When I think about being black in animation I think about my first animation job working on a "progressive show" with female showrunner a part of the lgbt community, and still being the only black person in the office STILL dealing with microaggressive racism and being tokenized

I remember having to go back and forth with a white co worker about why black face was wrong while my progressive coworkers sat in silence. I remember my boss telling people I was being difficult and not meeting her half way because I was so depressed working in the office

because of microaggressive racism, crazy deadlines and lack of proper support. I rememeber asking if we had an HR to voice my concerns about the production and being told there wasnt, being told by a producer and my show runner that I could trust and confide in them

only to be called out and isolated from my other coworkers. I remember ending up in the hospital after having a mental breakdown from it all and then yelled at by my showrunner that if something happened to me it would make HER look bad and her show look bad.

My point is, its not enough to just hire black artists, you have to make a space for them, listen to them when they share concerns about their environment.

I remember going to the crew photo shoot after working from home only to be physically ignored by everyone in the office. EVERYONE because I was too much trouble. I remember being ghosted from attending things like parties and such and finding out through instagram.

Its not enough to just be on social media parading around how progressive you are. How do you act behind closed doors, in meetings with others, how do you treat the black people in your everyday life?