Dear White People… This is NOT Just a Black Movie

Hey folks just got in from another great film watching experience. Today I got a chance to see Dear White People starring Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, and Kyle Gallner. This indie film takes an exploratory look at the idea race and gender relations in a university setting.

What I liked the most about this movie was the fact that it spoke to a more general subject that most people can relate to in the realm of race and stereotypes. It speaks to two conflicting ideas: 1.) Where racism and prejudice doesn’t exist vs. 2.) racism being alive and well in this country and holding us back as a species.

The movie takes a journey into the humanity of the individuals involved in this contrast and sheds light on very specific archetypes that we in and outside of the culture have become familiar with. Consider the characters of both Sam and Coco in the movie. Both women are struggling with the identity crisis their race, but they come to different realizations of that confusion. Sam, takes her idea of blackness and stands against anything that would challenge that idea and equates it to a strength that makes her a strong black woman. Coco on the other hand, takes her idea of blackness to a series of self-deprecating judgments that devalue herself in an effort to find acceptance.

This is just a sample of what the movie’s content has to offer. The character of Lionel offers an interesting character in that he fits into a minority that makes him an outsider for most of the film to both sides. Once he does find himself in the grand scheme of things he offers a insight that allows you to understand the scope of the film.

The film’s willingness to challenge already established ideas of black identity and how one fits in this world is a much welcomed view in this day and age. With all that reality TV has to offer (and I say that very sarcastically), its amazing that we don’t see how that kind of television works to destroy any notion of elevated thinking from any race, creed, or culture.

Also, I loved how they illustrated interracial relationships in this film. different sides of the spectrum. The stereotypes that couples face along with the struggles in communication and what makes them (or any relationship) successful or unsuccessful.

Overall, this movie was a masterpiece and has now become a favorite of mine. Great story and an excellent cast. I definitely want to revisit this movie sometime down the line, it provokes a lot of discussion and really pushes the envelope on a technical aspect as well. The way that every shot takes shape, and the way that every scene develops is masterful. Like the topics showcased, the shots themselves are designed to go against the norm. This is definitely a must see film. Most theaters in major cities are showing this movie, so you should be able to find one near you that is still showing it, if you haven’t seen it already. I’ll be buying this one when it comes out on home video. If you’ve already seen this and want to start the colloquy… let’s go!