@erinasimon
Instagram · Vlog
@erinasimon I’m Black but grew up with an Indian uncle who wasn’t blood related. From learning about roti with dhal to having chai, not “chai tea,” this is just one of the many stories behind my multicultural family. Chosen family is real ❤️✨ [indian, desi, Indian uncle, Black, family, chosen family, multicultural, family story] #indian #desi #multicultural #family #storytime
Performance
Video #26087 · Vlog
[01]
The creator uses a voiceover and a montage of personal photos and clips to tell the story of her 'Indian uncle,' Ramesh. She explains that after her parents' divorce, Ramesh, her mother's friend, consistently showed up to support the family, introducing her to Indian culture and food. The creator recounts her initial confusion about his dedication, her eventual realization that he cared for her and her brother as family, and concludes by reflecting on how he redefined her understanding of family as something chosen, not just biological.
[02]
[03]
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[05]
What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Title hook · 55%
i'm black
Verbal hook · 40%
I'm black, but grew up with an Indian uncle.
Visual hook · 5%
A warm, slightly faded, vintage-style family photograph featuring a woman and three children, evoking a sense of nostalgia and personal history.
[06]
Steal this for your own video
I'm , but grew up with a .
[07]
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
An 'Identity Paradox' that presents a surprising or contradictory personal situation to create immediate curiosity (e.g., 'I'm X but experienced Y').
Payoff
The Universal Redefinition. The story culminates in a powerful, emotionally resonant statement that redefines a fundamental concept (e.g., family, friendship, home) based on the narrator's journey, making the personal story universally relatable.
[08]
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Chosen Family Arc
To tell a personal story that begins with a confusing or paradoxical situation and resolves with a heartwarming, universal redefinition of a core concept like 'family,' 'love,' or 'success.'
The Inciting Vulnerability
Establishes the initial problem or state of need that creates the opening for the story's central relationship to form.
The Benevolent Intrusion
Introduces an external character or force that consistently shows up to help, whose motivations are initially unclear to the narrator, creating a subtle mystery.
The Sensory Proof
Moves from telling to showing by providing specific, tangible, and often cultural examples of how the relationship was built, making the connection feel authentic and earned.
The Personal Epiphany
The narrative turning point where the narrator's perspective shifts from confusion to a profound understanding of the other person's true intentions and the depth of their bond.
The Test of Time
Provides evidence of the relationship's longevity and endurance, validating its authenticity and proving its lasting impact over a significant period.
I’m Black but grew up with an Indian uncle who wasn’t blood related. From learning about roti with dhal to having chai, not “chai tea,” this is just one of the many stories behind my multicultural family. Chosen family is real ❤️✨ [indian, desi, Indian uncle, Black, family, chosen family, multicultural, family story] #indian #desi #multicultural #family #storytime
contextual · beginning
i'm black
contextual · beginning
indian uncle
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my parents divorced
contextual · beginning
and my mom
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needed help
contextual · beginning
ramesh kept
contextual · beginning
he wasn't
contextual · middle
family
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understand why
contextual · middle
so much
contextual · middle
roti with dhal
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how to tear
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with my hands
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about chai
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not chai tea
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just chai
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it clicked
contextual · middle
he was there
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my brother too
contextual · end
ramesh still
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for the holidays
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he was never
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mom's friend
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family
contextual · end
we were raised
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who chose
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unconditionally
I'm black, but grew up with an Indian uncle. My parents divorced when I was five, and my mom needed help. So her friend Ramesh kept showing up. He wasn't family, so I didn't understand why he cared so much. Ramesh introduced me to roti with dal, showed me how to to tear the bread with my hands, and taught me about chai. Not chai tea, just chai. Eventually, it clicked. He wasn't there just for my mom. He was there for me and my brother too. Twenty eight years later, Ramesh still shows up for the holidays. He was never just my mom's friend. He changed how I understood family. Because some of us weren't just raised by family, we worse raised by people who chose to love us unconditionally.