It's becoming rare that a documentary actually presents an even handed account of its subject, and trying to do that with Rachel Dolezal is perhaps about as impossible as can be simply due to the number of levels her story touches on.Most everyone, I assume, knows her as the woman who was born white, but called herself black and was the president of the Spokane NAACP. But why did she do that? If Rachel can be trusted, and really that is a big if, it's that her parents adopted some black children but she took it upon herself to teach them black culture. Along the way she found herself identifying more and more with what she saw as "black culture."What I think this documentary does a particularly good job at is saying that there is no one thing that is set apart as "black culture", just as there really is no one thing that sets any other culture apart exclusively. What Rachel did was take elements of what she saw black culture as, maybe the ones that she liked the most, and claimed them as hers. For whatever reason though she didn't see that as being dishonest, even with the people she was trying so desperately to identify with telling her that it was.One part of this documentary that really stuck out to me though was one of her critics saying that she is using her sons as her struggle. Rachel is a mother, and seemingly one who wants her children to do well, but she has come across as taking their difficulties on as her own. To me that reveals that ultimately she see it's really all about her. She either seems oblivious or indifferent to what her sons are going through because she refuses, or is incapable, of being honest with herself and with the world. She has made life more difficult for them and she doesn't really seem to care.And yet, it's hard not to feel something for Rachel despite all that. Where I draw the line though is it doesn't justify anything she has done.

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.

Rachel Dolezal became well known to us when she was forced to confess that she is "born white". And after that I have always been thinking "wth!". So obviously I didn't want to miss this documentary.And you know, I am glad I didn't. It is very well done trying to be objective and giving the voice to pretty much everyone involved. I always felt bad for Rachel even though I think that while she can do whatever she wants with her hair and love any culture, if she thinks this makes her black, she needs a therapist. But what she did was pretty harmless and not out of malice. And yes it seems like some sort of escape from reality, finding herself, finding love and belonging among black people. I want to add that I am not very quick to accept her explanation that their parents abused them. Even if it was supported by the siblings. Because there is at least one other adopted brother who denies those stories, he was not in the movie. So I neither accept nor reject it. It is their family feud and I rather have them resolve it themselves.But no matter what this movie gave me a better understanding of Rachel, her family, people who support her and people who think that what she did was wrong. The movie gave us a lot of footage and a lot of voice. And yes, I think this is a valid topic to discuss. Hope it works out for them all.

Good documentary. If the subject matter is of interest, you wont be disappointed. But I don't get all the criticism. The biggest hypocrites seem to be the outraged liberals. who chant transsexual good...transracial bad.