Performative Diversity and Colorism in Film | Dear White People Review, My Wife & Kids,HTGAWM & More

[@TownofTawiah]

Welcome To Town of Tawiah! I wanted to say a huge thank you for helping me to reach 2,000 subscribers overnight, I still can’t believe it!! I appreciate you guys so much and a special thank you to those of you that came from Khadija Mbowe’s shoutout to show some love ✨🙏🏾

[@cocoajames5]

❤️

[@maybelikealittlebit]

Please get a patreon or some way we can support you! I’m a new sub but whenever I find people who I want to learn more from I want to support them with what I can!! Great video. Thanks for uploading and working hard on this!

[@TownofTawiah]

@@maybelikealittlebit Thank you so much for the support! I have just set a Patreon accounr and it is in the description bar of this video 🤍

[@welikelethabo]

What does Town of Tawiah mean

[@TownofTawiah]

@ladame Tawiah is one of my family's names, so I just named my channel after it. I refer to the channel as a town because I intend it to grow and have visitors who share their work on the platform and subscribers who stick around like citizens, nothing too serious x

[@no.reply_]

What makes colorism more annoying is that it's done under the guise of inclusivity and diversity. "Look! we have one half-white character! clap for us"

[@BlueberrySummertime]

Seeing as there are less mixed people and light skinned people in the world wouldn’t it actually be diverse to have them on-screen? Or is it only diverse if it’s a darker toned black woman??? I agree that it seems disproportionate in Hollywood media and also Bollywood etc. that’s literally colourism. But no already diverse POC should give up their spots for someone you deem “more diverse” that’s bullshit. Just make more black characters... simple as.

[@pouchika5672]

@@BlueberrySummertime Your statement doesn't make sense. You're saying that darker skinned people should be excluded from media representation because, there's more of us around the world?

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

@@BlueberrySummertime It's disproportional.

[@yourmotherhatesyou641]

@@BlueberrySummertime As a mixed race person, I am telling you shut up. You are embarrassing yourself. The darker skinned women are being erased and that is the topic. Cry me a river in the corner please, and pass the beans while you're at it!

[@Boonies]

@@BlueberrySummertime first of all they isn’t “less” light skinned or mixed people in the world 😭🤣

[@brittharmony5126]

Isn’t it weird the 90s had more black representation than today.

[@proserpinabringerofdeath5935]

I’ve noticed this and it bothers me so much?? Like sitcoms in the 90s/2000s with all hispanic casts, all black casts, and the people directing those shows were black or Hispanic, and it feels like you’ll never see anything like ravens home or George Lopez’s show again

[@welikelethabo]

Yeah I’ve noticed this too Especially in music videos

[@Alex-rh8mr]

💯

[@TT-xz5sy]

Omg I’ve noticed this 😫

[@TheBlackExperienceArchive]

With the invention of social media etc. beauty standards have changed unfortunately

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

The lengths people go through just to not cast a dark skin black woman is ridiculous

[@luxeandlush8278]

What about African Americans

[@rhondae8222]

Exactly!

[@ANGEL_OF_ART694]

What about British Africans

[@awesomedude5558]

I love many of these mixed and light-skinned actors and actresses, but we need *REAL* diversity, not this "cautious diversity/fake diversity" we currently have in media as we speak.

[@JulianSteve]

Exactly. Well said👏🏾‼️

[@aishambengue3024]

Exactly!!!! And even that sometimes those characters are side lined as well (mostly in mixed or white media)

[@realkr8324]

True but can we please stop using the term light skinned when referring to biracial/mixed people because they also come in different shades. In a way you are saying that they are black people which is why Hollywood will cast them as black. Let go of the one drop rule.

[@awesomedude5558]

@@realkr8324 Woops! My bad. Lemme edit that.

[@yourmotherhatesyou641]

@@realkr8324 Preach!

[@danneighheart1890]

What they did to Nina Simone in her biopic I will NEVER forget or forgive if anyone at this point dismisses colorism with that train wreck in existence *spoiler alert 🚨* they’re probably colorist

[@TownofTawiah]

They really did blackface on a fair-skinned black person in 2016!!! and thought we would rather that than a dark-skinned lead 💔

[@jm.4699]

Cynthia more & Zaldana are both colorist. Before all the backlash they must have known that bringing a prostetic nose & dark foundation to " play " an ICON is absolutely wrong. They didnt care. (Did Denzel need lighter foundation to play Malcolm X?!) .. Now with all the BLM in the media that Zaldana chick is crying and telling people sorry for playing the role of Miss Simone. She is soo fake..

[@danneighheart1890]

@@jm.4699 facts that “movie” (And I’m being nice calling it that) happened in 2016 it took you 4 YEARS!! To realize it was wrong. Absolute BS and you made a great point on Denzel playing Malcolm X if you can actually act you don’t need any fake extras for the audience to know who you’re portraying

[@TownofTawiah]

@@jm.4699 right! if I was fair-skinned and biracial and someone asked me to do blackface for a film I would politely decline.

[@nicolebrown5987]

she lost everything which was necessary.

[@adaezeezeani9334]

“whiter...sorry wider audiences” lmfaoo

[@NuellaTrueMusic]

That one got me 😂😂

[@Georgeorwell9260]

Mitchikoooo

[@JulianSteve]

One of my favorite parts😂‼️

[@Kayla-ly8rm]

@Mr Glasses Ofmg every comment you've made on this video has been annoying ignorance of *any* of the global racial context society has had for centuries. Just shut up.

