Note from Executive Producer W. Kamau Bell

I was so honored and excited when Crystal Kwok invited me to be an Executive Producer on her groundbreaking film, “Blurring the Color Line: Chinese In The Segregated South”.  At a time in America when we are aware of how divided we are, especially racially, this film bravely explores one of our nation's most discussed, most politicized, and most misunderstood racial divides.  I’m of course referring to the relationship between Asian Americans and Black Americans.  The best part is that even though this is an issue that feels ripped from the headlines, Crystal plumbs her family history to tell a story of unknown history.  Crystal’s documentary addresses the little known relationship between the Chinese and Black community in the Jim Crow south.  This film achieves the remarkable feat of addressing our country’s systems of white supremacy without centering white voices.  Crystal takes a hard look at the uncomfortable truths of this country’s racial history and encourages us to think about racism in fresh and important ways.  This is all done through Crystal posing difficult questions to her family, their community, and occasionally to herself too.

The production team behind “Blurring the Color Line” consists mainly of Asian Americans and Black Americans.  Director Crystal Kwok and editor Kyung Lee are of Asian descent.  Consulting Producer Contessa Gayles is an African American.  The camera crew from Augusta are mostly Black.  And the stories told in the film are from both the Chinese and Black community.  To be clear this film is not a Black story. It is a story that only exists because of Black people. And Crystal makes sure we hear from many Black folks so we can get their thoughts on everything. Crystal’s documentary complicates America’s traditional Black and white racial narrative. And it brings forth necessary conversations that address the Black and Asian tensions that we have been struggling with throughout this country’s history and have seen over the last year.  This film is a critical piece that entangles Black history with the Chinese Immigrant experience and presents a much needed platform for discussions on race-relations.

W. Kamau Bell, Executive Producer