Dear White People: Lionel’s Identity
Leah N. Stone
Southeastern Louisiana University
Dear White People: Lionel’s Identity
In Dear White People, the racial controversy of a prestige Ivy League college, Winchester University, was highlighted. Samantha White has a radio show called “Dear White People” sparks conflict within the university because she discusses the existence of racism and microaggression. The university is clearly divided because there is housing specifically for the Black students which is in jeopardy of being disbanded. Four Black students’ lives upon campus is revealed and they are all different in the manner of identity. The four students the movie follows are Sam, Lionel, Coco, and Troy. Sam is very pro-Black belonging to …show more content…
This model has six stages: identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis. Lionel does not go through all six stages in the movie which displays his ongoing development of sexuality. Based on the events of Lionel, I would say he moved from stage two to stage three in the movie. According to Cross, identity comparison is when an individual experiences isolation due to the differences between self and non-homosexuals become defined (Johns & Probst, 2004). Lionel did not fit in especially comparing himself to his roommate, Troy. Troy was very masculine and one would consider him a lady’s man while Lionel had a high disinterest in the other sex. He also did not identify with homosexuality at all because during a conversation with the dean he cut the dean off stating he does not believe in labels. Identity tolerance can be viewed when Lionel is recruited for the campus’s paper by the main editor, George, whom is gay. Identity tolerance is when an individual’s acceptance towards their homosexuality increases and the person seeks outs other homosexuals to fulfill social, sexual, and emotional needs (Johns & Probst, 2004). George invites Lionel to attend social outings with him which put Lionel in a position of being around someone who can identify with more. George and Lionel can be seen kissing in one scene. This shows a small tolerance of his homosexual identity but it is clear he still does not fully embrace his
Leah N. Stone
Southeastern Louisiana University
Dear White People: Lionel’s Identity
In Dear White People, the racial controversy of a prestige Ivy League college, Winchester University, was highlighted. Samantha White has a radio show called “Dear White People” sparks conflict within the university because she discusses the existence of racism and microaggression. The university is clearly divided because there is housing specifically for the Black students which is in jeopardy of being disbanded. Four Black students’ lives upon campus is revealed and they are all different in the manner of identity. The four students the movie follows are Sam, Lionel, Coco, and Troy. Sam is very pro-Black belonging to …show more content…
This model has six stages: identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis. Lionel does not go through all six stages in the movie which displays his ongoing development of sexuality. Based on the events of Lionel, I would say he moved from stage two to stage three in the movie. According to Cross, identity comparison is when an individual experiences isolation due to the differences between self and non-homosexuals become defined (Johns & Probst, 2004). Lionel did not fit in especially comparing himself to his roommate, Troy. Troy was very masculine and one would consider him a lady’s man while Lionel had a high disinterest in the other sex. He also did not identify with homosexuality at all because during a conversation with the dean he cut the dean off stating he does not believe in labels. Identity tolerance can be viewed when Lionel is recruited for the campus’s paper by the main editor, George, whom is gay. Identity tolerance is when an individual’s acceptance towards their homosexuality increases and the person seeks outs other homosexuals to fulfill social, sexual, and emotional needs (Johns & Probst, 2004). George invites Lionel to attend social outings with him which put Lionel in a position of being around someone who can identify with more. George and Lionel can be seen kissing in one scene. This shows a small tolerance of his homosexual identity but it is clear he still does not fully embrace his