Actress hoping ‘ White People’ inspires dialogue

Much like the 2014 film on which it is based, the Netflix series “Dear White People” sparked intense reactions from viewers when it premiered in April 2017.

Most people loved it, a few people hated it, but no one lacked for an opinion about Justin Simien’s hot-button comedy-drama.

Two months later, Netflix renewed the show for a second season.

“Right off the bat, when we released the date announcement and it exceeded a million views within that first day — which was unprecedented for any Netflix date announcement — we knew people were interested,” said Logan Browning, who plays Samantha White, the role portrayed by Tessa Thompson in the movie.

“Granted, most of it was backlash,” Browning said. “It was just reassuring that this was the right time for a show like this. I loved, and love, all of the responses — good and negative — because it’s conversation."

“Dear White People” — which takes place at Winchester University, a fictional Ivy League school — centers on a group of AfricanAmerican students on a mostly white campus.

Samantha always speaks her mind — with her friends and on her school radio program, “Dear White People.”

She is also in a love triangle involving Reggie (Marque Richardson), who is black, and Gabe (John Patrick Amedori), who is white. The show tells nuanced stories from various ethnic perspectives.

Season two, available for streaming beginning today, explores the aftermath of everything that played out in the first season, Browning said.

“A lot happened,” the actress said, noting that the second season also heads in fresh, surprising directions.

“It really correlates to this Trumpian era we’re in ... where, every morning, you wake up and something new and crazy and terrifying is happening. Are you stopping to ask yourself: ‘How am I doing? How has this affected me forever? Am I the same person I was a week ago? Who will I be a month from now, a year from now?’”

Samantha arrived at Winchester as a strong, self-assured young woman and an activist.

Now, though, world events, school goingsons and her own actions, comments and romances — not to mention the fact that her father, named White, is white — are all starting to catch up with her.

“You’ll get to really see her human side, which, for me, was really exciting because we idolize all of these activists, our Martin Luther Kings,” Browning said.

Much like Sam, the actress is opinionated and politically aware. Although she doesn’t host a radio show, Browning often uses social media to share her thoughts on social, racial and political matters.

The Atlanta native, who will turn 29 in June, made her acting debut in four episodes of the series “Summerland” (2004).

She will be seen later this year in “The Perfection,” a bigscreen thriller about two cello prodigies, played by Browning and Allison Williams.

“All of the roles I’ve played so far have been vastly contrasting — so different,” she said.

“That’s what makes me really excited about my journey because I get to continue to evolve as an entertainer, as a performer. Every job, I just hope it’s better than the last.”