[@laurenw.3656]

@Mr Glasses saying something is made for a “whiter” audience is not racist... she’s pointing out what is happening in media. Pointing that out is not racism, how do you even get that.

[@nugrahadwianggoro]

They keep casting BIPOC as actually/originally white characters in white historical movies & TV shows (like Ann Boleyn who has been done to death) yet they refuse to tell more black stories, Latino stories, Asian stories, indigenous people stories, etc so BIPOC can have their natural roles in them 🙄🙄🙄

[@MsTishalish]

This is a great point. They don't want to keep telling their stories so they can control the narrative.

[@NYD666]

Why should white people tell a different races story? Doesnt tyler perry write a lot? Any reason why he doesnt do true stories instead of garbage?

[@nugrahadwianggoro]

@@NYD666 who says white people for the 'they' part I wrote? Even if I said that, in reality POC writers aren't given so much chance to produce. Producing your own movie is very expensive and unfortunately Tyler Perry only writes his movies on his own instead of hiring black writers. His movies are indeed garbage, pretty sure I and many black people can agree with that.

[@randomuserwitharandomname6183]

@@NYD666 That's a cop out. People keep saying "white people should not write poc stories because they mess up" but then white people are the ones that get most hired, the ones that are already stablished in positions of power (in Hollywood and anything else). Yes, I agree white people can't possibly understand and fully develop an arc discussing poc struggles, doesn't mean they shouldn't try to do better while they are already there. In an ideal world, poc would be hired more to tell their stories, they would be in those positions, but we don't live in an ideal world and until then, white people should do better than just rely in one or two black (male) directors. I'm not black tho, so what do I know. I'm just tired that the message keeps being that is only our job (as poc) to give these stories when white people should be doing their homework too, especially because of their privilege.

[@Music_Lover0612]

@@randomuserwitharandomname6183 I also don't feel comfortable with other people capitalizing off of another culture. Like Disney trademarking An African phrase.

[@sorenwhimster9063]

Casting people of colour with lighter complexion is perfect for Hollywood. It appeals to European beauty standards while ticking the diversity box.

[@yusefnegao]

That’s why we have to separate ourselves from biracials and they should be there on group we have to stop claiming them

[@yusefnegao]

This will especially benefit black women

[@ashleyapple1917]

Faves: Issa Rae, Michaela Coel, Cicely Tyson (RIP). Would also really love to see Aja Naomi King casted in a romance. And I'm waiting for Ryan Destiny to get a lead role and have her moment!

[@ashleyapple1917]

@Alice Wintour I meannn neither can Yara Shahidi (no shade), but she has lead roles in TV and film. And some of the other Gen Z actresses in teen shows aren't monumentally great actors either, yet they book lead roles. I really want to dismantle the expectation that dark skinned actresses must "earn" their due by being exceptionally talented because no one else in that age bracket is held to that standard, though I hear you on the pretty privilege thing. There's room for Ryan and Lyric and Kiki. Kiki is actually also one of my faves.

[@alextroy9202]

@Alice Wintour why not? Why can’t dark skin women take advantage our their “pretty privilege”. Why can’t ALL dark skin actresses have their shine. Seems like your insecurities are coming out.

[@talltreeyeti]

aja naomi king and nicole beharie need to be in so much more

[@leslief2542]

@Alice Wintour Ryan is also mixed race with a mixed race parent. and type 3 hair.

[@rhondae8222]

@@leslief2542 The media has been using mixed and biracial women to represent Black women for so long that now Whites viewers and all other races of people believe these women are Black.

[@Sthuthukile]

One way to identify faux diversity is when it's not reflected behind the scenes...the writers, stylists, makeup artists, etc. If they don't use appropriate lighting for black people, I already know

[@TownofTawiah]

This!!

[@thecurseddinkleberg4086]

I didn't even know that was a thing

[@Sthuthukile]

@@thecurseddinkleberg4086 it's just something I've picked up in movies with the one black person looking ashy or dressing oddly...and actresses saying they wore a weave cause the stylists couldn't do their hair

[@trinamorrison2570]

@@Sthuthukile I also didn't know that was a thing. I'm a white woman trying to educate myself so I can educate my child, and this wasn't on my radar, but it is now. It makes me sad to learn that people are told their natural hair is too hard to work with by someone who is supposed to be an expert in hair. A stylist should have to learn how to work with all types of hair, not just perfectly straight hair.

[@kim1570]

Top comment. And that's one of the okey-dokes we black folk keep falling for all the damn time. Just look up any so-called pro-black movie or tv show and look for videos of the people behind the scenes.

[@neelay123]

I've noticed this with recent productions of Dream Girls. Since the movie came out Deena is always cast as light/mixed and Effie is always brown/dark skinned. But the original Deena Jones is dark skinned. And Effie White is based on the light skinned Florance ballad It's intentional

[@MissAmeriNegro]

Dream girls is based off of The Supremes and actual group from the 60s. Deena Jones character is supposed to be be Diana Ross (who is light skin) and Effie is Florence Ballard. The movie is very much related to the rest story. Curtis is Barry Gordy. The only significant difference is Effie was the one who has the baby and it was Diana Ross in real life.

