why can't black women be the love interest?

Happy Valentines Day! In this video I try to find out: why can't black women be the love interest? Like Seriously! I've talked about the quirky/awkward black girl, but in this video essay I explore how history has influenced the desirability and romantic prospects for black women and how we are portrayed both in the media and in real life because of it.
~socials~
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~sources~
-The Hypersexualization and Undesirability of Black/African Women
link.springer.com/chapter/10....
-Is 'Modern Love' Only For White Women?
/ is-modern-love-only-fo...
-Marrying Your Peer, a Tougher Prospect for Black Women
www.theatlantic.com/business/...
-Why Dark-skinned Black Girls Like Me Aren't Getting Married
www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
-Marriage In The African American Community
www.healthymarriageinfo.org/re...
-Only Here for the Day: The Social Integration of Minority Students at a Majority White High School
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full...
-Hollywood's Colorism Problem Can't Be Ignored Any Longer
www.teenvogue.com/story/holly...
-To All The Boys I've Loved Before Has Creepy Racial Things Going On
planamag.com/to-all-the-boys-...
-OkCupid’s Unblushing Analyst of Attraction
www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/te...
-Datacylsm by Christian Rudder
-As A Black Woman, I'm Tired Of Having To Prove My Womanhood
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/...
~clips~
-Modern Love (2019)
-Harlem Nights (1989)
-End Adultification Bias
• End Adultification Bia...
-Belle (2013)
-Legally Blonde (2001)
-The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
-Insecure (2016)
-The Photograph (2020)
-To All The Boys I Loved Before: Forever and Always (2021)
-The Hate U Give (2018)
-Issa Rae & Director Stella Meghie Break Down the First Date Scene in 'The Photograph'
• Issa Rae & Director St...
-The Love Birds (2020)

[@smeoa2710]

the fact that whenever black women are casted the focus is always on their race and makes it seem like black women aren't just regular people and always need to be talking about injustices,, i would love to see a rom com with a diverse cast without having the focus be on their race

[@rutendo2939]

Tiny Pretty Things, really needed this

[@Senumunu]

we did it in the 90s. it failed and resulted in what we have today.

[@HumourousGalz]

Thats why Cinderella starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, was an is so important. A diverse cast, about a classic story. just fun, no race conversations, or micro-aggressions. I dont know how Hollywood have managed to go backwards casting dark-skinned black women.

[@pollymat991]

Everything, Everything Although she's mixed

[@OReily08080]

Right, it would be nice to portray black women just being women. It always gotta center around race (slavery, civil rights, "black struggle). It would be nice to see an unambiguous black girl just being loved without talking about race. Culture being incorporate is fine, but we don't need a reminder that she's black

[@nburex9312]

What I noticed is that the only time they use dark skinned full black women is in social justice/ political films, especially when they have natural hair.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

Suddenly they can find a bunch of unambiguous looking black women with natural hair 🙄

[@burntavocado5743]

A ViRGO yup

[@AG-fg1uk]

*** In slavery movies too. Or we're either cast as the neck rolling, sassy, combative (most often overweight) best friend who's struggling to find (or keep) a partner.

[@AG-fg1uk]

And even in those struggle movies, they sometimes make a biracial be the lead (typically depicted as desirable, compassionate, and brave) e.g. blackkklansman.

[@geekedmaxx]

That's funny because soon as they put black woman in love movies , u guys then say , you guys are being over sexualized because your black or darkskin , and that lightskins are fetishized blah blah blah the race card and colorism card never stops u guys are weird

[@kim.b1]

I noticed anytime a black woman has a love interest they always have "struggle love" which is soooo annoying because why do we have to struggle in order to be loved or desired?

[@ts5683]

This, it so upsetting. I wanna write a story where she's in a healthy happy romance

[@husband-of-chinggis]

​@@ts5683 then do it bestie! i can't describe how refreshing it is to write about happy, bubbly, bright young Black women just doing their thing. writing is a powerful tool for equality AND it's hella fun

[@docfabz]

Ikr!

[@pamorris73]

YES

[@thorfinnoars1443]

Blame tyler perry 😂. But actually I think we need healthy representations of black love. Like black families are some of the most unstable in the country and we need to have both parents in the home and to have that we need kids to see a healthy relationship between a black man and a black woman. I think we as the black community need to look and fix our own community since no one is going to fix our problems for us. I tired of seeing black men dating the white woman in the movies or the black woman dating the white man, like 80% of black people are dating other black people who arnt biracial, so the vast majority of black people are dating with the confines of their race yet the big box office movies or shows show interracial dating. Why not show black love? Not saying interracial dating shouldn't be represented, I just think that if representation and diversity is what they are going for, what they are doing isnt helping as much as they think it is.

[@krismalt6265]

I just wanna see black people have fun, be silly and be happy

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

Same! Is that too much to ask?!😩

[@zari5972]

They keep canceling all the shoes like that. Grand crew was perfect and didn't get another season....

[@sumeiyaaden8190]

Me reading a book “She had dark skin and curly hair” Watches the movie adaption “Zoe Kravits playing the role”

[@amandamaryanna]

yuppp :\

[@outherewildinb2874]

I already know you're taking about Divergent lmaooo

[@kindred239]

@@outherewildinb2874 I was so disappointed at the divergent cast after heavily getting into the series and contemplating if I can sister wife with Trice for Four fine ass. 🙃

[@outherewildinb2874]

@@kindred239 So disappointing! I think Raising Dion was what broke me, they just swapped out the dark skinned mom in the trailer for someone lighter, I just expect the worse now. --and honestly, same! Just happy Christina in the books got him 🤣

[@kindred239]

@@outherewildinb2874 Once I saw Michael B Jordan as a director and producer I knew it was curtains for the dark skin female lead. 😒🙄

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

We Black women have been stripped of our femininity and desirability for the longest time and I'm honestly so tired of it.

[@wazzupyall7378]

Definitely femininity due to black men not taking care of their responsibilities. But desirability nope black women are definitely the most desired media just wants you to think otherwise.

[@yveaperez8253]

@@wazzupyall7378 yeah , desirable for sex , not romantically .

[@delilah277]

@@wazzupyall7378 70% of black women are single, so if we were the most romantically desired we wouldn't be single to this extent. Most black women struggle to date so no, unfortunately, we are not the most desired romantically

[@alextroy9202]

@@delilah277 where did you get that statistic?? So no

[@wazzupyall7378]

@Black Pill You know exactly what I mean

[@lalalalaaAa123]

This topic is so sad and so important. As a black actress in Los Angeles, I feel blessed that I often get called in to audition for the love interest... by black female casting directors. They are working HARD to change the narrative, and I’m excited to be growing up with the industry in this way.

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". (This is copied) This is personal: Stop acting, pick any other job. You don't wanna be used and abused as a propaganda piece for their agenda. They make these movies the same reason they pay people to make rap music. It's to break cohesiveness. Rap broke the black family bond from the late 70s clean in half - it never recovered. The movie industry, for the last 30 years, has been nothing but empty "feel good" trash. "They" won't change anything for you, they will only change something when it suits their agenda.

[@stupidass69420]

@@revisit8480 what...

[@ms.bubs4fun506]

Gurl, stop lying. Hollywood is a dry desert for black folks. lol

[@marriejames01]

That’s nice and all but if it doesn’t make it to the screen it doesn’t matter. I can recall ONE film in 2019 with a Black woman lead. If it’s not on the screen or a major streaming platform it basically didn’t happen.

[@shanouboubou]

YES ! This is so heartwarming to hear, I love this 💗

[@HighAsHeckPriestess]

it's so weird to see black women excluded from portrayals of desirability when everyone wanted to look like us for a whole decade. It's also weird because I see black love everywhere in New York. Did they choose not to go seek out neighborhoods with people of color?

[@tragicallyhoney]

Nobody wants to be black tbh, maybe just the shape of the body but hair and skin not really

[@elallen4399]

😂😂😂😂 where in NYC cuz black men don't date black women like that they want the Hispanics or white or any pic besides black Africans are the only ones who date they ppl and even then they cheat

[@giovannar.7750]

I’ve also noticed that black woman within romcoms are reduced to the “black best friend” and are only there to serve the white female lead and help give her advice and guide her with her situation. That’s usually her only purpose and we rarely get an inside look at her life and what she has going on. It’s kind of like she’s “always the bridesmaid but never the bride.”

[@burntavocado5743]

Yup and she’s always the sassy friend

[@leespicey6948]

Khloe Kardashian and Malika

[@AG-fg1uk]

Yep, the neck rolling, combative, sassy black best friend 😊

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@leespicey6948 whos malkika

[@abottleofRUMtv]

Like the movie Clueless

[@kirstieaurelien2271]

literally why can't we have the meet cute situations that white women always find themselves in? why is every movie a black woman is the star of have to have some sort of commentary on our social climate... don't they know how exhausting that is 😫

[@majeedmamah7457]

Because black people complain when racism isn't brought up.

