“Why do you make everything about race?” – A question myself and any other black person who decides to speak their mind is often faced with.  A question that usually follows right after I correct any white or non-black person of color’s ignorant comments or actions.

Growing up in a predominantly white town and attending a PWI for college, Netflix’s Dear White People was both triggering and everything I wanted to say aloud.  The show reinforced what we all are fully aware of: that white people want to be black, but they don’t want to acknowledge the reality that comes with being black.

In episode 5 at a party, Reggie faces the common issue of white kids throwing around “n*gga” because in their minds if it is in a song lyric, it’s fair game.  An all too common issue, one that often ends with white tears and little understanding from the defensive party on why it’s problematic.  Reggie’s confrontation with campus police (an all too common occurrence) juxtaposed with the white students' resistance on why rapping n*gga isn’t acceptable quickly became the epitome of white folk’s desire to poach black culture without acknowledging the reality of black people in this country.  The unfolding of the exchange with the campus officer unforgivingly highlights the issue at hand. 

Yes, we get to say n*gga, but we don’t get to just reach for our wallets without police assuming it’s a weapon we’re reaching for. 

Yes, we get to say n*gga, but we often can’t walk through a store without being followed by the sales associate.

Yes, we get to say n*gga, but our protests turn to “riots led by “thugs”, never kids who just got too wild.Yes, we get to say n*gga, but our hairstyles are called ghetto and unprofessional, while on a white body receive praise and spots on fashion week runways. 

Yes, we get to say n*gga, but when we speak of our pain and experience we’re silenced by white tears about “reverse racism”.

Yes, we get to say n*gga, but we’re constantly fighting an uphill battle against a society that systemically has been set up to work against us.  

Dear White People reminds white viewers that our blackness isn’t up for grabs. It isn’t a party theme and it isn’t a right for white people to gleefully rap “n*gga” because they bought every Kendrick album. It’s a reminder that blackness isn’t a trend nor is it a white girl’s drunk alter ego because Tupac came on the stereo. It isn’t our burden to hear that “we’re making it about race” when we’re instigated by comments that specifically remind us of our race.

Dear White People is the reminder that yes, indeed our blackness, our culture, our history is more than just saying, n*gga.