User blog:Jpearson/Editor Stories: A Culture-Shifting Moment with Barneymiller123abc

Hello everyone! We're kicking off our Editor Stories series for Black History Month. Throughout this series, we focus on the wonderful things that can happen when we encourage others to share their thoughts and words with the world and the impact entertainment and culture have on the community.

Today, we’re spotlighting Barney Wiki’s very own Miller, an admin and Fandom Star that’s shifting the culture and blazing a trail for others to tell their stories. Miller is using his voice to create and expand fictional worlds. This multifaceted creator contributes to culture-shifting moments on the fandom platform and we're excited to share his journey on Fandom with you!

Meet BarneyMiller123ABC
Miller is from Florida, which is also referred to as the sunshine state. Specifically, he’s from St. Petersburg which is in the Tampa-Bay area. His Hobbies include writing, illustrating and reading. He’s also a published author and illustrator!

Miller found Fandom when he was in middle school, during the Wikia days. He created an account on May 30, 2015, and provided his very first edit the next day on the platform. This led to

1. What specifically drew you to Fandom, and how did you get started editing?

Miller: I discovered Fandom at the same time I was rediscovering a series I grew up on when I was younger, which was Barney & Friends. Around that time, I saw that Barney & Friends was still airing on television (re-runs at this point), which came as a shock to me as I thought it went away quietly in the previous decade. I then went on a rediscovery of finding various Barney videos I owned and noticed how much the franchise had changed during the time it was in production. One of the notable features I noticed were the costumes. I wanted to know how many times the costume had changed and what it currently looked like, which led me to the evolution pages on Barney Wiki. The evolution pages had me highly fascinated to the point that I would view them almost daily.

What finally made me edit was when I was watching a Barney video that included a blooper in the opening to the video. I noticed that the blooper fact wasn’t on its respective page and so I decided to add it. I found it to be an interesting fact that others needed to know about at the time.

2. What wikis do you contribute to, and what do you love most about those communities?

Miller: Barney Wiki is the main wiki that I contribute to. What I love about the community is that it’s a community that stays true to the values and themes that Barney presents, which are love and acceptance.

In 2022, I was asked to be a Wiki Representative so now I contribute to many other wikis within the realm of Entertainment. I love learning about the different communities and how no one is being judged for what they’re a fan of within their respective communities. It’s always a welcoming and accepting atmosphere with the various wikis I represent and visit now.

That same year, I founded Mattel Films Wiki, which is another wiki I’ll mainly contribute to from time to time. There aren’t any other users at the moment, but I love the way I laid out and implemented everything!

3. What brings you the most joy about your culture and heritage?

Miller: What brings me the most joy about my culture and heritage is seeing how barriers continue to be broken where it didn’t seem possible at first. It further inspires others, such as myself, while also having the ability to make the world a better place.

'''4. Our theme for the month is Creation & Cultivation: Culture Shifting Moments in Entertainment. Have you experienced a culture-shifting moment in entertainment that’s influenced you personally?'''

Miller: I remember that in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement that occurred in 2020, a few platforms were offering a select few Black films to watch for free. I was curious to know what films were being offered. Some films offered included the Disney Channel Original Movies The Proud Family Movie, Jump In! and Let It Shine (three films I was very familiar with, but hadn’t watched in a long time prior). And then I came across films that I wasn’t familiar with such as Just Mercy and The Hate U Give. After watching The Hate U Give, I adored it so much that I went to get the book that it was based on from my local library, and eventually bought the book myself because it was that good. Having been immersed in these Black stories truly has impacted the way I write to showcase more Black characters within the stories I write. I didn’t really grow up with any black characters in literature but the showcasing of black stories in film, truly impacted the way I want to tell stories and inspired me to tell more Black stories.

5. What advice would you give to creators looking to build their online communities?

Miller: If you’re looking to build an online community, but aren’t sure how to start or don’t have the expertise, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask other creators for help! During my time on Fandom, I’ve learned so much that I didn’t know before, and I truly owe it to my teammates - Mandy, Chris, Kylara and especially Lostris! Inquiring for help not only builds one’s respective community, but establishes connection. This is also to say, don’t be afraid to start connections and converse within an online community because then you have this opportunity to make friends who share the same interest as you compared to those locally who might not, further building relationships and bonds on a global scale. With these relationships, you’re also establishing a group of love and acceptance for what your respective passion may be in your online community.

'''6. How can the community continue to follow your journey? Please include anything you feel comfortable with us promoting!'''

Miller: I communicate with much of the Fandom community via Discord. If anyone is interested in connecting with me further, feel free to reach out to me via my Discord (@Miller#1491) if you have any further questions or would love to get to know me more!

7. In a time where more and more people have become aware of the origins of particular art forms, how are you approaching making space - and creating space - in your writing?

Miller: Stories I write are mainly children’s stories. I’m approaching making space by seeing how our world is diverse, which allows me to further implement those kinds of stories in my writing to further inspire others with the idea that they too can be in a specific story like the one I’m telling. I’m creating space by creating stories where others can see themselves in. Especially as a young Black man who started young in the publishing industry, I not only created my own space, but space for other people of color to see that they can also write and illustrate at a young age.

Check out our takeaways from Miller’s interview!
Takeaway #1 “If you’re looking to build an online community, but aren’t sure how to start or don’t have the expertise, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask other creators for help!”

Don’t be afraid to ask others for help! Many people throughout the community would love to share their knowledge and help the next user along the way.

Takeaway #2 “I’m creating space by creating stories where others can see themselves in.”

We say this often, but it is truly important to acknowledge that when we see ourselves in stories, we open ourselves to other cultures and dive deeper into our own culture. There is always something to learn and opportunities for others share their stories.

Takeaway #3 Not sure how to begin your editing journey? It is different for everyone. If you’ve read other editor stories throughout our series, you’ll learn that each editor’s journey is different.

“What finally made me edit was when I was watching a Barney video that included a blooper in the opening to the video. I noticed that the blooper fact wasn’t on its respective page and so I decided to add it. I found it to be an interesting fact that others needed to know about at the time.”

Culture-Shifting Moments
At the heart of culture-shifting moments are brave, talented, and selfless people who simply bring joy to the world. Not only are these culture-shifters' contributions making an impression, making you look, and making moments that turn observers into fans — they are the moment. Thank you, BarneyMiller123abc, for sharing your story and continuing to guide and support the community!

If you haven’t had the pleasure of checking out the Super-Dee-Duper Black History Month blog post, we encourage you to learn more about the franchise and the notable Black figures represented throughout that time. Thanks for stopping by to learn more about Miller and stay tuned for Black History Month updates!

Happy Black History Month!