[@chanelle7691]

@Brian Bedford I dont think they meant this as them wanting a white man as a love interest. I think they meant it as just having a film for black woman that is based around romance rather than solely their race in relation to romance. (Think of all those great 90s-early 2000s black romances we used to have: love and basketball, Jason’s. Lyrics, two can play that game, etc). Their love interest can be anyone though. It’s about black women (and unambiguous ones in particular) being seen as desirable, as white woman often are. Same can be said for Asian woman. Yes they are desire but more often then not are oversexualized.It’s kinda like a spectrum of desirability. With Asian woman being hypersexualized, black women being desexualized and deemed undesirable, and white woman always seemingly a “happy medium”. Of course this is simplified since black woman can be hypersexualized as well (ie. Jezebel stereotype). It’s not about being in proximity to whiteness. It’s about being valued and depicted desirable as a woman in general. But that’s not to say, black men and other poc men should not be focused on more too. It really is a problem for us all. I (and everyone else I’m sure) would love to see more black rom coms in the mainstream. And more Asian romances like Crazy Rich Asians (where’s the sequel???). And more indigenous stories in general, etc.. And if the story is interracial, we don’t always want the the other partner to be white! Also more LGBTQ+ love stories that involve black, indigenous and poc characters! It’s so upsetting cause Hollywood churns out the same crap and misrepresents us all the time! Only thing we can do is support the films and tv shows that give us what we want and ignore the ones that don’t.

[@alextroy9202]

I mean black girls kinda fall into this

[@heelo734]

@@majeedmamah7457 nope

[@minervaargo8758]

We can fall into these situations in real life. We already know the Hollywood agenda, we can't rely on them for representation. Get it in real life :) And support people who are trying to change the image like Issa Rae. She has the only Black rom com I know called The Lovebirds. It's hilarious

[@paige2166]

A movie that I loved with a main black character is Soul. Ik the main character is a black man, but the movie wasn't about him being black, or the struggles of being black. It also showed little cultural aspects like him going to the barber shop and jazz. I would love to see this for a movie with a black women more often. It can show us just being us.

[@SuperMuneera]

"It can show us just being us." While stripping away anything that identifies your blackness. The self hate is emanating from all of these comments.

[@paige2166]

@@SuperMuneera from my comment how is that self hate? And how is that stripping them away from his blackness? The main character was literally black, what else do u want. U really thought u did sum but u didn't. Come again.

[@SuperMuneera]

@@paige2166 Basically you want black characters to imitate white characters. Strip away anything the symbolises blackness. Do you know how warped that is? Clearly you don't pay attention to white films, they don't walk around as a blank canvas. Their whiteness is on display in various ways.

[@paige2166]

@@SuperMuneera idk what u read but I said I just would like a movie with a main character being black but his race having nothing to do with his story. "strip away anything that symbolizes blackness" so them literally being black isn't enough for u? U avoided that question before so answer it now. Why is it an issue if I don't want the basic, stereotypical black movies where black ppl are slaves, struggle or are in gangs?

[@paige2166]

also ur saying that what I described is a white trait. So only white ppl can have shows and movies like that?? And ur tryna say I have self hate when u think what I said only applies to white ppl, come back to me when ur not putting ur insecurities on others.

[@NinaNeko4]

All I have to say is, you can’t tell me I’m unattractive or undesirable when half of these other women copy everything I do and am. They want us to believe we are undesirable, but I believe it’s quite the opposite. People capitalize off of BW’s low perspective of self and they want to keep you that low. This is an issue that is deeper/bigger than we know.

[@NinaNeko4]

@Alice Carole It’s deeper than that. White supremacy is an illusion. It’s not real. It takes the majority believing it’s real for it to manifest in the way it has. Let’s not pretend like bl*ck men aren’t the main perpetrators of making bl*ck women feel less than and further encourage us being put in a bad light. At some point people have to take accountability for their actions. Yes, wh*te people have done their part but I believe everyone can “get the smoke”.

[@anobody8935]

yaaasss get it queen!

[@sxtaos]

I completely agree! You nailed it. I can say this from my own experience. I don’t view myself the way society wants to view as a BW(not ideal) I’m very much seen as well spoken, feminine and confident, once you see yourself ideal, you don’t limit yourself. I do understand that It can be very hard to not view yourself as the ideal because society is consistently telling BW we are not.

[@spark300c]

it colorism and most temperate nations the men look for pale women. Colorism has clear effect in china that most chinesse have fair skin despite large part of china being in the subtropics.

[@TheAnMariComplex]

Thank you Nina. People can only do what you allow. Nobody can make you feel unattractive or undesirable unless you allow them the access to do so. Allowing society or “statistics”, to frame your view of self and your innate God-given worth is self-destructive and will ultimately lead to your downfall. Learn and know yourself. Don’t allow this world to define you.

[@cris_taaalll6136]

This is why Cinderella staring Brandy and Whitney Houston is STILL such an impactful movie. Because it shows a black woman as a love interest, as a princess, as the main character, where race has nothing to do with the plot of the story. Brandy's Cinderella is a portrayal of what society does not want young black girls to see themselves as. I pray Amanda, and other talented black writers make opportunities for yourselves and just write hundreds of thousands of stories portraying black women they way we want to be seen; as people.

[@imbetterthanyouhahaha5202]

YES I LOVE THAT MOVIE!

[@ChattyChels]

As a child I was obsessed with Brandy’s Cinderella

[@tamamoni8908]

Brandy's Cinderella is still the best version today.

[@imbetterthanyouhahaha5202]

@Material Girl RIGHT 🙄

[@Window4503]

Since Princess Tiana wasn’t around back then, Brandy’s Cinderella and my black princess Barbies were all I had to feel like I could be a princess too

[@Lia-dm3cm]

Interracial doesn't always mean white and something else, its so gross that its the default. Great video!!

[@alia.1041]

I think it’s so common in American media because the majority of consumers are white

[@texasrosee8631]

@Brian Bedford how can you speak for all women of color lol? Interracial is dating anyone outside of your race. White men are more normalize in interracial relationships but again that’s because of the climate of the generation we lived in. And sometimes it has to do with preferences other than race

[@shortyp1000]

True but here in the States that interracial pairing is the most common.

[@shortyp1000]

@@texasrosee8631 He is speaking facts regarding interracial pairing in Western cinema. Where is the lie? Even Asians (east and south) in westerns movies are paired with mainly white counterparts. Preferences are based on race primarily and foremost. Race is the biggest determining dating preference not if a particular race or culture values monogamy or marriage etc.

[@imbetterthanyouhahaha5202]

EXACTLY!!!!

[@KimberlyPinkney]

We're either joked about, sexualized or expected to be the nurturer or best friend. Probably stems from tending to other folk's kids. Then I remember when they thought we didn't feel pain so they cut into us, yet they want so much from us except romantic love. Scary world we live in.

[@klove5974]

That boils my blood juth thinking about it! Cut on because apparently you don't feel pain like whites can.

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

Or expected to be loud, ghetto, and angry!

[@Goddess_Infinity]

It’s actually exhausting being a BW

[@jasmyntailor3810]

that's literally why I write. i loveeee romantic movies and books, but not once, other than The Last Holiday, did I see a story that depicts a black woman as a soft and kind love interest. normally we're seen as a wise friend or a loud mouth. i didn't like that, so i started writing stories on wattpad about normal black women, just being regular without a quirk or being overly sexual

[@cloudyheart5148]

I started writing to! Do you have a wattpad or inkit I can read your books?

[@jasmyntailor3810]

@@cloudyheart5148 wattpad! My name is JasmynTailor

[@cloudyheart5148]

@@jasmyntailor3810 boutta follow ya rn

[@joshuagregoire9504]

Yooo. The last holiday used to be my mom's sugar honey iced tea! Forgot about that one.

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing".

[@TrulyAyanna]

Black women shouldn’t have to write scripts to have dark skin women be included. Casting directors don’t always have to pick the same biracial actresses & cover it up as “they’re the hottest actress out now” (they’re hot because y’all are too lazy to look for more talent). Black women need to be in more romantic comedies without the movie being considered a black film. Hollywood needs to change it up. We’re tired. Edit: I’m not saying Black creators should stop creating their work. Black women, especially should keep doing what they’re doing. This comment is directed at white Hollywood members who are all about inclusion & singing Kumbaya w/Black people, yet continue to think Black women, especially dark ones, are invisible. Can’t be a true ally, if your numerous amounts of work doesn’t back your stance. If you’re able to dismantle white supremacy within the entertainment industry the most, & want to dismantle it, then use your privileges of including more Black+POC. So when I say “black women shouldn’t have to write...” I mean it as they shouldn’t be the only ones or have to write it in order to show that I [a black woman] exist.

[@KristinasDigitalDiary]

👏🏼🧡🥺 You said this so well it made me emotional

[@JulianSteve]

Amen Keza. You’re stating facts👏🏾‼️

[@n.e.r.d3730]

Couldn’t have said it better myself 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@basicquartz2779]

thinking that people are obligated to help you is the root problem. from my experience, if you want things done, do it yourself and stop waiting around for someone to save you, cause no one will. as evident.

[@TrulyAyanna]

@Mina B When I mean Black women shouldn’t have to write scripts, I’m talking about there needs to be more allies in Hollywood. It’s like every year, Hollywood discovers another Black woman exists, & they can’t seem to know to do with them. The people of Hollywood are too old, to not be educated about Blackness. There are a lot of Black women directors/writers who aren’t even big yet, but they’ve already educated & voiced their concerns. I’m not saying Black creators should stop their work; I’m just saying if you’re really all about inclusion & wanting the voices+representation of other POC seen, then your projects also have to show that.

[@neonovember3072]

Also the fact that black men, especially dark skin black men are frequently casted in romantic movies, only its to non black women.The divide is huge between the progression of black men in movies compared to dark skin or even just black women.

[@alextroy9202]

Are you actually a white women/person writing this?

[@didia3608]

@@alextroy9202 even if she/he/they are then why is it your problem? its the truth.

