Justin Simien, director of “Dear White People” and “Bad Hair”, will be next in the cast of “Masters of the Game”

Justin Simien is a tremendous, uncompromising black filmmaker and guest of the latest episode of “Masters of the Game”. Simien rose to fame with the 2014 film “Dear White People,” an entertaining and politically difficult tackle Black life at a predominantly white university. I saw “Dear White People” on its opening weekend in a theater full of Black people and it was perfect. We laughed, screamed at the screen, and grappled with a movie that handled colorism, classism, and the politics of being gay on a campus full of straight people.

The film delves into the nuances and complexities of being black and politically lively on campus. The fundamental character, Sam White, played by the sublime Tessa Thompson, is a young sister with an especially powerful spirit who hosts a campus radio show in which she continuously calls bullshit on white people, hence the title “Dear White People.” Many of her essays begin with this call to arms. She is one of the student leaders who challenge white supremacy. Plus, she’s secretly dating a white man. She is totally in charge of this relationship, nevertheless it’s a twist for a lot of viewers. Can they accept a black political leader with a mysterious white boyfriend? This dichotomy is funny, difficult and true.

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“Dear White People” became an unforgettable Netflix television show for which Simien served as director, author and executive producer. Simien also wrote and directed “Bad Hair,” an incredible mix of comedy, horror and workplace politics. At its core is an enchanted weave that turns users into madmen. Once again, Simien has found a solution to discuss blackness in a funny and intelligent way.

Simien is one of the biggest authors of the modern era, a filmmaker who’s thought-provoking, comedic, honest and profound. He’s also a friend, so this conversation was fun. Don’t miss Justin Simien on “Masters of the Game” at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday on TheGrio Cable Network.