Hinojosa’s film focuses on lack of racial diversity in North Idaho
Award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa brings the shifting American culture to Idaho in her upcoming film, “Our Private Idaho,” another installment in an eight-part documentary series called “America by the Numbers.” The episode focuses on Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County and how the area’s percentage of Caucasian people is holding at a steady 91 percent — dramatically different from other parts of the nation.
Maria Hinojosa
The premiere of “Our Private Idaho” is at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Menard Law Building courtroom. There will be a panel discussion with Maria Hinojosa and two stakeholders from Coeur d’Alene. A reception will follow where people can meet and talk informally with Hinojosa. Admission to the event is free to the public, thanks to Hinojosa’s production company Futuro Media and several other sponsors.
Up until 15 years ago, North Idaho was the center of the Aryan Nations’ white supremacy movement. Hinojosa said even though the formal group has dissolved, the ideology is still present in Kootenai County. In the film, Hinojosa interviews Coeur d’Alene residents who have been personally affected by the so-called “whitopia.” For example, she interviews a local Mexican restaurant supervisor whose business was picketed with signs quoting, “Keep Coeur d’Alene White.”
Kristin Haltinner, assistant professor of sociology at UI, said the film talks about how the U.S. is becoming more racially diverse but Coeur d’Alene is not. The film asks why the city has been immune to the trend.
“It is important to talk about the history of places like Coeur d’Alene,” she said. “Especially as we venture forth as a nation that will hopefully be less divisive and how we move forward as a united country versus getting stuck in these historical ideologies.”
Kenton Bird, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Media, said he’s excited for the film premiere because it takes a prevalent issue on the national level and connects it to the small population of northern Idaho.
“The goal is to set the tone for the evening by showing the documentary that addresses some important issues about community and how people who move into a community can change the demographics, so it will be a lively program.” he said. “I have only seen the one-minute preview and I think it will be very interesting, informative, lively and provocative.”
As for Hinojosa, who visited UI last October to talk about Hispanic heritage and her film series, she said she plays an advocacy role in her journalism work and hopes to bring a voice to the voiceless with her “America by the Numbers” series.
“We at Futuro are excited to create the forums for diverse groups of people of all ages coming together to discuss the issues that citizens care the most about, and to bring their concerns to the forefront of our national dialogue,” Hinojosa said in a statement. “In this way, we hope to expand the exercise of democracy through dialogue and free speech.”
Emily Mosset can be reached at [email protected]