[@shortyp1000]

@Raihanna Very true, and as Amanda pointed out Ok Cupid (and other dating sites) show Black men prefer to date white women and other WOC instead of Black women. It is not too far fetched to assume the dating preferences data influences these kind of scripts and vice versa. White supremacy. To your point, BM go on social media sites to let Black women know they value their preferences which is why BW should stay home and stop marching. Let their preferences march and advocate for BM.

[@mimilocke5650]

@@shortyp1000 its also crazy how the only reason black men in OK cupid had positive selection is from BLACK WOMEN. All other women do not see black men as viable, good partners no matter the media portrayals. However money helps give men social capital and desirability unlike women. Also, black men rated all other women EXCEPT black women as desirable.....this needs to change. And i mean bw one side loyalty!

[@AG-fg1uk]

@Raihanna Lmao and we are expected to mule for these men who don't even uplift and appreciate us. That's why I'm behind the divest movement, black women should start opening up their dating options. Black men are not pro-black community, they are only pro-black men and pro-biracial bw. They have absolute control over who they cast in music videos and movies as the love interests, and more often times they deliberately choose to not cast monoracial bw because they don't see us as desirable or valuable. We as bw should start supporting black female creatives such as Issa Rae, who actually care and are looking out for image. She has done so much for our public image with her movies and TV (Insecure, Lovebirds and The Photograph)

[@poppaelias4175]

I dated this amazing black girl in high school (we’re both bisexual), and she was insanely beautiful. Like I can’t understate just how stunning this girl was, so many people agreed that she was easily one of the prettiest girls at my fairly big high school. Not only that, but she was smart as hell, played varsity sports, just radiated good energy and had lots of friends. Before we dated, I’d crushed on her since 8th grade, and because I saw her in such a way, I was seriously shocked to find out that she’d struggled with her love life to the point of anxiety and self image issues, and I was even more shocked to find out that in our sophomore year of high school, I was her first kiss. I was naive at the time, so I couldn’t conceive of how someone like that didn’t have an army of simps falling over themselves for her, but the thing is, we went to a majority white high school, and she was black. And the fact that she was made to feel less valuable for one of the features that made her so beautiful will always infuriate me.

[@b_a_5_k_i453]

🙄

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

That is so beautiful and sweet? What happened?

[@nightkage5791]

that's sooo sweet awww, how are yall doing 2 years later?😭

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

i hope u were happy w her! i’m a black girl who has dated a white girl too

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

@@b_a_5_k_i453 ur homophobic get out

[@kkilliyyahh]

Omg I went to a predominately white school and the black boys always got the love from everyone, and the black girls would just sit back and laugh at it. They were always so confused or calling us jealous when we pointed out how much better they were treated than us.

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing".

[@joepapa7668]

Yes omg any time it’s brought up black men say well we’re all black and all face racism. But it’s different. Dark skin is desirable in men because it’s seen as masculine. But on a women we’re seen as overly masculine. Even by black men. Tv, film, have a lot to do with it because we’re portrayed awfully. Anyway I’m so sorry you had to deal with that!

[@FriendlyBatDoom]

@@joepapa7668 oh my goodness that is exactly what I was told by a white dude in middle school. He said he never found dark skin bw attractive because their skin was too dark and looked masculine and that he could only be with a light skinned bw at the most. I remember being straight up dumbfounded by his comments. He had me thinking what it’s like for my older sister at that moment.

[@ronmastrio2798]

@@joepapa7668 The stats don't really back up the idea of bm being desirable you might be listening to their delusions over reality.

[@PoppaBear760]

Date out more. Make it normal like BM have. I’ve seen too many mean rejections from BW towards other kinds of men when they shoot their shot. Look that up. There’s video after video of BW insulting a non BM asking her out. Making fun of his clothing, saying he’s pink this that and the third. That happens a whole lot so no one want to check for ya anymore because it’s not too fun to be on the end of that. Too many BW are BM identified. That’s why she can’t be the love interest unless it’s a black love film.

[@annakar-en-ina]

People always seem to forget that interracial couples don't have to be white person and insert person of colour. An interracial couple can be two people of colour.

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". They don't forget, you are the one forgetting: They have an agenda. Break the mold.

[@annakar-en-ina]

@@revisit8480 Oh my God... MOM, come pick me up, I saw a racist in the wild. 'Pro mixing', Wow, are you into eugenics or something? Please tell me, who owns Hollywood if its not the 62% of white directors, 73.1% of white actors who got speaking roles and the overwhelmingly white Academy?

[@BigDaddyFFK]

@@annakar-en-ina Jews. He's talking about Jews. He's a white nationalist.

[@nimeshagamage567]

That's why I loved watching 'The Lovebirds' with Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani ♥️ A black woman and an Indian guy that just happened to be in a r'ship. It didn't seem forced. No bullshit agenda, no social commentary.. I LOVED seeing that.

[@girlofanimation]

@@nimeshagamage567 , I loved that movie! It was so funny and the chemistry was so fun.

[@BellesView]

Because society is comfortable with us being labeled the “angry struggling Black women” undeserving of happiness and willing to sacrifice her own livelihood for the greater good of everyone else who views her as inferior.

[@burntavocado5743]

Exactly what I wanted to say omg

[@alextroy9202]

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. I am SO much more than that

[@AG-fg1uk]

Yep! Which is why it is important for black actresses to vie for roles that humanize and boast our social currency (e.g. playing the love interest, genius/protege, hero (not a mammy or masculine strong bw, but desirable superhero like Storm), warmhearted character, feminine character, and wife) and not dehumanize us (mammy, strong matriarch, sapphire, jezebel, strong black woman tropes). White supremacists used media and pseudoscience to rob us of our womanhood, so we'll need some serious social engineering through media (movies, books, blogs, magazine etc.) to salvage our womanhood and build up our social currency.

[@BellesView]

@@ComfortCommunity I agree.

[@nia356]

@Hit Quixote ... 😐

[@tamarleahh.2150]

Not a romantic comedy but A Bronx Tale has a dark skinned love interest called Jane and she's pretty feminine. Obviously it's not a perfect movie but Jane is probably the most sympathetic character.

[@Aethelhadas]

Thank you! Added to my watchlist. High rating too. :)

[@lemonscenic6207]

I realized that there’s no representation of women with features like wide flat noses or big noses. Since I never seen that before, I believe it took a huge toll on my self-esteem too because I was surrounded by someone who mostly had smaller noses and people would pick on me because of my nose. Things have to change but at some point we are going to get tired of talking about this and taking action when nothing is changing and it’s getting worse. I hope and do believe that we have what it takes to change this but it starts at home.

[@yasmeenkhursheed5702]

same

[@Undefinedde]

Bullies are evil

[@notedna]

Why is hollywood more comfortable showing feminine black men than feminine black women? It’s weird. I see soft feminine black gay men all the time but rarely soft feminine black women. The same way asian men are mostly portrayed as soft

[@SarifaXionic]

That’s to portray a stereotype or subtext so it’s okay

[@Eclecticlly]

Because a feminine soft black man is less threatening. Then a feminine elegant black woman to white ideals

[@hillary5310]

@@Remember_the_Time just remember that black people can also be lgbtq, they can intersect. i do agree though

[@stress395]

While we do have more movies, they are all the same shitty coming out story rehashed through low budget films. So yes we have more movies, but they all happen to be trash, and only represent one sexuality.

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@SarifaXionic ??? wdym a stereotype

[@alexandraosborne1293]

Thank you! Someone finally said it why can’t the black woman be the love interest?! Also your hair looks bomb

[@AikiraBeats]

I feel like it's because people don't know how to write us and how we act in a relationship but I would love to see someone do that

[@angelfranklynn2702]

there was one *ONE* on hallmark but after watching a video somewhere i realized they made her act “white” she didn’t have natural hair so she looked just like the other white female leads in their hallmark movies. ironic how they released a few black movies on hallmark post the blm marches. also this same black woman has a secondary role in manyyyy hallmark movies. she is always there to help the main character figure out they do love the male lead. i can’t wait till she gets her own movie.

[@prenuptials5925]

@@elcb845 it's because black men are fetishized now and it sells 🤷‍♂️

[@alextroy9202]

@@AikiraBeats “don’t know how to write us” as if we aren’t human beings with the same feelings as everyone else smh

[@alextroy9202]

@@prenuptials5925 they like being fetished to. They think it adds to their desirability and it kinda does, just like asian & Latina women. But if only black women knew how to use fetishes as positive promotion

[@calebjuma7648]

I grew up in Africa...when i moved to Europe, i found myself more and more searching for movies where black people fall in love...thankfully there are good examples in Africa. I do not know how black people born in this majority white environs function...sometimes we in Africa feel unlucky but i am very happy that i grew up in Africa and appreciate the beauty within a black woman.

[@magavote9330]

I'm honestly thinking about moving to africa 🌍

[@TheSamuelbest12]

Don’t say Africa, just say the name of your country, North Africa is 99% white

[@Undefinedde]

Ol boaluahe Africa

[@jenniferd7563]

@@TheSamuelbest12 Africa itself is 90% black though. It's virtually a black continent.

[@2ndworldcountryusa583]

@@TheSamuelbest12no it’s not lol not even close too 99

[@sarahwashington00]

Im a young black woman from France and I want to be an actress but more in the us because if you want to talk about stereotypes and colorism Hollywood is a freaking heaven comparing to where I come from.

[@Asi75019]

Ah bon????

[@a__dema9787]

We need to also hold older black women accountable to the hyper sexualization of black girls. The number of black women I see calling young girls/teens fast just for simply existing or trying to look cute always makes me 🥴 But they will never take that attitude with their sons

[@mimib___6709]

Girl, yes! We have our own work to do before expecting anything else from other races of people.

