I am Samantha

As we continue Trans Pride week here within Virtual Pride month on the podcast, I am so HONORED to welcome part of the cast and crew of the powerful song and music video, I am Samantha. 

Director T Cooper is here for a second time this week, Filmmaker/Director, he is the author of eight novels and a nonfiction book, as well as a journalist and television writer, currently serving as a writer and consulting producer on the NBC series "The Blacklist." He's also a professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University in Atlanta. 
Singer and songwriter Benjamin Scheuer wrote and performed this song for his friend Samantha, both to honor her journey and to paint a larger picture showing both inclusion and representation. 
Melvin Whitehead is a member of the ALL transgender cast (and crew I must add) in this video. He just recently graduated getting his PHD and works in Student Affairs and is a professor at the University of Georgia. And last but certainly not least, Samantha Williams is here, the namesake of the video - she is a writer and both she and Benjamin are coming to us from the UK. 

This song and music video was released on March 31st, which is International Transgender Day of Visibility, and was actually sent to me by a mutual friend of T’s and from there it started a domino effect of correspondence leading to this very moment in time. 

You can watch I Am Samantah here: https://youtu.be/tQWwpzck8Tk