‘Dear White People’ star Marque Richardson talks diversity on TV and playing Reggie Green

Aug 1, 2017

Dear White People’s, Marque Richardson is everyone’s favorite #wokebae. His character Reggie Green is a political activist who never holds back when it comes to asking for equal rights for black students on the Netflix show, which takes place at a fictional college campus.

In a new video from, Richardson explains the importance of diversity on screen, and how it plays out in his role on Dear White People.

“Dear White People is about identity versus self,” says Richardson. “I think the major goal of the show with all of us involved was to tell these stories in the most honest, truthful, and authentic way. That was the root of everybody’s intention. Everybody sees themselves in somebody on the show.”

Dear White People’s premiere season did very well; making it a break out show for Netflix and strengthening the argument that shows with predominantly Black casts are the “new normal.”

The show has been picked up for a second season thanks in part to its unique look at race relations through Black students eyes on a predominantly white college campus.

There is no argument that television has become more diverse over the past few years. Showrunners such as Justin Simien (Dear White People), Lee Daniels (Empire, and Star), and Monica Macer (Queen Sugar) have aided in turning weeknights into must-see TV nights for many African Americans. Melanin seems to be overflowing on network and cable television, and even the big screen.

As the opportunity for more stories that focus on various aspects of people of color lives continue to hit screens, the ongoing conversation about diversity remains front and center.

Many people in the film world including, Shonda Rhimes (Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder) and Kenya Barris (Black-Ish) argue the inclusion of more shows with predominantly Black casts should not be coined as diversity but “normalizing.”