Zaire Elleby

February 8th, 2017

English 102

Dr. Wynne

Genre Analysis: Colorism within Minorities

Colorism, as defined by the dictionary, is prejudice or discrimination against individuals

with a dark skin tone. While this does have a very similar definition to racism, its slightly

different. Racism is prejudice attitudes and discriminatory acts against people based on their

racial status while colorism is prejudice attitudes based on the color or shade of their skin. In the

2012 documentary Dark Girls, filmmakers Bill Duke and D. Chansin Berry tackle the issues of

colorism and how it is still considered taboo by many black Americans. With interviews by

notable women such as Viola Davis, the film hopes to provide answers as to why colorism is

what it is in society and how it can be dismantled. Similarly, the article Light Skin, Dark Skin:

Colorism in the Black Community also tackles the issues similar to the documentary.

Contributor Mia Coward provides an in-depth and personal look at the roots of colorism,

colorism in todays society and the work that needs to be done to eradicate it completely. While

both the article and the documentary provide

Dark Girls captures how visual genres are a great way to capture a viewer and change

his/her thought process on said particular topic. The director uses quotes form a plethora of

African American women including Viola Davis. The women, during their interviews, include

quotes such as "I can remember being in the bathtub asking my mom to put bleach in the water

so that my skin would be lighter and so that I could escape the feelings I had about not being as
beautiful, as acceptable, as lovable" and also "The racism that we have a people amongst

ourselves is a direct backlash of slavery." The interviews between the women and some men

featured within the film is a great analysis of the topic, a great way to capture and change a

viewers mindset going into the film. Also in the video, the woman shares her reaction to hearing

those memorable words as a child and what it did for her own outlook on beauty.

Similarly, the article entitled Light Skin, Dark Skin: Colorism in the Black Community

also captures colorism, its impact within minority communities and also the work that needs to

be done in order to eradicate this practice and mentality. The article begins with author Mia

Coward writing how theres more than just black and white racism, and how theres an even

worse type of discrimination within the African American community, colorism. She defines

colorism as the practice of discrimination when those with lighter skin are treated more

favorably than those with darker skin. In fact, an old childrens rhyme perfectly captures

how colorism in society tends to separate us. If your black, stay back. If your brown, stick

around. If your yellow, youre mellow. If your white, youre all right. Its subtle writings and

practices like these that many people dont realize are not only pushing away the relationship

between the African American and white community, but also people within the African

American community itself. Cowards in-depth analysis to the issues of colorism, including

notations and examples from the documentary Dark Girls and even from personal experience,

provide the article with the ability to guide users to take away the knowledge of Cowards

writing into their own lives.

After analyzing and dissecting both genres and both very well in-depth analysis of

colorism. the documentary Dark Girls is more effective than the article Light Skin, Dark Skin:

Colorism in the Black Community. With the documentary featuring over an hour of examples from
prominent African American women such as Viola Davis and even some interviews from African

American men on the issue of colorism, Dark Girls perfectly and beautifully captures a views take on

how colorism affects society and also perfectly illustrates the issues to the point where any viewer can

understand in-depth the issues that colorism has on society. While the article does have very good points

and a very good analysis on the subject on hand, the documentary takes it a step further and illustrates

how a visual genre can perfectly capture a viewer.

 Works Cited

Dark GIrls. Dir. Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry. Perf. Viola David and Oprah Winfrey. OWN,

2012. Documentary.

Magee, Lenox. "'Dark Girls' Documentary Sheds Light on Skin-Color Bias." Dark Girls

Documentary Sheds Light on Skin-Color Bias. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.

Coward, Mia. "Light Skin, Dark Skin: Colorism in the Black Community." (2016): n. pag. Print.
Rubric for Genre Analysis*
CATEGORY A B C D F

Analysis Appropriate Appropriate Acceptable Analysis of No focus on

choice of choice of choice of genres. the genre is analysis of
genres. genres. General and/or sparse; genre and/or
Specific, Analysis of undeveloped and/or inappropri-
developed the genre is analysis of the questionable ate choice
30 pts. analysis of generally genres. Focus on choice of of genres.
the genre. sound but analysis is genres. Does not
Focus on could be adequate, but Focus on address
analysis of more may exhibit analysis is most bullet
genres is specific some lapses. lacking points of
excellent developed in Addresses most Addresses outline.
and some areas. bullet points of some bullet
maintained Focus on outline. points of
throughout. analysis is outline.
Addresses good and
all bullet usually
points of maintained.
outline. Addresses all
bullet points
of outline.

Supporting Comprehen- Sufficient Adequate or An attempt No support

Details sive and and specific general has been information
specific examples examples from made to add found or
examples from the the genres as support irrelevant.
from the genres used to support inform-
genres appropriately the analysis ation
strongly support the and/or are analysis, but
20 pts. support the analysis relevant to the it was
analysis and/or are topic. unrelated or
and/or are relevant to confusing.
relevant to the topic.
the topic.

Comparison Fully Fairly Somewhat Almost no No

and developed developed developed and comparison comparisons
Contrast and well- and un integrated between the made
integrated integrated comparison genres. between
comparison comparison between the genres.
between the between the genres.
20 pts. genres. genres
although
exhibits
some lapses.

Writing Demon- Demon- Demon- Demon- Writing is

Fluency: strates strates good strates adequate strates not fluent; it
Clear, Concise, skillful writing writing fluency; limited is unclear
Correct writing fluency, exhibits a fair writing
fluency, exhibits number of major fluency,
exhibits few minor grammar and exhibits
or no grammar mechanical numerous
20 pts. grammar and errors. Academic major
and mechanical voice, third grammar and
mechanical errors. person, and tense mechanical
errors. Academic are somewhat errors.
Academic voice, third consistent. Academic
voice, third person, Writing could be voice, third
person, tense are clearer. person, and
tense are mostly tense are
consistent. consistent. inconsistent.
Writing is Writing is Writing is
clear. clear. unclear.

MLA and Meets all Assignment One or more Many major No evidence
Documentation page layout guidelines guidelines or guideline or of MLA
and citation met. A few major format format format.
format minor criteria not met. errors.
criteria format
found in errors.
assignment
guidelines
and MLA
manual.
10 pts.
*Rubrics are subject to minor changes. Students will be notified if changes occur.

Total 71

Zaire,

Your essay is well-written and generally well-formatted, but you offer very
little in the way of analysis. You have some attempt with the documentary,
but the article mostly consists of summary with some quoting. It felt to me
like you rushed to get your submission in close to the deadline. Im
encouraging you to revise; I think you have potential to do better.

Dr. Wynne