- On the campus of a major historically black college, female students physically fight because of colorist insults.
- In nightclubs, in Detroit and Atlanta, opposing teams of dark-skinned and light-skinned women compete to win prizes for best tattoo, best hairstyle, best figure.
- Gabrielle Douglas wins Olympic Gold in gymnastics and on the internet many black women criticize her "nappy" hair.
This is the color complex in 2012!
Color complex: the belief that light skin is more attractive than dark skin; the belief that straight hair is superior to naturally curly sometimes called "nappy" hair; or the belief that only darker skinned African Americans are "real" black people.
Marita Golden is the author of the groundbreaking memoir Don't Play in the Sun One Woman's Journey Through the Color Complex, which is used widely in schools and colleges around the country as a foundational text for the discussion of colorism. Marita has spoken around the country on the issue of colorism and presented workshops on the color complex before many diverse audiences. An award-winning novelist and memoirist Marita is President Emeritus of the Hurston/Wright Foundation.
Special guest: Dr. Pamela Brewer
Pamela Brewer has twenty-eight years experience as a psychotherapist and serves as the host of MYNDTALK, a radio program on the WPFW/Pacifica Network. MYNDTALK focuses on relationships and mental health and airs on WPFW 89.3 Radio in the Washington D.C. Tri-State area every Friday from 3-4 pm (est).
Friday October 26 - 7:00pm -10:00pm
Saturday October 27 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Location:
Thurgood Marshall Center, Washington, D.C.
1816 12th Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009
Regular Tuition: $285
*Students and Seniors (62 and older) Tuition: $250
Tuition includes a copy of the Skin: An Interactive Diary/Journal For
Women Who Want to Heal The Color Complex
*Students and seniors should scan a photo ID with birth date and email to info@maritagolden.com after registering for the workshop.
This transformational workshop will bring together women who want to discover ways to heal themselves, their families and communities, wounded by the persistence of intra-racial color discrimination. If you think you don't need this workshop, you probably do. Silence, fear and shame prevent most of us from ever attempting to analyze our feelings about the color complex, or reaching out to friends or family for a discussion that ALL of us need to have.
In a safe and supportive environment you will:
Learn how to combat the color complex and how to be a colorism change-agent in your family and community.
Hear the voices of other women who are battling with or who have overcome the color complex and who will be an inspiration to you on your journey.
Find a sisterhood that will affirm that you are not alone in your questions and your yearning for a way to grow beyond societal definitions of beauty and worth.
Space is limited so register early!
Registration closes October 23rd.