#MyHungerGames Exposes the Realities Of Income Inequality By Hacking the Hunger Games Narrative
Earlier this week the Harry Potter Alliance launched a hashtag meant to bridge the gap between the Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 marketing and the series’ resonance with human stories. Looking through the tag on Twitter and Tumblr, it’s clear that these stories have been waiting to be told. People have been taking this chance to tell their stories, and they have been illuminating, arresting, and humbling.
Here is a sampling of what we have seen:
Small biz owner dad couldn’t afford health care. Dad died at 49 w/problems that could have been helped by regular dr visits #MyHungerGames
— Steph Anderson (@TonksNtheAurors) November 17, 2014
#MyHungerGames Memories of my mom breaking down in tears because she spilled the mac&cheese and didn’t know what she would feed us now.
— Janae Phillips (@janaeisms) November 17, 2014
Me in FinAid office, freshman year, crying: “My dad won’t help me out with $.” FinAid worker: “Then why are you in college?” #MyHungerGames
— Tianna (@queerwitches) November 17, 2014
#MyHungerGames is that I’ve never felt able to discuss my childhood homelessness with any of my closest friends.
— Alanna Bennett (@AlannaBennett) November 17, 2014
More collected stories can be viewed at storify.com/TheHPAlliance/
“In America, the first rule of classism is don’t talk about classism. With #MyHungerGames, we are breaking that rule,” says Andrew Slack, co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance. “Sharing our personal stories around classism is just the beginning.”
Today in an opinion piece for CNN, Van Jones called the Hunger Games “Occupy’s ‘We are the 99%’ on Hollywood’s big screen.”
As Mockingjay hits theaters worldwide this weekend, it’s become more clear than ever that the series closely mirrors our own current reality. From protesters in Thailand, to the militarized police state in Ferguson, to low wage workers at Walmart and McDonald’s; the Hunger Games is demonstrating that it has a profound resonance beyond the box office.
For more see oddsinourfavor.org or check out #MyHungerGames.
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The Harry Potter Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that turns fans into heroes. We’re changing the world by making activism accessible through the power of story. Since 2005, we’ve engaged millions of fans through our work for equality, human rights, and literacy.
