This is one for the DSM. I have a much better understanding of this woman after watching this documentary. Here's what I think happened: she had abusive white parents and loving adopted black siblings. She needed to dissociate from the parents and wanted badly to be a part of the only other family she had who just so happened to be black. Being white to her means being a helpless abused young girl. She even says that at the end! Had her siblings been Canadian, I think she'd be claiming Canadian heritage. She also clearly really loves the attention. I can't fully figure her out, but I do think some therapy could help her face her past trauma and potentially realize why what she is doing is wrong and harmful to the black community.
51 Reviews
Interesting and sad.
sailorjjr28 December 2021
I went between laughing at her and feeling sorry for her. She's clearly got some emotional issues that need to be addressed at a professional level.
At the end of the day, especially in this day and age when people don't even know what gender they are and what bathroom they should use, who cares that she wants to be close to the black culture? Her problem isn't her mental issues, it's that she lied about it for so long and so publicly, nobody will sympathize now.
If she had just been truthful from the beginning, this documentary would have never been made.
I do find it very odd though that EVERYTHING she does is black. Black adoptions, black friends, etc. Must be what the Kardashians girls have? Not sure.
At the end of the day, especially in this day and age when people don't even know what gender they are and what bathroom they should use, who cares that she wants to be close to the black culture? Her problem isn't her mental issues, it's that she lied about it for so long and so publicly, nobody will sympathize now.
If she had just been truthful from the beginning, this documentary would have never been made.
I do find it very odd though that EVERYTHING she does is black. Black adoptions, black friends, etc. Must be what the Kardashians girls have? Not sure.
The Reverse Michael Jackson
Mauseum2 May 2020
This is an interesting story, and raises genuine issues but fails to delve into them deeply. The good part of the doco though is how it shows how Rachel's decisions and actions impacted on her kids and family. I do believe she needs help regarding a possible identity disorder and that her 13 year old son desperately requires some form of counselling. I have complete and utter empathy for her up bringing and the actual good work she did for the African American community, however, fluidity when it comes to ethnicity does not exist yet and probably won't anytime soon. I feel it would have been far better if she had just identified as neither race and explained that she feels a stronger connection to the black community (due to her kids) and that she doesn't want the same possible prejudices against her family. I think most people would have agreed with her feelings regarding this, could relate and be driven for change together.
A difficult documentary
Jeremy_Urquhart14 May 2021
Gets off to a rough start, because for the first 20 or so minutes, it doesn't really present criticisms of its subject, doesn't provide much of her background at all, and really seems to just follow her around her life and make her seem sympathetic.
I found her actions were a little more understandable (though perhaps sympathetic would be a stretch) when the background context was finally provided, and they do have interviewees and stock footage (eventually) to show how and why Black people have a problem with her actions. I think they could have gone a little harder with showing more of these criticisms, but it is interesting to balance that with some sympathetic moments and leave it up to the audience to decide.
It's the fact that she is the first high profile person to commit to being "trans race" that makes her case unprecedented and divisive. I can recognise she doesn't think that choice was harmful, but in cases like this, I think you do have to listen to what others say, and if a good number of Black people give good reasons as to why they have a problem with it, you should listen and stop doing the offending behaviour.
Still, the multiple perspectives and fairly neutral tone of the documentary did make it a little more interesting. Otherwise, the slow start and competent but unimpressive presentation does weigh it down a bit.
Like all documentaries about controversial subjects, I could definitely understand someone watching this and hating every minute of it, but for me personally, I thought it a solid, sometimes quite interesting, but certainly far from great watch about a topic/subject that, to my knowledge, no other film or documentary has covered.
I found her actions were a little more understandable (though perhaps sympathetic would be a stretch) when the background context was finally provided, and they do have interviewees and stock footage (eventually) to show how and why Black people have a problem with her actions. I think they could have gone a little harder with showing more of these criticisms, but it is interesting to balance that with some sympathetic moments and leave it up to the audience to decide.
It's the fact that she is the first high profile person to commit to being "trans race" that makes her case unprecedented and divisive. I can recognise she doesn't think that choice was harmful, but in cases like this, I think you do have to listen to what others say, and if a good number of Black people give good reasons as to why they have a problem with it, you should listen and stop doing the offending behaviour.