[@basicradical3581]

Exactly, young white girls can experiment and explore in their youth (clothing, relationships, interests etc.) and still be seen as teens but black girls do anything and it's sexualised. It's harmful

[@r1234233]

@@basicradical3581 can you explain whats sexualised? I hear this rhetoric and it just doesn't mean anything. What about what you do is sexualised? Most black girls are more sexually conservative than white girls? I dunno as a black guy I'm confused it just seems like raging jealousy which only makes those who you're jealous of look better, so i'd advice you all stop this because it's actually unattractive and comes off as self-hate.

[@dansaidthat7942]

@@r1234233 You literally don't know what you're talking about but are attempting to give advice. Here's some for you, get a clue. It's better to shut up and be assumed a fool than speak up and prove it!

[@r1234233]

@@dansaidthat7942 I guess it came off as harsh but I can't see how filling your head with all this nonsense is healthy. I'm sorry but a lot of what I see from black girls on the internet is negativity and you all projecting your insecurities on to other people, is that good for you? does it make you attractive? I say things like this so you can see how it comes off to some people. Your girlfriends will give "supportive words" whilst letting you wallow in your victimhood and I can't see how that's healthy, but I'm a guy so what do I know.

[@TheLeah2344]

I experienced racism, sexism, and misogyny in elementary school, middle school, High school. I was also a victim of sexual assault multiple times in college even though I told them I did not want to have sex and the police did not take it serious. It took me years to admit to my boyfriend that I was raped before I met him.

[@INAN2222]

❤️️ Wishing you the upmost of happiness and healing ❤️️

[@a.sydney5036]

I’m so sorry you had to go through that

[@aisham744]

I’m so sorry that happened ❤️ sending the utmost love

[@childofgod759]

Pls take care of urself I’m so sorry that happened to u nobody deserves that :( I hope ur doing well

[@awesomedude5558]

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO SORRY YOU WENT THROUGH THAT!!!!!!!!! *NOBODY DESERVES THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* I'm going to send you some good vibes and an undying support for you. ❤️❤️♥️♥️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️♥️❤️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️❤️♥️

[@itsmeharperjacksons6633]

They only want to portray black women in struggle love, and then this leaves something in black women and girl's mind that they're not worthy of love and have her desperately looking for love

[@Goddess_Infinity]

This!!!!!

[@dahliaisaflower]

I did an essay on black women and dating preference among races in college and let me say... It was sad to write... But also, I got an A.

[@uranophile_]

Omg may i read it?

[@dahliaisaflower]

@@uranophile_ if I can find it yes

[@FriendlyBatDoom]

@@dahliaisaflower can you please explain so I can understand what is so sad about it if you don’t mind me asking?

[@dahliaisaflower]

@@FriendlyBatDoom it shows how black women are deemed the least desirable among racial preferences to date. And it goes on the show that is because stereotyping and discrimination against us and we're not deem desirable and or wanted. Even though we're the most open to dating anyone inside or outside or race based on the study.

[@FriendlyBatDoom]

@@dahliaisaflower that is sad thank you and sorry for making you clarifying a year after your original post.

[@saraamin5494]

I notice quite often that interracial love stories in media tend to be black male-white female. It kind of sucks that we barely ever see black female-white male or black female-any race other than her own. Not that black love stories aren't beautiful, but it is nice to see a black woman desired by other races of guys too. I say this as a middle eastern Canadian woman though, so what do I know about race relations and representation in American media? 🤷‍♀️

[@saraamin5494]

@Brian Bedford I want to see my people represented too, of course. I'd love for all people to be represented in film and tv. And I have no problem with black guys dating white girls, I literally couldn't care less. I don't really know what your point is here... Why is it that I seem more preoccupied with black female issues since I'm not a black female? I don't think that's true, I'm just being an ally. As for why Arab/Turkish/Kurdish women are not represented in American media specifically, there just aren't a whole lot of us in writer's rooms. I hope that changes though 😊

[@sumeyah3703]

I know what you mean I also want to see it because I'm getting tired of the movies when a black woman is in she always has to either have a relationship with a black man or be alone 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@sumeyah3703]

@Brian Bedford no Babe I’m African and muslim❤️

[@alextroy9202]

@Brian Bedford shut up and stop questioning her intentions

[@talltreeyeti]

this is a weird take considering like 90% of relationships black women are put in on television tend to be with a white man. what’s rare now is to actually see two black people together which is sad. we don’t need more black/white in media. it’s tired and uneccesary at this point

[@cloudyheart5148]

Am I the only one who wants to see more black girls being friends on tv like actually healthy friendships like the winx club(no not the netflix one)

[@ab6031]

That's what really needs to take place first. But most don't see it. *Healthy* No petty-ness/ No Back-stabbing. Real friend-ship a real sister- tribe. We don't have that as bw as a whole & it's sad.

[@cloudyheart5148]

@@ab6031 we can have love interests of all races and have black female friends I need to see it.

[@actradio94]

Grand army and Get Even on Netflix has that. I wish these shows would get bit more attention considering the rep is decent.

[@cloudyheart5148]

@@actradio94 I love the relationship between the girls in grand army have not watched get even

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@cloudyheart5148 Ah, I'm dreaming up a story in my head similar to the Winx Club... not similar in story, but in representation. I'd love to see more black characters as love interests and friends!

[@hilly9487]

We’re not so hard to find though when it comes to movies about slavery, race issues, or being SJWs, especially the unambiguous dark skinned black women🤦🏾‍♀️

[@me_probably1887]

this reminds me of how uncomfortable stuff like snapchat filters make me because of how it europeanizes my face, widening my eyes and thinning my nose, because it feels like it is taking away my identity and deeming that less pretty for some reason. i’m a mixed race person. i’m not particularly dark as part black, and i’m not particularly asian looking as part asian. but i don’t look european, and i don’t want to. and i am still pretty.

[@RaetheSaint]

I love the research you added because this is literally stuff we’re talking about in my Race in Film and Literature class right now. It’s so frustrating how we as Black women are simultaneously hypersexualized and denied our femininity unless we have features that fall into more Eurocentric beauty ideals (ie lighter skin, smaller nose, looser curls or wavy hair) and the white washing of dark skinned Black women in book to movie adaptations (like The Hate U Give and The Sun is Also a Star) sends that message to young dark skinned girls that they are somehow less worthy of even telling their own stories

[@alextroy9202]

I wish those authors fought to keep the characters the same! Like the women did for TATBIEL

[@laurendunn434]

I was such a fan of T.H.U.G (the novel) and even met the author... I literally fell in love with the book for many reasons but also because the girl on the cover literally looked like me. When I went to a book festival we filmed a talk with the author about the inclusion of Black girls in all forms of media and when I saw the trailer for the movie I was literally shocked to see Amandla. I haven't watched the movie nor will I ever because I can't ruin the experience for myself. No shade to her but it literally felt like erasure smfh.

[@RaetheSaint]

@@laurendunn434 I love Angie Thomas and I actually did end up enjoying the movie, aside from the casting. I don't blame her for it because I'm pretty sure she had no real role in casting or the script. I'm guessing that when the publishing house sold the rights to the filming agency there was nothing in the contract giving her major say in the production

[@RaetheSaint]

@@alextroy9202 I think that also comes from it being harder for authors of color to have any real say in the film productions unless the contracts give them room there. Producers should respect the source material

[@laurendunn434]

@@RaetheSaint yes! that’s actually a really great point to consider

[@Chairlsy]

OMG!! Honestly the day when I see a black woman as the love interest in a movie, especially a dark skinned bw, I will cry tears of joy. It's so sad.

[@SisterKnight]

The photograph with issa rae was pretty good...

[@almedast]

@@SisterKnight The Lovebirds also is a good romcom with both Black and Pakistani actors. Issa is on it. It's really good

[@daisyinthelife]

Actually (not that one or two films make up for it) Eddie Huang's film BOOGIE depicts a romance story between a black woman and an asian man. I havent watched it but it comes out in March!

[@alia.1041]

This is similar to a point Nathan Zed makes in his latest video, the couples in RomComs have looked the same and told the same story for decades

[@alextroy9202]

You act like there’s none like??? There are some...I know like 4 but okay Namste wahala on Netflix. She’s with an Indian men. There’s Boogie. Too

[@femmefatale4442]

This is one of the reason I've never liked romance. Most romances have cis, straight, white woman with cis, straight, white man and sometimes a black man if you're lucky. As a poc and someone who is on the LGBTQ+ spectrum I have had a hard time relating to romances because they were all the same. It's annoying how people have complained about us wanting representation when they're the ones who make a big deal when a person who isn't straight or white comes on screen.

[@naturallyimani]

I watched the whole season of Modern Love & it’s so crazy that I’m just noticing not one of the stories was about a Black woman. The only Black women with speaking roles were the best friends in two of the stories. It’s weird how normalized this is in film & tv.

[@MadisynBrown]

i miss all the 90s/early 00s black love stories like love jones and love and basketball. it shouldn't have to be an all black film just for a black woman to be able to be the love interest but they don't make movies like that anymore. the photograph was the closest thing to what I've seen recently.

[@weirdchick216]

I've been buying all those movies on DVD and when I want to see a romcom or love story I just watch those.

