(The Root) — Justin Simien doesn't mind the possible comparisons to Spike Lee. Since the recent release of the trailer for his film Dear White People, a satire about Black students' experience at PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions), many have noted the similarities between its take on race relations and Lee's own joints. (The clip already has more than 600,000 views on YouTube and has raised more than $41,400 on Indiegogo, surpassing its $25,000 fundraising goal.)

But, Simien says, the film is not just about race. "The movie to me is really about what it means to your identity when you are a thing that everyone around you has a preconception about," he explained. "And how that can really limit you, your potential, and in some ways, honestly, help you find yourself."

Simien used his own college years as inspiration, with the first few drafts culled from experiences such as when his suitemate was disappointed that the filmmaker couldn't teach him how to Crip Walk, or how people were obsessed with his hair. He talked with The Root about how Dear White People came to life and how he hopes it will spark much-needed cross-cultural conversations.

The Root: Why do you think it's so important for a movie like yours to be released now?

Justin Simien: We are coming out of this fantasy that we are postracial, and I just think … we have to challenge ourselves a little bit. There are a lot of people in the world who are just comfortable not really considering things from other perspectives. This film, what it hopefully will accomplish … is to put some very new perspectives out there about race and identity. It's important for Black film. It's important for film, and it's being talked about in pretty much every format except for film right now. You have it in music, with comedians. You have books coming out about it -- How to Be Black [by Baratunde Thurston], Who's Afraid of Post-Racial Blackness? by Touré.

Read the full story at theroot.com.

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(Photo: dear-white-people.tumblr.com)