Flavorwire: Here’s a film pitch: A coming-of-age story about four college students coming to grips with their true identities despite peer pressure and parental influence, that culminates in a wild Halloween party gone awry. Sounds simple enough, right? It’s basically the premise of Superbad. What if the four students were black, though, and that Halloween party was actually a race party thrown by a group of white students attending the same university? Listen to the crickets chirp.
9 comments:
I am really excited to see this movie and take part in the conversation it brings. I am ignorant of a lot of issues regarding race, but I try to open myself up to be aware and respectful. I want to help, but I don't know how I can. I think that the ignorance surrounding white privilege is a huge hindrance to our advancement as a society. We must acknowledge our past and present in order to carve out a better future.
I think that Simien is right to acknowledge that both races are flawed when it comes to this topic. There are some mentalities from both races that aren't helpful or healthy.
By acknowledging everything, we may be uncomfortable and upset, but we'll at least be forced to face the truth and (hopefully) move past it.
This sounds like a really awesome movie, I can't wait to see it! I also am pretty ignorant of many of the racial issues, but I definitely want to get better at understanding what is happening and how I can thick and act so I don't fall under the category that this article was talking saying-about the people who are racist without even realizing it.
From how they were explaining the plot, it seems like it is a really accurate movie about college- aged black people and their struggles- but at the same time not being over the top.
I think this movie could really be a step in the right direction to treating increasing awareness and to help us all move past racism.
Like the other commentors, I'm also very excited to see this movie. I caught the trailer on Youtube a few months ago, and was sort of delightfully shocked first by the name and second by the bold attitude the writing took towards modern racism and white privilege. I think I'm going to enjoy this movie not only because of the premise but also for the language. From what I've read in this article and seen in the trailer, Simien employs snappy dialogue and witty cynicism to explain to his audience the more complicated subjects he's decided to contend with. I also love that the four main characters are competing with the stereotypes black people also contend with in real life, and that it's not a recycled story or a movie filled with flashbacks about a similar time long ago. We need movies like Ten Years a Slave, but we also need movies like Dear White People. The conflict between races isn't fully summed up with displays of the past; racism, specifically internalized racism and white privilege, is what we as Americans are contending with right now. It's extremely fitting to have this movie come out now, to open our eyes up and help the ignorance we trot around disappear.
Just like everyone else who has commented, I am excited for this movie to come out! I have to admit I am also tired of movies that address racism of the past rather than the present. It is such a different animal now than it was in the 60's or 70's. I also find it interesting that it is not just about racism in the stereotypical way, but it explores the idea of lighter skin, gays, and just fitting-in in general. Dear White People seems like a movie that not just African Americans can relate to and therefore will likely be a good step forward in people realizing that racism still exists.
I really want to see this movie. Yes, I'm white, and yes, I'm aware of the privilege I have as a white person. I think that hopefully this movie will bring more awareness to the fact that racism is still very alive in our 21st century culture. I don't think this film is only for people of color, but I think it is something everyone should see (and from what I've heard, many people are very interesting in seeing it). Prejudice isn't gone, despite what old, straight, white men argue. Just because "slavery is gone" does not mean racism is gone, it just means it has taken on different forms, such as police brutality, college admittance, and casual comments from peers.
I can't tell from the trailer whether or not I am going to like this. For the most part it looks like I would but there is one line that stands out to me "Black people can't be racist." If the movie aims to agree with that statement I think it might just make me angry. I have encountered that phrase a lot in my life and it is complete bull. Black people have to put up with racism in ways that I will never understand but that does not change the fact that if you hate me for being white that makes you a racist.
I actually just saw the trailer for this movie right before I saw this article and was quite excited at the thought of the type of conversations this film might bring to the table. I love films that bring problematic societal norms to the spotlight. They generally create some kind of change or conversation even if the audience doesn't like the message. Needless to say, I too am excited for this movie and the light it will put on racism in America. I appreciate that it looks at the different ways people try to fit in although I wish it also looked a racism not only between caucasians and african americans but also between asians and hispanics as well. But maybe that other part of the racism in America conversation is best left for a more advanced societal time.
Like others, I too watched the trailer for the movie, and I am excited to see it when it comes out. I really hope it achieves what the article says it is trying to achieve. You're walking a fine line when you talk about race! I think it's really great the Simien is acknowledging both sides and their flaws. Hopefully this movie will help everyone be a little less ignorant towards the situation. The fact that the movie is in a college setting is perfect because it really is our generation that is charging this new way of thinking. Racism, though not the same as it was in the past, still exists today and it's not just one sided. This movie shows all sides of the situation. I've been struggling with knowing that I have privilege because of the color of my skin but also having friends posting on social media how there are too many white people doing this and white people need to stop doing that. Racism goes both ways. The quote "Black people can't be racist" is incorrect (And I'm glad that the movie addresses this). Racism is not racist, it doesn't matter the color of your skin, racism is "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." You can be racist no matter what your skin color is. I like that Simien even says this in his interview that the movie isn't just a PSA for white people, it's for black people, and he should also say that it's for red, yellow, blue, green, turquoise, purple, orange, pink, etc. too. I think this is a great step to a better more equal, accepting, and love for everything world. Rather than standing still, this is a way for us to move forward.
This is the movie I have been waiting my entire life for. Growing up I never saw anyone like me on TV. I would always have to try to relate to girls with naturally straight hair and always Caucasian. And if they dared put an African American as the main character they were always embodying some form of a disrespectful stereotype. I am biracial, half black and half white. I specify both because it frustrates me to no end that so often people completely ignore one side of me. And while to some that may not seem like its a big deal, but for me it's like saying half of what make me isn't good enough for you to acknowledge. And because of modern society I am forced to choose which side of me I want to associate with. Problem is there still is the underlying racism on both sides. To speak generally, when someone white looks at me they just seem me as a well behaved and non ghetto black girl. When someone black looks at me they see a black girl who probably has life so much easier because I am naturally lighter skinned than they and appear like I'm trying to act "white".
I'm hear to say I am a person. I am both black and white and I act like how I want to be treated, which is with respect.
I'd like to think I don't see color, but in reality I make an effort to not let the color of people skin influence how I interact with someone. I strive to treat someone's physical characteristics or outer shell as nothing more than another bullet point on their identity profile in my head.
And that is what make this movie so great because it points out the covert racism that still exists today and we are getting the real views of what it means to be African American and part African American today. So yes I'm still longing for Martin Luther King's dream where people are not being judged by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character to come true because while we may have a black president (who is actually biracial) and no longer have segregated schools we still have a long way to go.
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