Staff Pick
If you didn't get a chance to see the movie, don't worry; this book has you covered. (As an aside, this book can stand alone. You don't need to have seen the movie to understand what the book is about, and if you have seen the movie, the book will still be interesting). Stuffed full of visually pleasing infographs, charts, and portraits, this book is not only informative but also fun to look at. I can't stress enough how effective the humor of this book is at delivering the information. Dear White People might also be a great place to start if you have that one friend or family member who just... doesn't get it. You know the one I'm talking about. Give them this book. It'll make everything easier. Recommended By Junix S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
In the satirical tradition of the andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/Iandgt; bestseller andlt;Iandgt;Stuff White People Likeandlt;/Iandgt; comes this witty companion book to the and#8220;incredibly entertainingand#8221; (andlt;Iandgt;Indiewireandlt;/Iandgt;) film of the same name, which and#8220;heralds a fresh and funny new voiceand#8221; (andlt;Iandgt;Varietyandlt;/Iandgt;).andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Two years after graduating from college, Justin Simien wrote a screenplay about the and#8220;new black experienceand#8221; in Americaand#8212;specifically, the nuanced experiences of four black students on a predominantly white college campus. And so andlt;Iandgt;Dear White People andlt;/Iandgt;was born. Refreshingly funny, the film garnered a Sundance Award for and#8220;Breakthrough Talent.and#8221; Now, whether youand#8217;ve seen the movie or not, Simienand#8217;s new book will keep you glued to the page as he channels the sensibility of the film.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;News Flashand#8212;According to research coming out of a prestigious Ivy League along the Eastern Sea Board, the minimum number of black friends needed to avoid seeming racist has just been raised from one to two. Rather than panic, readers are advised to purchase a copy of andlt;Iandgt;Dear White Peopleandlt;/Iandgt;.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;We also recommend you skim this book if you were lured into thinking that because you and your black office mate can discuss andlt;Iandgt;Scandal andlt;/Iandgt;for hours on end, you had permission to probe and poke her hairand#8212;(who wouldnand#8217;t be curious about a hairdo that morphs from a flowing shoulder-length blow out to an Afropuff in just twenty-four hours?). Now sheand#8217;s avoiding eye contact and you no longer gather for lunch. What happened?! The answer is embedded in this book.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;There are tips for black folks, too, particularly those with that nagging feeling. You know the one. You love andlt;Iandgt;allandlt;/Iandgt; of your friends regardless of color. And they love you too. Or do they? If truth be told you have this nagging feeling that among your white friends, youand#8217;re their token black friend. Is there some kind of test that can help you determine, irrefutably, if youand#8217;re their BFF or just their token black friend? Yes, such a test (and several others) exist in this very book.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Similar in sensibility to the film, which critics have lauded as funny and and#8220;incredibly entertainingand#8221; (andlt;Iandgt;Indiewireandlt;/Iandgt;)andlt;Iandgt;and#8212;andlt;/Iandgt;yet a standalone, cultural touchstone, andlt;Iandgt;Dear White People andlt;/Iandgt;isandlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;by far the silliest, most authoritative book to help guide the curious and the confused in how to navigate a post-racial world and one that nobody who is in semi-regular contact with black people can afford to miss.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;and#8220;Exploding with thought-provoking questions that are also funny!and#8221; (andlt;Iandgt;Vanity Fairandlt;/Iandgt;), andlt;Iandgt;Dear White Peoplandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Iandgt;e andlt;/Iandgt;takes a fresh look at a topic that never grows old, and is sure to challenge and entertain you in equal measure.
Review
"Seeming to draw equal measures of inspiration from Whit Stillman and Spike Lee, but with his own tart, elegant sensibility very much in control, Mr. Simien evokes familiar campus stereotypes only to smash them and rearrange the pieces."
Synopsis
In the satirical tradition of the New York Times bestseller Stuff White People Like comes this witty companion book to the "incredibly entertaining" (Indiewire) film of the same name, which "heralds a fresh and funny new voice" (Variety).
Right out of college, Justin Simien wrote a screenplay about the nuanced experiences of four black students on a predominantly white college campus. The film, Dear White People, garnered a Sundance Award for "Breakthrough Talent" and has been hailed by critics everywhere. Channeling the sensibility of the film into this book, Simien will keep you laughing with his humorous observations, even if you haven't seen the satiric film.
News Flash--the minimum number of black friends needed to not seem racist has just been raised to two. Rather than panic, readers are advised to purchase a copy of Dear White People. Whether you are a dear white person wondering why your black office mate is avoiding eye contact with you after you ran your fingers through her hair, or you're a black nerd who has to break it to your white friends that you've never seen The Wire, this myth-busting, stereotype-diffusing guide to a post-Obama world has something for you
With decision-making trees to help you decide when it's the right time to wear Blackface (hint: probably never) and quizzes to determine whether you've become the Token Black Friend(TM), Dear White People is the ultimate silly-yet-authoritative handbook to help the curious and confused navigate racial microaggressions in their daily lives.
Based on the eponymous, award-winning film, which has been lauded as "a smart, hilarious satire," this tongue-in-cheek guide is a must-have that anybody who is in semi-regular contact with black people can't afford to miss
About the Author
Justin Simien is the writer and director of the critically acclaimed feature andlt;i andgt;Dear White Peopleandlt;/iandgt;, which won the Special Jury Award for and#8220;Breakthrough Talentand#8221; at Sundance 2014. Simien was also featured in andlt;iandgt;Varietyandlt;/iandgt; magazine as one of and#8220;10 Directors to Watch.and#8221; In addition to producing and directing online companion pieces for Participant Mediaand#8217;s andlt;i andgt;The Helpandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;i andgt;Best Exotic Marigold Hotelandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;i andgt;Middle of Nowhereandlt;/iandgt; campaigns, he has also written, produced, and directed for Take Part TV, Participant Mediaand#8217;s funded YouTube channel.