Based on the 2014 film of the same name, the Netflix original series Dear White People is compelling in the way that each chapter focuses on one character, all of whom converge in the season finales in a way that ties the season's dramatic threads together in satisfying fashion.
While Samantha White (Logan Browning) remains the protagonist, her closest friends and acquaintances also get a lot of screen time, giving a much fuller picture of how certain Black students deal with attending a predominately white Ivy League university. Now that the series has completed its fourth and final season, a retrospective glimpse at the show's most memorable characters is in order.
Samantha White
Samantha White is the heart, soul and spirit of this show. Through her eyes and powerful on-air quotes on Dear White People, the audience sees the social stigmas, cultural challenges, and systemic racism embedded in the higher education system in America.
As the head of the Armstrong-Parker house on campus and the former leader of the Black Student Union, Samantha is also the character who creates and hosts the titular radio program to expose the racial injustices occurring at school. Most trenchantly, it's Samantha's white father and white love interest Gabe who complicate her outlook and challenge her perceptions about her own identity.
Troy Fairbanks
As Sam's ex-boyfriend, Winchester's student body president, and the former head of the Coalition for Racial Unity, Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P. Bell) is a crucial character on the show. His constant need to live up to his successful father's upscale, high-class image puts a strain on his identity, pursuit of happiness, and his friendships with other Black students.
The audience feels deeply for Troy's conflict, especially when he expresses to rommate Lionel (DeRon Horton) his desire to leave home and school behind and simply vanish without a trace. That Bell reprises the character from the movie version gives him extra weight.
Edward Ruskin
With godlike omniscience and soothing vocal tones, Dr. Edward Ruskins (Giancarlo Esposito) is the show's enigmatic narrator who provides salient insight into the characters, often articulating their feelings in ways the young students are unable to. However, it's the revelation of Ruskin's key involvement with the mysterious Order of X organization that really sheds light on his character.
While Dean Fairbanks (Obba Babatunde) tells Troy that Ruskin was a great teacher but too radical for Winchester at the time, Ruskin exposes the current roster of participants in the Order of X, which makes Sam and Lionel rethink their entire plan to foster systemic change.
Lionel Higgins
Shattering stereotypes across the board, Lionel Higgins is one of the easiest characters to root for on the show. The introvert grapples with anxiety over speaking in public, yet makes up for his insecurities by writing brilliant news articles for the Winchester paper, The Independent. In the face of cruel racial injustice, Lionel becomes more assertive in his attempts to inspire change.
Lionel's struggle to keep his homosexual identity a secret at first makes him extremely sympathetic, with DeRon Horton nailing the physical tics and nervous anxieties Lionel can't quite shake. Lionel features one of the best LGBTQ+ representations of any recent show, and he's solidly one of the Dear White People characters we'll miss most.
Coco Conners
As Sam's former best friend with whom she has since grown apart, Coco Conners demonstrates her own way of living as a Black woman. The leader and treasurer of the Coalition for Racial Equality often antagonizes Sam's activism and preferred ways for inciting systemic change.
Although she opposes Sam in many ways, Coco's proudest moment came when she caught a crowd of white people in blackface at the Dear Black People party, which she rightly rebuked and recorded on a live stream to expose. Torn between her Black identity and predominately white friends like Muffy (Caitlin Carver), Coco is one of the most nuanced characters on the show.
Joelle Brooks
Once Sam gives up her radio show, she entrusts the program to the hands of her best friend, Joelle Brooks (Ashley Blaine Featherson). Shrewd, gregarious, and strong-willed, Joelle doesn't suffer fools easily and selflessly takes the time to listen to the romantic problems of Sam, Reggie (Marque Richardson), and others.
Aside from being Sam's closest confidant on this popular Netflix original series, Joelle's excellent academic record often makes her the smartest person in the room. Still, her insecurities over her lackluster romantic life as well as feeling like a sidekick to Sam make her highly relatable.
Gabe Mitchell
As Sam's secret love interest, Gabe Mitchell (John Patrick Amedori) is a vital character to her overall happiness. Of course, his whiteness complicates their romantic dynamic, especially when Sam faces backlash from her activist friends and family out to end systemic racism.
Still, Gabe shows support for the Black students of Winchester and often contributes to the causes of the Black Caucus on campus. While Gabe's heart is in the right place, he made an insensitive error by calling the campus police and alienating Reggie in the process, which gets him ostracized by Sam and the others.
Reggie Green
As the son of a former Black Panther, Reggie Green is one of the most instrumental characters in calling out the racial prejudices seen at Winchester University. Extremely passionate and highly intelligent, Reggie seeks the help of Sam, which ultimately leads to her revolutionary radio show.
Reggie's relationship with Sam, unaware of her hidden romance with Gabe, provides juicy drama that is outmatched only by his complex romance with Joelle. Able to express himself through poetry, Reggie withdraws after having a gun drawn on him by a white campus police officer in one of the best and most emotionally stirring episodes of Dear White People.
Kurt Fletcher
Beginning as the de facto campus antagonist and head of Pastiche magazine, Kurt Fletcher (Wyatt Nash) stands to oppose everything that Sam and her friends symbolize. The rich, stuck-up, privileged, highly cynical son of Winchester's president embodies all the negativity that Sam is trying to eliminate.
However, with the increasing hate speech and culture of intolerance brewing on campus, Kurt vows to change his ideology and promote racial peace and harmony. While his efforts are too little too late, Kurt evolved for the better.
Kelsey Phillips
Expanding her role from the feature film, Kelsey Phillips (Nia Jervier) is Coco's best friend and roommate whose ambivalence about racial inequality makes her stand out. As a Black character who grew up experiencing very little prejudice, Kelsey has a hard time confronting racism until the Dear Black People Halloween party occurs.
Despite her standing, Kelsey ends up proving what a great friend she is by providing solace, moral support, and sage advice to Coco upon learning of her pregnancy.