Still, the multiple perspectives and fairly neutral tone of the documentary did make it a little more interesting. Otherwise, the slow start and competent but unimpressive presentation does weigh it down a bit.
Like all documentaries about controversial subjects, I could definitely understand someone watching this and hating every minute of it, but for me personally, I thought it a solid, sometimes quite interesting, but certainly far from great watch about a topic/subject that, to my knowledge, no other film or documentary has covered.
Black and White
ShaunV199029 April 2018
I'm from Belgium, so I never really experienced the scandal as Americans did. I can vaguely remember that it even made the newspapers here. I must have read this article years ago. When I opened Netflix I recognized Rachel. So I started watching.
This documentary was actually better than I thought it would be. The main focus is clearly on Rachel herself, and how this scandal affects her children, family and in general her whole social life. From the beginning you get the straight feeling that this story is not an easy one to tell. There is no black and white (get it!? ;-) ), with a big lie in between. This is obviously a woman who has been struggling with her identity for many years. You do start to feel she cannot be categorized as a liar. That would just be to simple. I think Rachel does believe that she never really lied. Perhaps she was just really creative with the "truth", so she could continue being the person she loved the most. But when you ignore a certain part of you, it will come back to bite you. That's exactly what happened. Towards the end you do feel Rachel is pushing it. Her family is clearly crumbling, and trying to get away from her. I got the feeling she did see this happening, but just couldn't help herself. Her son was actually quite spot on: "You can't tell my mom what to do". Clearly frustrated. This kid just wishing for life getting back to normal. She's like a dog being hit with a stick and coming back for more. All this for acceptance she will never get.
Being an European I do watch at identity a bit different than most Americans do. And I do feel this woman was born a few decades to early. Whether you like it or not, we've gone from a world to a little village in a few decades. Soon there will be no more "race". So identifying yourself with a certain culture will be a social choice. In that way I think the black community, understandably very hurt about the struggle they already had, made a big mistake here. Instead of demonizing this woman, they could have joined this idea. Making acceptance a universal thing. Not just related to the way you look and your skin color. Isn't this what they have been fighting for? Not being judged on the way you look, but who you are? Equal opportunities? Doesn't that go for a person, who is white but feels black? Or maybe it is just all very black and white. Who am I to say!?
This documentary was actually better than I thought it would be. The main focus is clearly on Rachel herself, and how this scandal affects her children, family and in general her whole social life. From the beginning you get the straight feeling that this story is not an easy one to tell. There is no black and white (get it!? ;-) ), with a big lie in between. This is obviously a woman who has been struggling with her identity for many years. You do start to feel she cannot be categorized as a liar. That would just be to simple. I think Rachel does believe that she never really lied. Perhaps she was just really creative with the "truth", so she could continue being the person she loved the most. But when you ignore a certain part of you, it will come back to bite you. That's exactly what happened. Towards the end you do feel Rachel is pushing it. Her family is clearly crumbling, and trying to get away from her. I got the feeling she did see this happening, but just couldn't help herself. Her son was actually quite spot on: "You can't tell my mom what to do". Clearly frustrated. This kid just wishing for life getting back to normal. She's like a dog being hit with a stick and coming back for more. All this for acceptance she will never get.
Being an European I do watch at identity a bit different than most Americans do. And I do feel this woman was born a few decades to early. Whether you like it or not, we've gone from a world to a little village in a few decades. Soon there will be no more "race". So identifying yourself with a certain culture will be a social choice. In that way I think the black community, understandably very hurt about the struggle they already had, made a big mistake here. Instead of demonizing this woman, they could have joined this idea. Making acceptance a universal thing. Not just related to the way you look and your skin color. Isn't this what they have been fighting for? Not being judged on the way you look, but who you are? Equal opportunities? Doesn't that go for a person, who is white but feels black? Or maybe it is just all very black and white. Who am I to say!?
Sad story
adamsandel18 June 2020
A Train Wreck Too Gruesome to More than Glance At
dwankan21 May 2018
The concept interested me because I had heard much indirect explanation of this woman's claims of blackness but had never spent any time researching the real story. This documentary tells the real story, which I had heard in its entirety through all the second-hand reports: a white woman spent a large portion of her life pretending to be black, to the point of convincing herself that a choice to be so would make her actually so, and through her pretense actually rose to a position of social importance among civil rights groups. She does much complaining on camera about how much of a joke everyone treats her as, but even those who love her (friends and family) repeatedly iterate in veiled terms that it's all just an awkward ruse no one is benefiting from.
