COLORISM: The Black Experience | Part 1 | Full Episode | De'Ron World Spotlight

In part one of this special #BlackHistoryMonth De'Ron World Spotlight series, I asked 15 of my peers and colleagues to share their own experiences with the issue of Colorism. Feel free to leave a comment to share your own experience and let's keep the conversation going.
Panel includes: Alscott Worrell, Victoria Wiley, Karen Vicks, Shanel Smith, Melat Gabriel, Khalifa White, Raleigh Mosely II, Tameka Bennett, Jozif, Jeremiah Bryant, Jasmine Marshall, Nachela Knox, Asha Basha Duniani, Shanti, and Portia Harris.
Happy Black History Month and continue to share and tell Black stories. 🖤
Here is the link to part 2, COLORISM: The Conversation Continues: • COLORISM: The Conversa...
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chapter selection
● intro (0:00)
● my childhood (2:53)
● who benefits? (11:32)
● beauty is in the eye of owner (22:03)
● media control (31:32)
● where do we go from here? (44:53)
● outro/credits (50:38)
● the conversation continues: first look (51:14)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.

[@deronworld]

Thanks for watching this important DW Spotlight on Colorism. Feel free to leave a comment below to share your thoughts and feelings on the matter, and remember to be respectful. Let's continue this dialogue! 🖤

[@theeladyj]

Im so glad we as black people are discussing this . Its important and I hope we continue to make changes.

[@deronworld]

Yes indeed! 🖤 thank you!

[@bumblebee_0112]

Amen!

[@angelariley5403]

I am white. Thank you for introducing me to an understanding of some of the issues facing my darker skin brothers and sisters💗

[@deronworld]

Thank you for watching and being open to the conversation! 🖤

[@cheyennestrother1342]

I love how our generation (millennials/gen-z) are finally having these types of conversations and moving towards breaking these generational curses and proudly declaring that BLACK (dark or light) is beautiful❤️

[@johnwebb2442]

Most Definitely.

[@EbonyJoneskuye]

Gen X started these conversations and this mess is still happening ... Zendaya, Cardi, and the pain of being dark skinned.

[@eaqua56]

Having an older black panelist was great to see. It’s great having a perspective from an older generation.

[@deronworld]

I agree! That's why I believed it was important to include different generations and complexions to show the whole Black experience with colorism, so I am glad you were able to gain perspective from that! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@dw1617]

I think all shades Black people are beautiful. We should not allow others to define us. Period.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@PsychicMedium4747]

@@deronworld observation…the first black west Africans that were brought to the Americas were all veery dark skinned with 4 c hair. Light skinned people are really mixed race. Mixed race is nit just biracial but multigenerational mixed race people….meaning two parents are mixed. Example, Vanessa Williams has two mixed race parents .

[@retroninja1507]

@@PsychicMedium4747 all lightskin people don't have mix race parents

[@PsychicMedium4747]

@@retroninja1507 not true… light skinned are mixed race… they can be either biracial or multigenerational mixed such as having two parents or one parent that mixed race. You do realize two dark skinned parents can still be mixed and produce light skinned kids that inherit genes that reflect a distant ancestor?

[@angelariley5403]

@@retroninja1507 I am light skinned, a mix of Scottish, English, Scandinavian and Lakota (n. American native). Great video❤love to everyone.

[@LoveAndHeartMatter]

FINALLY...an honest conversation about colorism....no gaslighting for a change. Probably why it doesn’t have many views, smh. I loved it though!

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching! That was the goal! To have an open and honest conversation around the topic that we rarely fully talk about. I appreciate your support! ❤️

[@PsychicMedium4747]

It’s not honest because he is acting like mixed race are the same as black and we are not. Light skin is one sign of MIXED ancestry. Lupita is a blk woman without question, Zabdaya is MIXED race big difference

[@walkinthewoods981]

This conversation needs to happen with dsbm and dsbw only. In a room with no cameras. We need this desperately.

