Hollywood’s Colorism Curse With Dr. Yaba Blay
Shownotes
Colorism isn’t new. It’s the curse embedded in Hollywood’s DNA.
Today, Christiana sits down with scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay to unpack how colorism operates behind the scenes of pop culture, why lighter skin is still centered, and how these hierarchies shape everything from stardom to self-worth.
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00:37 Defining “colorism”
03:30 The relativity of colorism
06:04 How colorism functions in Hollywood
08:15 A history of colorism and skin bleaching
12:50 Gender bias and colorism in entertainment
17:02 Beyonce and colorism in the music industry
28:40 Moments that feel like societal shifts
33:00 How skin bleaching has transformed
37:00 Understanding the context around why people bleach their skin
42:55 Hair trends among Black women
51:00 Questioning society and capitalism (not just the individual)
54:20 What choices can we make in light of colorism?
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