Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
College is complicated in series on race, sex, activism.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dear White People
What's the Story?
DEAR WHITE PEOPLE is set on a fictional Ivy League college campus where racism is felt by the minority students and ignored by others. The series' main character is a student named Samantha (Logan Browning) who's a campus radio personality and the leader of an African American student group. Samantha's radio show, Dear White People, gets backlash from the popular student satirical publication Pastiche (think Harvard's Lampoon), so she sets out to expose the racism in Pastiche's ranks. When it's found out that she broke into Pastiche's Facebook account to send a blackface party invitation—and that she has a "secret White bae"—Samantha is caught in the middle of her political, social, and personal worlds. She and fellow students Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P. Bell), Lionel Higgins (DeRon Horton), Coco Conners (Antionette Robinson), and Gabe Mitchell (John Patrick Amedori) must figure out how to navigate the backlash—and how to use their voices on campus to effect positive change.
Is It Any Good?
This politically driven series takes a smart and modern look at the rising racial tensions in higher academia. The main characters of Dear White People find themselves embroiled in serious issues of racism, sexual politics, ethics, and activism, all while their social media feeds are constantly updating them on what other people think about what they do and say. Though it sometimes reduces the world to a simplistic view of Black versus White, the series offers a look at the complicated and often contradicting views that people have on race and identity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the college drinking and hookup culture portrayed in Dear White People. Is it a realistic depiction of college? Caregivers: Discuss with your teen the choices they might face, and how they can stay safe and responsible, while they're away from home.
What do you think about the show's title, Dear White People? If you had to name a radio show to talk about the social ills you'd like to expose, what would you talk about and what would you name it?
Families can talk about Samantha's choice to break into a publication's Facebook account to send an invitation to a blackface party. Is it OK to do that to expose hidden racism? Would you have done the same, if given the opportunity? Why, or why not?
How much does your social media reflect your identity? How do markers of external validation, such as gaining followers, affect what you decide to post? How much of your true self is hidden online? What are some of your favorite outlets to express your authentic self, both online and off?
Which characters demonstrate courage? What does it mean to have integrity on a college campus like Winchester University? Why is it important to have these character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 28, 2017
- Cast : Tyler James Williams , Tessa Thompson , Justin Dobies , Marque Richardson , Brandon P. Bell
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Activism ( Racial justice ) , Friendship , Holidays ( Juneteenth ) , School ( College & Graduate School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 11, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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