[@deronworld]

Thank you for watching. I hope that viewers can take away from this and have their own discussions surrounding the topic. Yes, it's good to have conversations like this in private; however, I believe we can gain more a perspective when done on a public platform. 🖤

[@scj3188]

True, Light skinned black ppl tend to derail the conversation and make it about themselves and their feelings, while still benefiting from the many privileges of being light skinned in a society that pedestalizes them.

[@Anthronauts]

This is a wonderful sample of the African American colorism experience, and how damaging it is to our society...

[@deronworld]

Thank you for watching! Feel free to share. 🖤

[@hotchocolategirl1der]

Not sure what neighborhood she was in, but I grew up in NYC and from almost day one of first grade, I dealt with colorism. All the way until I left for college. Not to take away from her experience, but it definitely takes place in NY. I'm glad to hear everyone in this doc talking about it. We need more of this.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for taking time to watch and listen to their experiences. Everyone's path is different and I too, hope we can continue to have the necessary conversations surrounding colorism. 🖤

[@akilaforeman8729]

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching 🤩 I'm so happy that you've provided space for others to speak their truth.

[@deronworld]

Thank you! I’m glad that you enjoyed the conversation!

[@cmw1336]

I thought this documentary was extremely professional and well done! I also appreciated that you included an older person speaking on her experiences on this topic as well which is as old as slavery itself.

[@deronworld]

Thank you for so much for watching and listening to their stories. I appreciate it. We worked hard to put this together and I hope it sheds light on a topic that should be discussed more often.

[@user-ii4mo1ni5l]

Hello everyone, I just want to say that I'm an older person and I remember that when I was younger, after a black woman had a baby the older black women would crowd around the baby to inspect the baby's ears to determine what shade of color that the baby would be as the baby got older. I didn't understand but as i got older I found out that they were making sure that the baby wouldn't be to dark and if they suspected that the baby would be darker when he or she grew up the older women would walk away in disappointment. Looking back i discovered that older women were prejudice. It destroyed my faith in older women. Again looking back i find that colorism is not in our dna, it's merely taught by people in our own race by older blacks. This cycle has to be broken

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your story. 🖤

[@user-ii4mo1ni5l]

@@deronworld your welcome. Thank you for posting this video. Much love to you and your family.

[@vocalskillz93]

I know we don’t know each other super well, just over social media, but I really admire how far you’ve come! Thank you for this! I hope you keep thriving ❤️❤️❤️

[@deronworld]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🥺❤️❤️❤️

[@lisellesalandy8272]

I think colorism really does have a negative impact on our mental development from an early age. Coming together to talk about it and learning to appreciate ourselves is a great way to move forward.

[@deronworld]

Thank you for your perspective and thank you for watching! 🖤

[@tiapear1]

I covered a story like this in college and my fellow classmates were in awe when I mentioned Colorism and the brown paper bag test. As a black woman with Vitiligo, I too have experienced negativity from my peers. I have been labeled as Albino or as if I had a contagious disease. It is not okay to treat someone differently because of the color of their skin and if they have things going on such as Vitiligo. The worst thing about having Vitiligo is the names that my peers called me and being bullied. I was recently told that I look better now than I did then, with the exception that "Oh you were cute then but this suits you better". I am like "What the F?" So I appreciate this topic and your content.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@clementmckenzie7041]

I was in Jack and jill, but im male and very British, so I think I was the exception as a dark skinned person. I didn't really experience colorism until I became more involved in the black community. I had previously lived in all all white situations where the issue was my race not the shade of my race.

[@solmariemusic]

30:20 girl I’m here crying with u!! I’m darkskin and I’m so grateful for everyone in this video! This is so important thank u!

[@deronworld]

Thank you for watching and thank you for sharing perspective! 🖤

[@keithnelson7629]

I love all my black people know matter what shade they are

[@PsychicMedium4747]

You don’t come in all shades … mixed race people do

[@kindikindz580]

How this only has 2k views I will never know. More people of colour need to share this. Thanks for creating this video. ❤️

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for you kind words and support for this video! I wanted to share this discussion for everyone to think about it a little differently. It's something we see subconsciously, but never truly address in the Black community.

