OAP-Who Is Al Sharpton? Part 2

This question is not meant to be of any disrespect to Al Sharpton. His name was chosen because it is an easily recognizable name, but it could have been; Who Is Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, etc. The question has to do with why mass media always feels the need to pick the same certain people to represent groups of people, and do the groups think the person chosen is their representative or not?

More involved than just your personal association with whatever arbitrary and undefined racial name you call yourself, the Other Awareness Project is a thought-provoking, humorous mixture of film documentary, stand-up comedy, and audience discussion that looks into what I think is the continued incorrect categorization of people into racial groups by skin color and other arbitrary things, in light of everything we know scientifically, legally, religiously, just about any way you want to look at it. In this era of keeping it real", internet access, DNA research, why do intelligent people still classify themselves into racial groups? And, is it helping to solve any problems?

I traveled to various cities around the country. (Long Beach, CA; Austin, TX; Portland, OR; Cypress, CA; Carson, CA; Youngstown, OH) I was intentionally looking to film conversations with people I didn't know and who are more intelligent than I am. People, who have been calling themselves any of the completely arbitrary and legally undefined racial categories for 10, 20, 30, 40 years. To see why they still chose a "racial" category, how they support that decision, and how it has or hasn't affected their lives. Everyone answered the same roughly 20 questions, from Who is Al Sharpton?" to Where is Caucasia? to "What is the legal description of a _____ person in the United States?" To their credit, not one person knew the questions until we were filming. I didnt prep any of the responses. The conversations are exactly as they happened with as little editing as possible.

Kevin and Amy, Huntington Beach, CA; Mark and Alyssa, Youngstown, OH; Joseph, Austin, TX; Ray, Far Rockaway, NY; Jess, Portland, OR; Mayor Jim Dear, Carson, CA; Makena, Redondo Beach, CA

DB, Austin, TX; Opal, Austin, TX; Joylyn, Long Beach, CA; Don, Austin, TX; Rabbi Brian, Los Angeles, CA; Sander, Long Beach, CA; Dave and Carolyn, Los Angeles, CA; Rod, San Diego, CA

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