THE WRITER

You see this kid?

Someone told her that she could be whatever she wanted to be when she grew up, and despite trailer park, paycheck-to-paycheck living, she chose to believe that her gift would make room for her. Funny thing is, she never knew she was poor. She had two loving parents who taught her the value of hard work and education, and while her mom worked a factory job, she would always find time to take her daughter to the public library to check out the maximum number of books allowed every Saturday. Religiously.

So, at a very early age, I learned the power of books and the power of well-crafted stories. They allowed me to travel to Disney World and to cross the Bridge to Terabithia, while tucked away in a twin-size bed in a small corner of the world called Bailey, NC. 

Both reading and writing became my escape. It was my way of dreaming. It was my way of creating, connecting with, and reflecting on the world. Out from poverty, out from under thoughts of suicide, out from under divorce, out from under single parenting, depression and lonliness, emerged a real-life character (me) whose life-lessons helped to construct fictional characters who are not only real but relatable. While I could not see it at the time, hindsight has taught me that what follows pain is often something very beautiful, and writing helps me capture it all. 

I grew up watching shows like Flipper, I love Lucy,  I Dream of Jeannie, Doogie Howser and The Wonder Years, but there was one show that changed my world: The Cosby Show. Why? Because for the first time, I got to see a Black female lawyer and a Black doctor raise children who looked like me and who gave their parents the same kind of trouble my sister and I gave ours. Aside from the whole fact that they had money and we didn't, it changed the Black narrative and I dare say, the trajectory of my life. For the first time, I believed that I could go to college, that I could  write and produce my own show and that the American dream was not something reserved just for some.  

THE NARRATIVE

THE CAROLINE PEATREE GIBBS SERIES

This project does the same-- just in a new millenial, 21st century type of way. The Caroline Peatree Gibbs series has characters that are Black business owners--millionaire entrprenuers making waves in America. While they may be flawed, they don't fit the sterotype that modern-day television perpetuates:  loud, combative, confrontational, and corrupt. They are all just ordinary people who make mistakes while trying to figure out life.

What's funny about all of this is that the audience can't really figure out if they love or hate Caroline. Everything in them makes them want to despise her character, but her relateability won't let them  crucify her because, they all have a little bit of Caroline in them whether they would like to admit it or not. Her selfish ambition drives her to make some choices that are life-changing--not just for her, but for all of the characters connected to her.

When we first meet Caroline she is in the middle of a trial in her marriage, and she is also in the middle of a battle in her mind. She gets caught up with one of her employees, and life just goes down hill from there. Amazingly though, Caroline somehow still manages to remain this well-kept business woman that can seamlessly handle the affairs of her business, but can't harness that same power in her personal life. 

The fellas within this story do a better job of representing Black men than the way they are often portrayed in media. Contrary to media headlines, the Caroline Peatree Gibbs' storyline allows us to see black men in suits, doing legal deals in legal business, making honest money and loving women the way gentlemen should. Well, not one of them. But, there's always one, isn't there? He tends to sleep around, but his emotional baggage helps our community to better understand the why. 

While this story doesn't have perfect characters, they will all have an encounter with a perfect God.

If I were to sum the show up it into seven words, it would be this: professionals who love, laugh and live Black. Like me. Like so many of my family and friends who are just honest, hard-working people dealing with life on the regular.

More about the series can be found here: The Caroline Peatree Gibbs Series

THE WHY

It's important that a new narrative is told. One where men and women of color can flip the channel and find real hope in their lives through fictional characters. I want this show to plant seeds of entreprenuership, financial literacy, sexual responsibility, accountability, and  functional lives, families and friendships. Our storyline does all of that. While our audience will be entertained, they will also be educated in matters that affect the Black community.

Most people are wired not to believe something until they see it. If we can make them see it--even if it's just on screen--, then, hopefully, they will become like me watching The Cosby Show as a little girl  and dare to believe that being a rich, Black, entreprenueral professional does not always have to be fiction.

OUR GOAL and STRETCH GOAL

Our intitial goal is set for $3,000, but that is just for development (getting the ball rolling). We will need close to $25,000 to complete one full series. So, even if we meet or exceed our initial goal of $3,000, don't be bound because the more we raise, the more episodes we can do! So, let me be the first to say THANK YOU for any amount you give. I promise that it will be noticed and appreciated!