What does it mean "to be young and white?"
That was the question Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas posed to white millenials all across the United States in White People, a documentary film that premiered last night on MTV.
Vargas, who identifies himself as an "undocumented Filipino American," asked multiple Caucasian young adults to think about and discuss race-related issues they might not have considered before.
"How might your life be different if you weren't white?" he inquired. "When you say white, what does that mean to you?"
Vargas encouraged the subjects of the documentary to "get all uncomfortable together" as they talked about privilege and discrimination as it applied to them.
Not surprisingly, the premiere of White People sparked a lot of conversation. #WhitePeople was trending in no time, but as was evident on Twitter and social media, there were widely dissenting opinions on the documentary itself and the issues it presented.
There were positive reactions...
The MTV #WhitePeople documentary was made to start constructive dialogue. I don't see why people are mad. Face facts, don't run from them.
? Ray McQueen Jr. (@AnthoneRay) July 23, 2015We have to meet people where they are at and not where we want them to be. This convo helps identify problems & find solutions #WhitePeople
? Luke Burke (@LukeBurke) July 23, 2015White people get to be uncomfortable for an hour and here I am, back to my real life of institutionalized discrimination. #WhitePeople
? Drake's Ghostwriter (@dangAnna) July 23, 2015"How did your parents talk to you about race?"
White guy: "It wasn't talked about"
Exactly the problem. #WhitePeople
? Olivia Bowles (@OliviaaJuanita) July 23, 2015I mean look at all the criticism they got for the simple conversations. Imagine if the envelope was pushed further ?????? #WhitePeople
? Amanda Leigh Simms (@SimmpLeighManda) July 23, 2015And there were negative responses as well.
Absolutely disgusted by the #WhitePeople tweets and comments, it's the perfect example of prejudice against whites and racial stereotyping.
? A Blessed Belle (@KentuckyBellexo) July 23, 2015#WhitePeople there are 2 kinds of people: those that unite and those that divide. This film maker is a racist. Congratulations
? Tony Kendrick (@ToneKendrick) July 23, 2015#WhitePeople doc does not accomplish awareness among whites. What is does accomplish is to make whites barricade themselves in whiteness.
? Sarah Karim (@SarahAKarim) July 23, 2015White People's producer, director and host stood by the documentary and the conversations it sparked.
Yes, I am undocumented immigrant.
And, yes, I made a documentary called #WhitePeople.
Deal with it.
@MTV @DefineAmerican @emergingUS
? Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 22, 2015liberals talk to liberals, conservatives to conservatives. thru @EmergingUS and @DefineAmerican, I seek for connection. #WhitePeople
? Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 23, 2015#WhitePeople "points out facts on race that seem obvious until u realize that for many Americans they?re not": http://t.co/QiDiNB5ar7
? Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 23, 2015why #WhitePeople was made the way it was made: https://t.co/Dgr77DtXho. @mtv, @DefineAmerican, @emergingUS
? Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 23, 2015White People can be viewed in its entirety at MTV.com.