[@neelay123]

@@MissAmeriNegro I know all this but the original broadway Deena was a dark skinned woman. The whole thing with Diana is that her voice had cross over appeal not her looks as both Mary and Florence were just as beautiful. It was never about complexion if it were Florence would have been the lead singer since she was actually light skinned/mixed. Diana didn't even look light skinned in the 60s and 70s but that's another story lol no shade. But anyway the west end and broadway revivals are blatantly CHOOSING to cast light skinned women as Deena and brown to dark women as Effie. Not taking away from all the talent but it plays into a negative stereotype.

[@tatum635]

The man that wrote the play wanted them all to be dark skin and was disappointed when they cast light skin beyonce for the movie.

[@zenobiafenrick9603]

I will say that Dear White People did TRY to address making Joelle a sidekick character in season 3. In that episode, Joelle asserts that she’s always sidelined by Sam and overlooked. A further conversation on colorism in the show should’ve happened though.

[@TownofTawiah]

I agree. I just felt that the overarching theme of the show was surrounding pitying, admiring or questioning Sam for most of the 30 episodes. Considering everyone had the chance to share their story, Sam didn’t have to end up somehow being the face or common factor of almost every episode imo.

[@zenobiafenrick9603]

@@TownofTawiah Very true! I struggled connecting to the show because Sam is such an unlikeable character. She’s selfish and inconsiderate. I wis annoyed when she kept cutting Joelle off during the radio show. It was very much a mirror into her character arc. She’s also “superficially woke” which may be a commentary the show is trying to make about “wokeness” as a commodity. I’m thinking of that episode where they made an app to choose who was the “wokest”. Joelle and Coco deserve better (and Kelsey lol).

[@leah4701]

@@TownofTawiah I get what you’re saying but I think that by focusing on the mixed girl in the black caucus and then calling it out is the perfect way to portray what the media does to erase dark skinned black women. Although this only works for those aware of the subtle branch of colourism so it’s probably not affective to the deniers 😂😂

[@JCmud351]

Joelle as the “sidekick” I believe was addressed briefly in S1 and then in S2 and 3 more extensively. Dear White People is definitely a guilty pleasure show for me BECAUSE of Joelle and Coco too to some extent. Joelle is a sidekick character on purpose because the show is a satire of young, Black elite PWI university life. Sam as a light skin mixed girl being the “main character” who really isn’t great, but gets all the attention reflects that satire as well. It was done with purpose to reveal those things, not be the problem. The show isn’t perfect by any means, and S3 was trash IMO, but the argument that the show is colorist when that’s the point has always thrown me. It’s the point of the satire.

[@starlightt4094]

The show ended too soon😔

[@LooksByNaheemah]

We only seem to get dark skin black women representation when we write it ourselves and have to play the characters i.e Issa Rae and Michaela Coel

[@ima.m.1658]

The colorism and featurism in shows and movies with black women or other WOC as leads or love interests makes me so annoyed. I am a South Asian woman, and although I am lighter skinned (although I can get dark and I used to be insecure about my own skin color), my mom has dark skin and is beautiful, but society wouldn't consider her beautiful on a large scale, not yet anyway. That makes me sad. Representation is everything.

[@noonstyles3973]

I am south Asian light skinned too and this hit too close to home

[@tbeauty334]

Correction biracials replacing black. Black is what both ur parents are and people like halle berry and zendaya are biracial therefore not black or light skinned black but half black.

[@ellapark1299]

THANK you!

[@tbeauty334]

@Always Open Those mixed race kids are not regarded as black in Nigeria where I’m from or anywhere in Africa because that’s where the real black people are and we call them white. Also, we know our people that are naturally light skinned with two black parents. Regardless they are both white and black and they should be proud of being mixed and not just be boxed into one category.

[@tbeauty334]

@Always Open I definitely agree with you but we have different shades in Africa including Albinos. What these European countries are doing is giving false hope to biracial kids because if they ever decide to visit any African country or if black people stop regarding them as black that can cause confusion and the feeling of not belonging . Why not give them confidence to identify as who they really are which is mixed.

[@melliexcx]

@@tbeauty334 we don't call them white in Nigeria sis please. We call them "half-caste". I actually live here so I can talk.

[@tbeauty334]

@@melliexcx My brother is mixed and he was called white by fellow Nigerians and half cast is another word Nigerians use as well. Otherwise, please define oyinbo.

[@alextroy9202]

The thing is these “light skin women” are mixed...HALF WHITE: it’s not like they are full black women who happen to be lighter

[@israeliana]

Right im tired of the erasure of LSBW. These are tan white people if they're fair Black. Realistically fair mixedrace people should just own it. BEIMG MIXED IS GREAT. You're just not Black, but you can be AA.

[@candacewalker9181]

I have to disagree with you heavily. As a light skinned mixed woman i HATE with a capital H when people assume im half black and half white. I'm black and creole. Stop trying to take away my culture just because youre frustrated. We all are including lightskinned and dark skinned women alike.

[@israeliana]

@@candacewalker9181 so you're not half Black? Realistically LSBW are being erased by the mislabeling of mixed-race women. If you're half white you're not lightskinned. You're *half white* . There are Black women who are naturally lightskinned and they deserve to be represented. Calling a half-white person "lighskinned Black" is as ridiculous as calling then "tan white" or "dark-skinned white". There's nothing wrong with being mixed-race. We just need to recognize that mixed-race people are not Black, so LSBW need to be represented.

