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But one of the most powerful episodes is right in the middle.
Because youre different from us, youre, like, tan, one says.
Its a slippery slope from there.
We thought it would be really funny, she says.
But when we were filming it, it was a huge meltdown.
I didnt have anywhere to fit in, so I clung to the popular girls.
Like as a joke.
Those things hit hard, even though you dont realize at the time.
So what I did to fit in was, I became the jester.
I would do Jim Carrey impressions fromAce Ventura.
I was engaging it because it made them laugh and I thought it was my way to be accepted.
That its not that they are outright beingracist.
And that Maya herself was engaging in racist impersonations of Mexican gardeners becauseshedoesnt understand.
AK: I grew up in a very liberal community but a verywhiteliberal community.
But there wasnt a lot of diversity.
So this episode is that moment like, Oh you haveno idea.
AK: Its like a white person being like, Ill fix it!
I know whats best for you!
ME: I remember it was really uncomfortable for you to be in that position.
You were trying to rewrite it on the day.
Things get worse when the cool kids take notice and streak by Mayas locker yelling racial slurs.
ME: The kids, the actors, they were all very conscious.
They didnt want to be mean.
They were like, Oh, I feel bad saying this!
and it was like, Oh no, its okay.
Because when we were writing it, I had some remove.
I just started bawling.
The actors were horrified.
ME: They thought they were really hurting me.
So Anna went and explained to them.
AK: We explained this was in the year 2000, this was a really long time ago.
They were doing such a good job, it was causing her to experience these real emotions.
ME: And then Anna started crying.
AK: We just all started crying.
Some of the crew cried.
ME: It was traumatic, I think, for everyone.
But Im glad we went there and you went there.
