Combining expert commentary and personal narratives, director Brian Chinhema's documentary visits the University of Oregon's sociology department to look for clues on the state of multiethnic citizens in contemporary society, eventually leading to some thought-provoking revelations on the complexities of identity politics and how race really does still matter. The film delves into the history of multiracial identity going back several centuries to show how this blend of ethnicity was once managed: mainly through the “one-drop rule,” which meant that persons who were half-black and half-white would be acknowledged as black, with all of the attendant consequences. Using the example of President Obama, the documentary makes the compelling argument that this notion is still in effect, only today more personal choice is involved; although Obama is of mixed race, to the media and general public he chooses to identify himself as black. More important, as a check on those utopians who strive for a post-racial America, Multiracial Identity makes the case for keeping strict racial categorizations, arguing that such demarcations are still relevant in official capacities (such as employment, voting, or census matters) and are the only way to effectively track discrimination. The depressing message here is that, unfortunately, as long as racism continues, categorizing will be important. Also featuring an abridged 56-minute version, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Sandlin)
Multiracial Identity
(2010) 77 min. DVD: $295. Abacus Productions (dist. by Bullfrog Films). PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-59458-913-5. Volume 26, Issue 6
Multiracial Identity
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