Open Call: Pitch Reels

Are You Using Your Own White-Privelege To Share The Well-Known But Least Acknowledged American Truth? The covert tactics employed in the USA to maintain dominance on a global scale beginning at home first is NOT A SECRET any longer.

Is this what Osama Bin Laden meant when he said, "If you want to know why September 11th happened the truth lies in your own Black Communities?"

My interpretation of this as a 55 year old Black Social Scientist of human geography is we are a nation that thrives on FEAR. That in my mind is the underlying premise for "White-Privelege" to even exist. It's very simple to scare the hell out of anybody. But it's even easier and more convenient to scare the hell out of yourself and pretend you did not do it.

Black African-Americans have existed in the lower 48 states for nearly 500 years. If the priveleged whites who were responsible for enslaving Blacks for their own upward mobility do not recognized and most always continue to minimize the survivingest culture known on the planet do not know the group that made them who they are living amongst them, how can they know the Muslim culture of the Middle East?

It's because of white-privelege, that's why! Can you use your own mind to brainstorm an even more valid reason for this introverted inhuman fear tactic?

God Bless America because it sure as hell needs it. Fire and brimstone will reign from heaven before that privelege is publicly acknowledged and classified as yet another inherently treatable disease amongst the chosen group.

Great work! It has a subtle quality which is enaging and is paced to let the viewer think as the words give way to the animation which sets up the next segment.

This is a wonderful vehicle for exploring white privilege. The simple and playful animation make this a very accessible piece for YouTube and ipods. Also, it feels personal and connects on that level.

Simple and clear examples of white privilege. I like the timing, which lets you think about each one before moving on. Also, ending with the wide-open eyes is a forceful message.

What a lovely way to introduce the ideas to people who might otherwise resist. It would be perfect to go along with the new book Witnessing Whiteness: First Steps Toward an Antiracist Practice and Culture. That book also invites people in to the conversation in a way that reduces defensiveness and can get the conversation going. I know it really opened my dad up to recognize white privilege and lingering racism in his daily world! I'd love for him to see this too!

Thank you for creating such a powerful message. This will be absolutely excellent as a pedagogical tool! I am thrilled to support your work!

Excellent job--very simple way to teach about an often confounded reality--well done. Could be used in conjunction with the book, Racism Explained to My Daughter.

I think this is an excellent piece to use to start the conversation about dismantling white privilege. I like the examples. I think there are others you could also use for a little more punch. I know you want it to be not too harsh. But I think there are some that have more power than others. I especially like the last image of the eyes opening. Very powerful. Thank you for the work.

This is a simple and effective way to communicate a very complex topic. NICE WORK! My job is in advertising and we do video and animation, so I know from experience how much effort goes into seconds of finished work. You did a great job with the animation and the timing.

This little video packs a powerful message. I like how the words don't all appear at once, so the viewer gets to anticipate what white privilege will appear next. That makes you think. Also as a white person I found the simple animation quite disarming yet very effective and powerful. I especially like the last image of the eyes opening because that is exactly what we all need to do - open our eyes to how the systems in our lives confer privilege to those who are white and disadvantage to those who are non-white.

Kudos to Aislinn Dewey for doing her part and using her talents to further Peggy McIntosh's eye-opening and inspiring work on white privilege. What an incredible public service she and WGBH would be doing to bring these concepts "to life" and broaden the audience and the participants in this dialogue.

Since we white folks seem to be so sensitive to discussions about race, Aislinn's approach to Peggy's superlative text is upbeat, true, not accusatory, and an excellent introductory piece to folks who haven't thought about what their whiteness gives them. This should be a very public piece, and I do hope that WGBH takes it on as an important social service!

i love this piece by aislinn; what a creative way to present peggy m's ideas. i can't wait to show this to my students. it will surely generate meaningful exchanges.

Peggy McIntosh has something to say that is important for all Americans to hear. She says it very well. When coupled with this very elegant animation - the message takes flight in a powerful way.

I've been a fan of Peggy McIntosh's work for some time now. As a diversity consultant, her work lends much weight to what I do.

I applaud Aislinn for making Peggy's work even more accessible.

Thanks!!!

I found Aislinn's artistic rendering about privilege to be poignant, somewhat heartrending and on-target. As familiar as I am with the content of this video, I still had a visceral response to this. The journey continues...... As a person of color, my life and the lives of my children and of their children are at stake.

The power is in the simplicity of the presentation. I've done a workshop on white privilege and am sending this along to those who helped create it. This is an important vehicle which can initiate dialogue and new understanding. Congratulations!

