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Millennials In Dallas Talk About Race, Identity For ‘Whiteness Project’

Whitness Project
Interviewees were asked to discuss their relationship to, and share their understanding of, their own whiteness for the project.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Watch interviews with Dallas millennials on their worldview as white, or partially white, citizens; Texas inmates can’t have social media; Dallas filmmakers will write and direct a live-action Disney classic; and more.

Twenty-three millennials, ages 15-27, were interviewed in Dallas for “Intersection of I,” the second installment of Whiteness Project, “an interactive investigation into how Americans who identify as white, or partially white, understand and experience their race.”  

“Interviewees were each asked to discuss their relationship to, and share their understanding of, their own whiteness, as well as consider how their whiteness intersects with the different parts of their identity,” according to a press release. The young people interviewed vary in socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and gender identity.

“I wanted to better understand the role whiteness plays in people with complex identities such as those who are biracial, multi-racial or transgender,” said creator and producer Whitney Dow. “I focused on millennials as they are viewed as the group that is driving the rapid change in identity politics and perceptions. As always, I used research to put the views expressed into a broader societal context.”

Dow shot the Dallas-based interviews in the KERA TV studios in July 2015. This second installment launched Thursday.Whiteness Project’s first installment, “Inside the White/Caucasian Box,” is a collection of 21 interviews filmed in Buffalo, N.Y. Released in October 2014.

Watch a preview:

  • Prisoners in Texas cannot have active social media accounts, even if they are maintained by family or friends. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice updated its handbook earlier this month with the new rule. No specific inmate prompted the change. Before, TDCJ officials would attempt to report and discontinue active social media pages of inmates, but social media companies required a specific rule in place by the TDCJ to justify closing an account, The Texas Tribune reported. The new rule has sparked free speech concerns as well as questions about how families and friends can advocate for their loved ones incarcerated. Read more. [The Texas Tribune]

  • Head out to the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival this weekend for local art, music and food. Two hundred artists will compete in a juried show, 100 musical acts will perform across several stages and fair food will abound from the convention center to the courthouse. The festival is celebrating its 31st year, but if you’re new to the springtime event, reference this guide from Fort Worth Star-Telegram for tips on when to go, what to eat and what to do in case the weather goes awry. Read more. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

  • Two Dallas filmmakers are making the next live-action Peter Pan movie. David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks, who already have a remake of the 70's children's film “Pete's Dragon” slated for Aug. 12, are taking on the 1953 Disney animated classic. Lowery will be directing the film and Halbrooks is writing the script, Variety reported. The pair from Dallas have been working together since 2006, according to a Dallas Observer article . [Variety, Dallas Observer]