Colorism - Expanding Black Beauty by Kela Price

The following is an excert from Kela Price’s blog

“Tyra Banks recently aired a show on the topic of light skinned versus dark skinned in hopes of expanding the idea of black beauty. Although it started a dialogue, which I think is needed in order to resolve old issues that aren’t yet dead; I don’t think Tyra accomplished her goal. However, it would be impossible to accomplish such a task in one show. At any rate, one guest was asked if he preferred light skinned or dark skinned women. When he said that he preferred dark skinned women, the applause and cheers were almost deafening. However, when another guest was asked who he preferred and stated that he liked light-skinned women, everybody booed. This is very offensive to me, mainly because I am a light skinned black woman who feels that she is just as black as any other African-American. My ancestors were brought over on the ship just like any other African-American’s ancestors. I can’t help the color of my skin any more than a darker skinned sistah can help the color of hers. Why am I continually penalized by my own people???”

http://www.236.com/feed/2008/04/25/the_best_of_tyra_video_6121.php (copy and paste link in your browser to view clips of the light skinned versus dark skinned episode).

 The gorgeous Kim Kardashian was recently mired in somewhat of a scandal regarding a normal picture quickly being replaced with a photoshopped, lighter version. Read about it here:

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/24/kim-kardashian-airbrushed_n_178763.html

It’s undeniable that this is colorism defined. The editors decided to lighten her skin for the cover of a magazine, not even through “accidental” light tricks, but by lightening her skin digitally. This is exactly what we are fighting against!

A new TV series will debut this summer – West Africa’s Next Top Model. The show will follow the same premise of the popular CBS show: America’s Next Top Model. It will be hosted by Nigerian Supermodel Oluchi Onweagba and will offer contestants a chance to win a $5,000 contract with an international modeling agency and appear on the cover of True Love magazine. This could be a real opportunity to show different standards of beauty in different cultures and how they can have a positive affect on today’s youth. For more information, check out http://www.wafntm.com/.

WTF, Vanity Fair?

As far as we’re concerned, dark is lovely, but the mag doesn’t appear to see it that way!

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto appears in Vanity Fair’s March issue A LOT lighter than she is in real life, and it’s pissed off a lot of people!

Why did they have to give Freida the whitewash treatment like Beyonce got compliments of L’Oreal ?

We don’t know because Vanity Fair has refused to answer questions about the whitewashing.

We think a natural, un-whitewashed Freida is fine as is!

[Left image via Vanity Fair. Right image via WENN.]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2009-02-17-vanity-fair-doesnt-like-dark-skinned-people

A young woman speaks out to create awareness about the issue at hand: Colorism. Check it out here: How Colorism Colors Our Daily Lives

Based on a recent poll conducted in partnership with ESSENCE and PROCTER & GAMBLE, 71% of Black Women feel that media and entertainment negatively portray their images. Check out this campaign to change the negative images in the media pertaining to women of color titled “My Black is Beautiful.” 

Light, Bright Damn Near White documentary clips and interview with one of the directors, CC Stinson is currently airing on TVOne Access . The topic of this month’s episode is “Black is (Still) Beautiful” in hollywood. A whole segment was devoted to the issue of Colorism and several clips from the film were used to help explain this phenomenon. Please set your TIVO to record and write a response on our blog DamnNearWhite.com/wordpress

Check this link to find your local TVOne channel