Dark Girls is a poignant documentary that investigates what it means to not only be Black in America, but what it means to be a Black person with dark skin. It was aired on OWN this week. It was a 2 hour documentary and i thought that it was not only well done but that it has also been crucial to get a dialogue reopened about colorism not just in America but abroad as well. I spoke about this very subject in my post Beautiful and Dark, which is about some of the experiences that I have had regarding peoples reaction to my daughter who has beautiful dark skin. Twitter was all abuzz during this show using hashtag #DarkGirls. It was my pleasure to join in and tweet some of the thoughts, phrases or comments that were presented in the documentary… as well as my own and here are some of them:
1619-1865 We were nothing more than animals or beasts #DarkGirls #OWN
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
The exportation of American images into other countries… we see this playing out everywhere.. #DarkGirls #OWN
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
Is there a thin line between PREFERENCE and COLORISM? #DarkGirls #OWN #SpeakOnIt
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
Is there a thin line between PREFERENCE and COLORISM? #DarkGirls #OWN #SpeakOnIt
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
(In order to heal) We have to understand our history in real terms. Not a “Roots” version but a “Sankofa” version… #DarkGirls #OWN
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
Its important that each of heal the wounds that we carry #DarkGirls #OWN
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
You are ultimately the keeper of your own soul…if you dont love and cherish you, how can you expect anyone else to do the same? #DarkGirls
— The SistahChick (@TheSistahChick) June 24, 2013
The stories that were shared, the thoughts that were presented, the questions that were posed were all necessary and relevant. In order for us to move on as a race and as humans we must get past physical attributes.
Did you watch Dark Girls? What did you think of it?