[@candacewalker9181]

@@israeliana you didnt read what i said at all. Im in fact over half black although i wouldnt know exact percentages. People assume I'm half white all the time as youre doing now. I honestly love dark skin especially when I can get tan enough to show my own off. Youre preaching, so you should know black women come in all shades. Erasing a light skinned womans black culture is part of the reason theres such a divide in the first place.

[@candacewalker9181]

@@israeliana not to mention people mixed with white and black have every right to embrace their black culture and be called biracial because its exactly what they are. You cant erase their culture just because theyre half white, just remind me of the feeling of "not black enough for the black kids and not white enough for the white kids" youre exuding that energy

[@israeliana]

Make Coco Jones and Skai Jackson and Marsai Martin and more! We need more representation.

[@trashyink2132]

Coco deserves to have a great career, disney robbed her

[@gothbat676]

Dey ain want hah cuz she ain't no light skinnt' guhll

[@BluEx22329]

Looks like skai might be bleaching

[@gothbat676]

@@BluEx22329 Is it really a surprise? All of them do that.

[@israeliana]

@@BluEx22329 or she's a brownskin that changes the colour if not outside.

[@EarthyReenz]

So happy to see creators like you continually growing on KZbin. These conversations need to become more mainstream

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you, I appreciate this! Also, I Just checked your channel out and I’m so glad I did because know I have more amazing content to binge on !

[@EarthyReenz]

@@TownofTawiah oh thank you, that's very kind! I do think we could learn a lot from "small creators" and the way you present information/your editing is amazing

[@Ebizzill]

also i think that it's time to bring in more fresh faced dark skinned people. It seems that there's the same women shown (for decades) when it comes to dark skinned women... but there's a plethora to choose from when it comes to light skinned complected women.

[@ChiChichiwe01]

Exactly

[@shanejohn-lewis3715]

Facts they keep recycling the same stars

[@harpreetk2006]

Yess!! Thank you for calling out Bollywood and south Asians obsession with being “fair and lovely” and using skin lightening creams. It’s clear that the traces colonialism are still deeply rooted in these south Asian societies.

[@oracleofaltoona]

those preferences pre-date European colonialism.

[@johnballard6725]

I dated a lady from Guyana years ago and was shocked to find she used a skin lightener.

[@purplelove3666]

I cant get over how stunning aja Naomi king is

[@kennedyjojackson1202]

I love her eyes 😍

[@yegra]

I was obsessed with her

[@purplelove3666]

@@kennedyjojackson1202 me too!!!

[@kennedyjojackson1202]

@@purplelove3666 Yay! When my mum first saw her she said that I have doe eyes like her! 🥺💅🏿I was happy about that 💗

[@purplelove3666]

@@kennedyjojackson1202 are you the girl in the middle.you kind of favor her

[@yawasante3156]

Your structure, examples, commentary all blend in perfectly - everything about this informs a perspective a lot of people fail to grasp. keep doing your ting sis 🙏🏿❤️

[@TownofTawiah]

I appreciate this bro ! 😌✨

[@aniyamarie8370]

Hollyweird’s poor representation of black women is why I don’t bother watching Netflix shows and movies that are supposed to be “diverse and empowering.” Dark skin women are always given the masculine roles while biracial women play feminine and the token black girl... when they’re not even black. To make matters worse, these same characters will have safe discussions surrounding race for their white audience. Piss poor.

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

Couldn't put it better.

[@cloudyheart5148]

Support black women authors/comic creators/artists/producers who put black women at the forefront with positive and feminine rep check out Adorned by chi they have brown and dark skin black women it's a magical girl comic.

[@mistyangelfx3804]

Just to be clear mixed with black is still black, ur just not fully black

[@wrestlinganime4life288]

​@@mistyangelfx3804 No its mixed, the one drop rule applies only in the US

[@saturdaycrush]

Love this content. When I have dated dark skinned women in the past my friends would make fun of me and call them ugly. But in the future when they started seeing the truth now they changing up.

[@lolad6083]

This is even why I was legit sad af that Insecure would be ending. There is no representation of young black women that are educated navigating life. I felt like Issa and them were like myself and my group of friends. 😔

[@hibyenow20]

Great input. We need to expose colorism as it is and not make excuses for any industry.

[@rhondae8222]

Agreed! TBT

[@bal9944]

That's true. Girls with lighter skin and more "caucasian" features will always be privileged, not just in movies, but in society too.

[@behappybemad2828]

Trash

[@normalbehaviour476]

You people are way more racist than any white (or slightly brown) people on earth. You’re judging people on the actual tone of their skin because it’s not dark enough? Vile!

