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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features
(click on broll or dschwartz for all his posts)
Black, White, and US: Racism through the Prism of Transracial Adoption
In “Black, White, and US” author/speaker/filmmaker Loki Mulholland has given us as crucially significant a documentary film about black/white racism I have ever seen. Mulholland interviews four white couples each of whom have adopted black children. The location is the very white, very Mormon state of Utah.
Each couple shares their thoughts, experiences, and feelings about having adopted and raised their children. We hear both their harrowing as well as transformative experiences. We also hear from authorities on the issue of transracial adoption, and from a son who relates his experience as an adoptee.
The central character is Curtis Linton, a father who shares a remarkable amount of insight into what he and wife Melody have experienced and, especially, learned as transracial adopters. The two have founded The Domino Foundation which “promotes healthy racial identity development, strong interracial relationships, and self-confidence in families that adopt transracially.”
“Black, White, and Us” is an absolute must-see film. It is provocative—every moment has something important to say. I found myself stopping, reversing, and replaying short pieces of dialog to make sure I really understood what had just been shared.
I doubt the film’s release method qualified it for Academy nomination. However, it belongs on the Academy’s slate of feature documentary film nominations.
The film is on Amazon Prime. If you don’t have Prime, you can sign up for a free month in order to see the film.