Ep 4. Chapter IV

In Season 1, Episode 4 of Dear White People titled "Chapter IV," we see the continuation of the story of a group of black students attending a predominantly white Ivy League college. The episode focuses on the character of Colandrea "Coco" Conners, an ambitious and confident black student who is determined to succeed in a system that doesn't always prioritize her experiences and struggles.

The episode begins with Coco meeting with Dean Fairbanks, the college administrator in charge of student affairs. Coco has been working hard on her YouTube channel, which focuses on makeup tutorials and beauty reviews, and she's hoping to get some support from the school in terms of funding and resources. However, Dean Fairbanks isn't exactly impressed with Coco's content, which he sees as superficial and irrelevant to the college's mission.

Undeterred, Coco decides to take matters into her own hands and reaches out to a wealthy alumna named Muffy Tuttle. Coco's hope is that Muffy will be impressed by her channel and offer her some support. But when she meets Muffy, she realizes that their perspectives are vastly different. Muffy is a stereotypical rich, white woman who can't relate to Coco's experiences as a black woman on campus. Despite her efforts, Coco fails to win over Muffy's support.

Throughout the episode, we see a series of flashbacks that delve deeper into Coco's backstory and illuminate the struggles that have shaped her into the person she is today. We see her growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Chicago and the many obstacles she faced on that journey. Along the way, she's had to learn how to navigate certain situations, including interactions with men who don't respect her and her worth.

Back in the present, Coco is increasingly frustrated with her lack of progress on her YouTube channel and her feeling of isolation on campus. However, she's not alone. She turns to her friend Troy Fairbanks, a black student who is also grappling with similar issues. The two have a heart-to-heart conversation about the struggles they face as black students in a predominantly white institution. They talk about the microaggressions they've experienced and how it can feel like they have to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously.

The episode ends with Coco finally getting some recognition for her hard work. She's offered an internship opportunity with a major beauty company, which could be a huge break for her YouTube channel. But even as she celebrates this achievement, we see her looking at her reflection in the mirror, clearly conflicted about her choices and her future.

Overall, this episode of Dear White People is a powerful exploration of the challenges that black students face on college campuses. By focusing on the character of Coco, we see the many layers of her story and the ways in which she's had to fight for her own success in a system that doesn't always value her contributions. The episode is both poignant and reflective, offering a much-needed perspective on the experiences of black women in academia.