and I discovered that being a cultural
discovered that being a cultural
discovered that being a cultural outsider actually worked to my advantage
outsider actually worked to my advantage
outsider actually worked to my advantage when it came to interviewing my family I
when it came to interviewing my family I
when it came to interviewing my family I mean I was inside her enough to have
mean I was inside her enough to have
mean I was inside her enough to have access to dad and his siblings but I was
access to dad and his siblings but I was
access to dad and his siblings but I was still an outsider coming from the States
still an outsider coming from the States
still an outsider coming from the States plus I had my camera right which
plus I had my camera right which
plus I had my camera right which actually I was grateful for because it
actually I was grateful for because it
actually I was grateful for because it provided a comfortable
provided a comfortable
provided a comfortable allowing me to be curious with my family
allowing me to be curious with my family
allowing me to be curious with my family and ask them questions that frankly
and ask them questions that frankly
and ask them questions that frankly anyone raised on Kilimanjaro would have
anyone raised on Kilimanjaro would have
anyone raised on Kilimanjaro would have known were off-limits so I sat down with
known were off-limits so I sat down with
known were off-limits so I sat down with everyone in my family and when we got
everyone in my family and when we got
everyone in my family and when we got around to my aunts I won’t lie it was
around to my aunts I won’t lie it was
around to my aunts I won’t lie it was tense sitting in that hut with them
tense sitting in that hut with them
tense sitting in that hut with them because we were not close we do not have
because we were not close we do not have
because we were not close we do not have a warm relationship my aunts had always
a warm relationship my aunts had always
a warm relationship my aunts had always been cold and distant and angry and as a
been cold and distant and angry and as a
been cold and distant and angry and as a kid I didn’t know what to do that anger
kid I didn’t know what to do that anger
kid I didn’t know what to do that anger and so I just left them alone but on
and so I just left them alone but on
and so I just left them alone but on this day I decided to be curious and so
this day I decided to be curious and so
this day I decided to be curious and so I asked them about their childhood I
I asked them about their childhood I
I asked them about their childhood I don’t know what I was expecting I mean I
don’t know what I was expecting I mean I
don’t know what I was expecting I mean I thought I was asking them the questions
thought I was asking them the questions
thought I was asking them the questions that any of us would ask our elder
that any of us would ask our elder
that any of us would ask our elder relatives right if given the chance tell
relatives right if given the chance tell
relatives right if given the chance tell me about your life what do you want me
me about your life what do you want me
me about your life what do you want me to know about how you’ve lived or what
to know about how you’ve lived or what
to know about how you’ve lived or what you’ve learned maybe I was also hoping
you’ve learned maybe I was also hoping
you’ve learned maybe I was also hoping to plug into stories involving ceremony
to plug into stories involving ceremony
to plug into stories involving ceremony and ritual you know something about what
and ritual you know something about what
and ritual you know something about what that would feel uniquely indistinctly
that would feel uniquely indistinctly
that would feel uniquely indistinctly chaga but instead I got the truth with
chaga but instead I got the truth with
chaga but instead I got the truth with my camera rolling my aunt’s opened up
my camera rolling my aunt’s opened up
my camera rolling my aunt’s opened up and shared stories with me about their
and shared stories with me about their
and shared stories with me about their experiences with female genital
experiences with female genital
experiences with female genital mutilation the practice that I was aware
mutilation the practice that I was aware
mutilation the practice that I was aware of but I had no idea as part of my
of but I had no idea as part of my
of but I had no idea as part of my family’s legacy and when I asked them
family’s legacy and when I asked them
family’s legacy and when I asked them how they got married they told me about
how they got married they told me about
how they got married they told me about how they were kidnapped and raped by
how they were kidnapped and raped by
how they were kidnapped and raped by their future husbands and about the
their future husbands and about the
their future husbands and about the ongoing abuse that they’d experienced in
ongoing abuse that they’d experienced in
ongoing abuse that they’d experienced in their homes a lot of these stories
their homes a lot of these stories
their homes a lot of these stories they’d never even shared with each other
they’d never even shared with each other
they’d never even shared with each other I was totally caught off guard in’
I was totally caught off guard in’
I was totally caught off guard in’ despite spending the past 12 years in
despite spending the past 12 years in
despite spending the past 12 years in the United States supporting survivors
the United States supporting survivors
the United States supporting survivors of rape and domestic violence
of rape and domestic violence
of rape and domestic violence I never heard stories quite like this
I never heard stories quite like this
I never heard stories quite like this right Plus this was family it was
right Plus this was family it was
right Plus this was family it was painful and it was raw and honestly my
painful and it was raw and honestly my
painful and it was raw and honestly my Swahili wasn’t good enough to counsel
Swahili wasn’t good enough to counsel
Swahili wasn’t good enough to counsel them so all I could do was bear silent
