There are some new faces at Winchester this semester, so here’s our guide to the cast and characters of Dear White People season 3. Created by Justin Simien and based on his 2014 movie of the same name, the Netflix show follows a group of students through racial tensions at the prestigious Winchester University. At the center of the show is Sam White, the now-former host of the controversial campus radio show Dear White People, who last season handed her hosting duties off to her best friend, Joelle.
Dear White People season 2 notably guest-starred Tessa Thompson (who played Sam in the movie) as conservative pundit Rikki Carter, who paid a visit to Winchester that left Sam shaken in her convictions. In season 2, the show’s characters struggle with creeping apathy but are inspired by the return of a charismatic professor.
Meanwhile, Sam and Lionel are initially disappointed that their discovery of a top secret organization of black students of alumni turned out to be less exciting than they had hoped. Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito - the narrator who made a surprise in-person appearance at the end of season 2 - returns to the show in a more regular role. Here’s our who’s-who guide to the cast and characters of Dear White People season 3.
Logan Browning as Samantha White - A film student at Winchester and the former host of Dear White People. In season 3, Sam is struggling to come up with a thesis for her new film. Ashley Blaine Featherson as Joelle Brooks - Sam’s best friend. As the new host of Dear White People, Joelle finds herself struggling to bring the same fire that Sam once did. DeRon Horton as Lionel Higgins - Editor of online campus newspaper The New Independent, who in season 3 is exploring his sexuality after losing his virginity (and going through a tough breakup) in season 2. Antoinette Robertson as Coco Conners - An economics student and treasurer of the student union Coalition of Racial Equality. In season 3, Coco battles a rising tide of work by drinking a whole lot of coffee. Marque Richardson as Reggie Green - Reggie is still dealing with the emotional fallout of being held at gunpoint by a campus cop, but finds help where he needs it in a new professor at Winchester. Blair Underwood as Moses Brown - A professor of Winchester who has returned to the school after previously leaving it to go and work in Silicon Valley. Brandon P. Bell as Troy Fairbanks - Son of the dean and Winchester’s golden boy, Troy is the only black writer at Winchester’s satirical student newspaper Pastiche. John Patrick Amedori as Gabe Mitchell - Sam’s boyfriend and fellow film student at Winchester. In season 3, Gabe finds himself facing unexpected financial problems while working on his thesis. Jemar Michael as Al - A Winchester student who also happens to be everyone’s go-to weed dealer. In season 3, Al is frustrated by his fellow students’ apathy towards on-campus political issues.
Giancarlo Esposito as The Narrator - A mysterious “watcher” from the secret African-American student and alumni society Order of X. Courtney Sauls as Brooke Morgan - A writer for The New Independent who also works at Winchester’s on-campus coffee shop. Griffin Matthews as D’Unte - An older student who takes “baby gay” Lionel under his wing. Wade F. Wilson as Michael - A potential new romantic interest for Lionel. Jeremy Tardy as Rashid Bakr - A Kenyan student who is desperately in love with Joelle, and struggling to decide whether to stay living at Armstrong-Parker House or move to “Little Africa” in Bechet House. Wyatt Nash as Kurt Fletcher - The editor of Pastiche, who loves to use the satirical newspaper to push buttons when it comes to hot-button topics. Sheridan Pierce as Abigail - Pastiche’s only female writer, who finds herself struggling to make her voice heard. Caitlin Carver as Muffy Tuttle - Coco’s best friend, Troy’s former girlfriend, and a member of the secret society Pegasus. D.J. Blickenstaff as Silvio - Lionel’s former editor, who has been anonymously making a name for herself under the reactionary Twitter handle AltIvyW.
Nia Jervier as Kelsey Phillips - A resident of Armstrong-Parker who is still desperately missing her pet dog, Sorbet. Nicholas Anthony Reid as James - A wealthy Republican student and resident of Armstrong-Parker. Erich Lane as Clifton - Reggie’s roommate following the integration of Armstrong-Parker. Brandon Black as Kordell - Also known as Pastor Kordell, he leads a faith group at Armstrong-Parker. Quei Tann as Genifer - A friend of D’Unte’s who came out as transgender while at university. Cassidi Parker as Sharon - A member of Moses Brown’s programming team and a TA activist group. Obba Babatundé as Dean Fairbanks - The dean of Winchester University and Troy Fairbanks’ father. Yvette Nicole Brown as Evelyn Conners - Coco’s mother, who comes to visit her for Parents’ Day. Laverne Cox as Cynthia Fray - A celebrated filmmaker whom Sam seeks out as a consultant for her junior thesis film. Flavor Flav as President Flavor Flav
More: Dear White People Movie Review
