The fall semester is rapidly approaching. Before you know it we’ll be faced with falling temperatures and rising piles of books. For most, stress levels will be just a little higher than in previous months, but that comes with the territory of being a college student. As we all know, college is not solely about gaining knowledge from an academic standpoint. Interactions with various individuals of racial and ethnic backgrounds that may differ from our own give us a better understanding of the world.
On October 17, film writer, director and producer Justin Simien will be releasing Dear White People in theaters across the nation. It is “a satire about being a Black face in a white place,” but following a deeper synopsis of the film, a student and activist, Samantha White, being unexpectedly elected as head of a traditionally black residence hall initiates a college campus culture war that challenges the typical expectations of what it means to be Black. It appears Dear White People will be on the “Must See” list of films in 2014. With a strong female lead and controversial statements, this film has surely captured the attention of viewer’s across the country. The hilarious trailer has taken the internet by storm and as the release date approaches the cast of the film continue to catch the attention of potential viewers with short videos.
I, myself, as well as my friends will be front row at our local theater. However, popular demand could be the catalyst to bring Dear White People to the Johnson Center Cinema. It indeed is a movie every college student should see, it is not your average college film displaying wild college student antics. There actually appears to be a lesson to be learned about how race continues to play a significant role in the way people see one another and it may not always be positive. Often times we are caught up in stereotypes and misjudge the character of others, however, with awareness comes change. So, grab your group of friends, whatever color of the rainbow they may be and make your way to see “Dear White People” on October 17!