[@a.sydney5036]

And that bombed

[@aridominique4447]

Even love and basketball was toxic though 😩 lol

[@Chickenleg-hl4le]

@@aridominique4447 yea that’s actually a good point

[@saymynamejk4409]

Not all of us are into black love.....if u miss it so much go rewatch those old movies. Or better yet watch the movie “Boogie” coming out on March 5th ☺️

[@suhtet9761]

I saw the movie “Let it Shine” where the black girl (actress named Coco I think) was actually the love interest. But yeah, I agree, we need more representation of black women as a love interest, it would be interesting ☺️🌹

[@Sharon-zj2gp]

Yes, Coco Jones! She’s very talented and has a TikTok.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

Just the fact that we struggle to think of any such film is sad

[@jenniferliu158]

I mean I feel like that's different because basically everyone in that movie was black

[@suhtet9761]

@@jenniferliu158 regardless of the movie, I think it’s important for black women to shine whoever she’s with as a love interest.

[@jenniferliu158]

@@suhtet9761 definitely!

[@betharramrojas8051]

I love that Iris is Barry Allen's love interest, although The Flash is not a romcom

[@brittneyharmon6647]

Me too! And I just started watching it I can’t believe I didn’t before 😂. I’m already on season 4

[@TheLuvlfe]

One of the reason I watch IT! I also love the FLASH :)

[@devoniea2983]

Growing up the only depiction of black women in love was surrounded by violence, abuse and just a journey of struggle. I always wondered why i couldn't find coming of age movies/ rom-coms (with black women as the lead) that depicted the beauty of falling in love rather than the hardship that surrounded it. I thought perhaps i wasn't searching hard enough! This video answered all my questions!

[@wowokay953]

I was thinking about this while going on a binge of classic romcoms. clueless was really the only movie that showed a black girl in a relationship and didn't make her whole personality about facing racism.

[@TheLeah2344]

True but then again they were arguing throughout most of the movie and it was implied that he cheated on her.

[@gglovesgorillazmj7784]

does the bodyguard count? cause like Whitney houston plays like the main role and falls in love with the bodyguard and all that but idk yeah sad that there barely is any movies with a Black woman as the love interest

[@BritneyBritney101]

@@gglovesgorillazmj7784 yes. All of Whitney's movies count, all of Gabrielle's movies count, Nia Long's movies, Sanaa Lathan's movies (I count Blade twice), Vivica A Fox's movies, that great one with Kelly Rowland (the seat filler) Angela Basset's, Lynn Whitfield. I think the question is less how did we historically get here and more of a study of what stopped it from continuing. Because things that are inherently racist/systematic don't just stall like that for 20 years. What stopped it and how do we get the engine running again is the question. Even down to us doing it to ourselves, Simone Biles herself said she wanted Zendaya to play her in a movie.

[@raynaudier8622]

wow okay, ["A Boy. A Girl. A Dream."], A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, About Last Night, An Oversimplification Of Her Beauty, Baggage Claim, Beyond The Lights, Black Lov, Boomerang, Brown Sugar, Catching Feelings, Daddy's Little Girls, Deliver Us From Eva, Girls Trip, Good Deeds, HavPlenty, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, How To Be A Player, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, I Think I Love My Wife, Jumping The Broom, Just Wright, Last Holiday, Love & Basketball, Love Jones, Nappily Ever After, Nobody's Fool, Our Family Wedding, Phat Girlz, Poetic Justice, She's Gotta Have It, Something New, Soul Food, Southside With You, Temptation, The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday, The Brothers, The Incredible Jessica James, The Perfect Guy, The Perfect Match, The Photograph, The Preacher's Wife, The Wood, Think Like A Man, Top Five, Two Can Play That Game, Waiting To Exhale, Why Did I Get Married (1 and 2),..

[@deborahwey4183]

yepp we can never have a movie that doesn’t have some type of struggle at the center of the story. that or the movies w bw as love interests are all old. even clueless was nearly 20 years ago

[@syd9307]

Honestly, as a hopeless romantic I can’t believe I haven’t notice the dearth of rom-coms for us. As always be excluded from film history just gives gals like us more chances to be The First Black Women to _________.

[@maximeteppe7627]

As a white dude who rarely watches rom coms, the only example I have off the top of my head is "the incredible jessica james". which is an OK movie, but yeah, most of the genre is about white people.

[@uncleruckus6411]

Get a job. Did I fill the blank out correctly?

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". You are misunderstanding WHY this is the reality you are living, and you are ignorant as to how to fix it. Movies never preached a message as in times like this, and you need to be fully aware of why it's happening.

[@COOKMONST3R]

7:10 “Femininity is not always easy to perform. It takes time and it takes money.” YESSSS!!! EXACTLY!!! As a black female that grew up in predominantly white schools - I felt like I had to work harder to feel/be viewed as feminine. Like I had to invest in compensating for my blacknesses. It’s horribly unfair and exhausting to feel like you have to make up for your inherent undesirability. Like you have to perform for the white, male gaze in order to earn the rights to what’s already yours!

[@lovelove-55s]

Im glad we're talking about this because, Black woman especially dark skin black women should be able to be love interests, to be chased by people of all races on screen and taken out on dates etc. Hollywood isn't interesting anymore because of how repetitive it is, especially when you compare it to foreign films. Black women deserve to get casted in many roles even when the directors of writers aren't black, period.

[@bambii_thinks3147]

Girl yes, yes, yes! Like sometimes i'm watching emma chamberlain and i'm like wow....she can really be herself and her femininity and desirability isn't questioned the way it would be if she was BLACK. It's really insane.....Not to say blk women shouldn't be themselves CAUSE THEY ABSOLUTELY SHOULD--DAMN SOCIETY but the rules are totalllly different.

[@lacienagalacey9454]

Wow. This part. I also watch her and this crosses my mind a lot. Glad I’m not the only one 🥲

[@bambii_thinks3147]

@@lacienagalacey9454 I see u sis😭

[@alextroy9202]

Lol I question it

[@oseremhen9075]

A black KZbinr like Emma chamberlain would be so ignored the KZbin algorithm wouldn’t even notice she exists🤧

[@bambii_thinks3147]

@@alextroy9202 sure u do bt she still has millions of subs, fans, viewers who don't. As she should cuz i do enjoy her but the rules are just different for white girls/women...ESPECIALLY if they fit beauty standards as well--can get away with more.....

[@siyanneabraham]

As a black woman who really wants to be an actress, I love this

[@uncleruckus6411]

What role are you going to take? Harriet Tubman?

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". (This message is copy pasted, I want people to notice the actual problem here) This is personal: I'm sure you'd be a great actress, but if the owners (I really do hope you know who I mean) of the movie industry don't change, there won't be much future for yourself with that career path - unless you want to play roles of historically white women to be a propaganda piece that is also "anti-white".

[@gwenminor9244]

or Michelle Obama 😙

[@sarahwashington00]

Same !

[@izzyb971]

Me too, it’s so satisfying to have a video about something I’ve literally been thinking and feeling strongly about for a while.

[@DavidJLee-zr8ic]

I'm an aspiring Asian American screenwriter who loves rom-com and would love to write on the hardship of dating as an Asian American male... but I'd love to incorporate a rom-com with your particular powerful perspective on the other side of the dating coin :D

[@joepapa7668]

I’d really like to see that because I feel like Asian men get the short end of the stick too. Either seen as cute/infant like or completely undesirable. It’s annoying how there’s little no people of color rom coms showing that we know how to love too. It can be disheartening

[@marriejames01]

Of course you do EVERYONE uses BW at some point. 🙄

[@vanblitz7009]

@@joepapa7668 I highly recommend this animated short, it shows an Asian man with a Black women. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqrPo2pmjLN0m5o

[@Ayitiana]

put me in it

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

You could kill two birds with one stone by making the main pairing an Asian-American male and a Black-American woman. 🤗

[@payyourrentbabes]

''being commodified isn't the same as being inherently valued''😭😭exactly

[@theplantainchiplover]

I can relate so much to wanting a rom-com about a young black woman without race being the center of the film... can we not just get a cute movie with a cute black girl & her love interest???

[@burntavocado5743]

Ikrrrr, just a simple rom com would be nice, race is always the focus of coming of age films with black characters, it’s always that their best friend gets shot and they become an activist. I’m not saying that this doesn’t happen, but I just want a basic coming of age film, not always a political statement

[@a.d.w8385]

Like a black To All The Boys series. I think those movies are adorable. Her Korean culture and race is recognized in those films, and she even struggles with the death of her mom. However, she's still a girl who grew up in a close knit family, has a nice circle of friends and found love. Imagine a story like that of a Nigerian American teenage girl.

[@ninicherefe1075]

YESSSSS

[@lamartaylor2301]

Watch the photograph with isss rae or lovebirds with Issa rae watch what men want with taraji p Henson or beyond the lights with Nate Parker another good one is the new movie with yara shadi it came out last year i forgot the name it’s several movies!

[@1122juicyy]

what if it was about true stories of black women in the industry who needs their stories told.

[@witchplease9695]

I love this video. I’ve turned to books to read about Black women in love. I recommend the books by Talia Hibbert, a Black female author who writes cute and quirky romances (no struggle love) with Black women in both interracial and monoracial relationships. “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” is my fave. Black women are going to have to be the change we wish to see in the world

[@tdesert1516]

Also Kennedy Ryan

[@annakar-en-ina]

Ahhhh I absolutely love her book. The Brown sisters are my literal idols (I want to be Danika and Chloe okay) and Zafir Ansari and Redford Morgan are too precious for this earth.

[@esa8]

Have you read “Opposite of always” by Justin a. Reynolds.

[@Themoment888]

I appreciate these recommendations. I'm an avid book lover and I'm writing all these down lol.