Nice animation given to Peggy's work! Especially like the addition of the last statement. Reminds me of the words of Amiko Mayeno, "I always wanted to be an activist because I knew that if I wasn't an activist I would have to close my eyes - and I wanted to see the world."

a nice simple approach to a hard issue. In basic Black and White. Very nice.

I am priviledged to have seen this wonderful animation of Dr. Peggy's work of which I have been familiar for nearly 20 years.

Aislinn Dewey, you have done a fine job of breathing even more life into a deeply needed message to our society. Interestingly, people in various parts of the world are convinced that America is all about equality...fortunately, we've not lost ourselves totally in this illusion. Let's keep working and hoping!

Peggy's "knapsack" has been close to my heart since I first acquired a copy of her pencil-edited version in 1988, which I cherish. Brava, Aislinn, for this innovative and well done way of spreading her word.

Powerful, original, and moving!

Just a question: do you intend to change what you already have and if yes how, or is your sample reel the final version?

Thank you for your direct simple approach to a topic that so many of us can't talk about without getting enraged.

this is a simple and direct execution which builds over time. it's well-paced to make the message become cumulative and sink in.

Love the drawing style which i think works best when most abstract or when enlarging a small object or detail.

obviously it's a message that needs exposure and this does it in a compelling way.

Thanks for giving shape and form to the invisible. You've created a film that honors Peggy McIntosh's pioneer work!

This film has left me speechless and paralyzed, though I must attempt to put into words what it has meant to me.

The director's paired down, effective use of a pencil-like animation, in conjuction with her audio choice, captivated me and fosters an inward inflection that crawls under your skin and never lets go. Each individual with the privilege of viewing Aislinn's film will likely come away self reflective, pensive and inspired.

I can only hope this film is not lost in a computer file, but instead brought to a stage where it can evoke wisdom and social dialogue.

Excellent!!! You have created a wonderful animation with a very powerful and meaningful message.

This video takes a message that can be hard to swallow for some and portrays it in a light that is non-confrontational but still exposes the issue of white privilege. The animation makes it a great tool to show to people of all ages.

perhaps this is more prominent in my thoughts right now but i recall st. claire bourne speaking at this past ifp conference and stating that white filmmakers should be willing to commit "class suicide" if they want to produce films on racial tension in the u.s.

i think your piece illustrates what he meant. congrats, its powerful.

I can't wait to share this with my SEED group but also our church youth group. What a powerful way to begin the conversation of white privilege with teens!

Reminds me of a simple animated film I saw recently on American capitalism--effective, but it seems that a lot of the stuff people know, but refuse to acknowledge. The band aid one was my favorite, the word nude is what is most often used when women are buying shoes. What about the fact that everything that comes on TV for young children to watch, mean pretty much EVERYTHING has white characters, that is the default, so you always get to see Princesses and all the good guys look like you--that starts from childhood. I actually address this point in my film on parenting, but take that into consideration--I like the direction you are going.

www.cinemomma.com

I don't think very many people look at racism from this inward perspective. Maybe treating someone fairly isn't enough. The message is simple and presented clearly. I envision this pared down to a 30 second commercial spot or even expanded and simplified into a longer program for children (and adults). I can't speak to the intricacies of animation, but as an avid reader the words are simple and the animation feels like the punctuation.

This short recalls the provocative word play of artists like Jenny Holtzer and Barbara Kruger and harnesses it to two other mediums: the web and animation. The results are extremely compelling and arresting. By accompanying her thoughts with graphics, the director has made viewer-friendly political art that doesn't intimidate or alienate, which is no small feat. Rarely does the personal and the political (or in this case, sociological) meld in such honest, forthright fashion. The simple, almost naive animation somehow helps underscore the basic level on which white skin privilege occurs, visually echoing basic naive assumptions that are carried by the color of skin.

This video is eye opening and has given me a new perspective on my own privilege that I so often take for granted. As people who have this white privilege, we have the power to change it. Your message is inspiring and well executed. Most who are privileged do not notice so I am glad that your video is raising awareness.
I hope more people will get to see your video; I am going to post the link for my world literature class blog. We've been studying similar issues, and I think this video is memorable and moving

Your work is quite powerful.
I especially like the simple manner in which you are communicating the message.
Right on!

-Another priviledged white person

This is a powerful film which is extremely provocative, engaging us from the first frame in the deep contrasts in our daily lives, between African Americans and 'white privilege'. The creative art work is arresting and direct, and the film is different from anything we've seen. It is touching and original and beautifully executed.

:)