The Girl Who Doesn't Exist

Radiolab

WNYC Studios

Natural Sciences, History, Documentary, Science, Society & Culture

4.6 • 44.5K Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2016

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today’s episode, we meet a young woman from Texas, born and raised, who can’t prove that she exists. Alecia Faith Pennington was born at home, homeschooled, and never visited a dentist or a hospital. By both chance and design she is completely invisible in the eyes of the state. We follow Faith as she struggles to free herself from one restrictive world only to find that she is trapped in another. In her journey to prove her American citizenship she attempts to answer the age-old question: who am I? Reported and produced by Alexandra Leigh Young. Produced by Andy Mills and Brenna Farrell. Special thanks to Savannah Escobar, Nick Reed, Chris Van Deusen, David Glenn, Zen Allegra, Russell Whelan, Rachel Coleman and Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Correction: An earlier version of this episode's web copy incorrectly stated that Faith Pennington was born on a farm. Pennington was born at home in Houston, TX, then she and her family moved to a farm in Kerrville, TX, where she was raised. Faith’s original Youtube video is posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPtpKNyaO0U For updates on Faith’s journey, visit her Facebook page Help Me Prove It: https://www.facebook.com/Help-Me-Prove-It-882732628415890/ Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Wait, you're listening.
0:03.1	Okay.
0:04.4	All right.
0:05.6	Okay.
0:07.0	All right.
0:08.5	You're listening to Radio Lab.
0:11.4	Radio Lab.
0:11.9	From W. N. Y.
0:13.9	C.
0:14.8	See?
0:15.1	Yeah.
0:18.8	Hey, I'm Chad Abumrod.
0:20.4	I'm Robert Krollowich. This is Radio Lab. And today, my name is Alicia Faith Penangton. And I'm Chad Aboumrod. I'm Robert Krollowich. This is Radio Lab and today... My name is Alicia Faith Penangton and I am a U.S. citizen by birth. We're going to start... I was homeschooled my entire life... With a cry for help. I am now 19 years old and I am unable to get a driver's license, get a job, go to college, get on a plane, get a bank account or vote.
0:38.3	This is the story of a woman who became sort of famous.
0:41.3	I didn't pick this situation for myself, and I don't know how to fix it.
0:46.3	I don't know how to get out of this.
0:48.3	For being invisible, for having no identity whatsoever.
0:55.3	If you've been through a similar situation or know anyone who can help, please contact me.
0:59.7	The story comes to us from our reporter, Alexander Young.
1:02.7	And the young woman at the center of this story, I was born in Texas.
1:07.8	Is Alicia Faith Pennington goes by Faith?
1:11.1	In, born in Houston, and then we moved to Curville when I was real little.
	...

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