THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 N 5

Meet the

Contributors

Stories of heroism,

determination and

unexpected generosity

from a nation in flux. Kindness

The ‘Black Fairy Godmother’

Changes Women’s Lives

Seven years ago, Simone Gordon felt

defeated. She’d had to quit her job at a

NewJerseyrestauranttotakecareofher

son, who has nonverbal autism. Hopeless,

she asked for help on social media. Four

strangers responded.

“Theyshippedmediapers,foodand

formula,”Gordonsays.Theirkindness

movedGordonsomuch,shevowedto

show others the same generosity.

UsingPayPaltomakeiteasyforpeople

to contribute, she raised funds to help

women of color, particularly single mothers

seeking food, clothing, medicine, education

or domestic violence counseling. When

Gordon assisted a woman facing eviction,

the recipient dubbed her the

“Black Fairy Godmother.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, the

number of people requesting help

surged. Gordon mobilized her social

media followers and raised over $150,

to assist 67 families.

Gordon is studying to become a nurse.

Butifaskedwhenshewillretireasthe

“Black Fairy Godmother,” she answers,

“WhenItakemylastbreath.”

The Show Tunes Ring Out,

Despite Uncertainty and Sorrow

Fewplacesintheworldcomparewith

Marie’sCrisispianobarinNewYorkCity.

FordecadesithaswelcomedL.G.B.T.Q.

crowds for show-tune singalongs. During

the pandemic, Marie’s singers, pianists and

one accordion player started live-streaming

performances on Marie’s Facebook group.

And its regulars remained loyal, interacting

with the videos and using PayPal as a

virtual tip jar. “Their generosity has been

amazing,”saysDanDaly,alongtimepianist

at Marie’s.

When Marc Castelli, a singing server and

musical-theater actor, died from Covid-19,

thegrievingMarie’sCrisiscommunity

comforted one another online. They shared

memories of Castelli and found solace in

thesongs.“Westayedafamily,”Dalysays.

The singers at Marie’s are often asked to

name their favorite show tune. “Today,

I’danswerwith‘OvertheRainbow,’”says

musician Drew Wutke. “Marie’s is a gay bar

that courageously created a safe space to

gather. And that song is about courageously

lookingforward,beingwillingtogothrough

thestormtoseewhat’sontheotherside.

It’sgoodformysoul.”

‘Hire Her Back’ Addresses

Inequality in the Film Industry

In 2019, Kristen Schaffer, the executive

director of Women In Film, which advances

thecareersofwomeninthescreen

industries, had a reason to celebrate. Last

yearthenumberofwomendirectorsfinally

jumped upward, from 4 percent to over

10percent.“Wewereonagoodpath,”

Schaffer says.

Then 2020 arrived, and the coronavirus

shut down production work. Countless film

workers lost their jobs. Still, Schaffer saw a

potential positive side. “It’s an opportunity

to disrupt the pattern and bring in women,”

she says.

WIF started a campaign called ‘Hire Her

Back’tospurthefilmindustrytoemploy

women, in particular women of color. “Our

messageis:Whenwegetbacktowork,

hire women,” Schaffer says. “Hire women

who’ve worked for you before, who’ve never

workedforyou,wholookdifferentthan

you. Hire women.” Donations through the

site,madeeasywithPayPal,willbeused

toprovidegrantstowomeninthefilm

industry starting in August. “Our ultimate

goal,” she says, “is to achieve parity and

transform culture.”

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