The weird tale of Rachel Dolezal
THE RACHEL DIVIDE NETFLIX
IN A society where it is now increasingly acceptable to change gender, changing race is rather more problematic.
Around the time Bruce Jenner was going through his very public change from being a man to identifying as a woman called Caitlyn, there was another case of transitioning which, while not as high profile, was far more interesting.
Rachel Dolezal was a black activist whose life came tumbling down when it emerged that she was actually white. So white, in fact, that she had previous form for complaining about the poor treatment whites receive.
In the blink of an eye, she became one of the most hated and ridiculed people in America and despite her constant assertions that she ‘feels’ black, she was disowned by her parents and ostracised from the black community she once considered her ‘true’ family.
The Rachel Divide is one of the more fascinating new documentaries available on Netflix and it follows the experience of a woman who went from being the popular head of the Spokane branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) to someone condemned as a race traitor by both sides.
Produced by Academy award winner Roger Ross Williams and directed by Laura Bowman, this is a compelling and frequently moving account of the world’s first ‘trans-racial’ person who comes across as not really mad and not really bad, just lost and deeply, deeply confused.
Her son Franklin comes across as the most level headed member of a spectacularly dysfunctional family, and it is impossible not to feel sorry for the young man as he plaintively asks Rachel, “can’t you just let this go?”
Torn between loyalty to his mother and profound embarrassment at her behaviour, he’s the star a show that makes for deeply uncomfortable viewing, but is compelling nonetheless.
Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope (RTÉ 2, tonight, 9.30pm) returned to record ratings last week – a record low that is.
That’s harsh on a show which broke new ground for a domestic show and they will expect to pick up better figures when the playback is factored in.
Even so, RTÉ will be hoping that this millennial drama isn’t spat out by the same zeitgeist which had so enthusiastically embraced it on its first run...
It’s not uncommon for young people to run away from home, but it is relatively rare for them to run away from home in the UK, go to America and try to assassinate Donald Trump.
The Boy Who Tried To Kill Trump (3e, tonight, 10pm) looks at the odd case of Michael Sandford, who tried to shoot the then Republican candidate. of