this is [not] who we are
"The happiest place in America is Boulder, Colorado" -- said no Black person ever. "This is [Not] Who We Are" is a documentary film exploring the gap between Boulder, Colorado’s progressive self-image and the lived experiences of its small but resilient Black community. Its throughline is the story of Zayd Atkinson, a university student who was performing his work study job cleaning up the grounds of his dorm when he was threatened by a police officer and, soon, by eight officers with guns drawn. He lived to tell the story many Black men don't survive to tell.
While it has a unique history, Boulder is emblematic of liberal, white, university-based communities that profess an inclusive ethic but live a segregated reality. The film explores the interconnected issues of land use, affordability, racial and class-based segregation, educational equity, and policing.
"This is [Not] Who We Are" shares the voices of Boulder's African-American community and shows how deeply the roots of institutional racism are embedded. This accessible, story-based film opens pathways for dialogue, insight, and change.
1 hr, 17 mins
Preceded by the short film Rising Lotus.
About the directors
Beret E. Strong, Ph.D., M.F.A., Director, Producer, and Videographer (pictured at right), has been making documentary films since 1995 with John Tweedy. They co-own Landlocked Films. She is also a researcher, writer, and educator. Her films have shown on PBS stations across the U.S. and Canada, and won CINE Golden Eagles, the NAFDMA Insight Award for Excellence, Black Maria Film Festival’s Directors Citation Award, Best Documentary at the Third World Indie Film Festival, and a nomination for an IDA/ABC News Videosource Award. Her films have screened at many festivals, including Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Yamagata International Film Festival, Cine las Americas Film Festival, the Boulder International Film Festival, Denver International Film Festival, and the Pan African Film Festival. Beret cares about amplifying people’s voices, social justice and equity, the global community, and the health of our planet.
Katrina Miller, Director, Producer, Narrator, and Videographer, is the founder and owner of Blackat Productions. Katrina Miller has been involved in video for over half of her life. Her commercial and artistic work has been featured worldwide and she directs video at some of the top concert venues in Colorado. As a filmmaker, Katrina explores social issues that affect the black community in the US. She hopes “This Is [Not] Who We Are” will help lay the groundwork for her children to have a more inclusive future. Her documentary Blacklash explores why her alma mater, the University of Colorado, Boulder, lacked ethnic diversity. Katrina has done extensive work for e-Town, Red Rocks, the City of Denver, Boulder of Museum, Unity Church, and many other organizations. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado, but experience has been her best teacher.