I was especially interested in the story because of a (former) friend of mine from college who had pulled the same stunt, dressing like, acting like, and even going so far as claiming black heritage. The documentary showed me the same socially confused and insecure fraud as I had already seen in my one time friend.
I can accept embracing a culture that isn't your own because its lifestyle and symbology appeal to your needs and tastes, and I personally find the entire concept of "cultural appropriation" to be an absurd hoax grounded in a fundamental misunderstanding of how culture works, but the idea of "bi-riacial" identity not only works as a laughably poor excuse for this woman's obvious black-faced life, but it belies the reality of why racism is scientifically, and more importantly morally, false.
Well Worth Watching
larahart-613-7329151 May 2018
I agree with everything the first 5 reviewers already said, especially the third reviewer (Shaun V) . This documentary shows so much more to the story than what the headlines told. It shows a real person struggling as a mother, a sister and as a human. If you can allow yourself to really watch this and keep open minded to her staunch childhood, her adopted siblings childhood and her obviously unresolved issues, then the compassionate part of you can possibly see why she chose to go the route she did. That's not to say she couldn't benefit from professional help to work through the deep seeded causes, but this documentary brings to the light the actual human behind the headlines.
Artist with poor personal judgement remakes herself as a way of dealing with her personal demons
tetrahex26 June 2018
It was interesting to see the back story of someone who would go this far to disassociate themselves from reality. But in a way you can see that she's not fallen as far from the tree as she imagines, the white savior like her parents, adopting black children, just in a different way, fueled by religious fervor of a moral crusade.
Her artistic skill is surprisingly good, its a shame she wasted it to become part of the diversity and grievance industry. But that's the thing this film reveals, she can barely fix her own life let alone anyone elses, a single mother, divorced, saddled with many children, while divorced has another child against the fathers wishes while she has no job. Is she trying to live an ugly stereotype and bring it to life?
The doc does fail to really delve deeper into what she got herself into, the vast infrastructure of the diversity industry. How this nobody became a NAACP branch president, where did they get their money, how was she teaching courses in colleges? The vast flows of money to create these human networks of diversity propagandists is something a netflix doc is never going to deal with, and that's too bad, because it destroys lives, not just Rachels, but those it indoctrinates with the poison of a history and identity of grievance. She might have been a decent artist, maybe even a history teacher, if she had not tried to be what she was not and had spent her time on herself rather than trying to be the white savior.
When she joined the game of identity politics she learned the lesson that the content of her character meant nothing. That is the lesson of her life, and this film.
6.5 for documentary length, 7 for actual documentary
naheedence3 January 2022
This documentary is well done and shows many sides of the saga of Rachel Dolezol. The saddest part of this story is how much her children suffer and because of her delusions and narsissm she cannot relate to what they are going through. She cares more about how she feels. Mental help for her and her boys would be very helpful. I liked seeing the perspectives of black folks who were apalled by her appropriation of black culture. I think her background tells us a lot about why she became who she is today. However, it was disturbing and focused on her book so much I wish it was shorter.
Very confused woman!
misscath-543781 May 2018
I had a hard time getting through this documentary. Usually I can find ways to find something likable about a main character but try as I might, I couldn't come up with any likability for this woman.She seems very cold and detached. I felt bad she had such a horrible childhood, which is why she identifies with being black, although I'm still unsure about that. I am not black, but if I were, I would resent her lies. She cannot know how a black person experiences discrimination or have a sense of an ancestry. As far as black being a social construct, I have never heard of anything so stupid. Just my opinion. I think she needs therapy to try to heal herself, instead of passing herself off as something she is not.
Beyond the headlines
bethanyprior20 December 2019
Gosh, this whole story is so complex, and quite a bit of it gets unraveled here that I had not seen before. I don't personally know anyone involved, but what is evident is that Rachel loves, advocates for and protects those in her near orbit. She has a big heart and for a long while was able to be very effective in her chosen career field. Though to many of us, her choices seem bizarre, her heart is in the right place. Her intent was good.
Life is hard. This is her one life. She made choices, I made choices, you made choices. Live and let live.