[@FJAR1635]

@@normalbehaviour476 I sincerely believe you have the complete opposite understanding of the issues like this original comment and many others have been discussing on this video topic: The issue being discussed isn’t that “there are too many light-skinned people in media”. It’s the notion that light-skinned actors (mainly light-skinned women) are preferable in society and that’s reflective due to how they’re represented in media. Also, how seemingly lighter skinned/bi-racial black women are often used to represent black women as a whole. Also, comparing the roles that light-skinned women have vs the few roles that darker-skinned woman receive. Again, it’s not about someone being dark or light enough. It’s about how one (light-skinned) is being preferred over the other (dark-skinned) as THE standard of beauty but still markets to the whole (both light and dark skinned) as a “representation” of a black women. This is also a very common issue in East Asian cultures as well, as explained in the video. Dark skinned women are generally perceived as less desirable, more masculine, and of lower status/intelligence. This is how most are portrayed in media today and that stems from the global influence of Eurocentric aesthetics. It supports a false narrative that harms all woman (because it pins them against one another) but especially darker skinned women; whereas all skin tones are beautiful and a woman (or a man) shouldn’t be relegated to be a certain stereotype just because of the color and/or shade of the skin tone. If you’re still reading, I hope this has brought some clarification.

[@bal9944]

@@FJAR1635 Thank you so much! This is exactly what I wanted to say. Great explanation

[@xoxolove395]

@@normalbehaviour476 huh

[@yokonono2171]

I cannot express how sick I am of seeing Zoe Saldana in every black woman role.. Literally she seems to be hollywood's go-to. They need to stop. Like please. She's so overrated

[@marymiller6188]

Me too...especially when she goes out of her way to rep Latinaness and downplay the Afro...

[@yokonono2171]

@@marymiller6188 Honest to god. Her looks are racially ambiguous like that. Everytime she plays a role it's literally the same representation of one kind of deemed 'socially acceptable' black woman. Her hair is always straight/Wavy, she's petite(xs) dating a white man and she's lightskin. AND SHE'S MIXED. Idk.. I just dont feel like she's relatable to most of 'Us'. I just wish they'd cast BLACK women instead of some whitewashed and watered down versions of what we're supposed to be.

[@natasharules770]

@@yokonono2171 well said, but its not what we're supposed to be, its what they want us to be. What they're comfortable with

[@melliexcx]

@@yokonono2171 you don't need to bring her size into it.

[@hodansaciid8706]

Yoko Nono Zoe saldana is not even pretty, I think Gabrielle Union is prettier

[@justjanies]

Second comment: we need a new Nina simone movie, they did us bogus casting zoe Saldana

[@JulianSteve]

Definitely. I don’t care if she’s a black Hispanic like me. She should have not done this role. I do not look at her the same way after💯.

[@dw3675]

Michaela Coel should be cast.

[@andrewbain2681]

They could cast India Arie and I’ll watch it

[@keabokan9768]

Dark Skinned males have it differently than lighter skinned males. I think actually they have it better. Darkness is considered masculine, so that works out for them. Not so much for Women. But shout out to our baby sis Zendaya, for asking that Hollywood include all shades of her people. We have to remember guys, light or dark, mixed or not, our blackness does unite us. Together we are stronger.

[@maniyawatkins6117]

You’re right they do

[@willgggg900]

Not always to they only put those actors as thugs never as lawyers or normal roles

[@willgggg900]

@@edgytypebeat781 facts

[@willgggg900]

@Glocktavious Please Get A J.O.B you clearly don’t get the point and see why it an issue because you obviously have a vandetta against black men judging from your previous comments

[@willgggg900]

@Glocktavious Please Get A J.O.B being seen as overly masculine is a bad thing especially when you want to get a job because people might see you as too but intimidating and won’t hire you and people will always have preconceived notions about you and judge you based of looks reason why police stops us for no reason or get followed in the store by the shop owners and there is way more bad about this but you obviously won’t see it because you have a vandetta against black men

[@clantis]

I subscribed yesterday after you got shout out by Khadija. Hopefully some day, you'll also pay it forward. I've watched several of your videos and loved them. Keep them coming

[@zenandemantlana6555]

The yellow bone song had me dead😂

[@nicoleharrington9086]

What a waste of a good beat🤮🚮

[@sacredlady.]

Nina Simone is one of my favorite artist of all times, I wanted India Arie to play her.

[@GiovanniDeluxxe]

First. I see your skin glowing 🥺👉👈

[@NuellaTrueMusic]

Shining shining shining shining yeah 😍*Patricia bright voice* lol

[@charissesjournal]

It’s even in kids shows. In the disney plus HSM spin-off show, the black girl Kourtney is the perfect definition of the sassy black best friend trope. All she does is advise and support and assist the main character, and barely has any spotlight time of her own until the second season.

[@Ahopelessromantic]

Preach Honey 👏🏾 this is something I think about all the time :/ I’ll start a new show with a black lead and they’re always lighter than a paper bag :/ which it’s not the actor ofc but like I just wanna see more representation

[@IshaSidi]

That Grownish colorism episode ://///. Always unseats me.

[@jaydawithay8442]

What colourism in grownish?

[@workaholick]

"Biracial, the new/old Hollywood Black" it would be novel if it wasn't so old....plus you know most if not all of the top executives are just following whatever trend they see as most profitable.

[@Irene-ls5wf]

This is why its important to distinguish a black woman vs a biracial woman. Because we know what they'll favor.

[@evadomasikova7097]

I LOVE VIOLA DAVIS SO MUCH OMG😩

[@johnnynaylor7715]

Y'all remember in fresh prince when they randomly swapped out the "dark skin" aunt viv who was a helpful, guiding, strong mother figure with the "lightskin" aunt viv

[@Wowowowowowowo]

Another gem ✌🏼

[@naruto4892]

Very well put together. I'm glad that you acknowledged that this happens globally. Western media, Latin media, Asian media, etc. We even do it to each other.

