DARK SKIN GIRLS DESERVE A BIGGER SPOT IN HOLLYWOOD
Representation in media is important, it helps shape the incoming generation by representing different races, sexualities, gender, etc. In recent years, there’s been an influx of diversity and inclusiveness in film and tv such as Moonlight that explores homosexuality within the black community.
However, when it comes to the representation of black girls, specifically dark skin, it’s a fight that dark skin girls have been fighting since the invention of TVs. To see a black girl darker than a paper bag was rare then and is still rare now. It’s crazy to think that in the 90s and 2000s there was more dark skin representation for teenage girls than there is now, the age that embraces “diversity” so much. Diversity to Hollywood has always just been a few token characters that fit into a box to appease the audience. If it’s not the supportive best friend character than its the comedic relief.
Even during the age when black media was booming, proper representation was as rare as spotting a politician live up to their campaign promises. Yes, we had our Ashley Banks and Moesha but with every Moesha came a caricature of a loud angry bitter dark skin woman. An example of this is the contrast between Pam and Gina on Martin, where Gina was shown to be silly, sweet, and beautiful but Pam was the loud, bitter, and undesirable best friend. Or take The Proud Family for an example, Penny Prouds best friend Dijonay is showcased to be loud, annoying, and always “doing too much”. Are you starting to see the problem?
Nowadays, “mixed” is the new black. The more racially ambiguous the girl looks the better because shows can get away with having just enough diversity to shut us up. I watch these shows and movies and I think, “Is this who they think represents us?”. Personally, we need to abolish the one-drop rule because casting directors take that as a way to choose girls with just a little bit of black to represent us.
We deserve more smart girls like Ashley, determined girls like Isis, and bougie girls like Toni. Nevertheless, there’s been projects that have been released recently that showcased the complexity that is the dark skin girl.
Characters like Coco Conners from Dear White People that shows audiences the difficulty it is succeeding as a dark skin in predominantly white institutions, and Selah Summers from Selah and the Spades showing us that not every character is 100% good or 100% bad. In Selah and the Spades, we get to see Selah justify the decisions she makes to uphold the reputation within their community. As I watched the film, I was mad at her in some scenes but understood where she came from because I was able to see myself in her. Should I repeat that? I WAS ABLE TO SEE MYSELF, IN HER!
That’s why dark skin representation in film and tv is important, we’re able to identify with the characters we see. It’s been 20 years since the release of Bring It On, and the impact that the Clovers and Isis have in the black community is still rampant today. It’s been 25 years since the release of Clueless, and girls still admire and dress up as Dionne for Halloween. It’s time for Hollywood to wake up because the times of them getting by with stuff like this has reached its expiration date.
Nowadays, people advocate for dark skin representation in shows that don’t have it like Euphoria, Grownish, and so much more. Luckily there are creators like Issa Rae, who presents black women in a way that is real, with their own flaws, relationships, and struggles. Shows like Pose, are able to tell audiences that dark skin women are allowed to occupy spaces that is the LGBT+ community by presenting real fleshed out stories that people can relate to.
It’s clear as day that Hollywood still has a lot of steps to take in order to bring true diversity and inclusivity in media. We’re proud of the dark skin representation we have as of now, but there can always be more, there can always be an improvement. Dark skin representation shouldn’t end when there needs to be a placeholder as a mother, therapist, or best friend. We exist past the limitations they give us and until Hollywood wakes up and realizes that, then the fight for dark skin representation is far from over.
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