Dear White People – Volume 2: Chapter VI

By: Malasha Parker

The episode opens a year ago with Lionel in the library. 1924– William Landis publishes and article outing secret societies which later becomes a guide for Lionel (DeRon Horton) to uncover the secret histories and societies. We see all of his work hidden behind his clothes in his closet.

Lionel and Wesley (Rudy Martinez) are walking through campus discussing reductionist thinking, but Lionel isn’t paying attention to the conversation. Wesley notices and Lionel makes a joke about it. Wesley goes to class and Lionel walks off to meet up with Silvio (D.J. Blickenstaff). They go into A-P where a crowd is standing around looking at bananas with the word “BITCH” written on it and hung on Sam’s (Logan Browning) doorknob. Lionel and Kelsey (Nia Jervier) try to ease the situation, but it doesn’t help. Lionel mentions that the trolls have stepped into the real world thanks to the AltIvyW person.

Lionel reveals the new features to his room to Silvio so that they can get this new paper off the ground when he gets a text from Wesley. Silvio sees his face and asks him what’s going on with the guy. Lionel says that they just text and Silvio says that if they aren’t hooking up then it isn’t a thing. Brooke (Courtney Sauls) comes into the room and Lionel immediately says that she has to go. Brooke makes a smart comment and after Silvio gets the two to calm down, they start in on getting some topics to write. Lionel mentions secret societies and Brooke mentions writing about Carson Rhodes coming to town– Silvio says they’re all boring. Lionel brings up AltIvyW and Silvio shuts that down as well. He leaves to go to class and Brooke says that maybe his internet troll story could be good. Lionel says that it’s just a backdoor way into his secret societies story, but because Brooke was a fan of his Hancock scoop she agrees to work with him. They decide to look into the story even though Silvio doesn’t want them to. Brooke leaves and Lionel gets another text from Wesley.

They’re in the dorm room discussing the Silvio situation, but Welsey wants to change the subject. Just when things start to heat up between the two, Brooke starts sending Lionel multiple texts because it’s time for them to meet up. Lionel goes to meet her in the basement where she’s digging through the trash because she thinks the AltIvyW person is involved with the kidnapping of Sorbet. Brooke says that if they find out who sent the magazine cutout messages then they may be able to identify the individual. Coco (Antoinette Robertson) catches them and while Brooke distracts her with conversation, Lionel slips a magazine with cutouts into his back pocket. Lionel admits that they’re looking for the troll and he and Coco leave. Once upstairs, Lionel reads the name on the magazine and then goes to Rahid’s (Jeremy Tardy) room. Brooke pops up and when Rashid opens the door Brooke pushes past him. They show Rashid the magazine and look at Al (Jemar Michael) acting suspiciously. The dog starts making noises in the closet. The dog comes out and runs to Al, which leads to his confession of stealing the dog. He says that he’s going to give it back and when Brooke accuses him of being the troll, he denies it because he’s being trolled as well. Brooke airdrops some evidence into her phone and when he tells the dog he’s going to give her back to Kelsey, the dog jumps out the window and runs away.

Brooke and Lionel are speculating who the troll could be and Brooke tells him that she purposefully left the magazine for him to find. They decide that they don’t have to be at each other’s throats anymore and finally call a truce. They go to Kurt (Wyatt Nash) to question him about being AltIvyW but he denies it. While Lionel is reading messages, Brooke manages to go through Kurt’s feed and determines that he isn’t the troll.

Back at Lionel’s dorm, they decide to clear their minds; however, Brooke’s way is far different from Lionel’s. Wesley shows up with food and gives them the idea that they should hack the account. They go to ask Reggie (Marque Richardson) if he’ll help them and after a few minutes of warning them off he finally agrees to do it. He starts but it’ll take a while so they all decide to wait.

Troy (Brandon Bell) and Lionel are smoking and talking over video games. Lionel has a self-pity party and Troy tells him that he has to let all of that go. Troy asks him what he would be doing if he didn’t have to do anything and Lionel says writing. After the intimate talk, Reggie texts them that he’s done. The account is completely locked and Reggie can’t get passed it so they’re not getting into it. Lionel and Wesley go back to Lionel’s room where they start making out and doing other things.

Lionel gets a text from Silvio and when Lionel goes to meet him he tells him that he’s already decided on a story. Silvio tells him he has a new attitude now that he’s been with a guy. That is when they both catch the moment when Reggie punches Trevor (Shamier Anderson). At that moment, AltIvyW tweets and Lionel looks up to see what’s on Silvio’s screen reflected off of the cabinets behind him. When Lionel inquires why he’s doing this, he responds that campuses have used to be about free speech and now it’s just a place for whiny rich kids to have opinions. He says that the campus can handle opposing though, but not from someone who shows their face. Lionel asks how he could do that, but Silvio doesn’t budge on his stance. Silvio immediately leaves the conversation.

When Lionel angrily goes back to his room, he sees a white “X” above his door knob. Not thinking anything of it at the moment, he storms into the room slamming the door and heavily breathing as he looks into the camera.