Dear White People Character Analysis

Inversely, Simien uses another character-to-character interaction, this time, to highlight [a] Black image in the White mind. “What are you going to do? Hit me?” This quote marks the beginning of a season-long strained relationship between Gabe, Sam’s [White] boyfriend, and Reggie (Marque Richardson), Sam’s [Black] admirer and friend. To set the scene: Following the exposing of Sam’s “forbidden relationship” with Gabe, she invites him into a Black space, at the request of Sam, to join in a moment of decompression and entertainment. Discord ensues between the two male characters when a disapproving Reggie questions Gabe’s presence; a question to which Gabe replies with the aforementioned question, “What are you going to do? Hit me?” Now, depending

In this scenario, Reggie is able to take control of the narrative by saying “he does not solve things with his fist.” However, control is often on a case-by-case basis for Black people and the next case almost leads to Reggie’s death.

The fifth episode (stylistically “Chapter V”) begins with James Baldwin and ends with a credit for Moonlight director Barry Jenkins. Barry Jenkins directs Dear White People’s most heartbreaking episode and the care which he unravels vulnerable moments mirrors some of Moonlight’s best points. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed if it is not faced”: This James Baldwin quote was often repeated to Reggie by his dad during Reggie’s childhood and will be the overarching theme of the moment(s) to come. The moment follows Reggie and his friends attending a party to get “white girl wasted” – another stereotype perpetuated by media. Everything starts off well, with Reggie treating Drunk Trivial Pursuit the way Rosie Perez slayed Jeopardy in White Men Can’t Jump. But then, a rap song comes on and Addison, a White male student, starts reciting the song verbatim. Yes, even the forbidden “N-word”. “Don’t say that,”