Available to stream: September 2, 2022 12:01 am - September 5, 2022 11:59 pm PT

Who We Are

A Chronicle of Racism in America
Presented by Play Marin
About the Film
Q&A
Learn More

Synopsis

Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, in WHO WE ARE — A Chronicle of Racism in America, criminal defense/civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.

 

Press

“An urgent and timely documentary. A sounding alarm for America, and the world, to grapple with its original sin. Expertly crafted and beautifully articulated through the lens and words of master storytellers. Could be the very best documentary feature you’ll see this year.” – Clayton Davis, VARIETY

“Parents need to know that Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America is a must-see documentary centered on a powerful lecture about racism given by Jeffery Robinson, the deputy legal director and director of the Trone Center for Justice & Equality at the ACLU… Be prepared to have meaningful but possibly challenging conversations with teens about race in the United States, including how to combat racism, prejudice, and racial privilege…

…Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America is meant as a wake-up call to Americans about the truth of their country’s history: Not only is racism still alive and well in the United States, but it’s a fundamental part of the country’s foundation. The film is also a call to action — Robinson makes it clear that it’s up to all Americans to stop the tide of racism in order to put the United States on a better, more equitable path.” – Monique Jones, COMMON SENSE MEDIA

“It’s unlikely that any lecture documentary since “An Inconvenient Truth” has had the galvanizing potential of “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America” … The film presents a talk that the lawyer Jeffery Robinson (a former deputy legal director at the A.C.L.U.) gave at Town Hall in New York on Juneteenth 2018. His subject is nothing less than the history of anti-Black racism in the United States…

… Robinson brings nuance to topics — unconscious bias, reparations, how to deal with the fact that George Washington owned slaves — that have become flash points in society, without ever losing the core of his progressive message. It’s a confrontational film, but never an alienating one, and so much of what’s in it is persuasive.” – Ben Kenigsberg, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“I shed tears during Who We Are, yet I also became angered by the images before me and as the closing credits scrolled by I found myself wanting to use my own platforms with an even stronger commitment.” – Richard Propes, THE INDEPENDENT CRITIC

“Robinson doesn’t just tell you that racism is structural, but he shows the receipts.” – Alex Heeney, SEVENTH ROW

“Who We Are is a significant work, both for its confrontation of a nation’s troubled past and for its hopeful look to the future.” – Kent Turner, FILM FORWARD

“To hear him speak is to feel his words and learn our shared, collective history. With a wider audience, this film and the Who We Are Project could easily change some hearts and minds. Here’s hoping the film earns that opportunity.” – Michael Ward, SHOULD I SEE IT

“…Jeffery Robinson’s guided tour through the past that anchors and divides his country is the best contextual primer for all those documentaries which came before and, hopefully, will carry on his mission to educate and advocate for change in the future.” – Fionnuala Halligan, SCREEN DAILY

Our Challenge

We operate in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, which is also the most racially disparate county in California. Our work addresses two fundamental challenges Marin youth face: Adequate access to extracurricular and athletic opportunity in Marin City. Lack of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in the broader Marin community.

 

Our Mission

Play Marin intentionally provides opportunities for children of diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in Southern Marin to learn and grow together through play. We recognize the need for stronger diversity and inclusion in Marin County, and we believe that bringing together the unique experiences of different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds among us serves to enhance our larger community. Being able to understand and appreciate people from all walks of life is vital to the advancement of our society, and we see play as the vehicle to achieve this goal. In just eight years, we have grown from one basketball team of nine players to reaching over 300 kids annually through several team sports and many other uplifting and enriching activities. Our work teaches valuable skills, creates friendships, develops grit, brings families together, and enhances well being and solidarity among young people of Marin from all backgrounds, improving their prospects for a successful future and benefiting the overall health of our broader Marin community. Come play with us.

Join us on Zoom after the screening!

At 7pm on Sunday August 27th for a Q&A with Paul Austin and Jeffery Robinson

Where can I donate?

Visit our website here: abc123.com

How can I get involved?

Do this!

When will this film be available for me to share with friends and family?

November 1st

How can I host my own screening

Visit rocofilms.com!