Dark Girls Documentary OWN Review

The “Dark Girls” documentary that premiered on OWN over the weekend was quite the loaded conversation. The film looked to explore the biases and attitudes towards darker skinned women, asking people within the Black community and out of it, their feelings on women with a darker skin tone.

As with most live television, I hopped on Twitter to join in the conversation that was bubbling up under the #DarkGirls hashtag. What I found was shocking. Twitter users mostly used the hashtag for good, but there were a few violators who took it upon themselves to open up a personal dialogue that completely muddled the original purpose of “Dark Girls.”

“Dark Girls is a fascinating and controversial documentary film that goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices that dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures that span from America to the most remote corners of the globe. Women share their personal stories, touching on deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes of society, while allowing generations to heal as they learn to love themselves for who they are.”

While I believe the documentary was a success is perpetuating a heavy conversation, I do believe it missed the mark for many viewers. Here’s how.

1. Rants & Raves

Unfortunately because Twitter is an open forum, there’s no policing what tweets show up while using particular hashtags and phrases. The abuse of the phrase, “Dark Girls” was almost sickening.

The fact that people are using the Dark Girls hashtag to rant and preach their own sermons instead of commenting on the movie…—

Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) June 24, 2013

We complain about racism when #DarkGirls is on but automatically assume George Zimmerman is guilty cus a white face killed a black body.—

Bellatrix LeStrange. (@ninasafiri_) June 24, 2013

To me, ALL dark skin girls resemble Chief Keef.

Thats why I just can’t get with em.—

Mr. Ed (@OhMrMonroe) June 24, 2013

lol niggas really still believe two ugly parents make a pretty baby? n thts why all these dark girls got kids hahahaha—

Skip Schumaker 55 (@SSgutta) June 24, 2013

For all y’all sayin “I’m not light or dark, I’m brown”, Umm if the KKK come thru u think they goin skip you cuz ur brown?! Lol #DarkGirls—

Andie (@AndieMichelle89) June 24, 2013

Does anyone still care about the plight of #DarkGirls ? 👀👀 or it was just for last night? Lol—

Meme (@MamaMeiaa) June 24, 2013

Mind you the ONLYYYYY reason some of are lighter are because your ancestors were raped by white men… eff what ya heard #darkgirls—

Blanche Devereux (@SwEetNLoveLy229) June 24, 2013

My cousin said dark girls look dirty.—

Blakeley Masterson (@mastersongko) June 24, 2013

2. Misunderstanding The Point Of A Documentary

There were a lot of disappointed people on Twitter. I can’t be sure, but I would have to assume that they thought this film was going to be the great big answer to the rhetorical question the documentary asks, “Are dark skinned girls able to love themselves despite the attitudes of society?” This documentary was merely here to start and/or continue the conversation, it was not offering a solution to this ever-growing problem.

I feel like there was no resolution to #DarkGirls, it just relied heavily in individual experiences—

Eagle Eye (@OreAdedeji) June 24, 2013

3. Commercial Appeal

I understand having to “pay the bill,” but the multiple commercial breaks really took me out of the film. You felt like you barely got in a good stride in the documentary before your concentration was cut again with more words from the sponsors. Speaking of–the placement of an ad for skin correcting cream was just…weird.

4. Ignorance Reigns Supreme

From the guy in the documentary who claimed that “Dark skinned girls look funny beside him,” to the two friends in the documentary who made difficult-to-understand jokes about dark skinned girls being mean to most people, I was shocked that these men were chosen to offer their opinions on the topic.

LMFAO RT @PrinceHAK33M: LMAO nigga said he noticed light skin girls first because its dark in the club. I’m out of here—

Lemmiwinks (@CheesusSlice) June 24, 2013

5. Dark Skin Versus Light Skin

I do believe the counter argument for light skinned girls would be an interesting topic of conversation to open up alongside the dark skinned girls chat. However, to use this forum as a chance to spark up a battle is ridiculous. This documentary is to continue a taboo conversation, but starting a baseless battle takes the potency level down a few notches.

When light skin girls act crazy it’s sexy. When dark skin girls act crazy it’s animalistic.—

Q (@__quanjohnson) June 24, 2013

Lol RT @Supbishes: It’s like guys don’t prefer light skinned girls…There just seems to be more better looking light girls them dark girls—

Toney Fillmore (@KingIsaPOD) June 24, 2013

A little upset I missed the #DarkGirls conversation charge it to lightskin privilege—

Belle Unchained (@unchainedBelle) June 24, 2013

”The lighter skinned black people put themselves on a pedal stool above the darker..’ #DarkGirls—

Nneoma (@SandeeOberrie) June 24, 2013

(Pedal stool though?)

Ok. What I’m not gonna do is sit up here and do the whole ‘dark skinned women have it worse than light skin women’ convo. Not doing it.—

Bené Viera (@WrittenbyBene) June 24, 2013

Dark skin and light skin is not the issue. It’s the fact that women use male perspective as their source of validation. #darkgirls—

C. Nwabeke (@cnwabeke) June 24, 2013

The #Darkgirls VS #LightGirls Lightskin vs Darkskin mentality is actually a Slave mentality ….thatz how Slave owners controlled slaves—

Malikai ™ (@MALIKAI) June 24, 2013

For more information on “Dark Girls,” check out this exclusive interview with the film’s directors, D. Channsin “Chann” Berry and Bill Duke.

What did you think about “Dark Girls?” Are you enlightened or do you need more to be done around this topic?

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