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The Rachel Divide 2018

The documentary explores the controversy surrounding Rachel Dolezal, who gained public attention for identifying as Black before her racial identity was questioned. Director Laura Brownson offers an intimate portrait of Dolezal's experiences as her life became a subject of national debate and intense scrutiny. The film examines her personal journey alongside broader societal conversations about race, identity, and privilege in America, prompting reflection on complex issues.

The documentary explores the controversy surrounding Rachel Dolezal, who gained public attention for identifying as Black before her racial identity was questioned. Director Laura Brownson offers an intimate portrait of Dolezal's experiences as her life became a subject of national debate and intense scrutiny. The film examines her personal journey alongside broader societal conversations about race, identity, and privilege in America, prompting reflection on complex issues.

Does The Rachel Divide have end credit scenes?

No!

The Rachel Divide does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Rachel Divide

Explore the complete cast of The Rachel Divide, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Rachel Divide

See how The Rachel Divide is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Rachel Divide stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

59

Metascore

6.4

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

71%

TOMATOMETER

review

58%

User Score

IMDb

6.3 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

62

%

User Score

Movie Insider

3.83/5

From 29 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Rachel Divide Movie Quiz

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Understanding The Rachel Divide: Test your knowledge of the controversial documentary exploring Joshua Dolezal's life and identity.

What was Joshua Dolezal's profession before her downfall?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Rachel Divide

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The documentary offers an in-depth examination of the events that contributed to Rachel Dolezal’s dramatic downfall from a respected academic and activist to a figure of widespread controversy. It carefully navigates through the intricate circumstances that surrounded her scandal and the repercussions that followed.

As the film unfolds, it reveals troubling claims made by Rachel’s siblings regarding past allegations of sexual abuse against their brother, Joshua Dolezal, during their childhood. The narrative further explores their upbringing under parents whom Rachel describes as psychologically neglectful, while her sister, Esther Dolezal, asserts that their parenting bordered on physical abuse. A particularly striking moment in the documentary features Esther showing a scar on her thigh, a painful reminder of her mother’s punishment with a glue gun stick, and recounting an incident in South Africa where they were reportedly beaten with a baboon whip.

Rachel shares candid reflections in on-camera interviews, expressing her belief that her parents failed to provide their adopted children with a proper understanding of their racial heritage. This lack of guidance propelled her to delve deeply into black history, leading her to claim her identity transformation into what she describes as “transracial.” The film intricately links her academic pursuits to her eventual appropriation of black culture and heritage.

In addition to exploring her controversial identity, the documentary also follows Rachel’s personal life, including her relationship with her two children: her biological son Franklin and her adopted son Izaiah Dolezal, who was originally her adopted brother. It captures significant moments in her life, including her pregnancy and the early days of raising her youngest son, Langston, named after the renowned poet Langston Hughes. Throughout the documentary, audiences witness Rachel frequently discussing the isolating experience of being confined at home, largely due to the relentless public criticism she faces.

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Rachel Divide

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The Rachel Divide Rachel Dolezal Documentary Trailer

Movie Themes and Keywords

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socialnaacpspokane washingtonwhite person disguised as black personrace relationsidentityautobiographyinterviewreference to rachel dolezal

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