Shades Of Her: A Commentary on Colorism

“Shades of Her: A Commentary on Colorism,” is a documentary that explores the nuances of skin tone in African American women in a unique and poignant way. By utilizing both dance and expression, the viewer sees and hears women share their stories of how the color of their skin has affected their lives, how they see themselves, and how they interact with others. The film aims at breaking down stereotypical barriers placed on African American women, all while advocating empowerment and unity among women.
Produced by: Melanin3 Media
Director of Photography - Brandon Singleton
Creative Director: Alicia J. Rollins
Executive Producer: Letrece Griffin
Visit us at melanin3media.com
*No Copyright Infringement Intended*

[@kdooley41]

There was a young lady that I went to school with who was an albino...the kids were so mean to her, she got harassed on a daily basis..Don't get me wrong, where I grew up was hard knox you had to fight no matter what skin tone you were, but this young lady had it a little worse..l wonder about her still sometimes..

[@Scoring57]

I know this is important for black women but, why are we acting like "colorism" is only a black woman problem? Most black men just won't show that vulnerability and admit to being affected by it. But I'm sure most of us know black boys are also made fun of for being dark as kids. Mostly if they're exceptionally dark, but it still happens

[@lwilliams7570]

Scoring57 I feel that black women are the only ones that fight and argue over skin color and hair in the black community. It may be a problem with black males, but for some reason, the black men just deal with it and move on. They probably just say, what’s the point, we are still just black men. This is the same mind frame and approach that black women should have as well, then maybe this will not be an issue in the black community. (Period)

[@nyembsafric1]

Because none else speaks for us! We will speak on it stop trying to silence us! Others will speak for themselves too

[@smoothskin46]

So true,so true. White media and society have brainwashed ower black men into believing that any female that's closely related o the white race is beautiful and superior to anything African related.

[@Scoring57]

Jacqie Miles Not just black men, black people. We seem to gender things too much these days. But I will agree it seems to have effected black women less but that doesn't mean they weren't targeted as well. I think it might be because women are less visual that's why for whatever reason most black women didn't find white men too attractive. But of course that's not the case now. In recent times a lot more black women are open to white men and I can't exactly blame them

[@eprahs1]

Because dark skin black men deal with their self hatred by being colorist themselves. It's usually them doing the discriminating.

[@pink1237480]

You shouldn't have to prove your black to anyone, I'm light skin and black and I never had to prove myself like that.

[@sharonholt4687]

The light skin girl in this video is gorgeous! I can relate to her story 100%. I have had dark skin and brown people tell me lots of times that I was to light, I need to get in the sun, then they'll expect me to suck it up. If I were to make a comment about their skin color being to dark, they would get very offensive.

[@thandekamalinga9329]

Sharon Holt Or they'd tell you that don't think you are pretty just because you are light skinned, and that you can't fight or do anything because you are light skinned then you are self absorbed or you are a slay queen😩

[@pink1237480]

@@thandekamalinga9329 exactly! Lol and they say well you're privilege so you're life is perfect when it actually isnt really.

[@johnnydept4082]

Yeah dark women are very very aggressive!!!

[@jetta.silence6356]

Exactly!! I could cry right now. I have never heard anyone I could relate to in all my 44 years of my biracial life. Everything here is 100%factual.Thank you.

[@sharonholt4687]

@@jetta.silence6356 you welcome, beautiful sister.

[@shauneeesm]

I had to correct me for saying " You're pretty for a Black woman " . I was like, "what", you know I had to school him on how that is not a compliment etc. He couldn't see how it wasn't a compliment. I stopped talking to him completely. Two days later he came back to me and apologized wholeheartedly. He told me he never knew that was an insult because he was never corrected. I told him, " now you know and think before you speak ".

[@mamadeebuildsahouse]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing!

[@nyembsafric1]

The lady with albinism is great

[@victoriaappiagei1482]

good Cool Awesome

[@Jane_Toussaint23]

She's beautiful.

