White People
  • Network: MTV
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 22, 2015
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9

Critic Reviews

  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ray Rahman
    Jul 20, 2015
    91
    Vargas' special may not be perfect or groundbreaking, but it is meaningful and, at times, eye-opening. [24 Jul 2015, p.54]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Jul 22, 2015
    70
    White People is more conversation starter than a revelation, but the conversations it could start are limitless and important.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Jul 21, 2015
    70
    While there’s nothing very revelatory about it--white consciousness and privilege being awfully big subjects to tackle in 40 minutes of screen time--it’s consistently engaging.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Jul 20, 2015
    60
    White People feels like it jumps around a lot. Much like America on the subject of race.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 20, 2015
    60
    It’s generally interesting, but seldom digs farther than skin-deep.
  7. Salon
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jul 23, 2015
    50
    An ultimately very well-produced after-school special--important and honest, yes, but unlikely to meaningfully reach its target audience.
  8. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Nancy DeWolf Smith
    Jul 20, 2015
    50
    This film seems to want to scream, but never does, taking instead a mildly passive-aggressive approach to the objects under its microscope while following a trail of inquiry that meanders without ever arriving.
  9. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Jul 20, 2015
    50
    There’s so much prospect for challenge and stimulation here, yet Vargas never digs deep, jumping away from these varying tales right when they’re getting interesting (and just in time for commercial break).
  10. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Jul 21, 2015
    40
    White People turns out to be a well-meaning but toothless exploration of its topic.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
2.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 18 out of 25
  1. undercontrol
    Jul 23, 2015
    0
    It means well but it's just a superficial fast paced MTV wannabe journalism. The topic could have been exploited in much more interesting andIt means well but it's just a superficial fast paced MTV wannabe journalism. The topic could have been exploited in much more interesting and deeper ways. Making sure every 5 scenes that the viewer knows that the interviewer won a Pulitzer doesn't change that this show is just full of air and nothing else.… Full Review »
  2. RickyBigTime
    Feb 24, 2016
    0
    To think I could have watched TWO episodes of The Office instead of this steaming pile of ****

    People who blame their problems on the color    To think I could have watched TWO episodes of The Office instead of this steaming pile of ****

    People who blame their problems on the color of their skin are the problem. people who watch this show and feel like they became more intelligent are DEFINITELY the problem.

    Do yourself a favor and skip it. Recommend to avoid.    … Full Review »
  3. Ripandread
    Jan 6, 2016
    0
    White people are to blame for all of the ills in history. Genghis Khan raped and pillaged most of the known world. Oh wait Khan wasn’t white.White people are to blame for all of the ills in history. Genghis Khan raped and pillaged most of the known world. Oh wait Khan wasn’t white. Chaka Zulu murdered thousands of people during his reign as head of the Zulu nation. Oh wait Zulu wasn’t white. Mao murdered millions of his own people in China. Mao wasn’t white either.
    Let’s not forget the Spaniards who wiped out the Incas and Mayan nations through either war or exposing them to diseases of which those folks did not have the immune system to combat smallpox. Spaniards are not considered white according to the U S Census but Hispanic.
    Every race of humans have a past they are ashamed of. But you won't see certain ethnic races featured on TV in a bad light.    … Full Review »
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