[@hello--_-5188]

Legend born by Tracy Deonn is really good too! It’s a contemporary/ fantasy with a love triangle 😊

[@bellarodriguez3308]

On tiktok there was a sound that was specifically meant to uplift black and dark skinned women "brown skin, pretty brown eyes, slim waist, but her hips kinda wide..." and for some reason at the top of the sound was white and light skinned women of color. It's not to say that they can't be celebrated but in the one moment dark skinned women had to shine, white women tried to steal the spot light. It was frustrating because the videos made by the dark skinned women were being suppressed. I'm pretty sure it's not like that now but the comment sections under those videos were a warzone.

[@aurielanderson79]

Having someone that liked me but didn't respect me enough to actually be in a relationship with me because he only saw the sexual aspect of me. It honestly hurts my heart to hear that. Being seen for just my body or just a piece of meat and not for who I am as a person and what makes me, me. (sigh) 😪

[@Goddess_Infinity]

Yes !!! I totally relate to this . Because regardless of how smart , funny , beautiful we are we will never be enough just because we don’t have the right color 🥺😒

[@brendaamoah6088]

I’m a hopeless romantic and I love Romcoms but of course there will always be a disconnect because I can never see myself in the women playing these romantic interests. It was the same when I read Wattpad in middle school and it’s the same now (in everything else). if there is a black love interest then racial tension will have to be involved in some way and I can’t just enjoy the romance... I’m tired.

[@amandamaryanna]

No SAME! Whenever a wattpad fic described the character with brown skin I got too excited LOL

[@AG-fg1uk]

Lmao the thing about Wattpad is that the book cover will typically feature a darkskinned black woman yet when you start the reading, the character is described as a biracial woman with loose curls and fair skin. It's really depressing how we, monoracial black women, undervalue ourselves. Most black female Wattpad authors are monoracial black women yet they would rather write stories about biracial women being the love interests.

[@CrazyFai]

Agree

[@itazuranakisu]

The struggle is real. I love when I read a book and it's just about two people falling in love without race being such a huge factor. Occasionally, and I do mean occasionally, you may see it in a movie or tv show where race doesn't impact the relationship. Brandy as Cinderella is one of the best examples.

[@michaela1541]

OMIGOSH SAME. It’s literally like I have to use so much mindpower to conjure up an alternate reality where I can see myself as the white girl with long blonde hair

[@jaylette]

What’s even more sad is that in film where black women are the love interests, theyre usually light skinned Edit: Ok, I’ve actually been pretty invested in the debate going on about my comment. So after a few days, here is what I have to say. Biracial women who happen to be of black heritage do not represent black women. Also, the casting of light skinned black women neglects a large part of the black woman’s experience. My point is that main stream media, which is honestly synonymous with white media, rejects black people who aren’t fetishized or have a level of “comfort”, that comfort being whiteness or antiblackness, within their identity.

[@purplelove3666]

Biracials are not light skin black women lol

[@Itsmuna]

Yes bridgerton for example

[@alia.1041]

@@purplelove3666 wdym?

[@purplelove3666]

@Brian Bedford so why parents they white?.they are also half white. WHY. arent you calling them white. They are biracial!

[@purplelove3666]

@@jaylette they dont represent black women and their representation does not trickle down to.black women.honey watch CHRISSIE.

[@billiemiquelfrazier1312]

THANK UUU FOR SAYING THIS, as a black female writer I want to change this

[@softxgurl1278]

CHANGE IT BABY 💕

[@lashonda0811]

One of my favorite rom coms is Just Wright. I love Queen Latifah's character there. She wasn't someone who had to fix herself, but was simply a confident and accomplished woman who found love after being overlooked for superficial reasons that she didn't see as flaws to be fixed.

[@angelicagayle7414]

This is exactly the reason why I’m becoming a filmmaker so that I can make films that normalise and popularise black women in vulnerable and romantic situations that don’t just involve overcoming racism or prejudice 😌😌

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". (Above is copy pasted) This is personal: Stop making useless romantic movies and make something cultured that people need. Movies shouldn't be tools for propaganda.

[@witchplease9695]

@@revisit8480 Shut the fuck up and stay out of Black business.we don’t need racist whites telling us what to do.

[@ripham3941]

Those films already exist. The problem is too many Black women are so thirsty to see Black women in those situations with non Black men, that they ignore the Black films that do exactly what they say they want. It's only good enough for them if it's interracial.

[@kianaw.8096]

@@klnj9714 “good will and assistance” where?

[@Untamedbeauty015]

Thank you.

[@Chairlsy]

Okay, I am almost done with the video and I agree with pretty much everything. I have watched some cut videos (cut is a channel on youtube) where people rate other people's looks (it's really weird tbh) but what I have seen is a lot of black women that I found really beautiful were rated lower by the men. It's really sad how the course of history has hurt the way people view black women. And also I am pretty sure the question "does he even like black girls?" has crossed every single black woman's mind at some point in life. It is so sad.

[@ClayMastah344]

I agree and I find it horrible that when young black girls bring this up, older ones will gaslight them and tell them to get some self esteem or sense without ever addressing the world they know we all live in and affects these young girls who are learning to navigate their environments.

[@Jane..497]

I haven't watched the "Cut" episode your referring to. but I'd even imagine that because they were getting filmed they were giving black people pity points so they aren't viewed as racist. I've been watching "Are you the one" and its sad to see that the black women is always the one nobody wants or the two black men there are the only ones willing to pick them. Then when the topic is brought up in interview they plays it off as though she they're not expressive or talkative enough.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

☕️. I do that. It’s part of why I’m extra reserved when it comes to people I’m interested in. “Will they like me even though I’m black?” ALWAYS is my first thought. Even with other black people I’m into 😅 I end up just keeping to myself. Which I probably shouldn’t do, but, whatever.

[@MelonBrews]

@@astoldbynickgerr I do the same thing. It feels dehumanizing to ask myself if they like Black women and I don't want to deal with the pressures of performing extra "likability" to combat other people's internal biases. I'd rather leave it alone altogether than feel like I have to prove my worth as a human to people who choose to overlook it.

[@ClayMastah344]

@@MelonBrews I completely understand where you’re coming from...

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

this rlly explains why ppl were so mad at halle being ariel…..

[@oyamempono4392]

Guys we need to start creating our own shows that represent us. Every month we have these think pieces and rarely nothing changes. I honestly don’t care anymore if I see a blockbuster with “lack of diversity” because the director/producer is doing exactly what they/he/she wants. Let’s pack it up😔

[@destinyosunbiyi4509]

i was literally just thinking about this while looking for a romance movie to watch, it’s super unsettling and something that should be talked about more often. thank uu

[@mri.ana444]

Right? After I started to notice and look for romance movies and books with black woman being the protagonists just feel fucking angry at how hard it is to find them :(

[@oyinkansolaadebajo9716]

@@mri.ana444 Yep. That's not even including disability!!! Being an overweight dark-skinned disabled black girl really be something else

[@a.sydney5036]

There are lots of black movies...🤷🏿‍♀️

[@cindychristian1700]

Try Netflix, Tubi, Bet and Prime! They have lots of black romantic comedies!

[@mri.ana444]

@@oyinkansolaadebajo9716 jasmine guillory is a black author who wrote some overweight black protagonists, although they are not disabled, is already nice to read someone that looks more like we do 💛

[@rachie2456]

Someone had to say it. Why can't we ever be the love interest?

[@Juninzone]

In black owned streaming platforms black women are but do black women collectively support them let alone the black female owned platforms.

[@indiehipstervibe]

I’ve noticed how recently they’ve started making black girls the love interest in movies and music videos. (Full black not mixed) but they’re mainly using lighter skinned black girls but they’re not mixed but anyways, it’d be nice to see a dark skinned black girl as a love interest in a movie or tv show etc

[@anami9077]

Can you recommend me some with full black girl leads??

[@indiehipstervibe]

@@anami9077 there’s a KZbin channel called creatively designed, she has loads of videos where full black women are the love interests xx

[@abottleofRUMtv]

I hate to say it but this will never change until we take it upon ourselves to start writing our own stories and scripts. We cant expect yt people to tell our stories for us when most of the time they cast us in stereotypical roles. Stop expecting yt people to give you representation when we all know they don't have our best interest at heart and they NEVER will.

[@CerebralTheReal1]

Ummmm even black films don’t always do right by black women

[@elleyeah746]

And i feel like whenever there are movies starring black women, (though they are few and far between), places like Netflix fails to promote it in the way it deserves. Like ik it’s not romance, but i loved the movie Rocks yet netflix hasnt been advertising or campaigning it at all when it’s just as good as any A24 coming of age movie

[@MelonBrews]

LOVED Rocks

[@livingfinance]

Thanks will look it up.

[@anna-mariadavis5914]

but what she is speaking of is black women being love interest though

[@Azra94569]

rocks was an incredible film that deserved to be advertised

[@CharliesAngel120]

I think you’ll love this www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56123953 Planning on watching it myself. Netflix did advertise Blood and Water, and Behind Her Eyes (both with bw leads) but I agree they should do more. And also produce more stuff like that in the first place instead of just casting light-skinned biracials in practically everything

[@SeverineHowellMeri]

As an actress, I often see casting calls that say "all ethnicities welcome"; but I can't help but wonder if casting directors and writers REALLY ENVISION seeing a dark skinned black woman as the lead with a complicated narrative or the love interest. From the perspective of a performer, seeing "all ethnicities welcome" is great, but sometimes it feels like a cop out statement. An easy way to say "we tried but couldn't find anyone". I'm glad to see the demand increase from audiences, like you said; but for me, it starts with the imagination and the visionaries of the story *having* the imagination to actually PICTURE a dark skinned black woman as the lead. It might be different from the perspective of those in casting; but it still sucks when we see a disappointing end result of a nearly all white cast. Really enjoyed this video, Amanda! Thank you for speaking on it

[@RandomPersonette]

such a brilliant comment.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

your comment reminds me a lot of that "the leading lady" sketch in which Emilia Clarke was in. they never even consider the black lady and the east-asian looking lady

[@SeverineHowellMeri]

@jermaine tobin read the comment, I said I’m an actress 😂😂 I audition for a living

[@SeverineHowellMeri]

@jermaine tobin you’re right. I’m not dark skinned, and I’m not trying to compare my experiences to that of darker skinned women or say that what I go through is the same as them. However, I don’t have to be dark skinned to see that there’s a problem in how dark skinned women are treated and not cast as frequently as white or lighter skinned women like myself. I can see that there’s a problem and question why that is in order to do something about it. That’s what I did in my comment.

