LIGHT GIRLS (TV)
Summary
This documentary film, a follow-up to 2011's "Dark Girls," explores the problem of colorism, or prejudice based on the relative lightness or darkness of skin tone, within the black community, focusing on discrimination against light-skinned women and girls. Iyanla Vanzant comments on the long-term "cellular memories" formed by the message that one's value is related to skin tone, and Dr. Allyson Hobbs explains the history of slaves forced to bear their masters' mixed-race children, who were then given preferential treatment because of their color. Michaela Angela Davis talks about her mother's decision to "marry light" while living through the trauma of Jim Crow-era racism and the "terrorism" of the Klan, and Wayne Brady notes that colorism has become internalized because of previous generations' life experiences. Soledad O'Brien explains that the concept of "passing" (as white) involves the rejection of one's heritage and family, and other subjects share stories of relatives who were purposefully kept unaware of their black ancestors in order to "become" white. Nineteenth-century census rules had strict parameters for who was allowed to "count" as white, including the "one-drop rule," and Tatyana Ali notes that there is a sense of "safety" found in being able to classify others and oneself.
Several women discuss the common "what are you?" question, as well as being told that they are "not really black" as a compliment. Andromeda Turre discusses receiving criticism from black women for defining herself as "mixed" out of desire to honor both of her parents, and others recall feeling compelled to act stereotypically "black" in order to prove themselves. Dr. Gabriel Crenshaw notes that biracial individuals, often rejected by both sides, are "the perfect misfits," and Raven-Symoné points out that children who are judged from an early age will grow up to have unhealthy personal issues about race. Kym Whitley admits that she has "tried to be too black" in response to her mother's very light skin, and another woman with albinism recalls being teased as a child and later worrying that she would embarrass her son with her appearance. Others, including Essence Atkins, discuss feeling "special and yet disliked" because of their light skin, particularly in middle and high school, and being repeatedly accused of being "stuck up" and acting superior. Hope Flood recalls getting into fights with other girls and deciding to rely on humor to defend herself, and Crenshaw explains the "damaging" brain chemistry caused by long-term ridicule. Nya Lee describes surviving a knife attack from a woman who disliked her skin, and Onyxx Monolopy and Brook Bello recall their personal experiences with childhood sexual abuse and human trafficking, theorizing that lighter-skinned women are victimized because they are considered more desirable and "worthy."
Angela Lee recalls her Chinese relatives' dislike of her black relatives, and Amber Rose states that some of her Creole family did not attend her wedding to rapper Wiz Khalifa because of their disapproval of his color. Other women recall hearing from relatives that they and their children would be more attractive with lighter, less Afrocentric features, and Sheree Fletcher reveals that she did not meet her white father until she was sixteen because of her grandfather's prejudice. Ali states that Caribbean nations are also noticeably colorist thanks to a long history of colonization, and Nina Nannar notes that India too is "obsessed" with lightness, with paler skin considered "classier" and far more desirable in an arranged marriages in Asian families, including in the U.K. Ronald Hall recalls a legal case in which an Indian man, disapproving of his son's marriage, had his black daughter-in-law murdered. A young Japanese woman explains that Asian countries are highly influenced by American popular culture and that lightening skin creams are widely popular despite being medically dangerous and unnatural-looking, and one American woman describes the long-term damage done to her skin by excessive tanning. Another woman notes that Nigerians too have a "color complex" and frequently use products that can cause cancer and stillbirths. Davis states that the beauty industry centers around making women "crazy" by setting unattainable standards of perfection, noting that "white beauty" is used to sell many products, including cosmetics. Plastic surgeon Dr. Navanjun Grewal explains that facial symmetry and "Anglican" looks are considered ideal, though his patients have widely-varying beauty standards of their own.
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has recently been "exalted" for her dark-skinned beauty, though James Campbell notes that she will always have to "prove her validity" as attractive. Various men agree that lighter women "stand out" and are considered "trophies" by society, as exemplified by many black male celebrities. The men agree that there are unfavorable personality stereotypes about darker women, though a white man admits that he does not understand the societal differences in black women's skin tones. A group of women debate the difference between preference and fetishizing, and some lighter-skinned women note that they have received preferential treatment from black men, but feel as though the men are "dating their complexion" and not the person. Vanzant recalls being taught that a light-skinned man would be a "trophy" for her as well, but that he would not in turn want her. Dr. Kelly Madison observes that modern-day media undermines 1970s ideals of black pride and that biracial imagery is now considered "safer," and various subjects recall seeing casting calls for films and music videos requesting light-skinned people only. Raven-Symoné admits that she underwent many tanning sessions while starring in "That's So Raven," and Diahann Carroll debates whether or not she had a "leg up" in Hollywood for her skin tone.
Hashtags like "#TeamLightSkinned" and the less-popular "#TeamDarkSkinned" are common on social media sites, and Lee notes that "acting light-skinned" refers to a man who is overly emotional and "feminine." Davis declares that open conversations are needed to end prejudice and promote harmony, and O'Brien points out that "seeing color" is not automatically a negative thing. Russell Simmons states that race does not truly divide people on a human level, and Crenshaw explains the positive effects that "good news" can have on one's mood and general outlook. Whitley urges women of all shades to stop judging one another and find their similarities, and Vanzant notes the importance of "recognizing others' experiences." India.Arie closes the program with a performance of "I Am Light."
Details
- NETWORK: OWN
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:24:17
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122011
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection; Documentary; Race discrimination
- SERIES RUN: OWN - TV, 2015
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Andrea Wishom … Executive Producer
- Bill Duke … Executive Producer, Director
- Stephanie Frederic … Producer
- Aimée Flaherty … Producer
- Themba A. Sibeko … Producer, Director
- Chiijmree Williams … Co-Producer
- Ariel Rogers … Associate Producer
- Bradinn French … Associate Producer
- Simone "Princess" Donelan … Unit Producer
- Sherrese Moise … Unit Producer
- Darnise Martin … Researcher, Writer
- Kelley Williams … Researcher, Writer
- Kurt Farquhar … Music by
- Iyanla Vanzant … Interviewee
- Allyson Hobbs … Interviewee
- Michaela Angela Davis … Interviewee
- Wayne Brady … Interviewee
- Soledad O'Brien … Interviewee
- Tatyana Ali … Interviewee
- Andromeda Turre … Interviewee
- Gabriel Crenshaw … Interviewee
- Kym Whitley … Interviewee
- Raven-Symoné … Interviewee
- Essence Atkins … Interviewee
- Hope Flood … Interviewee
- Nya Lee … Interviewee
- Onyxx Monopoly … Interviewee
- Brook Bello … Interviewee
- Angela Lee … Interviewee
- Amber Rose … Interviewee
- Sheree Fletcher … Interviewee
- Nina Nannar … Interviewee
- Ronald Hall … Interviewee
- Navanjun Grewal … Interviewee
- James Campbell … Interviewee
- Diahann Carroll … Interviewee
- Russell Simmons … Interviewee
- India.Arie … Interviewee
- Wiz Khalifa
- Lupita Nyong'o