[@bluejay5401]

Even in Africa we've had this problem. Mostly it's been brought about by celebrities/socialites who bleach themselves over time. So that is now seen as a way to be beautiful and accepted.

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

I don't watch tv lol. Like I started watching Games of Thrones and saw that all the dark skinned people were 'evil' and 'brutes' and I just threw the whole thing away.

[@TownofTawiah]

I can relate 😂

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

@Kay Cee lol. you didn't even notice that the dragon lady's husband and whole tribe were 'people of colour'? look at the 'savages' and you will easily find where the melanin is in GOT,

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

@Kay Cee open you eyes luv. the non-melanins are given the majority of parts and allowed to tell many stories and be reflected in nuanced ways. the melinated people were 'barbarians' and given 'one story' as Chimamanda would call it and largely played in the background. as soon as you start noticing it, you will see it everywhere....

[@tatum635]

@Kay Cee the queen of dragons had a biracial sidekick

[@FJAR1635]

To be fair, that’s intentional from a story perspective and those notions actually come into play within the show itself. The show exemplifies many real-world issues such as: class, racial discrimination, sexism, religion etc. All of those things come into play in the show and aren’t just general stereotypes of certain demographics. Also, the series is heavily influenced by medieval Eurocentric literature and history. The attitudes of the characters in the show regarding race, sex, religion etc are a reflection of the attitudes of those time. The “civil, Eurocentric capital” and the “savage wasteland”. I would strongly encourage you to continue watching the show so you can see how all of those issues are developed throughout the seasons but it’s completely understandable to be turned off from the *many* shenanigans that go on in that show.

[@laurenw.3656]

I love how you pointed out while diversity has improved, it’s about how black people are represented. Very interesting and well made video. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go with inclusion and representation, for disabled people as well. Something I’m very passionate about because my 3 year old son is disabled. Thanks for making a great video

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you, I’m glad that you enjoyed this video. Funny you mention that because I used to work with SEND children and I am autistic so this is a form of representation that I am very interested in! I would love to make a video on this topic soon 🤍

[@laurenw.3656]

@@TownofTawiah I would definitely watch it if you made a video on the subject! I forgot the actress’s name, but the woman you mentioned who they essentially did black face to, instead of just hiring a darker skinned actress instead of the lighter skinned one they hired, it reminds of how Sia hired a neurotypical person to play the role of an autistic person, instead of just hiring an actual autistic person. I also used to work with disabled kids and adults (before I had my own two kids). My son has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair, I think it’s so important for children to see children like themselves in the media, and portrayed in a positive, accurate way.

[@TownofTawiah]

@@laurenw.3656 I agree that the Zoey Saldana situation does resemble the Sia situation, it's as if people don't realise that there are actors with special needs and disabilities that are fully capable of playing such roles. I remember watching quite a few shows when I was growing up that included actors with disabilities (something special, desperados etc) and it made me so much more educated on their experience and less confused when I was diagnosed with ASD. So I agree that representation is essential! I look forward to discussing this more in an upcoming video. Sending love to you and your family !

[@justjanies]

This video this so well done!!! Again I’m praying to the algorithm Gods to help get you monetize.

[@TownofTawiah]

🙏🏾❤️

[@itsbeyondme5560]

Love the thumbnail. These actresses were not black. They are mixed.

[@mistyangelfx3804]

With black.

[@talltreeyeti]

i don’t agree with the htgawm take at all. annalise was the most fleshed out, full of range character on the show. countless characters were in love with her from season to season and she was able to be exactly who she was and express all her emotions in whatever intensity. she was extremely layered

[@TownofTawiah]

the whole of season 6 was Annalise admitting that she felt incapable of truly giving love and empathy, she even at one point discussed how this was in relation to how the world receives women like her when addressing Sam's black ex-wife which reiterates my point. She had developed a hard exterior that guarded her from receiving the love that was given to her because she was used to things like love/attention being weaponised against her. I agree the series did go on to break down the 'strong independent trope' when she went into rehab and they themselves addressed that this was because of how she was dehumanised by the rest of the world. That doesn't take away from the fact that she still played into the strong independent trope. Something can be multi-faceted and still have at one point played into a problematic narrative. The eventual deconstruction of a problematic narrative doesn't always negate the problematic storyline that preceded it. But that is just my take. I gave htgawm its due praise but I was challenging the constant portrayal of dark skinned leads as having to be presented as 'strong' and fierce.

[@lynnd.5135]

​@@TownofTawiahI disagree. We say we don't want black women being side kicks to white characters. Then we get a strong black lead and she is too strong? We have to decide what we want

[@eastafrika728]

I remember that change of character, they also did it in The Fresh Prince, they replace dark with light, instead of dark for dark skin.

[@Meli-bk2hk]

Your voice is so soothing, as usual I love your takes.

[@mdeliacloherty]

First video of yours that I’ve watched, and you have an absolutely perfect voice and pacing for video essays. Can’t wait to watch more and learn more!

