“Watch Now: ‘White with Fear’ Review and Streaming Access”

In a climate marked by ongoing political, social, and cultural turmoil, particularly in the U.S., many of us seek solace or truth in the media. The political documentary “White with Fear” delves into the alarming manipulation by mass media and political operatives aimed at instilling deep-seated fears among white populations regarding diverse races and religions.

The narrative traces back to Detroit in 1968, a city remembered for its challenges, where President Richard Nixon devised a strategy for fear-based politics. The documentary’s title, “White with Fear,” highlights the origins of the perceived threats that white individuals feel in their quest to maintain a certain vision of America. The Republican Party employed these tactics to cling to power, exploiting those they claimed to protect. Although the film includes various individuals complicit in perpetuating such harmful narratives, there’s a lack of accountability or regret; any hint of reflection seems hollow, as if nothing can change the course already set.

Directors Andrew Goldberg and producer Diana Robinson leverage their journalistic expertise to shed light on the ongoing political chaos and the techniques employed to maintain authority. The film reveals a continuous cycle of racist exploitation fostered by the Republican Party since the 1960s. This leads to an abundance of archival footage; the documentary presents a stark compilation of news clips and speeches, exposing long-standing exclusionary practices. As viewers, we’ve grown desensitized to the blatant racism manifest in our media, and watching these compiled segments serves as a jarring reminder of the pervasive issue.

While the documentary explores the rise of far-right ideologies, it cautiously skirts around posing difficult questions. Some of the film’s most impactful moments focus on the infiltration of educational frameworks, illustrated dramatically by Donald Trump’s assertion that “[Critical Race Theory in schools] is a matter of national security” at his rallies. These moments showcase how fiction can be propagated as fact, and contrasting these snippets with genuine interviews from figures like Princeton’s Eddie Glaude and actor Aasif Mandvi merely grazes the surface of the profound issues rooted in these political upheavals.

The film sets out to uncover hidden tactics used by some political factions, successfully presenting convincing evidence. However, these strategies may be all too familiar to marginalized groups. This raises questions about who the intended audience is. Its chronological approach appears educational, but the inclusion of random expletives undermines this purpose. Interviews with notable figures from the right, like former FOX News President Joe Peyronnin and Tim Miller from the Republican National Committee, initially seem enlightening but often serve more as confessions than informative discussions. Ultimately, the documentary seeks to address the manipulation of race but features few voices from non-white individuals, leaving viewers with an incomplete sense of resolution.

“White with Fear” embodies essential journalistic principles, such as chronicling current events, linking them to history, and striving for clarity in truth-telling. Yet, it remains ambiguous about its place within historical documentation. While it serves as a cautionary tale of ongoing issues, it often appears more focused on drawing attention to institutional failures rather than proposing effective solutions. Toward the end, historian and author Rick Perlstein criticizes the groupthink and voting patterns fostered by subtle signals, claiming that Donald Trump intensified these actions akin to sounding a train’s whistle, inspiring even bolder acts of discrimination. Goldberg acknowledges that the film’s strength lies in its unique cast sharing personal narratives but fails to recognize that it, too, contributes to amplifying an entrenched adversary.

The documentary is currently touring across the country, with a screening scheduled for tonight, May 21st, at Landmark Century in Chicago. It will also be available on VOD starting June 3rd.