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We’ve heard a lot of interesting discussions on colorism from the young actresses, currently at the top of their fields. Amandla Sternberg recognized her privilege and refused to audition for a role in Black Panther, deciding that it needed to go to a darker skinned actress.
Yara Shahidi saw things a bit differently. When asked by Essence about the criticisms of colorism on her new show “Grown-ish,” Shahid (who is African American and Iranian) did recognize that the Black community is being tired of only being depicted in one way. Still, she doesn’t perceive herself as light-skinned, saying that no one, unless you hear her name, would mistake her for an Iranian girl.
Then there was Alexandra Shipp, who, when questioned about taking on the role of Storm, an X-Men character illustrated with darker skin, in the new X-Men Apocalypse movie, said: “As a woman of color, you can’t tell me that I can’t play a woman of color.”
Zendaya has already spoken publicly about her privilege as a lighter-skinned actress. And during a recent Beauty Con panel with Bozoma Saint John, she shared that it’s her duty to use that privilege to open the doors for other Black women.
“We will pave the way for our opportunity. And not just an opportunity for myself but for my entire community. As a Black woman—as a light-skinned Black woman, it’s important that I say, ‘Listen, I’m using my privilege and my platform to show you how much beauty there is in the African American community.’ And how much more…I always find it weird that Hollywood— I wish you guys could be in these meetings. I am Hollywood’s acceptable version of a Black girl and that has to change. More. We’re vastly too beautiful and too interesting for me to just be the only representation of that. But what I’m saying is it’s about creating those opportunities sometimes. We have to create the path.”
You can watch this part of her comments in the video below.
