On Wednesday, Oct. 22, students gathered at the Brookline Teen Center for Race Reels, a monthly experience centered around discussing the identities of people of color through film. During the first Race Reels of the year, students had the opportunity to watch “Minding the Gap,” a film exploring Asian American identities.
Senior Elise Kutka, one of the event organizers, said that Race Reels is an extension of the discontinued Racial Awareness class. Along with seniors Jinann Wang and Aviv Schwab-Jacobson, Kutka decided to continue Race Reels as an experience open to all and a forum to discuss different racial identities.
Kutka said that she hopes people can come to Race Reels and have meaningful conversations with people who have different perspectives.
“I think the goal of Race Reels is to have everyone with completely different opinions and with completely different viewpoints to come every time. The point is to have a discussion and for everyone to see something and share out,” Kutka said.
Senior Ellora Jajoo, an organizer, said that Race Reels functions as a jumping-off point to incorporate more activities about race around the school for people who are ready to learn more.
“It’s really important to make sure we’re getting all sides of the story. I really want to make sure everyone’s represented, and I know in school that can be difficult sometimes because there are so many identities and there is a curriculum that we need to follow,” Jajoo said. “I feel like this place feels like a good place to extend off of what we’re doing in schools and ensure we get a wide range of identities represented.”
Similarly, Wang said that Race Reels can make discussions about identity feel more open, as they don’t necessarily need to follow a strict structure or be a controlled conversation.
“I think that in spaces like school, it’s not as student-driven and there are usually adults included in the conversation, which I think can feel limiting,” Wang said. “I feel like Race Reels [is] done on the students’ terms, and that makes it very different.”
The film “Minding the Gap” is a 93-minute documentary-style film that explores themes of growing up and maturing, domestic violence, poverty and what it truly means to be an American. Directed and shot by Bing Liu, the film shows Bing’s friend group throughout the years and the life choices they make. While the film ties up many loose ends, it presents itself as a snapshot of these characters and leaves room for interpretation as to what happens after.
Senior Charlotte Hintz, one of the attendees, said that the discussions at the end of the film were insightful and gave her a new perspective on the film.
“We discussed the relationships and dynamics between the people in the film, and this brought out a lot of conversations about how their upbringings and their economic status affected them,” Hintz said. “I thought it was super interesting and a compelling conversation to have.”
Jajoo said she believes that the unique style of Race Reels can lead to more complex and interesting conversations.
“Watching the film gives you a jumping off point because sometimes you can’t quite express the way you think about things correctly, so being able to watch a movie first can help you streamline your thoughts. You have a clearer way of expressing how you feel and a better understanding of the topic,” Jajoo said.
Hintz said that Race Reels can help students convey their thoughts about race and identity in a more casual setting, which leads to more interesting discussions.
“I think it’s a super interesting way to have conversations about racial identity and injustices,” Hintz said. “It brings people together in more of an unconventional way but also really allows people to express what they’re feeling without the constraints of a classroom setting where they might not feel as comfortable.”
Kutka said that Race Reels is not about attracting specific types of people but about listening to all voices in a conversation and learning something new.
“Discussion is okay. Having differences is okay. It’s important that others hear your voice and listen to others as well, so that you can all understand something new,” Kutka said. “You should feel like your own voice matters while also being aware of what others think.”
