Women of Color Deserve to Shine Too

Commentary by Angel Yussuf. Photo courtesy of Disney. 

Black women should get more screen time. Many women of color have been denied roles and lead roles because of the color of their skin. A study by the USC Annenberg inclusion initiative found that only 16 out of the top 100 films in 1984  featured a woman of color in lead or co-lead roles. I feel that's not fair. As long as you're passionate about your job, it shouldn't matter what your skin color is. 

Black women should be represented because it’s important for children of color to see someone of color  on the screen that looks like them. It also challenges negative portrayals and provides role models.

Research indicates that productions with diverse casts attract larger audiences and higher ratings, demonstrating that diversity is a sound decision. Also, the rise of women of color as writers, directors, and producers allows for more authentic and rich narratives that reflect the diversity of life experiences within their communities, moving beyond white-centerd interpretations. An example of a staple movie in the Black community is The Color Purple. 

If women of color were never on television, certain history wouldn't be told correctly on television. People of color wouldn't have people that look like them to look up too. People's styles would be boring like clothes, makeup and accessories because Black women influenced most styles. In conclusion this shows how the lack of representation of colored women can affect how stories are told. 

Angel Yussuf is a senior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.