Tayari's Blog: A Girl Like Me, by Kiri Davis

Comment #1, by Teri E-B

i'm hurt by this to be honest. when will the madness stop? why are we perpetuating this way of thinking as adults and feeding it to our children. like the young girl (in the video) that was upset with her mother because she didn’t like her wearing her hair in a natural style because she looked african. well, like young sis said…she is. and that’s a beautiful thang. are we really still here?

i have a 17-month-old niece who is an absolutely gorgeous chocolate chip…and coincidentally part-Cameroonian. she is brilliant and strong-minded and determined and absolutely beautiful. we must prevent her and her generation from repeating these issues. as mothers, godmothers, aunts, and sisters, etc...we need to let them know…to drill it down…to make it clear that langston hughes spoke truth when he said, "the night is beautiful, so the faces of my people."

Comment #2, by Ladylee

Now this made me sad... because it was so true. I felt this way growing up. And I have a friend whose child refuses to play with black dolls. Just sad.

I don't think that I truly understood all the lies and notions that were perpertrated and how they affected me until I was in graduate school and was one of the only black students at times. I realized then that I automatically expected the caucasian students, who got better treatment anyway, to be smarter, etc. That was not the case AT ALL... Not at all... I have come to the stark conclusion, no matter how dark we are or how kinky our hair is, etc, we, African Americans, are some truly exceptional and brilliant people.

Comment #3, by james3neal

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a household where my parents did not allow us to have any stigmas about color and hair. I remember my mother saying that there is no such thing as "good" hair. I'm quickly reminded of the brilliant musical number "Good and Bad Hair" from Spike Lee's School Daze. I still cringe a bit when I see my mother and sister going to have their hair "done". I've always thought Black women should wear their hair natural. I actually see beauty in all the shades of our "Blackness". I've dated women who from high yellow to deep ebony brown/black.

Thank God I never had to deeply internalize the complex issues of color and identity. I believe it was Mabel Lincoln who said, "Too many black folk are fools about color and hair". Nonetheless given the psycho/sexual job that has been done on African-Americans throughout history in religion, art and the media, it's a wonder we have any sort of self-esteem at all. The Clark doll test is pretty obvious. Whiteness has been so reinforced as a "positive" attribute that it has become archetypical. It is sad that in this day and age, our children seem to be not able to transcend this phenomenon.

Media Matters is a great project and their web presence is to be commended. Tayari kudos for bringing this to our attention.
Peace.

Comment #4, by Jenn

Recently, I met a young black man who had a COMPLEX about his color. He even had the never to tell me that I was the lightest black person that he ever had associated with. The funny thing is that I am not light. He told me that he was taunted and teased as a child and called BLACKIE all the time. Doesn't he realize that people were envious of his beautiful color?

When I was in college (12 years ago) as a sophmore, there was a group called the LITE and BRIGHT group. These black females only associated with other fair colored black women. Can you believe this?

What is funny now that as a 30 something, I look at the pictures of some wedding parties and either the women are of one shade or the bride is one shade the bridal party is another. Weird!

In speaking to my Asian friend yesterday, I was surprised that she was commenting on a black man and his beautiful fair color.

You would think that in the 21st century that we would have moved on from color issues, but it is here to stay. And, it is not only in the African American community, it is in all communities of color! Read some issues of Latina magazine -- they discuss color issues just like we do!

Comment #5, by freeme

When I watched this clip,I felt like what have we done as adult to teach the kids today that being black is more than ok tha it's beautiful.I am a songwriter/singer/proudcer and I wrote a song called "Love Your Skin" I hope that you all go ta ke a listen.Peace and Blessing Sistahs and Brothers.

Tee

Comment #6, by david

I was very impressed with the video, mostly because it causes people to come to terms with who they are, how they view themselves and how they think others view them. A similar study was done in the 50's with all white children, some with blue eyes and some with brown eyes. They were easily turned against one another and made to feel ashamed of themselves. Skin tone- hair texture- eye color - what's the difference? Everyone has self doubt. The GOOD thing is that these young women are exploring their doubts and discussing what they feel. I have always felt that black women have the steepest hill to climb in America. It's amazing to see that often, the darker toned of these women must also contend with the lighter.
I would like to see more films like this. It promotes understanding and acceptance not only amoung black women, but amoung everyone who is willing to open their minds and think.
Kiri, thank you for your excellent film.
Dave <<- 54 year old white male