Lacking Diversity
According to Cipriani, "11% of all female characters were Black in 2014, down 3 percentage points from 2013 and down 4 percentage points from 2002," (2015). With this small percentage of African American female roles, it becomes even more crucial to make sure that the roles available are justified and representative.
Given all of the stereotypes that Black Women are portrayed as in the media, other types of Black Women are rarely highlighted. Two PhD students from Atlanta, Georgia wrote the following:
Although participants felt the Black community was accepting of a wide array of body types, they felt
media did not reflect this appreciation. Participants felt that media’s depictions of Black women still reflected White standards of beauty (e.g., light-skinned Black women and=or women with wavy, curly, or long hair), or promoted extremes of being skinny to being overweight. Many participants felt that only a few stereotypically beautiful Black women were represented in media, (e.g., Halle Berry, Beyonce) and these women have curves, but media images of Black women were considered by participants to still be reflective of White standards of beauty such as thinness, lighter skin complexions, and long hair. The participants felt they rarely met the prevailing standards of (White) beauty reflected in the media. Furthermore, a few participants felt that the ‘‘everyday Black woman’’ who was between the two extremes of slender and overweight was not represented in media. (Kelch-Oliver & Karia, 2011, pp. 351).
In this quote, participants of a study stated that the media portrayals of Black Women were inaccurate. Sure, there are Black Women that are light-skinned or have long hair, but the inaccuracy lies in the inflexibility of this image. Not every Black Woman has these features, yet this is what the media tends to portray.
Given all of the stereotypes that Black Women are portrayed as in the media, other types of Black Women are rarely highlighted. Two PhD students from Atlanta, Georgia wrote the following:
Although participants felt the Black community was accepting of a wide array of body types, they felt
media did not reflect this appreciation. Participants felt that media’s depictions of Black women still reflected White standards of beauty (e.g., light-skinned Black women and=or women with wavy, curly, or long hair), or promoted extremes of being skinny to being overweight. Many participants felt that only a few stereotypically beautiful Black women were represented in media, (e.g., Halle Berry, Beyonce) and these women have curves, but media images of Black women were considered by participants to still be reflective of White standards of beauty such as thinness, lighter skin complexions, and long hair. The participants felt they rarely met the prevailing standards of (White) beauty reflected in the media. Furthermore, a few participants felt that the ‘‘everyday Black woman’’ who was between the two extremes of slender and overweight was not represented in media. (Kelch-Oliver & Karia, 2011, pp. 351).
In this quote, participants of a study stated that the media portrayals of Black Women were inaccurate. Sure, there are Black Women that are light-skinned or have long hair, but the inaccuracy lies in the inflexibility of this image. Not every Black Woman has these features, yet this is what the media tends to portray.
Colorism in Hollywood
Zoe Saldana was cast to play the famous singer and civil-rights activist Nina Simone.
According to Piper," In the film, Saldana dons a wig and a prosthetic nose for the role of Simone. She also darkens her skin with makeup. This has led many to say that her portrayal was an act of black face, or as some have called it blacker face," (2016). This casting is associated with the shortage of diversity in the media because a lighter-skinned Black Woman is taking the role from other potential actresses with a darker complexion. With a decision like this, it can send a message that not even darker Black Women should play Black Women. |