New Pittsburgh Courier: Beautycon descended upon NYC this weekend and actress Zendaya brought a deep conversation to the beauty space that surpassed highlighter and the latest trends. In conversation with Bozma Saint John, the actress got real about colorism in Hollywood.
3 comments:
I am really impressed and inspired by Zendaya and her choice of speech during bodycon. At such a politically charged time when all kinds of women are standing up against sexism in the work force, female body ideals, and the racial divide even among all these women, Zendaya seemed to have chose the right time to address all of these things. I find it appalling that what some people took away from her inspiring message was an argument on the color of her skin and the question of whether she was black or white, and not the acknowledgment that she is both. I also found it interesting that she chose to expose her own use of privilege to elevate herself in the workforce and has come forth some comfortably to admitting it. It is unfortunate that more white people cannot just do that and admit the privilege they have and acknowledge the privileges that others can lack within the same industry. The best way to attacking these issues is by putting it all out there in the public and starting a conversation, which is exactly what Zendaya is doing.
I completely believe that Zendaya is trying as best as she can to add to the ongoing discussion about race in her industry, but, being a very young adult, she seems to lack the eloquence and rhetoric to say exactly what she is trying to saw. I think people, especially African American women, were confused by the way she claimed to represent them in the media. I think what she was trying to say is that the industry only accepts people of color as long as they are light, pretty, and skinny, and that that is wrong, and it should change. I think where she went wrong (in the eyes of others) was that she did not acknowledge the fact that she is mixed. The twitter post inquiring why she was speaking as though she only identified as Black particularly stood out to me. I am half Japanese and half white, and I identify strongly as both, very 50/50. I think she maybe should have mentioned her mixed-ness, just to get it out there and not make anyone think she was spinning things in a weird way.
I think it is very important that Zendaya was able to speak out about the issues of colorism in the industry and use her privilege as a successful, young black celebrity to openly take this stance that others have been fearful to make at the expense of their future careers and jobs. This conversation is much needed and very necessary and I am so glad Zendaya was able to make a stance. Similar to Lily Nell, I hate that her speech was undermined by her mixedness and the fact that she is light skinned, but I do not believe that makes her statements on colorism and the need for widespread acceptance and acknowledgement any less valid. As a white woman, I will never know what it is like to walk through the world from the perspective of a person of color, but Zendaya- being a mixed race, light skinned woman- does and her perspective is no less valid than anyone else’s.
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