When Dear White People [1] first dropped on Netflix four years ago, it was unlike anything we'd ever seen before. Over the course of four seasons, we've gotten to know the Black students of Winchester University — a fictional Ivy League college — and see the world through their eyes as they navigate racism, social injustice, and activism, all while finding themselves. The show is known for its witty, stylish, pull-no-punches depiction of Black life on college campuses, and is truly made with a lot of heart and passion.
Sam and her squad [2] left Winchester in their senior year, which means we also had to say goodbye to the show after the premiere of its musical series finale [3] in September. Although we'll always remember the moments shared between the incredible cast [4], there are other shows similar to Dear White People that are worth checking out. If you're into shows that tackle social issues with humour and panache, offer depictions of college life, and explore Black friendships, then read on to pick your next binge.
Grown-ish
Just like Dear White People, Grown-ish follows the trials and tribulations of a diverse group of college students as they take on social issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement, cancel culture, and sexual exploration. If you enjoyed tracking the everlasting drama between Sam and her on-off boyfriend Gabe, then you'll find the same joy in the ongoing love triangle between Zoey, Aaron, and Lukka.
Watch Grown-ish on Hulu. [5]
A Different World
We're throwing it back with this one! Trade PWI and Lionel's trademark afro in Dear White People for HBCU Hillman College and Dwayne Wayne's flip-up glasses, and you've got A Different World. If, like me, you never went to an HBCU but want to experience it vicariously, this one's for you!
Watch A Different World on HBO Max. [6]
Run The World
You'd be surprised to know that Dear White People and Run the World share the same executive producer, Yvette Lee Bowser, a Black Hollywood legend behind the scenes. Run the World is about a group of Black women in their 30s striving and thriving in Harlem. Think of its core cast of characters, Renee, Whiney, Ella, and Sondi as Sam, Joelle, Coco, and Brooke about 10 years post-grad.
Watch Run the World on Amazon Prime. [7]
Living Single
Although they had their share of arguments, Sam and Joelle always had each other's backs. For more honest and heartwarming stories about female friendship, follow Dear White People up with Living Single, which features Queen Latifah [8] as Khadijah James, an editor and publisher of her own magazine. With her friends Maxine, Regine, and Synclaire, Khadijah balances her career and dating in a "nineties kind of world."
Watch Living Single on Hulu. [9]
Community
If you want more college hijinks and a range of witty pop culture references, look no further than Community. Switching gears from stuffy Winchester, with Community we find ourselves at wacky Greendale Community College where a group of misfits become unlikely friends. While Sam makes eye-opening, controversial documentaries in Dear White People, Abed is the group's resident pop culture expert and aspiring filmmaker in Community.
Watch Community on Netflix. [10]
The Chair
The Chair is a solid pick if you're not ready to leave the world of college and love dark academia vibes. In this miniseries, Sandra Oh [11] is in her element as Professor Ji-Yoon Kim, the newly named chair of the struggling English department at New England Pembroke University. Like Dear White People, the show covers pressing issues often found on college campuses these days, but this time from the perspective of its faculty.
Watch The Chair on Netflix. [12]
Lovecraft Country
If you think back to Volume 3 of Dear White People, you'll recall the show took a different direction. Troy, Lionel, and Sam investigated a secret society called the Order. Although there are no supernatural elements in Dear White People, you'll find plenty in Emmy nominated Lovecraft Country [13].
Based on the novel of the same name, the show follows Atticus Freeman, his friend Letitia, and his Uncle George as they unravel a supernatural mystery, all while battling monsters, ghosts, and the racist horrors of white America. If you liked Dear White People's jump to the future in the final season, you'll love the time travelling, multi-dimensional episode in Lovecraft Country [14].
Watch Lovecraft Country on HBO Max. [15]
Scream Queens
As serious as Dear White People can be, it also has its campy moments that poke fun at other shows or real people. That being said, why not stream Scream Queens next for an absurd parody of the classic slasher genre? All hell breaks looks when a killer targets the sisters of the Kappa House at fictional Wallace University. With Emma Roberts, Ariana Grande [16], and Keke Palmer in the cast, you're in for a treat...or trick.
Watch Scream Queens on Amazon Prime. [17]
High Fidelity
In this hip re-working of the 2000 movie starring John Cusack, Zoë Kravitz stars as Rob, the owner of a Brooklyn record shop. In this series, Rob, prone to ranking her favourite songs and heartbreaks in lists, revisits her past relationships through music and pop culture. Like Sam in Dear White People, Rob is a complex, strong, Black female lead. The soundtrack [18] is amazing, and by the end of watching, you'll want Cherise to be your bestie too!
Watch High Fidelity on Hulu. [19]
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
In its final season, Dear White People took a musical turn by infusing classic 90's bops into the show. If you enjoyed that, you're sure to love Crazy-Ex Girlfriend, a series that is filled with original songs from a variety of music genres. The series follows Rebecca Bunch, a romantically-challenged lawyer who moves to West Covina to follow a guy she briefly dated when she was a teen in summer camp. In this satirical dark comedy, Rebecca and her friends and coworkers comically burst out into songs about the trials of everyday life — and honestly, they're bops.
Watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix. [20]
Sex Education
Among many things, Dear White People has really great LGBTQ representation, especially when it comes to Lionel, Kelsey, Al, and Brook's characters. If you're craving more well-developed, three dimensional queer characters [21] with actual storylines, Sex Education should be your next stop. You also might learn a thing or two about sex [22] along the way.
Watch Sex Education on Netflix. [23]