[@SeverineHowellMeri]

@jermaine tobinAmanda’s video provides some instances of where darker skinned black women could have been considered and perhaps weren’t. Michaela coel’s role in ‘Been so Long’ was originally set to be a mixed raced lead, she challenged the team as to why that was and they changed the narrative to offer her the role. Amandla stenberg pulled herself out of the casting process for black panther because she knew how important that story would be for darker skinned black people. I have been considered for scripts to play the lead where it actively states that the best friend of the lead is a darker skinned black women with no explanation as to why that is. On top of that, many of my actor friends who are darker skinned have auditioned for parts and when the production is released, we see the leads are cast as white people or lighter skinned black people. This isn’t to say the actors who do get the roles are not good, but it’s happened enough for it to be disappointing. I don’t go around logging the exact amount, but I do pay attention to when things don’t add up. I’ve been doing this for long enough to see the effects of it. It’s not just my opinion. So yes it leads me to speculate. There’s nothing wrong with asking if those who come up with the stories actually imagine casting a dark skinned black woman as the lead.

[@JoannaRoxanne]

I can't believe its 2021 and this is still an issue. 😥 I completely agree with you. We have been told that only white women can have these fairytale love stories so naturally and effortlessly. 💔

[@indigo_scouts9651]

I don't know if anyone would see this but I'm currently writing a YA fantasy novel featuring a plus-size black girl who travels to an alternate universe with her friend. She falls in love, wear pretty ball gowns and become a main character. Truly can't wait till people read it 😊

[@lunalya_3]

Why is it also that there’s barely any relationship represented that involves two black people, if there’s a black love interest their partner is somehow almost always white

[@cloudyheart5148]

Yeah we need all types of representation in our partners (black women specifically black men have been shown with every race of women)black, white, asian. But yeah we definitely need dark skin unambiguous black women in HEALTHY relationship with a black male or black women

[@Retrofuturejoon]

They do that a lot with LGBTQ poc like why can’t there be two gay people of color together?

[@Thesilentvoice...]

That’s true, it’s always white or Asian. The same thing happens with other races accept white. In America you can’t see a black couple in a movie except for in black made movies.

[@AG-fg1uk]

@@Thesilentvoice... True, but we also do need to be cast as the love interests of non-black men. Just to boast our social currency.

[@geekedmaxx]

What's wrong with being white ? And if it's two black people there's always people who will complain and say that black woman are being over sexualized the race card and colorism card never stops

[@jenniferestime8015]

Yes. Out of all the races, they expect black women to be “kept” (natural hair is literally considered messy and unkept :// ) and have a refined appearance 24/7. we can’t just be laid back, messy or just in our natural states for us to be considered desirable or just pretty which is so tiresome. Let us be !!

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing".

[@juratory8876]

I fully agree with you. We shouldn't have to go above and beyond and then some just to be seen as beautiful.

[@juratory8876]

@@revisit8480 This isn't about you sweetie. Sit down.

[@tyraverified]

You are bubbling with so much knowledge and inspiration. I will be there front row once you formulate your screenplay - I wanna see my image being embraced and loved on the big screen 🥺🤞🏾. Thanks for using your voice to uplift the unambiguous black girls narrative. Also, the painting behind you is so beautiful. Where is the landscape from?

[@sammyjay6801]

I think black women are incredibly beautiful and would love to see more films and series with them as the lead. Really wish we had progressed further as a society by now 😓 I have seen lots of films with a black woman as the lead, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that these are films with a pretty much all black cast. The only thing I can think of rn is How to get away with murder! I'd love to see more stuff like that with a black female lead in a mixed cast ❤

[@giaxalyse]

It’s pretty frustrating trying to explain how hard it is dealing with the perpetuated narrative that Black women are undesirable. Why are we always struggling and oppressed or the comedic relief funny sidekick to the white character in the media? And this definitely omits a specific message to consumers that’s programmed into their minds. People think I’m just complaining or self-deprecating if I mention feeling undesired but they don’t get it because they get to see people who look like them desired all the time in the media or IRL. Even in shows like “Modern Love” black and men of color go for the white woman 🤦🏽‍♀️ SMH I heard another youtuber (Kai foster) say something along the lines of “black women can only count on other black women to support them” and it’s so true. Great video Amanda!!!!!

[@a.sydney5036]

That has nothing to do with Hollywood but how/and who black male celebrities date. Another thing I find interesting is that we like to talk about how the white standard of beauty is imposed on us and made us feel less than...but when have thin lips, no hips and no butt been cool and seen as desirable by black people...NEVER...but somehow it’s white peoples fault that we don’t like our wide noses and “nappy hair”. Laughable honestly.

[@alextroy9202]

Most white women are average or below but yet see they way people go for them. I’m sick of that narrative that we are the least desirable. Like wtf? Black men experience racism and look at them

[@AG-fg1uk]

Yes, unfortunately, we only have ourselves to rely on. No white, or even black male, casting director will ever cast a monoracial bw as the love interest. We will have to write, produce, direct our own stories. That's why Issa Rae has my upmost respect and support, she's the only prominent black creative out there that's helping revive our womanhood in the media

[@natsuki7325]

@joe johnsonhave actually met a black women or you got this way of thinking from the media

[@natsuki7325]

@jermaine tobin can you list any of theses movie’s?

[@madamepaka]

"The Photograph" deserved way more appreciation! So many "woke" folks with huge followings never even mentioned it smh. It wasn't perfect, but it was a big step in the RIGHT direction.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

I agree! It’s a good door opener

[@fairoadiary]

Cuz the movie lowkey sucks

[@a.sydney5036]

Just because something is black doesn’t mean it’s deserving of our coin and praise.

[@madamepaka]

@@a.sydney5036 That was not what I meant by my comment at all. That film had a black woman as the love interest without the stereotype and "struggle" narrative that Hollywood has force-fed us to accept. No "Baby Boy" type of mess, no gang life or prison - hell, none of the trauma porn that's seeped into most of the popular black movies that were even produced/directed by black ppl. "The Photograph" gave us something different, and that's what matters most imo.

[@madamepaka]

@@fairoadiary I wouldn't say that it sucked, but it was missing something. I think we can both agree that the black community has rallied behind worse films that were way more damaging.

[@carolbaskin1857]

I just wanna movie like book smart with two black friends just being teenagers and coming-of-age like why does it always have to be the white best friend and the black best friend who is the comic relief who makes “sassy” remarks

[@francescakyanda9182]

As someone who very much fits the sassy best friend, it just annoys me so much that the trope is never as center stage as the middle or upper class white lady, like I'm just some sidekick?

[@lshardy1up]

Speaking of black female creatives... has anyone interviewed Shonda Rhimes about why she perpetuates the strong oversexualized but perpetually dissatisfied if not angry, unmarryable black woman trope? Olivia Pope was a traumatized side piece, Adele was the mammy who got cheated on for Ellis Grey 🤮, Edwards was publicly thrown to the side and her career stunted for Kepner 🤨, Maggie went from being highly intelligent, well-grounded and loved, to a socially stunted love child that pines after Grey's leftovers, and is only there to validate Grey and the other Shepherd's self-centered flipfloppy privileged decisions 🙄, Catherine literally has babydaddy issues and is hypermasculinized to the point that she buys her husband's workplace out of spite to control him, wtf!, Literally only Bailey got a semi-happy marriage but her desirability and character development was only started when the body positivity movement kicked off which really benefits you guessed it... wyt women... THEN PRODUCED BRIDGERTON THE SAME WAY Shonda wassup??? Tyler Perry gets all the flack but you steering the ship! 😭

[@harlemw651]

Lol, I haven't watched Brigerton yet, but I've noticed the pattern in which Shonda writes black women. Do you know if there are Black women on Brigerton? And are they portrayed any better?

[@harlemw651]

@Adele Zadi Not late at all. I still haven't watched it yet but have heard from others that they noticed the colorism, too. Sad

[@mj149]

Perhaps you should review Shonda’s personal life. She is somewhere upwards of 40, well educated, smart, and alone. She has adopted children (!). Is it any wonder her Black female characters are pigeonholed? If your life is not centered, that projection is seen in your work.

[@MegaFELIPE48]

Why would any person Black or Non Black worth their salt would watch the pablum produced by Shonda Rimes or Tyler Perry?

[@TheLuvlfe]

You took the words right out of my MOUTH!! I have been trying to give her Shonda the benefit of the doubt, but I am staring to believe she doesn't believe we deserve it EITHER..smdh

[@SuperFreshKiss]

There is a new movie coming out called Boogie with an Asian male lead and an unambiguously black female as the romantic interest. It looks pretty good. Hopefully it will be. Check out the trailer.

