The Rachel Divide (2018)

I didn't get into the scandal while it was happening, and I thought this would be interesting to watch. The longer I watched, the more I understood that this is a very confused person that is desperately seeking to find a place a fit in. I think she went about it all wrong and I still think she has some mental issues. The way she compares racial identity to sexual identity or gender identity is just not right. Sexual or gender identity is something you are born with, she decided to CHOOSE to identify as black. She claims she "feels" black, but what does that even mean? I think she needs a lot of therapy and to understand that what she did was not ok and it is still not ok. I felt very sorry for her sons because they obviously did not want to be a part of all this. I think she is an attention seeker and desperate to play a victim. The documentary was well done - filmed well and put together well.

Honestly, I feel like none of us have a clue. History taught us that once we are facing something we can't difine, something we can't understand, our natural response is to say it's wrong and push it away. Untill we learn better. Watching this documentary reminded me of the jungle book. A kid that grew among wolfs, (it might didn't use the over-used word "identifies") but clearly identifies as a wolf, or at the very least tries his hardest to be one. And we think it's charming, it actually make sense to us. The question of identity inspired many great artists. However when these "stories" come to life, we turn away with fear. I'll try to give you an example from my perspective. I struggle with my own identity questions, that for these days are legitimate (fortunate me), but not to long ago they weren't. And this documentary just made it even harder for me. Which is amazing because that is what a good film does. I'm Jewish. Sometimes I feel Jewish, most of the time I really don't. 80 years ago in Europe it didn't matter what you felt or what you thought of yourself. If the documents said you were Jewish, that was it. And now, I'm free to shape my own identity in this complex religious world of jewdeism or even claim to be an atheist. And society says it's ok. Moreover, people can willingly convert and become Jewish themselves even though they never experienced antisemitism and their families never went through horrors. Why is that ok and the story of Rachel is not ok? This documentary doesn't answer it. It leaves it to us. So, are we willing to accept the challenge? Or rather hiding from it with poor excuses? Scary as it may be, I know my answer.

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.

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 then 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!?