When was the first time you saw yourself in the media? When was the first time you saw a film, read a book, watched a TV episode, or engaged in any other form of media and thought to yourself, "I've had that same experience!" or "Wow, that character looks like me"? Authentic media representation is pivotal in fostering acceptance for marginalized identities who are historically either invisible in mainstream media or portrayed using inaccurate stereotypes. When you finally see a person or character within a piece media that truly resonates with you, it is an incredibly powerful feeling.
In the wake of buzzing excitement surrounding media such as Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther, and the reboot of Queer Eye, among others, the Inter-Asian Council presents the #FirstTimeISawMe campaign. We want to celebrate your moments of realization with the screen, and to highlight your stories about how media representation has had an impact on your story. This project serves as a platform to explore the importance of authentically representing marginalized identities in film, TV, literature, video games, social media, and much, much more!
#FirstTimeISawMe is seeking submissions from the community in hopes of shedding light on the impact of representation. If you are interested in sharing your story, fill out this form.
If you have any questions, send an email to iac@jhu.edu. For more information about the origins of this hashtag movement, see this article.