Life is hard. This is her one life. She made choices, I made choices, you made choices. Live and let live.
A mixed bag...
emmyboden14 December 2021
The media has a way of dehumanising "controversial" characters. It's a decent documentary that offers further insight to the person behind the controversy and hate. Although I wish they would've included a psychological perspective to the main theme of the documentary - racial identity!
As an armchair psychologist, it's clear to me that Rachel is using the less-known notion of "trans-racialism" to disassociate from what seems to have been a difficult childhood and upbringing. In a household where there definitely existed abuse of some type, her escape route was her attachment to her adopted black siblings and wanting to protect them from parents that were unfit to adopt children of a different race. She identified with them more than her own biological parents and brother, all of whom are responsible for inflicting the trauma that she still hasn't addressed or processed.
The form of escapism she chose in order to deal with her domestic issues turned a fantasy of who she wanted to be into a reality where she felt more "authentic" by changing her racial identity. I don't think that at any point, this was a spur-of-the-moment choice to exercise her "white privilege" but something that developed gradually within her at a core-deep level. Many traumatised children do this in one form or another--by creating a new identity for themselves that's the opposite of the identity they were born with or cultivated during a difficult upbringing.
But enough of my amateur psychoanalytical ramblings...
The documentary itself maintained my attention and interest throughout while I experienced quite a roller-coaster of emotions and thoughts, veering between feelings of sympathy for Rachel to getting frustrated with her. Especially heartbreaking was witnessing the pain and anguish her media appearances or social media posts caused her sons, particularly the younger one (who wasn't able to flee to Europe to get away form it all like his older brother). At only 13 years of age, he seemed like an incredibly mature and insightful boy who espoused more common sense and maturity than any of the adults featured.
The horrid nastiness of some of the people towards her was hard to watch. I couldn't compute how they viewed themselves as direct victims of her actions. In a world where hardened criminals like George Floyd are sanctified and made into poster children for justice and celebrated as heroes, what has Rachel done that's so unforgivable/irredeemable that she has to be so vilified and ostracised? People are advocating for transgender rights but why is it okay to be a man who identifies as a woman but not okay to be one race but identify as another? If you are one of the people who believes that race is merely a 'social construct' then you should be supporting Rachel and hail her as a hero for admitting that she's not white despite appearances!
We sure live in a messed-up world where everything has been turned on its head! It might've been helpful if the documentary makers had addressed Rachel's mental health and offered to get her into therapy to deal with many of her unresolved issues.
And finally, so bloody what that she's written a book to tell her side of the story? Considering that no one will employ her, she's excluded from society, harassed when in public etc., she needs to earn money to live and feed her family. Where's the humanity in humans these days? This woman has undeniably made mistakes for which she's paying but at some point we must stop punishing people like her and focus on the real villains of our world.
As an armchair psychologist, it's clear to me that Rachel is using the less-known notion of "trans-racialism" to disassociate from what seems to have been a difficult childhood and upbringing. In a household where there definitely existed abuse of some type, her escape route was her attachment to her adopted black siblings and wanting to protect them from parents that were unfit to adopt children of a different race. She identified with them more than her own biological parents and brother, all of whom are responsible for inflicting the trauma that she still hasn't addressed or processed.
The form of escapism she chose in order to deal with her domestic issues turned a fantasy of who she wanted to be into a reality where she felt more "authentic" by changing her racial identity. I don't think that at any point, this was a spur-of-the-moment choice to exercise her "white privilege" but something that developed gradually within her at a core-deep level. Many traumatised children do this in one form or another--by creating a new identity for themselves that's the opposite of the identity they were born with or cultivated during a difficult upbringing.
But enough of my amateur psychoanalytical ramblings...
The documentary itself maintained my attention and interest throughout while I experienced quite a roller-coaster of emotions and thoughts, veering between feelings of sympathy for Rachel to getting frustrated with her. Especially heartbreaking was witnessing the pain and anguish her media appearances or social media posts caused her sons, particularly the younger one (who wasn't able to flee to Europe to get away form it all like his older brother). At only 13 years of age, he seemed like an incredibly mature and insightful boy who espoused more common sense and maturity than any of the adults featured.