them so all I could do was bear silent
them so all I could do was bear silent witness all I did was listen but here’s
witness all I did was listen but here’s
witness all I did was listen but here’s what happened
what happened
what happened my aunt’s changed
my aunt’s changed
my aunt’s changed telling their stories to someone who
telling their stories to someone who
telling their stories to someone who cared enough to ask them about their
cared enough to ask them about their
cared enough to ask them about their life it changed them it changed the way
life it changed them it changed the way
life it changed them it changed the way they looked it changed the way they held
they looked it changed the way they held
they looked it changed the way they held themselves on screen you can see my
themselves on screen you can see my
themselves on screen you can see my aunt’s transform as they release the
aunt’s transform as they release the
aunt’s transform as they release the pain and shame they’ve been carrying
pain and shame they’ve been carrying
pain and shame they’ve been carrying their entire lives their stories we’re
their entire lives their stories we’re
their entire lives their stories we’re no longer their burden to bear they
no longer their burden to bear they
no longer their burden to bear they could finally let those go knowing that
could finally let those go knowing that
could finally let those go knowing that I would be the carrier of their stories
I would be the carrier of their stories
I would be the carrier of their stories now so when I say your stories are
now so when I say your stories are
now so when I say your stories are important this is why because having the
important this is why because having the
important this is why because having the space to speak their truth mattered more
space to speak their truth mattered more
space to speak their truth mattered more to my arms than being in my film right
to my arms than being in my film right
to my arms than being in my film right speaking their truth telling their
speaking their truth telling their
speaking their truth telling their stories it set them free and it set me
stories it set them free and it set me
stories it set them free and it set me free too after our conversation in the
free too after our conversation in the
free too after our conversation in the hut my aunt’s left me with a challenge
hut my aunt’s left me with a challenge
hut my aunt’s left me with a challenge they said now that we’ve shared our
they said now that we’ve shared our
they said now that we’ve shared our stories with you what are you going to
stories with you what are you going to
stories with you what are you going to do about it for years I thought this
do about it for years I thought this
do about it for years I thought this film was about my dad moving back to
film was about my dad moving back to
film was about my dad moving back to Tanzania and struggling to fit back in
Tanzania and struggling to fit back in
Tanzania and struggling to fit back in with a family and culture he left behind
with a family and culture he left behind
with a family and culture he left behind but eight years into making this film I
but eight years into making this film I
but eight years into making this film I finally realized if I was going to live
finally realized if I was going to live
finally realized if I was going to live up to my aunt’s challenge I had to
up to my aunt’s challenge I had to
up to my aunt’s challenge I had to follow their lead and I had to speak my
follow their lead and I had to speak my
follow their lead and I had to speak my own truth I needed to share my story and
own truth I needed to share my story and
own truth I needed to share my story and maybe make a film about my own journey
maybe make a film about my own journey
maybe make a film about my own journey to discover the cultural roots of my
to discover the cultural roots of my
to discover the cultural roots of my blackness plus my aunt’s had shown me
blackness plus my aunt’s had shown me
blackness plus my aunt’s had shown me that when we open ourselves up to seeing
that when we open ourselves up to seeing
that when we open ourselves up to seeing the world through someone else’s eyes
the world through someone else’s eyes
the world through someone else’s eyes especially someone whose world is so
especially someone whose world is so
especially someone whose world is so different from our own right then that
different from our own right then that
different from our own right then that distance between us dissolves and we
distance between us dissolves and we
distance between us dissolves and we experience their joys and their
experience their joys and their
experience their joys and their suffering as our own and so by centering
suffering as our own and so by centering
suffering as our own and so by centering myself in my own story I could tell a
myself in my own story I could tell a
myself in my own story I could tell a story that allows for multiple
story that allows for multiple
story that allows for multiple conflicting truths write a story about
conflicting truths write a story about
conflicting truths write a story about the love and compassion that emerges
the love and compassion that emerges
the love and compassion that emerges when we allow all of it the beauty and
when we allow all of it the beauty and
when we allow all of it the beauty and the brutality the messiness the grease
the brutality the messiness the grease
the brutality the messiness the grease to exist side by side but the toughest
to exist side by side but the toughest
to exist side by side but the toughest part of this entire journey was
part of this entire journey was
part of this entire journey was believing that I had the right to take
believing that I had the right to take
believing that I had the right to take up space with my story
up space with my story
up space with my story believing that what I thought as a queer
believing that what I thought as a queer
believing that what I thought as a queer mixed-race first-generation American
mixed-race first-generation American
mixed-race first-generation American daughter of immigrants and survivor of
