We are at a tipping point for change... finally. As a straight, white, cisgender man I have to constantly remind myself of the privilege that I have in the United States and around the world. I live in a world that calls people who look like me the norm and makes it easier for me to succeed and feel safe. I was completely unaware of this privilege for many, many years in my life. It has been a difficult journey for me over the last 5 years to start to understand the landscape from which I unknowingly benefit. That sentence itself shows my privilege. I got to spend much of my life ignorant to my privilege, and if I choose to, I can turn my attention off from it. BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community do not have that option and carry that weight everyday. I am dedicated to continuing to listen, read and learn. It is time for people like me to put in the work.
With the most recent murders of black men at the hands of police officers in the United States, people are once again saying, "Enough is Enough." We need to reexamine our structures for policing, for justice, and deep rooted biases in all manners of our lives. I support Black Lives Matter. I support Reallocating Police Funds, and in the wake of the most recent protests some other animators came up with an idea that makes me proud to be a part of the industry.
I am incredibly honored to get to be a part of Rise Up Animation. Rise Up Animation is offering free portfolio and demo reel reviews for BIPOC people to help them rise up into the animation industry. We need more diverse voices in the animation industry, and I am hopeful that this effort will help encourage that change. If you are a Black, Indigenous Person of Color and have an interest in joining the animation industry, please sign up for a one on one conversation here:
I hope we can make a difference and I look forward to working with you in the future!
ZAP!