Wah, L. M. (Producer, Director and Facilitator), & Hunter, M. (Co-producer). (1994). The Color Of Fear (videocassette). (Available from Stir-Fry Productions, Oakland, CA.

Review of the film, The Color of Fear. By Kristine Curry

The Color of Fear was certainly an experience and one I wish more people would see (I'm planning on sending the film to a professor on mine who teaches a restorative justice class). The film is definitely overwhelmed in the first half by the black and white discussion and in a way that I don't think measures up to the film's goals, but that is. 'The Color of Fear' Committee aims to contribute to the 2000-01 campus theme, 'Race, Power, and Privilege: Local and Global Perspectives.' Our project is also one of a number of coordinated initiatives serving the College’s long-range goals for diversity by developing resources for inclusive pedagogy, curriculum development, and institutional. 'color of fear' Stir Fry Productions and World Trust Institute sponsor group screenings of the film, followed by 90-minute audience discussions. To reach Stir Fry, call (510) 419-3930.

The Color Of Fear Summary

The Color of Fear documents eight men and the facilitator, Lee Mun Wah, who attend a weekend retreat in Ukiah, California. These men from diverse ethnic backgrounds share their experiences and are willing to explore their beliefs about racism, ethnicity, family history, and prejudices. Some are see themselves as acculturated to our White society. They self identify themselves as:
David C.- “American” of English and Denmark heritage.
Hugh- “Mexican-Irish” descent.

Victor- “Cherokee-Black” descent.

Miele gas cooktop igniter problems. Yakata- “3rd-generation Japanese” descent.

Gordon- “7th-generation Euro-American form Scotch-English and German” descent and “I am a racist but I am trying not to be”.

Roberto- “Latino-Mexican-American” descent.

Lee Mun Wah, facilitator- (Chinese-American” descent and “in China American means White”.

David L.-“American Chinese” descent.

Loren-“Black-American” descent. “But having worked in Corporate America I cannot show my blackness”.

The Color Of Fear Cast

These men struggle in their honesty just how much to reveal to the group and to the film. These men know they are being recorded for the purpose of expressing their views, teaching others and learning from each other. I am impressed at the risks these men take in a group setting to be honest (as honest as they can be at that moment).
The group spends much time trying to convince David C. that he has condescending and racist views when at the beginning he states, “ Why can’t you be individuals?” Victor takes a huge risk in being real when he confronts David C. and the group with his anger. He demonstrates and backs up his anger with expressive body language. Some viewers would feel threatened and fearful at the loudness and the words. Victor challenges David C. that “ the problem is not a color problem.” “Whites need to step outside their skin and examine being American”. You “need to step outside being comfortable and launch into new territory.” He goes on a roll of emotion stating that, “I’m unpalatable because,” of his nappy hair, talk, loudness and of whites wanting him to act white. He challenges David C., “I am not going to trust you until you are willing to change as much as I” am willing to change. In my opinion this moment was the changing point in the weekend to be honest and take a risk. The group could have stayed stuck, if Victor didn’t step forward to share. Victor was very articulate, honest, vulnerable and his whole demeanor changed. Victor, also, challenged the group to begin doing the work they came to do. Afterwards, he was breathing very hard as if being chased.
David L. picked up the lead sharing about growing up in an all-white high school. “I was the only person of color”. I could somewhat relate to David L. I have had one job where I was the only White in a Native American Health program. I was taught about Indian time and felt alienated to terms that I had no way of knowing what they referred to. I was accepted on one level, but left out of the loop in other ways. I learned that some on the staff wouldn’t talk to others because of they belonged to a tribe that had been an aggressor in Indian history. I left that job as a data coordinator for their Indian Health service and Public Health Service grants. I left when my White administrator asking me to forge documents for a site review and I refused. I left with some happy, sad, uncomfortable and confusing memories. I know I have a lot more to learn.
Discussion began about pickup trucks and gun racks and most everyone in the group agreed that they all felt fearful about that at one time or another.
When Victor shares an experience in grade school at being pigeonholed into a developmentally deficient reading group at a new school I felt sadness. Eventually, he was moved ahead to the appropriate reading group. He was automatically assumed to be behind, when he was ahead several grades in reading.
David C. defends Whites as; “ We don’t look at ourselves belonging to an ethnic group.” “You block your own progress,” said David C. to the group. Loren replied when David C. said that, you are saying, “White is human being” implying that ethnic groups are not.
The group later attended an ethnic neighborhood, walking together on the sidewalks. Lee Mun Wah, the facilitator asked David C., “What is keeping you from believing?” David C. shared he “didn’t feel a sense of privilege” that the group implied. I felt the group go back a few notches in trust. The body language in the room shifted. I feel that is the three steps forward one step back that most everyone experiences in counseling. Progress is not a straight continuum. Racism and prejudice is not going to go away overnight.
Later, the group took a further risk and shared about their own racism within their own ethnic groups and in other groups. Ethnic and family history was shared that influenced their own biases. There was reluctance to share, but there was honesty about that, knowing that it could be misconstrued.
Victor shared that he is accepted in places his mother, who is darker, can’t. Loren shared that history goes back to the plantation lighter-skinned Blacks worked in the house, while the darker Blacks worked the cotton fields. I had not thought of this before. We whites feel more comfortable with lighter skinned people. David L. expressed frustration at people’s insensitivity when complimenting him for being Chinese and his achievement academically comparing him to Blacks and darker skinned people.
Yakata shared his family’s internment during World War II. His father changed his religion, became a Christian, leaving his Buddhist roots. Yakata shared he is beginning to experience those religious roots. His own family refers to his father and the “Archie Bunker” of the family. David then felt he could share deeper about distrust of the Japanese when his family experienced the Sino-Japanese War. He expressed Japanese as, “arrogant, repressed and violent”. At this moment no one it seemed had actually called anyone hurtful names or adjectives. Roberto seemed to feel safe in sharing and apologized to the group for, “Not coming to intervene on your and my behalf. He gave an example of hearing, “Cubans taking over Florida”. “I hope you know I sat on it.” Several began expressing their stuffing their defenses when they felt otherwise. I could relate to this. I remember my grandfather who grew up in the Ozark Mountains telling stories about “Coloreds and the Darkies” as a child. Family lore was always exaggerated tall stories about watermelon eating and stealing. I knew that it was wrong to refer to African-Americans in such a demeaning manner. I feel shame that I do not always come to the defense of ethnic groups when I hear phrases, “Send them back where they came from.” I have begun to confront immediate family members when I hear uncomfortable name-calling. I do have a new daughter-in law who is Chinese American. I have yet to confront her when she refers to Mexican-American people in a demeaning way. She is a pharmacist and deals with the public in a health care setting. When she lived in the Southwest she refused to eat Mexican food, implying that it is somehow less than. I felt confused as to why she had these limiting beliefs. I will have to work on confronting her when I can see her and know her better.
A memorable moment in the film was David C. sharing that he was raised by a racist abusive father. He described his abusive childhood as being hypervigilent “trying to anticipate his father’s needs” and moods. He shared that he works workaholic tendencies avoiding the “pain in this world”. He seemed wa