Representation of minorities in Hollywood movies and television has increased, yet the powers that be continue to overlooked discussion about whether prejudice isn’t just about the color of a person’s skin, but the shade as well.
“Colorism,” is real and observed through out our society in enormous and obvious ways. Light-skinned minorities are given more privilege than their darker-skinned peers. The skin being closer to European standards renders a automatic conscious or subcontious response in casting rooms and the everyday work place. In our country’s history it is common knowledge that during slavery, those with lighter skin were in home and those with darker skin were placed outside the home. The “glad it ain’t me, but I feel you” mentally will keep the generational “curse” and systemic narrative to continue throughout our society unless a clear line is drawn and those practicing obvious colorism are held accountable. Social media has brought prominence to the issue and on the ABC sitcom “black-ish.”
Acording to NBC News , In the episode “Black Like Us,” parents Dre and Bow (played by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross) are appalled when they see that daughter Diane (Marsai Martin) appears darker in her poorly lit classroom photo. Their outrage sparks a tense conversation within the family.
“We felt that this was the year to just put it on our shoulders and see what we can do and hope at the very least we can get people to talk about it openly,” said co-showrunner Kenny Smith.
Executive producer Peter Saji, who is light-skinned and of mixed-race, wrote the episode, drawing from his own experiences as well as research.
“There is a light-skinned privilege that I never really wanted to admit I felt or experienced. I sort of grew up: ‘Oh, we’re all black. We all experience the same struggle,'” he said.
The issue isn’t unique to just black people. In Asia and in India’s Bollywood film industry, the starring roles tend to go to lighter-skinned actors or in Asia they use makeup to appear pale..
When images from “Ralph Breaks the Internet” came out last year, it appeared Princess Tiana, Disney’s first black princess, had a lighter complexion and sharper features.The studio claimed it was for “Budget Reasons” she had a different complexion. Anika Noni Rose, who voices Tiana, met with animators and spoke about how important it was that dark-skinned girls see themselves represented. The studio also consulted the civil rights group Color of Change. Tiana was then changed back to her original darker skin tone.
