The Rachel Divide (2018)

Excellent but underrated film

Disapointment

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

If Rachel Dolezal (forgot her new name, sorry) did actually suffer a traumatic childhood, and I believe she did, then she deserves compassion.I understand the divide regarding Dolezal's identity and I do agree with many people from the black community's (and others) responses. However, there is much more to be gained through understanding than outrage and hate.This doc left me straddling the line and I think most people would benefit from thinking in this position.

I had very mixed views about this documentary. Although I enjoyed it I don't know if I can have an opinion on Rachel's story. There's no denying she's had a tough childhood along with her life so far and she clearly struggles with her identity. I understand how it can be such a raw subject for people but I don't agree that this is the epitome of white privalage. We live in a much more fluid society nowadays where gender and sexuality are interchangeable. If Rachel believed she identifies more with a different race then I don't see what harm that does to another? What I do see a problem with is trying to identify with struggles of the black community without experiencing them firsthand. In the documentary a girl challenges Rachel and says she doesn't deserve to call herself a black woman because she hasn't faced the struggles a black woman has faced growing up in our society. From the documentary Rachel appears to be cast out by more than one community, job, institution and is constantly explaining her self to multiple outlets, cultures etc. for her ethnicity. But then again this is through her own actions...?I understand why it's stuck a nerve and upset so many people. Admittedly, I didn't know an awful lot about this only bits and bobs from the news. I did feel for Rachel, I really did. That was until she changed her name...

Rachel Dolezal became well known to us when she was forced to confess that she is "born white". And after that I have always been thinking "wth!". So obviously I didn't want to miss this documentary.And you know, I am glad I didn't. It is very well done trying to be objective and giving the voice to pretty much everyone involved. I always felt bad for Rachel even though I think that while she can do whatever she wants with her hair and love any culture, if she thinks this makes her black, she needs a therapist. But what she did was pretty harmless and not out of malice. And yes it seems like some sort of escape from reality, finding herself, finding love and belonging among black people. I want to add that I am not very quick to accept her explanation that their parents abused them. Even if it was supported by the siblings. Because there is at least one other adopted brother who denies those stories, he was not in the movie. So I neither accept nor reject it. It is their family feud and I rather have them resolve it themselves.But no matter what this movie gave me a better understanding of Rachel, her family, people who support her and people who think that what she did was wrong. The movie gave us a lot of footage and a lot of voice. And yes, I think this is a valid topic to discuss. Hope it works out for them all.

Good documentary. If the subject matter is of interest, you wont be disappointed. But I don't get all the criticism. The biggest hypocrites seem to be the outraged liberals. who chant transsexual good...transracial bad.