[@luciidity_]

oh ma gah thank you so much for the hook up 😭

[@SuperFreshKiss]

@@luciidity_ Have you seen the trailer?

[@luciidity_]

@@SuperFreshKiss I have! it had everything I love to see lol I'm gonna buy a ticket even if I don't make it out to the theater

[@SuperFreshKiss]

@Joyce M You're right. It does look like another hood movie but I still think it looks a bit more positive than the struggle love movies that black women are usually in. Of course we'll have to see the film first to finalise how it is, but it looks fine for now. Besides, there are black and Asian people who live in the hood right? Think of it as just a setting for this particular love story lol

[@szasfriend_gina]

@Joyce M There is a Disney short film with an Asian man and black woman called Us again

[@gold3c514]

I’ve conducted my own research by taking screenshots of every show/movie/ad with people of color that I come across. What I found is when it is “diverse” and they use add different races, normally I see both a male and female if that race...except when I see a black man, I don’t see a black woman. Most ads I see that are seen as diverse, include a black man and white woman in a family or doing anything at all. It’s almost as if we don’t exist unless it’s time to twerk, be a single mother in the hood, or endure slavery.

[@PFlaw317]

I'd like to see your data/evidence because see multiple ads with BW/WM

[@AudreySatori]

It’s soo sad that black woman have been targeted for hate and being put in an undesirable role to then be objectified sexual..yet it’s still a question why we are upset!?! Because it’s tiring to be put down and picked apart

[@nadda698]

hey Amanda, i can't believe how similar this is to hijabi girls in prominently non hijabi communities, i live in the middle east and i have never related to a video more. the idea that hijabi women have to compete to be considered feminine while others can literally get in with the bare minimum is so frustrating. this applies to discrimination of getting a job, dating, praise, friends, media presentation. thank you for this!

[@reclaimedandrested]

Because we didn’t write the scripts! Get to work lil sis!

[@reclaimedandrested]

@A H Point taken, and you are absolutely correct. We have to be the change we wish to see in the world.

[@Animefreak242]

We shouldn't have to write the scripts in order to be included.

[@ClayMastah344]

As KEZA said...."

[@prenuptials5925]

@A H there's also the enormous pressure from Hollywood, even if they wanted to there would be incentive for them to just leave it alone

[@a.sydney5036]

There are a whole lotta black movies...

[@kasketbase8741]

I do see black women as love interests sometimes but it’s usually light skinned black women, esp. in black movies

[@raslalique]

I'm going to be 41 this year. When I was around your age I decided to remove myself from media that didn't represent me because I could feel the negative impact. It's hard but we need to take our self-esteem out of racist hands. We can make our own rom-coms. Popular culture steals from thriving culture. If *we* support and uphold the beauty of black women, they will be valued eventually in the society. Unfortunately black people also buy onto European beauty standards. Most negative comments about skin tone, hair and facial features come from black women while the other races will give positive comments. Our race is traumatised. However, just like in healing during therapy the solution is not in demanding change from those who hurt us. The solution is to heal the wounds within us and create a new life for ourselves instead. When that happens you come into your power. Then suddenly, popular culture will come running because they want to sell you stuff.

[@Goddess_Infinity]

I love this !!!! Very well said

[@fedhaamour]

its really hard being a black woman

[@alextroy9202]

It’s bullshit

[@INAN2222]

❤️️

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@Estela Lopez ?

[@__GOD__000]

its so hard i literally want to cry

[@MiguelDLewis]

Jesus makes it easier.

[@stace_d]

I'm black and in my 30s, and for the longest time everyone I knew growing up seemed to know there were "black movies" and "white movies".. We went to the theater and saw Boomerang, Deliver Us From Eva, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man, Mo' Money, Love and Basketball, etc, etc... I didn't even know who Julia Roberts was until high school in the early 2000s.. Now my tastes are more diverse, but it's a damn shame movies aren't. Still feels like black or white, which is very sad.. It's weird, whenever I recommend Insecure on HBO to a white female, I feel like I have to really sell it and give all these disclaimers... Like, come on! It's a coming of age, young woman story! You telling me you can't enjoy/relate to that, but you CAN relate to the Sex& the City gals running around NYC dropping hundreds of dollars on Manolos??

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing". (Above is copy pasted) This is personal: There "should" always be a cut between races. Martin Luther King agrees with me on this too, everybody before him did too. The world isn't a soup that needs to be mixed up into a gooey gray mess. It has to have order and separation to be colorful and different. The movie industry lies to you, when they tell you it's nice we all get along. The reality is: We don't, we never will. They suggest white women to date differently, because "whites" need to be "exed" from the face of the planet - in their eyes.

[@mm4843]

Many black people main issue with coming of age movies is that they can’t relate to the characters (white). If the white person doesn’t relate to the black it’s wrong

[@ElWCont]

Listening to your videos takes me back to college and all my favorite professors… tis like educational nostalgia. You do a great job at engaging w/ the existing discourse & laying it all on the table

[@lapris7380]

I’ve noticed this a lot lately as I get older. It seems every other race has some form of television or media where they are portrayed as the main character, love interest or as someone who is desired. For East Asians they have things like c, j, and k dramas. Indians have Bollywood. Hispanic people have telenovelas, and white people have every show pretty much lol. There’s literally nothing I can find highlighting black people(African American black people especially)in that light and this has some damaging affects for me as a 16 year old black girl. I’ve already never been in a relationship before despite this being the main times you get in one( I’m not in a rush to get into one just putting it into perspective) so not even being able to see it in a movie(without racial struggles being brought up) just makes it seem like as a black girl I’m simply not desirable. I watch all of these rom cons from other cultures and can never see myself in it or at least relate something that I could see my self in to it because that doesn’t exist. I literally can’t even close my eyes and imagine myself in a scenario without the first image to come in my head is a pretty white girl instead of me. We need to do better. We need representation that isn’t talking about black struggles every 5 seconds. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk have a nice day lol :)

[@alecgurney9305]

Watch nollywood.

[@zimatiamera3389]

There's nollywood. Kind of like Nigerian Hollywood

[@honeymeadows22]

Why dont you what BET

[@cocaina4870]

You should also talk about the adultification Bias that black girls face.

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing".

[@stupidass69420]

Honestly! especially in schools!

[@aidafuentesv]

I really hope they hire you to write a rom com

[@INAN2222]

Indeed! ❤️️

[@janinelopezf]

I'm a white passing Latina, and hearing this perspective is so important, especially bc though I have been made a "minority", I've never experienced racism or have felt like there's a lack of portrayal in the media of women who look like me bc well, I'm white passing asf! So thank you for sharing, I can't wait to see what you upload next!

[@myprettygirl91]

i have felt this for so long. thank you for making this video!

[@amayaperry]

Legit why i still haven’t watched bridgerton

[@garcia320]

Darskin black woman are in it. Just in the background. I'm jus happy at least they're dancing with men of other races an being feminine. The biracial girl in I becomes a baby Mama. I was like thank God it's a not dark skin bw

[@fairoadiary]

@@garcia320 the duchess is a darker skin woman though

[@benita8856]

@@fairoadiary they darkened her skin. shes biracial

[@papasscooperiaworker3649]

@@garcia320 thank why?

[@lisacox3750]

@@benita8856 Is she biracial on the show or in real life? I ask because those are two different things. She can be biracial and still play "black" for the show..that's why it's called acting.

[@JulianSteve]

I agree with you Amanda on everything you said. I am surprised that Anne Hathaway did not speak out on this topic, especially because she speaks out on black issues. I hope more black women with BOTH black parents get diverse roles sooner than later. Also, I hope the Oscars becomes more diverse (whether black or women of color), especially in the Best Actress award. Till this day, the only black woman (yes, I know she’s biracial) to win an Oscar in a leading role is Halle Berry in 2002. We need to change this too🤔💯

[@Retrofuturejoon]

As much as I love Anne Hathaway I feel like the reason why she doesn’t speak up on issues like this is because she doesn’t know what it’s like. As a white woman she will never be able to experience people questioning her femininity to the same extent as black women. Her being the race that she is what people consider the standard for it. And I agree with you, I want to see shows and movies where theres healthy and happy black couples and families. The “struggle love” has got to go seriously because now it’s what the community sees as the standard and that’s why there’ll never be change.

[@JulianSteve]

@@Retrofuturejoon You are right with everything you just said. I hope changes come quicker than later😭💯

[@BellesView]

@@Retrofuturejoon Agreed. That’s why the bare minimum is celebrated 🙄 The standard needs to be raised.

[@JulianSteve]

@Alice Carole Alice, you do know that women of color are also not winning in Best Actress too in the Oscars? Like I said, the last Black woman and women of color to win an Oscar in a leading role is Halle Berry. In the part you quoted, I am talking about Black women and women of color because it’s true. Everyone else (as of now) who won are white women excluding Ms. Berry (even though she’s biracial).

[@revisit8480]

Whites don't own the movie industry (you know who does, right?), it's propaganda aimed at whites... it isn't "pro-white", it's "pro-mixing".

[@jessicanelson4038]

This is why I read Beverly Jenkins!!! She’s a historical fiction romance author! ALL the heroines are black beautiful women. They are the “object of affection”

[@ev6564]

Omg great rec! I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction romance (I prefer paranormal and contemporary), but I enjoyed Forbidden.

[@thelovelyvalc]

I not only THOROUGHLY enjoyed this video but the comment section is AMAZING!!! So glad were having this conversation because im writing a screen play right now where the main love interest will definitely be a black woman and was an important and valuable conversation for me!