The horrid nastiness of some of the people towards her was hard to watch. I couldn't compute how they viewed themselves as direct victims of her actions. In a world where hardened criminals like George Floyd are sanctified and made into poster children for justice and celebrated as heroes, what has Rachel done that's so unforgivable/irredeemable that she has to be so vilified and ostracised? People are advocating for transgender rights but why is it okay to be a man who identifies as a woman but not okay to be one race but identify as another? If you are one of the people who believes that race is merely a 'social construct' then you should be supporting Rachel and hail her as a hero for admitting that she's not white despite appearances!
We sure live in a messed-up world where everything has been turned on its head! It might've been helpful if the documentary makers had addressed Rachel's mental health and offered to get her into therapy to deal with many of her unresolved issues.
And finally, so bloody what that she's written a book to tell her side of the story? Considering that no one will employ her, she's excluded from society, harassed when in public etc., she needs to earn money to live and feed her family. Where's the humanity in humans these days? This woman has undeniably made mistakes for which she's paying but at some point we must stop punishing people like her and focus on the real villains of our world.
A below average Netflix documentary
cookie66612 May 2020
While Rachel's story is interesting and raises many valid questions about race and identity, the viewer doesn't actually learn much about these topics. As a staple of Netflix documentaries, The Rachel Divide includes virtually no expert opinions or historical background or even contextual information - I would've loved to hear what actual scholars and researchers of race or identity think about this issue! - all we get is Rachel sharing her feelings and long scenes of her doing chores or talking to her family. And then of course a bunch of clips of people angrily reacting to the whole issue.
I think it's a massive missed opportunity and although the ending desperately wants to ask the viewer "well what do you think?" there is almost nothing to base our opinions on.
I think it's a massive missed opportunity and although the ending desperately wants to ask the viewer "well what do you think?" there is almost nothing to base our opinions on.
The strange story of a sincere narcissist
paul2001sw-118 April 2021
Race, as Rachel Dolezal repeatedly reminds us in this documentary, is fundamentally a social construct, with no hard-and-fast definitions of what it means to be "black" or "white". So is there anything wrong with a woman who would be near-universally considered to be white, as Dolezal herself is, choosing to define herself as black? The answer is obviously "yes": the reason this matters is because of the discrimination and disadvantage that black people suffer from; a white person can be an ally, but by trying to place themselves at the centre of the story, they can only detract from it. Dolezal made this film after becoming infamous for her deception, and it's clearly an attempt at rehabilitation: she comes across as sincere, and as the victim of a fairly horrific childhood, but also as someone who doesn't understand that her own tale just isn't as important as she would like it to be. Attention that could be focused on racism is instead focused on a bizarre human-interest story, which I admit, I also find quite interesting; but it would have been better has there been no story to tell. I wouldn't wish Dolezal ill; but sadly, she doesn't seem to realise that the best way to make amends might be to be silent. She could still live a worthwhile life; as a champion for the authentically black community, she can only do more harm than good.
Only the Kids Come Off Well
keikoyoshikawa30 March 2021
This documentary is interesting in that it gives us insight into the psyche of Rachel Dolezal. I have no sympathies for her, because she had lied in order to get academic and professional jobs. That said, I do sympathize with her family, especially her kids. They suffer because of her selfish actions.
So in that respect the document is successful - it allows us to see other aspects of her story that previously I did not know about. The film-makers have done a good job of.humanizing her, without trying to make excuses for her unethical conduct. She definitely tried to do that in the documetary, not to much success, I think.
So in that respect the document is successful - it allows us to see other aspects of her story that previously I did not know about. The film-makers have done a good job of.humanizing her, without trying to make excuses for her unethical conduct. She definitely tried to do that in the documetary, not to much success, I think.
Divide not conquer
kosmasp13 August 2018
Can we seperate the overall issue from the person involved? Can a person feel a different color skin than the one they are with? Is this equivalent to the gender question? It's a question the movie raises, but it's tough to have clear sympathy for Rachel. Not because she doesn't deserve it at all. But because she has some very serious issues.
Issues she has to work on and maybe even talk to a proffessional about. But will we look on her request to be someone else as so wrong in the future? I really don't know what to think about that and there lies something in this documentary that is tough to adress or to deal with in general. It's obvious that African Americans feel cheated, because someone just wants all the benefits of being black without having to endure the racism that goes along with it. On the other hand, Rachel did try to help .. she didn't use the right tools (allegedly), but that is a different story.
