"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 Black community and shows how deeply the roots of institutional racism are embedded. This accessible, story-based film opens pathways for dialogue, insight, and change.