[@eliasberihun7535]

We must accept our skin color as God created it. I know some people don't like dark skinned people for no reason. unfortunately racism will never end colorism as well; most people prefer light skinned people. some dark skinned people wish they are light skinned and they change the way they look which is unnatural, and loose their natural beauty. the more we accept ourselves the better we look. If someone don't accept you for who you are it is their problem not yours; so we don't have to change our looks just to be accepted.

[@briansmith48]

Your comment brought up Lil Kim to my mind. She was so cute before all of that plastic surgery and skin lightening. 😥😢

[@angelaxlee]

Was this published directly onto KZbin or was it published as a film and then posted online? I'm doing a paper on colorism and need to know for citation purposes. Thank you.

[@mamadeebuildsahouse]

feel free to use my content.

[@edwardglass5358]

a topic that at its root is empty. Knowledge of self is key.

[@toolboxevolution7456]

Best comment of them all, and no prior thumbs to mine? Ridiculous.

[@aylales2322]

Very nice

[@lucioagelvis2134]

Beautiful

[@ericmckenny6748]

I’m grateful colorism (and shadeism is being discussed). Know that you are worthy of love and respect regardless and your immutable qualities are fully acceptable. I tried to discuss this subject years ago reached out to many and no one wanted to address is and understand my part in it (for context, I’m like full on pasty European). The prejudice against dark skin is: ubiquitous, irrational, and resistant to policy change (as if something deeply hidden is going on). I wonder is it mainly the languaging that perpetuates the phenomenon? (ex phrases like: dark night of the soul, blacklisting, throwing shade …) or is there a underlying cause in cognition? I’d really like to do a deep dive. Please let me know what you think and thank you for your time.

[@michelet1287]

The second guy hit it on the head!!!

[@villonworthy958]

I love your completion you period

[@nixwestlake9196]

The dancing part is annoying but pretty good doc

[@victoriaappiagei1482]

good Cool Awesome Cool women beautiful black queen

[@chiarabacchelli6947]

too bad for the audio

[@kdooley41]

Why didn't they let the young men talk about colorism?? It affects them to..

[@lwilliams7570]

Kimberly Dooley It seems that only black women argue and fight over skin color. That’s probably why men does not get asked the question so often!

[@eprahs1]

Because Women and men are not judged the same. Black men need to stop comparing themselves to black women. We do not have the same experiences, esp when it comes to relationships

[@kdooley41]

eprahs this attitude is why the blk communities and blk relationships are failing.. Men experience colorism just like women do.. They may handle it different but I know for a fact they experience it and perpetrate it.. This is a blk issue that men and women need to be discussing..

[@eprahs1]

Kimberly Dooley men and women experience differently, that's a fact and I stand by that.

[@sirrykr1679]

The sound quality is terrible. 😢

[@pesa2164]

✊🏼

[@jetta.silence6356]

Did this dude in the pink shirt just make a total fool of himself and compare women to cars?

[@vatricegeorge]

Why the “crunchy black”? Why couldn’t the person just be black?

[@smoothskin46]

Light bright damn near white? Nooo she's not light like that 'high yellow that's all.

[@pennypixie1085]

Jacqie Miles was thinking the same thing

[@234forte]

What's the difference?

[@beingmeperfectly4560]

She’s Black, period.

[@-goldenrootsbronzebeigebro5074]

She is light-skinned,....but NOT nearly "near white". She is EXAGGERATING!

[@briansmith48]

That term is offensive. 😤😠

[@issaread5937]

The comments prove that you shouldn’t lump all isms into colorism… colorism is discriminating against DARKER toned people… featurism is discriminating again black ppls features and texturism is discriminating against peoples hair texture… I’m sick of the nuance in this conversation…

[@johnnydept4082]

It does catch me off guard when a dark skin women is not ratched.even when they try to be civilized you can tell there holding back that Attitude

[@brittneyharmon6647]

You need a lot of help

[@michelet1287]

Such ignorance!! All dark skinned black women are not ratchet and some lighter skinned black women definitely are ratchet.