[@SandyNoemi]

Wow, what a great analysis! It is crazy how deeply rooted colorism is in our society. On a side note, I got some films/shows to binge now

[@mirandaarchbold]

Loved this! Also, 13:43 Gets me every time ☠🤭😂

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you! And Same honestly, I think about that scene in my spare time 💀😂

[@tashelleholness4039]

Omgosh I loved this one! It was so relatable, I’m so glad you covered it🥰❤️

[@TownofTawiah]

❤️❤️

[@janiyaa1039]

My wife and kids went from having a balance of a ditsy teenager and a smart teenager to having two airheads omg😭

[@xoxolove395]

Thats so dumb that they did that

[@no.reply_]

Any recommendations for shows with dark skinned female leads or co-leads Thnx for the recommendations

[@Pinksupernova]

Have you watched ‘I May Destroy You’

[@TownofTawiah]

Atlantics is a beautiful African love story/mystery on Netflix that has a dark skinned lead. It has incredible visuals too, one of my favourite films.

[@pri2x0x]

The Good fight is a stellar legal drama about an African American law firm, highly underrated!

[@umusty619]

blood and water

[@alextroy9202]

-Behind Your eyes -Namansta (Nigeria/Indian romantic film) on Netflix -Lovebirds -The Photograph

[@segiitaff6421]

wow i love your videos how do you just speak out everything that i think about?! keep up the good work :)

[@luciefitness]

tbh as a darck skin I feel like until I was at uni from around 19 years old, I was invisible and since I went to uni I had more male (generally white) attention and as I get older I realised it depends on where you live

[@Unique-Star_000]

Love this discussion because I've been seeing far more colorism and it's 2021.smh😔

[@awesomedude5558]

It's worse than the 90's! The 90's had shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," as well as movies like "Cinderella (1997)!!!!!!!!!" And now? Zendaya??!!! Listen. I love her just as much as the best straight/bi man and bi/lesbian woman, but she should *NOT* replace darker people! She is not representation!

[@rhondae8222]

@@awesomedude5558 Agreed! TBT

[@mitzimadness4548]

I just found your channel, and I really appreciate your content, keep it up!

[@natnat8393]

Your video randomly popped up on my feed and I'm glad it did! Well done. As a child growing up I used to think that maybe I was crazy because everytime I saw a "diverse/black" movie I'd feel uncomfortable because the lead would almost always be light skinned in EVERY so called black or diverse film. The darker toned ones were normally "not so nice" (ghetto/hood, jealous, loud, angry, criminals, dunce, etc) if you get what I mean. As result, after a while I legit stopped watching black films or down right never tried them because all those leads were the same "yellow boned" folk. Don't get me wrong, I do like to see different shades of black on tv however, when it's ONLY the lighter skinned people in everything, it begins to feel less like true representation and more like a fake diversity stunt. I never saw myself in those films and it's like its only gotten worse these days but at least now people are begining to really speak up about it.

[@Sunny-zo7sz]

Where I live, this beauty standard applies to all people separately. If you are dark and Asian or white, you are seen as unattractive, but if you are dark and African, you are seen as pretty. Unlike America, our colourism is centred around beauty standards that apply to each culture individually. It’s pretty bad, but in a completely different way. Great video, It’s good to see this discussed! I hope you do videos on colourism in other countries.

[@Sunny-zo7sz]

@@ematique4392 Northern Italy! Lots of people from lots of different places. Not a very good place to be during a pandemic though

[@LooksByNaheemah]

The complete miss of a PROPER representation of the legend Nina Simone. Like I can’t believe Michaela Corp who is an amazing actress AND looks soooo similar to Nina Simone wasn’t cast. The lengths they will go not to included us.

[@yaninrosalia2176]

Hope your channel grows because wow the dedication you put into research and editing is top tier

[@raptoress6131]

Glad to have subcribed to your channel now, so when it hits 100K I can say I subscribed before your channel was huge.

[@Noodleay]

Wonderful video! At this point, the gaslighting is insidious

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you. & That’s a fact!

[@gbmnbm4154]

The Claire situation, the mother of the first Claire didn't want her to stay on the show, and they replaced her with the other one

[@milkandblue]

And changed her whole personality along with it

[@gbmnbm4154]

NEON FEATHER Right? Claire was so much cool before

[@milkandblue]

@@gbmnbm4154 exactly!

[@gbmnbm4154]

First Last Well this is what I saw, her mom didn't like the script I think, I also saw that jazz(first Claire) said in a interview about the producers wanting something more older and she wasn't ready

[@isabellepantelll5004]

Excellent video, can’t wait to see what you have next!

[@TheNoviceOAO]

14:45 Sadly can't comment. Having seen any films where a dark skinned female character resonated enough to remember. Vivica A Fox in Kill Bill Vol 1 comes closest by default. Looking forward to said outlook broadening though. Thanks for the great vid!!!

[@TheZebra0scarf]

Another amazing video!

[@montezashely2670]

Your going to be big keep up the good work ❤️‼️‼️

[@swishyclang]

Commenting for the algorithm. I really like Sydelle Noel from GLOW/Black Panther

[@ornellachloe]

Thanks for making this video. I hope that some eyes and minds are open now! Keep on going!

[@infinitespiral6758]

I had literally forgotten about the Nina Simone biopic situation. Like, wtf looool

[@vuyoludidi9851]

Angela Basset is my favourite Dark skinned actress. I'm new to the channel, I'm loving the content and it's interesting take on film and mass culture.

