"Beauty is only skin deep" are lyrics that echo from the legendary hit group The Temptations. This phrase has captivated the thought process of many women, sometimes targeting black women in particular, at times, causing them to question if their black is indeed beautiful.
According to recent studies, there has been a conflict embodied around the issue of color and pigmentation. With the media portraying black women in a negative light, some believe it is time that we affirm and support black women.
"When women see images of beauty, they typically don't think of chocolate skin, dark eyes and thick hair," said Ashley Wright, a junior english major.
"Some women are insecure and buy into the idea that beauty depends on how long one's hair is, how light one's eyes are and how light one's skin color is - all which are ideologies that stem from the slave movement."
With the mission to build the self-esteem of the black woman to gain acceptance of her difference in the scale of black beauty, "My Black Is Beautiful: The Color Complex," will be held on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Blackburn Ballroom. The event will be held primarily to discuss issues revolving around beauty in the black community.
Some believe that this thinking has created a "color complex," where black women measure their beauty by the shade of their skin and lose focus on other ways to express beauty.
Junior sociology major Harry Taylor said, "The color complex, like many things in our community, exists as a social construct…until we as a people unite and decide upon or personal standards of beauty, there will always be a white beauty aesthetic among all African Americans."
The event will also include the award-winning documentary, "A Girl Like Me," written and directed by Howard University freshman Kiri Davis.
The documentary includes interviews with various young black women and discusses the stereotypes that radiate around the black community.
It also provides information and insights to some experiences young ladies have had in regards to the issue of skin color, hair types, size, etc.
In addition to the documentary, a panel will be held to provide insight on the issue.
Among the panelists will be Ronald E. Hall, Ph.D., associate professor at the Michigan State University School of Social Work, and co-author of?"The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin?Color Amongst African-Americans," Debyii Thomas, Ph.D., professor in the School of Communications' Communication and Culture department, Najoh Tita-Reid of Procter & Gamble and Davis.