So while it may seem simple on the surface, there is more to it beyond that ...
Issues she has to work on and maybe even talk to a proffessional about. But will we look on her request to be someone else as so wrong in the future? I really don't know what to think about that and there lies something in this documentary that is tough to adress or to deal with in general. It's obvious that African Americans feel cheated, because someone just wants all the benefits of being black without having to endure the racism that goes along with it. On the other hand, Rachel did try to help .. she didn't use the right tools (allegedly), but that is a different story.
So while it may seem simple on the surface, there is more to it beyond that ...
This should have been 45 minutes, not feature-length
heartcore920 October 2019
The story of Rachel Dolezal is an interesting one - a white woman pretends to be black and runs a local branch of the NAACP, lobbying for civil rights... only to be revealed by the media to actually be a white woman. The interviews in the media with her that follow the reveal are even stranger as she basically still claims to be black, because that's how she feels inside.
This documentary has to great footage compiled of this scandal and it raises some interesting questions, such as: In this current social landscape where a person can say they were born female but feel male inside (and vice versa) and choose to reassign their gender, why can't a person do that with race? You might find yourself vacillating between wondering if Rachel Dolezal is the first of many to come in a possible future landscape of racial reassignment, or you might just think she's crazy.
Regardless of your personal views on her, the problem with this documentary is that it starts out strong and peters out because the filmmakers don't have a feature's worth of interesting footage. The inside look into Rachel's life post-scandal is pretty mundane as she talks with family and friends, drives her sons to school, paints alone inside her house, etc. Perhaps they're trying to humanize Rachel, but in the end, I eventually got bored with it.
This documentary has to great footage compiled of this scandal and it raises some interesting questions, such as: In this current social landscape where a person can say they were born female but feel male inside (and vice versa) and choose to reassign their gender, why can't a person do that with race? You might find yourself vacillating between wondering if Rachel Dolezal is the first of many to come in a possible future landscape of racial reassignment, or you might just think she's crazy.
Regardless of your personal views on her, the problem with this documentary is that it starts out strong and peters out because the filmmakers don't have a feature's worth of interesting footage. The inside look into Rachel's life post-scandal is pretty mundane as she talks with family and friends, drives her sons to school, paints alone inside her house, etc. Perhaps they're trying to humanize Rachel, but in the end, I eventually got bored with it.
It All Makes Perfect Sense.
griggsc764 February 2022
Rachel so hated her parents and everything they stood for that she wanted to be someone else...and created that new identity for herself. I get that. I think the whole morphing from white girl from Montana to "black" girl from Spokane happened gradually and was mostly due to the abuse she (and her siblings) suffered at the hands of her parents.
I will say, I don't agree with her calling herself "Black." I think she would be much better off saying she identifies with Black culture and immerses herself in it rather than digging her heels in about actually BEING Black. But that's her issue to deal with and I don't think it comes from a place of malice. Rachel seems to be a decent human and I hope she gets another chance to help change the world.
She seems like a great mom and sister and that says about a lot about her character. I hope she can find peace (and a job!) someday. I wish her and her family the best.
I will say, I don't agree with her calling herself "Black." I think she would be much better off saying she identifies with Black culture and immerses herself in it rather than digging her heels in about actually BEING Black. But that's her issue to deal with and I don't think it comes from a place of malice. Rachel seems to be a decent human and I hope she gets another chance to help change the world.
She seems like a great mom and sister and that says about a lot about her character. I hope she can find peace (and a job!) someday. I wish her and her family the best.
Don't see what all the fuss is about...
bluenoseneil7 May 2018
Rachel can be who she wants to be and that's up to her. I don't think her actions are truly hurting anyone and the saddest part of this is more how her upbringing informed her decision to identify as black.
I think the 'outrage' felt by some is maybe a little overblown and the personal struggles of one person cannot be compared to an entire race - nor should they - but the persecution and hatred she's received is a bit much.
