Birth: The Story of the Girl Who Doesn’t Exist

Lesson of the day

Birth: The Story of the Girl Who Doesn’t Exist (Grades 8-12)

Listen: You can listen to the episode here (Apple podcasts), on Youtube or on our website! Feel free to take notes on our graphic organizer.

Do: Listen to the story of the Girl Who Doesn’t Exist

Having an American birth certificate is like having a super power — which is a lot easier to understand once you realize what it’s like to not have that proof of citizenship.

You’ll hear the voice of Alecia Faith Pennington in this episode — a girl who was born in the United States without a birth certificate. Alecia first introduced herself to the world through the YouTube video below, launching a viral campaign to ask for help in proving her American citizenship.

Shortly thereafter, Radiolab made an episode about Alecia’s strange situation. Watch Alecia’s callout, then listen to The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist. You can also check out Alecia’s Facebook page, where she tracked her journey and legal battle to prove her citizenship. As you listen, consider these questions.

1. Should a birth certificate be a basic civil right in the United States?

2. Alecia eventually did obtain both a birth certificate and a social security number, with the help of lawyers and her viral campaign — how might her story have been different if she wasn't a white, English-speaking American?