[@Felander]

This is a great conversation🙌🏾💯

[@deronworld]

Thank you! It is something that needs to be addressed more, but I’m glad others are now able to see it and articulate their experiences in efforts to create change. 🖤

[@retroninja1507]

@@deronworld lightskin men have it the worst with colorism, darkskin men benefit from it

[@kimbaker6120]

Can’t wait to show this in my course. Thank you for this!

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching and thank you for sharing! I would love to know how they respond to it! 🖤

[@xxdjayy721xx]

Great video, and topic of discussion- as per usual! Def. made me take a closer look at things

[@deronworld]

Yes! Glad that you had some Aha! moments. Stay tuned for part 2 🖤

[@BronzeSista]

I respect the dark skinned who said she didn't want to be treated roughly because of assumptions. I work with a dark skinned female who is always messy, she is playing into a stereotype. People try to stay away from her messy attitude.

[@deronworld]

Yes, Shanel is beautiful Black woman who deserves to be treated with respect like anyone else. People do what they do based on who they are and the information they have at the time. Perhaps you can share your light with her and let her know it's okay to be positive and happy in the world. Thank you for watching!

[@BronzeSista]

@@deronworld i have shared with her and she told me because of the way she is "she don't befriend people , she just hangs with her boyfriend. But how long will it take for him to leave her with that messy attitude, always involved in some drama. She is smart, so I don't understand why she is taking the difficult route in life.

[@santanaduncan9047]

Your comment is a bit triggering. Allow me the space to tell you that you come off as disingenuous as to help your co-worker. Your flippant attitude about her traumas, speaks towards a 'respectability mold of politics,' in order to be an acceptable black, or dark skinned black person. You haven't gotten to know this woman on any other level outside her attitude, but have painted her wholly with your brush of unacceptance. My tone comes off harder, many times, than what I intend, so please understand that I'm not coming at you, but rather pointing out how YOU yourself can be interpreted and come off. For educational purposes, because this specific documentary may not have had the time to cover the behaviors n attitudes of darker skinned girls and women, know that with trauma comes protective measures as well as defenses... many times those mechanisms work against progress, but that's why the abuse and twisted nature of colorism (the bastard baby of racism) needs to be eradicated, and conversations discussing the trauma need to be had Thank you for reading my novel🤦🏾‍♀️.. I really cannot help myself sometimes. I end with this, if your true intentions are to get to know this other woman, then get to know her n stop categorizing her from afar with condescension 💕.. maybe then, you can get through to her, about how she comes off

[@geni412]

Imagine being part of the black race and referring to one of our sisters as a dark skinned??? Some women are messy regardless of race so please stop generalizing and keeping these stereotypes alive. When I leave my house I represent all black women regardless of phenotype.

[@BronzeSista]

@@geni412 She was messy, I said it because some people act like only lightskin people are messy towards dark-skin women, but any Black woman can be messy regardless of skin tone. I don't represent nobody but myself.

[@jilliann1408]

I love this dialogue! Keep it going.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@mrz6363]

Loving this.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much! 🖤

[@walkinthewoods981]

I had a similar experience with Jack and Jill. My daughter was invited, she’s biracial, then they found out that I was her mother. This was in 2001.

[@deronworld]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It's not an easy subject.

[@roots4140]

Fantastic piece!

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching! 🖤

[@issaread5937]

I was really getting into it until LS ppl started saying they experience colorism.... y’all don’t know how dangerous that is...

[@deronworld]

Thank you for sharing your opinion. Again, these are their experiences and only they can speak to their feelings. Colorism can be experienced both ways, whether you know you are benefiting from it or not. Thank you for taking time to watch the video!

[@Lawrence_Femi_Ikenna_Odedina]

24:59 Flashback of middle school getting clowned on because I'm a dark skin dude.

[@chelsea9641]

I’m sorry it be your own people.

