Nerve Endings Firing Away

The concept of light-skinned as a sign of beauty is not unique to India although we tend to practice it in a more obvious way through our matrimonial ads or face creams. Unfortunately, African Americans in the United States also face a similar problem. More often than not, this misconception is also found to be true within the African American community. When black girls try to bleach their skin or black kids pick white dolls as a better-looking toy, it is merely a reflection of the societal stereotype. This stereotype unfortunately is continually reinforced.

This short student film, A Girl Like Me (running time – 7:15) by Kiri Davis talks to some black girls on the issue of beauty and how their race affects them. Additionally, the African American community in the US faces an additional burden of being uprooted from their native lands in Africa and now can no longer pledge allegiance or even reminiscence on their historical or cultural roots.