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you! 🖤

[@davidcee3680]

Nola Darling 💛 I didn’t know that it was Nina Simone who sang that song

[@lotusblossom444]

on a marathon of your videos 💗

[@MissMeSherbs]

I really lovd this video! I will say about HTGAWM, (It's my favourite show so I'm probably biased) is that they build analeise up to be this sterotype of the 'black woman who can do everything' and then deconstruct it at the series goes on. So gets angry about the role she feels she has to play in society and thus makes 'dumb' decisions and pushes away the people she loves most. Love the ending list though, new things for me to check out and support!!

[@sofia-rp4yz]

AHH your hair, you’re so pretty! i can’t stop looking how beautifully your hair is done.

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you so much, I did it myself that morning so I really appreciate this haha 😂❤️

[@sofia-rp4yz]

@@TownofTawiah it’s so beautifully laid and looks really 😌!

[@transrightsdinosaur]

Great video 💙

[@NaturallyWit]

I just read something for my Social Analysis in Race Relations class that talks about this Skin Color Paradox, and a paradox it truly is! I hope we can develop the language and the grace to truly talk about the colorism issues in earnest. Great video btw! I've seen a could of your videos on my recommended. I just subscribed ❤️

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you! By the way, if you have any book recommendations from your class please feel free to share them if you get the time ❤️

[@NaturallyWit]

@@TownofTawiah Our class is more journal articles based unfortunately! I could maybe email you the article I mentioned. My dad did gift me the book called Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. I haven't cracked it open yet but it is from Oprah's book club! ❤️

[@GrowwithNaomie]

You touched a bigger point. Keep them coming. I'm sharing them everywhere.

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you, I really appreciate you 🥺❤️❤️

[@RedHatClub]

Well done on this video, such a powerful topic that I'm glad more and more people are talking about. ✨

[@liliebilie]

I'm shook. I used to watch My Wife and Kids growing up but I never knew that they switched out the original actress for the daughter. I have no words. Wow...

[@2damecuteUK]

Let’s not forget Everybody hates Chris, The Bernie Mac show, Watchman the series

[@mimilocke5650]

Everyone hates chris was very colorist too

[@harlemw651]

@@mimilocke5650 how?

[@Kayla-ly8rm]

@@mimilocke5650 what exactly did EHC do on the show that was colorist?

[@paulpot2880]

I was told I looked exactly like the original Claire when I was a kid. I was so flattered.

[@candlelight7600]

Great video as always! :>

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you! ❤️

[@aishambengue3024]

I’m so glad I came across this channel fr fr. Great video my dude and keep it up 💜💜

[@rheynalewis64]

YOU DID YOUR DAMN THING WITH THIS VIDEO. I'm very impressed.

[@liamjameswood9257]

Thanks for the education. Much needed from over here. Cant wait for more!

[@metamaus5701]

Favourite lead: Nile Freeman in The Old Guard played by the fantastic KiKi Layne.

[@Churros1616]

I wonder if you watched all seasons of HTGAWM. The character Viola Davis plays is a very dynamic character. She has had the best tv moments in the past decade. She really grows into her character. Analisse Keating is a woman with feelings, she is smart, hard-working and very desirable.

[@TownofTawiah]

I mentioned that Viola Davis had one of the most gripping performances on television. I was not discrediting the writing of Annalise but the issue of the narrative I addressed being placed on such a breakthrough role for a dark-skinned actress like Davis. Annalyse was desirable but even she admitted that she was difficult to love because she was so used to the world neglecting her. In Season 6 during rehab, Ananlise mentioned that her main difficulty was her lack of sympathy, and that was one of the things that made it difficult for her to maintain a loving relationship. She was presented as unloveable. People desired her and maybe even idolised her but they couldn't quite get past her prickly exterior to exert their love onto her. While her character did have depth and beauty, for the most part, chaos, struggle and being villainised was what Annalyse was known for within the show regardless of her intellect. The issue is how this translates into the real world which is the expectation for dark-skinned women to have an exterior of being 'strong, independent and fierce' when at many times we are visibly the most vulnerable and in need of support, hence why I displayed the video of how these pressures affect Viola Davis' personal life.

[@katrinarose1503]

Such a great video and this has been on my mind bc one of my uni essays was on colourism and beauty, thank you!

[@kennedygodfrey9717]

just found your page. keep it up!!!!!

[@pelc121]

Brilliant video girl!! Loved every moment x

[@TownofTawiah]

Thank you! xx

[@vuyoludidi9851]

Jodie Turner-Smith who plays Josie on the classy series Jett is also another dark skinned actress to look out for. She is just gorgeous and one my crushes. She is the actress that plays Queen in the movie Queen and slim. I would also like to refer everyone here to the book Isis Papers: The Keys to the colours by Dr Frances Cress-Welsing which better explains racism and colorism. colourism

[@TownofTawiah]

thank you for the book reference!

[@throwaway740]

Oh my god, I’ve had a hard time looking for content creators of colour from the UK that open discussion in this format. If anyone knows similar creators of colour send them my way pls. This video is brilliant thank you :)

[@Atombender]

I thought my speakers were broken from 7:50 onwards. Had to pump up the volume a good bit.

[@Tuncapoo]

Thank you for including Nina Simone ❤️❤️❤️ That film Holywood made was an abomination!!! And truly upset me to my core. Not to mention the black face! Nina was turning in her grave 😠