Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie, an actor, filmmaker and a humanitarian, was born June 4 1975.  Angelina Jolie has been cited as one of the most powerful and influential people in the entertainment industry of America.  Jolie is also a mother of an interracial family!  She has three adopted children from all over the world along with three other biological children.

While filming in Cambodia, Jolie was exposed to the effects a war could have on a country, and wanted to do something about it.  While filming “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” in Cambodia, Jolie witnessed first hand, the effects a war had on Cambodia.  Returning home with that greater understanding, Jolie couldn’t just sit around.  She contacted United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  This is where her humanitarian journey began.  Since 2001, she has visited over 20 countries to advocate for those who are suffering.  She regularly goes to Washington DC, to raise awareness for humanitarian issues and to bring attention to the displaced and needy. In 2006 Jolie announced the founding of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, through this foundation donations came in from all over the world to help those in need.  Angelina Jolie states, “We cannot close ourselves off to information and ignore the fact that millions of people are out there suffering. I honestly want to help…”

Jolie has not only had three biological children, but has also adopted three children. Maddox Chivan was the first child she adopted in 2001 from Cambodia, followed by Zahara Marely from Ethiopia.  She then bore her first biological child, Shiloh Nouve.  She then adopted Pax Thien from Vietnam, and then gave birth to the twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline.  Angelina makes sure she celebrates the different cultures of her adopted children. She believes that educating her children about their roots is incredibly important.  Jolie makes the point that her children should embrace the whole family’s different backgrounds. She says, “They are all learning about each other’s cultures as well as being proud of their own.” Her son Maddox has joined her on set in Cambodia before, learning first hand about his heritage and native country.

Angelina has used her work as an actress in several ways to educate others too!  This includes when she acted in the movie First They Killed My Father. This movie is based on a Cambodia human rights activist Luong Ung’s memoir also called First They Killed My Father.  It documents a young girl’s experience in Cambodia when it was under the horrible rule of Khmer Rouge.

Jolie has used her talents to help others and that is very admirable.  Angelina Jolie could have focused on just her prosperity in the United States, but she instead saw the need and has made an impact worldwide.  Her family dynamic is a beautiful microcosm of what we desire for our world to look like; embracing different cultures and celebrating them with love and kindness!

Madelyn Rempel Project RACE Kids President

Picture Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a26532018/angelina-jolie-brings-kids-nyc-premiere/