Netflix's 'Dear White People' Embraces Controversy and Creates Some
*By Alyssa Caverley*
The best way to start a conversation about uncomfortable topics may be to showcase young, smart, attractive people in a TV series having erudite and funny conversations about uncomfortable topics.
That's part of the conceit of the Netflix show "Dear White People," a series that follows a group of college students at a fictional Ivy League university contending with issues of race, social justice, and cultural bias.
"You see the trials and tribulations we go through being black in a predominantly white space," said DeRon Horton, one of the stars of series. "A lot of people have waited to see the show, so they see it isn't what they presumed and they find that it's really sexy, funny, and conversational, and who doesn't like to have a conversation about what is actually current in life."
The second season of "Dear White People" is now available on Netflix.
The series, created by Justin Simien, is based on his 2014 film, which had its premier at Sundance. The show touches on some pretty serious issues, but Horton said it approaches controversy with a sense of humor.
"Laughter doesn't have a race or a gender, so it's the same thing as love and that's what we're trying to spread in the series too," Horton said in an interview Tuesday with Cheddar.
Horton plays Lionel Lionel Higgins, a Winchester University student journalist turned activist who came out as gay in the first season. In the new season, Lionel learns new things about himself as he encounters racial and social barriers on campus.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/dear-white-people-star-deron-horton-on-larger-acceptance-of-show-for-season-2).
Jack Miller, Head of Trading at Baird, joined Closing Bell to break down how the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposals would change the landscape for individual investors, as they face stiff opposition from brokerages like Robinhood.
Robotics automation technology company Symbotic made its market debut on the Nasdaq via a SPAC merger with SVF Investment Corp. 3, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of SoftBank Investment Advisers. Symbotic rang the Opening Bell at the Nasdaq to celebrate the occasion this morning. Its debut on Wall Street comes amid an urgent need for logistics solutions, as it aims to reimagine supply chains with its A.I.-powered robotic and software platform. Tom Earnst, CFO of Symbotic, and Vikas Parekh, managing partner at Softbank Investment Advisors, join Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The critically acclaimed film "The Northman" is now available on Peacock, DVD, and Blue Ray, and director Robert Eggers joined Cheddar News to discuss the process of getting everything right about his brutal drama. “Me and my collaborators were working with some of the finest Viking historians and archaeologists in the field when we were making this," he said. "So the material, culture, and the spiritual world is you know, the best attempt at historical accuracy."
Catching you up on today's top entertainment stories with Julia Garner of "Inventing Anna" has been considered as a front runner for the upcoming Madonna biopic, a "Joker" sequel has been confirmed, and Matthew McConaughey visited the White House to speak on the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, and more.
Meta announced its plans to join the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This is leaving businesses and customers wondering what the tech giant has in store for the event. Nicola Mendelsohn, the vice president of the global business group at Meta, joined Cheddar News to preview what the tech giant will discuss at this year's festival. "We're going to be showcasing more about reels. We're going to be talking about our commerce solutions, are messaging solutions, and of course, the method of us speaking of new ways to kind of connect with customers," she said.
On today's episode of On The Job: Cheddar gets a look at how the salon and beauty industry has pivoted throughout the pandemic; Mark Brim, President of Aquent's Recruiting Division Vitamin T, breaks down how remote work has transformed hiring and recruiting process across the board;
Julie Bauke, President & Chief Career Strategist at The Bauke Group, breaks down why companies are being 'ghosted' by new hires, and what repercussions can come from this.
Mark Brim, President of Aquent's Recruiting Division Vitamin T, joins On The Job to discuss how remote work has transformed hiring and recruiting process across the board, and the latest trends surrounding remote hiring across the globe.
