thebahamasweekly.com - A Frank Look at Race Relations in a Collegiate Setting

Advanced Search

Categories

News (34058)

Community (14907)

Bahamian Politics (2988)

Bahamas Weather (930)

Sports (3690)

Columns (2575)

Robbin's Nest - Robbin Whachell (63)

Bird Talk - Erika Gates (70)

Under The Hood of TBW - Webmaster (Dave Mackey) (14)

Investing in You - Glenn S. Ferguson (68)

Preventative Measure - Gamal Newry (53)

Body by Blower - Dr. Brian Blower DC (45)

The Pastor's Pulpit (182)

Let's Talk Real Estate - James Sarles (77)

Letters to The Editor (613)

Genderational - Alicia Wallace (12)

The Pet Pages - Kim Aranha (70)

Who is in control? - Joseph Darville (28)

Tyrina Talks Fashion (87)

Opinions - Joye Ritchie Greene (86)

Radiant Health - Angelika Christie (51)

The New Bahamian - Joseph Gaskins (30)

Bahamas Wedding Planner - Glenn Ferguson (56)

Sip Sip History - Bahamas Historical Society (92)

Computer Korner (25)

Art Life - Susan Mackay (40)

Hurricane Preparedness - R. Tarzwell (2)

Grand Bahama Real Estate Investment Opportunities (5)

International Year of the Reef - A Week in ReefView (8)

Plastic Surgery Trends (31)

Chew On This! - Maurisa Glinton (9)

Life-Coaching 2.0 - Michelle M. Miller (19)

Love'n Life with Lisa (6)

Coaching for the Workplace - Kaylus Horton (27)

Talkin' Tourism (12)

Relationships Matter - Cedric Beckles (7)

Let's Grow Bahamas (22)

Influential Voice - Kim Welcome (29)

The Bahamian Traveller (12)

Investing in Being Human - Dr. Colin Archer (10)

Message from the Stars - Tametryo Brown (29)

Island Notes - Peter Barratt (15)

Style Drama - Edward Quan (60)

Family and Youth Empowerment (6)

Films, Finance and Fine Arts - Kareem Mortimer (13)

Screen Scene (177)

Events Calendars (64)

Entertainment (2380)

Sales & Promotions (898)

Arts & Culture (2379)

Streaming Multimedia (295)

Inside The Bahamas Weekly (120)

Navigation (Site Directions) (1)

Opportunities (514)

The Bahamas Boasts (187)

A Taste Of The Bahamas (27)

Market Place (20)

Focus on Fashion (414)

Hot Links (1)

at a glance (3)

VAT Bahamas (113)

Health (234)

Opinions (51)

Medical Education Review Program (MERP) (9)

Ross University (70)

Grand Bahama Real Estate (2)

Columns : Screen Scene

Last Updated: May 8, 2017 - 1:53:31 AM

A Frank Look at Race Relations in a Collegiate Setting
By Rouén Robinson
May 7, 2017 - 3:49:27 PM

Email this article
Mobile friendly page

Dear White People (Season 1) - Bet You Think This Show Is About You...

Minority students deal with different life issues while they attend an Ivy League university where the student majority is mostly ignorantly of their struggles. As each episode unfolds we learn of the events that bring them together and the prejudices that could tear the students of the campus apart.

Samantha White is a young woman of mixed heritage who happens to be the outspoken host of a college radio show called Dear White People where she shares her views on race relations. Joelle Brooks Featherson is Samantha’s current best friend who wants nothing but the best for her as she pines for the attention of Samantha’s freshman year hanger on. Troy Fairbanks is the son of the Dean of Winchester University who is running for student president and the object of attention for his suite mate Lionel Higgins and social climber Colandrea ‘Coco’ Conners. Reggie Green is a vocal member of the Black Student Union and has had a crush on Samantha since their freshman year but feels frustrated due to the fact that she is dating Gabe Mitchell.

Dear White People Season 1 does something that is hard to do as it stays relevant when compared to the movie it is based on. The format of the series allows for certain character motivations to be explored in detail along with their connections to others. It was good to see certain cast members from the film reprise their roles on the series to help flesh out the small screen incarnations of their big screen portrayals. Justin Simien is able to bring more of a sly humor to the style in which he chooses to showcase his Intellectual Property that is not only a television series and motion picture but also a book. It ups the impact that each episode of this first season brings to the biting satire that puts a mirror to race relations in its current state as well as a magnifying glass. The questions it brings up are not easily answered and I look forward to seeing the level of complexity they choose to handle certain issues next season. Of course the most important of these questions is where is the missing ‘comfort dog’ and who is responsible for its disappearance. On a more serious note, this may not be the easiest of shows to digest for those who may see it as an attack but I will caution those people not to sell themselves or this show short as it tries to inform as it entertains.

I rate this first season a rating of 4 1/2 out of 5.

On Netflix

See other reviews by Rouén HERE.

Rouén Robinson has been an avid moviegoer since childhood and has been critiquing motion pictures for almost a decade. He has been a film critic for The Cinemas on Tempo and was a judge for FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island, an off shoot of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF). Rouén lives in Grand Bahama and can be reached at redr1976@icloud.com and on Twitter @thereelrouen

News Feed

Screen Scene
Latest Headlines

Star Wars : The Force Awakens - Movie review by Rouén Robinson

Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker- Movie review by Rouén Robinson

Joker - Movie review by Rouén Robinson

Veronica Mars - Movie review by Rouén Robinson

Stranger Things (Season 3) - Movie review by Rouén Robinson