This was inspired from the color complex issues that we still have in the black community. Here is the video link http://vimeo.com/24155797. As Directed by Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry: these are clips from the upcoming documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color---particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.
XOXO Honey Bii
It saddens me to see that these stories are still being told. I mean, I know our color complexes still exist and we're still perpetuating the hate within our families, friendships, relationships, etc. I grew up in a family with a range of skin tones, so color was never an "issue" within my family. But although it was never an outspoken issue within my family, we are still Black and I know that we ALL held/hold a color complex. Skin color has never been an issue for me. I had other issues, but judgment based on skin color wasn't one. Now that I'm older and understand the politics behind it, it just irks me to the one-hundredth power to hear the stories and know that black women are suffering because of our marker--our blackness.
ReplyDeleteI also think it would be helpful to have other groups tell their stories in the same manner, and that Black folks be exposed to their stories. For example, Indian folks definitely have issues with skin color (for some of the same reasons that Black folks do: white supremacy and colonialism). If other people will tell their stories in grassroots or big screen venues, Black people will begin to see that we're all victims of self- hate, white washing, and European destruction. Or, the filmmakers could have easily included "dark" skinned women of other races. Doing so would have broadened the issue so that black women and men could see that we're all battling the same issue. Buy hey, maybe they did so and we just didn't see women other races in the preview.
Free Flowers, I definitely encourage you to be vocal. Our silence will not protect us. Black people needs to hear other Black people denounce their negative comments and attitudes towards our skin color, and the reinforcement needs to work both ways (meaning shaming because of dark and light complexions).
Ladies, thanks for your honesty. And to be honest with you, I despise the word "exotic." But that's a conversation in itself. ;)
Thank you so much for viewing the video. I think that it is important to see positive feedback like this. The issue exists and should be addressed.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was great for you to add the different perspectives that they could have included. That was very informative. I know that there are similar issues that exist in other cultures, such as the Indians. Great POINT!