The Color of Fear (1994)
Diversity trainer Lee Mun Wah assembles a diverse group of eight American men to talk about their experience of race relations in the United States. The exchange is sometimes dramatic as they lay bare the pain that racism in the US has caused them.
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Too much of everything
Overrated
Excellent but underrated film
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
8 people living together over a weekend, force the only non-racist member of the group to surrender to their confused ramblings about their racist perspectives on whites, and in turn justifying their stupefying fears of American society. They each speak with the baffling confidence of a historian/ a mind reader/ and king of their respective cultures. I am black (not that it should even matter) and it was brutal to watch them basically brainwash the reason out of a rational person via popular vote. Hard of racism of most moronic expectations.
Disclaimer: I am Christian, white male, and Republican. *spoiler alert*I was studying the MSW program at my University and the Professor had the class watch this video and write a report about it. By the end of the documentary I was so depressed about being white, that I thought what's the point anyway?Here is the conclusion of the documentary, the color of fear is the color of white. If you are white, you cause fear to everyone, and you are also the cause of most of the problems in the world today.This documentary is great if you believe in the social ideals of "white privilege." It is not great if you have pride in the color of your white skin and don't want to be ridiculed over your race, or skin pigment.
I saw this film many years ago and it stands out in my memory as one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. I saw it as part of a group discussion on racism and it was a great starting point for discussion after the film. These issues are so complicated and the film shows ways to express mixed feelings, fears, concerns, etc. It's sad to find that so few people have written reviews of this film. It really should be quite well known and used in all adult organizations.... It's probably too advanced or mature for children and young people but perhaps by college age people could relate to it. Thinking about this now makes me want to find a copy of it and buy it to show everyone I know!
I just had the privilege/opportunity to watch this movie with my cohort at school. What followed was an in-depth discussion that lasted a few weeks between just us, a better and a deeper understanding. If you haven't seen this movie you should! The context that we watched it in was ripe for learning & discussion. If you don't think you act in a prejudiced manner or say racist things, or believe racist things... watch this movie! It is so very well worth it! I'll never be the same after watching it and then discussing it with people that didn't "look like me" and some who did. The awareness that follows is undeniable & unbelievable!