Atlanta black students respond to ‘Dear White People’
Atlanta is home of some of the finest colleges in the country.
But how does what happens on these campuses relate to what happens on television or the movies?
On the heels of the release of the Netflix hit, "Dear White People," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution rounded up six African American students from HBCU and predominantly white colleges to chat about the series and their experiences on campus.
» 'Dear White People': On black privilege and being bougie
The original "Dear White People," caused a bit of stir when it was released in theaters in 2014. The critically-acclaimed film, for the first time, showed the nuances of how "woke" black students navigate life at an elite exclusive Ivy League-type institution.
"School Daze," it was not, but like the Spike Lee joint, it encouraged dialogue about the current state of race in America.
» MORE COVERAGE: How we experience race in Georgia
» Why do we need historically black colleges anyway?
In April, the flick's creator Justin Simien advanced the conversation when he penned the 10-episode Netflix series of the same name, taking a deeper look at how millennials are transforming the civil rights movement into their own image.
Today, the AJC launches a 4-part video series featuring students from Clark Atlanta, Emory, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Morehouse and Spelman getting candid about they are navigating their own voyage through college.
» THE MAYOR'S RACE: Is Atlanta ready to elect a white leader?
About the Authors
Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
