What Millennials Really Think of the Netflix Series “Dear White People”

This month students and interns around Washington, D.C. gave their opinions about the Netflix series “Dear White People”.

Interns from the Hill (“Hillterns”) do not think people should be outraged by the title “Dear White People”.

Finish your current Netflix series because most think the Netflix series “Dear White People” is very important. The series came out in April and is based off of the 2014 film, “Dear White People” by Justin Simien.

The show focuses on race at an Ivy League university. From blackface/ cultural appropriation, interracial relationships, light-skin and white privilege, the “N” word, and African-American relations with the police; each scenario shows viewers what not just students face on their campuses but what people of color everywhere, experience everyday.

Dear White People | Date Announcement [HD] | Netflix. Credit, YouTube

The show touches on blackface in the first episode and soon-to-be medical official, Langston said, “sometimes people are doing it just to be mean, but a lot of the times, people are doing it because they do not know the impact or the affect of it.”

GWU student, Natalie.

Natalie, 23 liked the reality, and humor of the show. She said her school is a little bit like Winchester, but definitely not as bad. “This past year there’s been a lot of things happening at my school with people dealing with racism on campus and it’s really come out a lot in a lot of ways that it wasn’t before which I’m glad for.”

Mother and future Hampton student.

A young teen explained that she is “not used to seeing African Americans in a PWI (Predominantly White Institutes)”. She said she’s going to Hampton (HBCU in Virginia) this fall so it will be a whole different experience for her. “I’m expecting to learn new ways how to love myself and love other black people and also love different races.”

Patrick, 21.

Patrick, has not seen the show but thinks it is, “A realistic show that applies to the real world that we actually have an issue with; is that colleges are predominantly white especially the top tier schools they are very white and you have a lot of racial issues as you’ve seen with the presidential election.”

GWU student.

Atlanta native, who goes to George Washington University (GWU) said his university advertised diversity but when he got there the university does not compare to back home in Georgia. The student also said,“”Dear White People” did a really good job highlighting the issue of microaggressions”.

GWU student, Emma.

19-year-old GWU student, Emma likes when people ask her what race she is. She said she does not see it as a microaggression. “I really am proud of where I come from and my background. I’m very proud to say that I’m Hispanic when people ask me I say ‘I’m hispanic Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican’ and I ask them ‘What are you?’ I like to meet people from different cultures.”

California State University, Northridge graduate and Hilltern, Carolyne.

Carolyne, 21 had an issue with the show. “It’s doesn’t really go into depth when it comes to issues that the Black community faces. There is so much more that they could talk about but yet they still stick to surface level issues.”

American University Alumnus, Evan, 22 said his favorite character is Lionel because he “related to him in a really interesting way.” Evan also said,“”Dear White People” is not a bad way to start the conversation. What it is trying to get across, by telling these stories and saying this is how certain actions a white person does or says can make a person feel.

Media sources and viewers suspect a second season next spring, but Netflix has not confirmed.