Shame, as she's probably destined to live out the rest of her life in relative uncomfort as a result of the world's inability to accept difference, whatever form it comes in. It's not illegal what she's doing so it's a shame it's become so controversial.
entertaining at best
fatimah-527973 May 2018
What i saw was a hatchet job with very entertaining footage anyone can find on youtube twitter and social media. how was it even possible to play a movie like that? anyway noone ever gives the subject a chance to speak its mostly black women screaming at the top of their lungs not allowing her to speak for her self. i don't think it was a good film as it puts words in her mouth. and the little she did speak it was just enough to reel you in but there was no justice really done for her. i feel sorry for what her has had to go through with the media taking advantage of her. she also didn't get paid for this film yet it is a hot top and making the production lot of money while they are touring the world with this film seems highly unfair.
Interesting
MidoriAi24 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I like this docu. I came to see this docu about someone I didn't know about.
I'm from Argentina, and as in every part of América, this country has africans, as slaves. But we don't have their descendants because they all mostly died due disease (fiebre amarilla) and war.
So, I really don't have that African racial struggle in my country. We have others.
It IS true that if this world wants now to accept men as woman if they feel like it, why not this? If she feels like a black, well, let her be.. but in my respect, she should have been honest with herself and others, and say she has not African heritage.. but then again: do transgender people have to admit that? If my friend, that looks like a men, have identify as a woman and have in his/her (?) document his/her sex as "female" doesn't have to say what's up, why do Rachel?. Yes, I agree 100% with shaunvanhaelewijn said. And, not everybody knows how to row with social media and specially with the press, journalists and tv interviews.
She could have screwed up, but there is no school for dealing with that, or this situation. She definitely didn't want to be identify as white and with her parents. So, she first lie to herself. Like her son said: she should admit she is white, and then go on on whatever she wants to do... But, again.. do Chris Jenner have to do it too? And yes, what you put under the rug will come out eventually...
She is an asset for black civil rights and they should have accepted her instead of demonize her.. I mean, it looks like not many who aren't African wants to be one.. and she was doing great work.. when most are just complaining!!!
All those comments in social media, imagine now in this world being said to a man identify as a woman? Yes, like many said before, she may have been born 60 years too soon. All those social media black people are creating a divide, they are excluding everything that is not African... and it is laughable because they are doing what they hate!! I feel totally excluded of even talk to them if I go to USA.. maybe they will hate me because of my white skin, light blue eyes and blond hair.. even tho they don't know me. My struggles won't mean anything to them either. Why do they think they are the only ones that struggle?? That are discriminated?
It is hard that everybody to reject her from the place were she really identify.
Regarding docu, I agree with other reviewer that the way stuff were revealed (like her oldest son was adopted or the adoption of her siblings by her parents) needed to have being said at the beginning.
Despite that, I recommend this docu.
It IS true that if this world wants now to accept men as woman if they feel like it, why not this? If she feels like a black, well, let her be.. but in my respect, she should have been honest with herself and others, and say she has not African heritage.. but then again: do transgender people have to admit that? If my friend, that looks like a men, have identify as a woman and have in his/her (?) document his/her sex as "female" doesn't have to say what's up, why do Rachel?. Yes, I agree 100% with shaunvanhaelewijn said. And, not everybody knows how to row with social media and specially with the press, journalists and tv interviews.
She could have screwed up, but there is no school for dealing with that, or this situation. She definitely didn't want to be identify as white and with her parents. So, she first lie to herself. Like her son said: she should admit she is white, and then go on on whatever she wants to do... But, again.. do Chris Jenner have to do it too? And yes, what you put under the rug will come out eventually...
She is an asset for black civil rights and they should have accepted her instead of demonize her.. I mean, it looks like not many who aren't African wants to be one.. and she was doing great work.. when most are just complaining!!!
All those comments in social media, imagine now in this world being said to a man identify as a woman? Yes, like many said before, she may have been born 60 years too soon. All those social media black people are creating a divide, they are excluding everything that is not African... and it is laughable because they are doing what they hate!! I feel totally excluded of even talk to them if I go to USA.. maybe they will hate me because of my white skin, light blue eyes and blond hair.. even tho they don't know me. My struggles won't mean anything to them either. Why do they think they are the only ones that struggle?? That are discriminated?
It is hard that everybody to reject her from the place were she really identify.
Regarding docu, I agree with other reviewer that the way stuff were revealed (like her oldest son was adopted or the adoption of her siblings by her parents) needed to have being said at the beginning.
Despite that, I recommend this docu.
