Anomaly: A Documentary Film about Multiracial Identity 2013
Distributed by Third World Newsreel, 545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018; 212-947-9277
Produced by Jessica Chen Drammeh and Sharon K. Smith, Toni Urbano
Director n/a
DVD , color, 47 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
Sociology, Urban Areas
Date Entered: 11/14/2014
Reviewed by LaRoi Lawton, Library & Learning Resources Department, Bronx Community College of the City University of New YorkWhat I really enjoyed about this film was the rich mix of ethnicity that is portrayed by the people who express their personal and at times intimate relationship on the topic of race and ethnicity as it impacts them as individuals. The viewer is introduced to Professor Julia Chen, Pete, Professor Michelle Elam, Jen Chau, Rona, Gabriella, and several others, all of whom are multiracial. “Black and White” does not define who we are as human beings. This is the essence of this documentary. Each of these individuals takes the view down a road where their personal experiences transcend and explore the essence of our common dilemma called race. It explores the trials, and challenges each of these people face in terms of their place in American society today and in their own personal lives. This is not a documentary solely about African Americans, or Black people even though some of the participants here have some heritage from that particular race, it is a documentary that focuses on a multitude of ethnic mixes from White to Black, Asian, Latino, African, European, and Indian. More importantly, it is a timely documentary that illustrates how each of them try to “navigate their identities as perceived by the society at large, their families and community.” Not only are their individual experiences at times, shocking, but their resilience to assert their ethnicity and individualism is heartwarming.