[@pinky-ud1rt]

Us black people DON'T HELP EACHOTHER

[@timcook4552]

This is a good one

[@deronworld]

Thank you. I’m glad you found it enlightening! 🤍

[@jimmydancekillla2288]

colorism is worst than racism too I just know what is colorism

[@GiveHerFlowers]

44:30. Yes! Preach

[@deronworld]

Thank you for watching! 🖤

[@ericmckenny6748]

Colorism is very real and ubiquitous. The common narrative is colorism has social, historical, structural components…but an essential part is neurological and unconscious. Here’s a possibility no one wants to discuss, apparently (at least not with me): a link between colorism and the universal evolutionary fear of dark places, predators, and a fear of the unknown…why wouldn’t there be some connection? When I emailed a couple dozen researchers and bloggers…silence and evasions.

[@FelicityLuLu]

50:34 its the principal 💯💯💯💯

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching! 🖤

[@brothercaleb]

40:21 but why use filter in the first place?

[@joycesmith4607]

Colorism was practiced by OUR OWN race as a result of slavery and little songs just as “black black get back” was the beginning of colorism along with hair type. nose, lips, etc.

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching. I agree, it goes back farther than we remember.

[@scj3188]

The beginning of colorism is when white slavers and slave masters started raping dark skinned black women.

[@jimmydancekillla2288]

when I’m young I’m born light my skin change dark now I’m brown I was bully discriminated my skin I’m feminine I’m dance I think suicide

[@courtneywhite6036]

Lightskin Blacks face Colorism too

[@PsychicMedium4747]

But not in the sense dark skinned blacks face. Mixed race still are seen as more acceptable in society. Many studies validate it

[@retroninja1507]

@@PsychicMedium4747 that's if you can pass for something else

[@PsychicMedium4747]

@@retroninja1507 many mixed race look Hispanic etc… that’s what I am talking about.

[@NaturallyKoilyKuteness78]

Who said that they don't??? Did you even watch the video just now, all of the light skinned people were giving their experiences concerning Colorism. It helps when you actually listen to ALL and not focus on just what the dark skinned people are saying.

[@scj3188]

They experience the BENIFITS of colorism, yes. Sort of like how white ppl experience to benifits of racism.

[@PsychicMedium4747]

Zendaya is biracial…not sure why she said she is black. She is black and white.

[@deronworld]

Hi. Biracial meaning she is Black and White. She is still considered Black in the eyes of most people, which is what she meant.

[@PsychicMedium4747]

@@deronworld most people? Where are the stats showing most people? That’s over 8 billion people on the planet to ask. People use the terms the world and society incorrectly. As a former research person, we cannot say majority this or that because we have to have stats to support that. The woman in the video with the blond wig….clearly is a black woman with features consistent with black subsaharan people….Zandaya looks completely different. People don’t take time to learn about blackness. Black west African Bantu people are what the first enslaved people looked like. They look nothing like Zendaya. Example, Lupita next to Zandaya.completely different features. When I see Zandaya I see a mixed race woman….she could never be mistaken for a black woman. She can be mistaken for another mixed race woman, but black woman no. Example, these are black west African subsaharan…..Zandaya would stand out like a sore thumb .kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4CupIyDYq6hhZo

[@jimmydancekillla2288]

mixte is passing

[@jimmydancekillla2288]

my mom light skin my dad dark skin

[@hornybodhisattva]

Stop watching movies and television

[@ejakaegypt]

Such an excellent discussion

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much! 🖤

[@ejakaegypt]

Thanks for this

[@deronworld]

Thank you so much for watching! 🖤

[@jaycredo9094]

I most definitely was Hated from 1st through 8th by my black folks because of my color. Use to hate myself and everybody in school Lbvs.. wasn't til high-school that I really started loving myself for who I was and then everything and everybody changed 💯

[@deronworld]

Thank you for sharing your story and your experience. I’m glad you found a way to start your journey to self love and hopefully it can influence others. Thank you for watching! 🖤