Why Can't You Love Me For Me?

Dear White People, a movie that came out in 2014, directed by Justin Simien, is a satirical comedy that points out the problem with modern racism on a college campus. It takes place at a fictional Ivy League college called Winchester University, where African American students represent the top 10%. It depicts the black experience of navigating higher education for the elite and the struggles they go through to find themselves and fit into a majority white school. The film explores the issues they have with white privilege and having to modify their blackness in the majority white campus. It highlights the struggle of black students having to juggle staying true to themselves but also, at the same time, meet the demands of "be more black/but not that black." Sam claims that there are only a few ways colored students can survive at their school. Being an oofta, who "modulates his blackness up or down depending on the crowd.", a nose job “smooth their black edges and try to blend in.", or a 100 who is "just keeping it 100. Just being black as hell just cause". You cannot be yourself because if you are yourself, no one will like you. 

Sam White Played by Tessa Thompson

Sam White, the main character, is mixed-race, having a black mom and a white dad. Throughout the movie, she tries to hide and, in some cases, even denies the "white half" of her identity by overcompensating to be viewed as an influential black female activist that she wants her fellow black peers to see her as. You can see this through her hairstyle, a "textured pompadour," which is an up-do hairstyle that mimics styles worn by other historical black feminists. She is embarrassed by her white boyfriend Gabe, whom she hides from her black friends, and it is even revealed toward the end of the movie that she was embarrassed by her white dad as a child and did not like to be around him or hold his hand when she was at school. 

Colandrea "Coco" Connors played by Teyonah Parris

Colandrea "Coco" Connors is another character who tries to deny her black skin, "which isn't that dark," as she claims. She originally grew up in the South Side of Chicago. However, She went to a predominately white private school. Thus requiring her to repress her "ghetto black culture," stating "there is nothing hood about me" and feels better suited with the wealthy white students as she wears blue colored contacts, a long straight hair weave, and prefers the white students on campus. She holds herself to be very proper and sophisticated. When she tried to pursue her dream of gaining fame by auditioning for a reality TVshow, the producer tells her that she does not act like the "loud, angry, sassy, black women" that apparently all black women act and that people want to watch on TV.

The white students might not consider themselves racist, but yet racism, white privilege, and prejudice stills seem to be present, which is something that Sam makes prominent in her radio show called "Dear White People." Using her even-toned sarcasm, she narrates the way she and her fellow black peers are routinely categorized, labeled, and patronized. "Dear white people, the minimum number of black friends needed not to seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, but your weed man, Tyrone, does not count.", "Dear white people, stop petting my hair. Does this look like a petting zoo to you?" Are just a few of the many ways she vocalizes the disaster that is white people trying to navigate blackness and make amends for the wrong white people have done. It is the snarky comments like, "Dear white people, knowing Lil Wayne lyrics no longer earns you an honorary black card. It just reminds me of how often you say the word "n***a" when no one black is around as is required in reciting said lyrics." That grounds these problems in everyday life.

African Americans feeling outcasted and struggling to find their identity is something that has always been present in society, whether it is present on a college campus or out on the streets. In Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the main character is an African American man who struggled with his identity since he lived in a time period that race defined who a person was. When they see a black man, all they see is a black man. They do not see him for who he is or what he has the potential to be. To them, he is invisible because of his black skin. Similar to Sam and Coco, the narrator struggled with being honest about who he was. Both of these characters had a period where they felt as if they had to pretend to be someone they are not in order to be accepted by others. Hiding who they really are to fit specific expectations that other people hold them to and be liked by said people. It was not until the end of both the movie and the book where the characters embraced who they genuinely are—shown by Sam wearing her hair down and holding hands with Gabe out in public. Compared to the invisible man burning all the burdens in his briefcase, releasing him from his past and claiming his identity as an invisible man. 

By: Tamia Strickland

Brooke Morgan, Sam White, Joelle Brooks, Reggie Green, Al (left to right)