daughter of immigrants and survivor of
daughter of immigrants and survivor of rape and abuse that my story would
rape and abuse that my story would
rape and abuse that my story would matter to anyone but me
matter to anyone but me
matter to anyone but me and it’s precisely because I had never
and it’s precisely because I had never
and it’s precisely because I had never seen a story that featured someone like
seen a story that featured someone like
seen a story that featured someone like me or that was told by someone like me
me or that was told by someone like me
me or that was told by someone like me or that was made by someone like me but
or that was made by someone like me but
or that was made by someone like me but luckily none of that mattered because I
luckily none of that mattered because I
luckily none of that mattered because I was going into hard labor with this film
was going into hard labor with this film
was going into hard labor with this film this story was coming and there was
this story was coming and there was
this story was coming and there was nothing I could do to stop it and we’re
nothing I could do to stop it and we’re
nothing I could do to stop it and we’re living at a time when most of us have
living at a time when most of us have
living at a time when most of us have access to the tools we need to tell and
access to the tools we need to tell and
access to the tools we need to tell and share our own stories right so we don’t
share our own stories right so we don’t
share our own stories right so we don’t need to wait for permission so just tell
need to wait for permission so just tell
need to wait for permission so just tell your story for the past five years I’ve
your story for the past five years I’ve
your story for the past five years I’ve been traveling around the world with
been traveling around the world with
been traveling around the world with this film and after every screening
this film and after every screening
this film and after every screening people from all walks of life come up
people from all walks of life come up
people from all walks of life come up wanting to connect sometimes they’re in
wanting to connect sometimes they’re in
wanting to connect sometimes they’re in tears as they try to tell me how
tears as they try to tell me how
tears as they try to tell me how powerful it was to see their truth
powerful it was to see their truth
powerful it was to see their truth reflected back at them from the screen
reflected back at them from the screen
reflected back at them from the screen for the first time they tell me that
for the first time they tell me that
for the first time they tell me that this is the first time they’d seen
this is the first time they’d seen
this is the first time they’d seen themselves their families their lives
themselves their families their lives
themselves their families their lives their secrets their struggles
their secrets their struggles
their secrets their struggles represented so truthfully and as a
represented so truthfully and as a
represented so truthfully and as a filmmaker I can’t think of a bigger
filmmaker I can’t think of a bigger
filmmaker I can’t think of a bigger compliment but that is too many people
compliment but that is too many people
compliment but that is too many people who are living their lives never seeing
who are living their lives never seeing
who are living their lives never seeing themselves represented in the media and
themselves represented in the media and
themselves represented in the media and this invisibility is taking a toll on us
this invisibility is taking a toll on us
this invisibility is taking a toll on us all so tell your stories and share them
all so tell your stories and share them
all so tell your stories and share them maybe you share your story at an open
maybe you share your story at an open
maybe you share your story at an open mic and maybe you just reach one person
mic and maybe you just reach one person
mic and maybe you just reach one person that’s one person who will stand taller
that’s one person who will stand taller
that’s one person who will stand taller and breathe deeper after hearing your
and breathe deeper after hearing your
and breathe deeper after hearing your story that’s one person who will leave
story that’s one person who will leave
story that’s one person who will leave that night feeling validated and less
that night feeling validated and less
that night feeling validated and less alone and maybe even inspired to find
alone and maybe even inspired to find
alone and maybe even inspired to find their own creative way to contribute
their own creative way to contribute
their own creative way to contribute their story because every time we share
their story because every time we share
their story because every time we share our story we create a more expansive
our story we create a more expansive
our story we create a more expansive inclusive portrait of humanity and so
inclusive portrait of humanity and so
inclusive portrait of humanity and so this is what I wish
this is what I wish
this is what I wish that we flood the world with enough of
that we flood the world with enough of
that we flood the world with enough of our stories that they rise or fall based
our stories that they rise or fall based
our stories that they rise or fall based on their own merits and while I love
on their own merits and while I love
on their own merits and while I love being I love connecting with people who
being I love connecting with people who
being I love connecting with people who are moved by my film I don’t want to be
are moved by my film I don’t want to be
are moved by my film I don’t want to be anyone’s first anymore I want my story
anyone’s first anymore I want my story
anyone’s first anymore I want my story to be one in a billion as it should be I
to be one in a billion as it should be I
to be one in a billion as it should be I want the world to be flooded with our
want the world to be flooded with our
want the world to be flooded with our stories thinking
stories thinking
stories thinking [Applause]
”
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