What Happens When Trauma Isn't Properly Addressed
stefstars30 May 2022
Throughout the first half of the documentary, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it because it felt like they were only going to share her side of the story and push the audience to feel sorry for her. The only time I felt any sympathy for her was when she reveals her upbringing and how awful her actual parents were to her. However, this terrible childhood experience was no valid reason for her to decide that she wants to be Black. She states her case throughout the documentary about why she insists on identifying as Black - she believes race is a social construct and there is only one race, the human race. Well the second part is technically true, but ethnicity is not something you can change just cos you feel like it. The experience that comes with being a certain ethnicity - whether that be Asian, Latino, Black is unique to these communities. It's wonderful to share customs with one another and it's nice to see people of other ethnicities immerse themselves into a culture (respectfully) but to go as far as to say you will now identify as that ethnicity ? That's not how it works. The fact that she doubles down on it rather than accept that she messed up makes it easy to lose patience with her.
I was happy that we got to hear her sons explain their case and how the mess she caused affected them. I feel so bad for these young men. People really should not be attacking them for their mother's mistakes. The tweets that were sent to Isaiah when she posted that they had toured Howard University... c'mon people, your problem is with her, not him. The tweets that were directed to her newborn baby ! I hate the internet sometimes, too many terrible people that should not have access to a computer or keyboard. It's very selfish of her to have dragged these young men down with her. When they're trying to tell her how they want out and how her actions have impacted their lives, she doesn't listen and starts crying as if she's a victim. She may have been a victim to unloving, batshit insane parents, and possibly to that disgusting predator brother - but she's not the victim in the public humiliation she faced. That was a situation she created all on her own.
As my title to this review states, this documentary is actually a good view into what happens when trauma isn't properly processed or taken care of. I can see why she got so immersed into the Black/African American culture, she really wanted to distance herself as much as possible from her awful family. She got to see firsthand how her family mistreated the Black children they had adopted, so I'm sure that made her detest her "whiteness" even more. She was mistreated by her parents too, which is why she felt she related more to the Black children and eventually... the whole Black community. I believe if she looked for professional help before it got out of hand, she could've understood that she could advocate for and support the Black community as a White woman and she still would've been welcomed. Now she has to deal with the consequences of a mess that she, herself, made. I really hope that she has a wake up call someday and accepts the proper assistance to help her process her trauma. I hope her sons' lives have improved and have been able to distance themselves from the mess. I also hope that her adopted sister gets justice and that predatory brother gets what's coming to him.
I was happy that we got to hear her sons explain their case and how the mess she caused affected them. I feel so bad for these young men. People really should not be attacking them for their mother's mistakes. The tweets that were sent to Isaiah when she posted that they had toured Howard University... c'mon people, your problem is with her, not him. The tweets that were directed to her newborn baby ! I hate the internet sometimes, too many terrible people that should not have access to a computer or keyboard. It's very selfish of her to have dragged these young men down with her. When they're trying to tell her how they want out and how her actions have impacted their lives, she doesn't listen and starts crying as if she's a victim. She may have been a victim to unloving, batshit insane parents, and possibly to that disgusting predator brother - but she's not the victim in the public humiliation she faced. That was a situation she created all on her own.
As my title to this review states, this documentary is actually a good view into what happens when trauma isn't properly processed or taken care of. I can see why she got so immersed into the Black/African American culture, she really wanted to distance herself as much as possible from her awful family. She got to see firsthand how her family mistreated the Black children they had adopted, so I'm sure that made her detest her "whiteness" even more. She was mistreated by her parents too, which is why she felt she related more to the Black children and eventually... the whole Black community. I believe if she looked for professional help before it got out of hand, she could've understood that she could advocate for and support the Black community as a White woman and she still would've been welcomed. Now she has to deal with the consequences of a mess that she, herself, made. I really hope that she has a wake up call someday and accepts the proper assistance to help her process her trauma. I hope her sons' lives have improved and have been able to distance themselves from the mess. I also hope that her adopted sister gets justice and that predatory brother gets what's coming to him.
Disgusting
gpittel6 April 2022
Let's get it straight here...
guajardonorma-779911 May 2018
It's not so much what she did, it's how she did it. She's still a mother and just trying to tell her side of the story. People need to spread love not peace. This documentary really shows the struggles she goes through not just her but her children.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
