WP2: Color Me
Art has a way of opening people up and starting a conversation. A conservation doesn’t always need to be long, sometimes short conversations are the most impactful because of an everlasting effect on others. Other times, long conversations transpire from the intent of having a short conversation and those are the best type of conversations.
That’s what I wanted for my podcast, I wanted art to be the stepping stone for a long and impactful conversation. My podcast without the art component wouldn’t have been successful or carried the same weight because the art is how my guests opened up to me and with the thought of having a conversation about colorism. Colorism is a difficult conversation to have, let alone in a Latinx family. I understood I wasn’t going to have an honest and vulnerable conversation with my guests, even though they are my family if I didn’t listen.
Listening is the most important part of having a conversation. Art can start a conversation, but if you’re not willing to listen, you won’t gain anything from having the conversation. I started my podcast knowing I had to show my guests that I was listening because it would build a deeper trust with them. The more they knew I was listening, the more they openly talked about colorism.
The Art
The art aspect of my archive illustrates a chosen identity, something that’s embraced daily and couldn’t be more proud of. Existing and harmful labels are how society takes Latinx power away. The labels create colorism, which is exactly what society wants: a way to continue limiting Latinx. With this archive, my family members are taking back their power. It’s an opportunity to interact with any art medium of their choosing to show how and why they self-identify. Through self-identifying, we are challenging colorism and the labels/stereotypes society has subjected us to.
Leslie decided to create a canvas painting because she felt it best represents what people see her as simple and obvious, instead of multifaceted and unique. For example, the ombre background represents her multi-layered identity that consists of her personality and interests beyond her Latina features. Society limits Leslie to her physical appearance rather than who she is as a whole. Identity isn’t just one thing, it consists of multiple layers as do people. Additionally, the trees branching out represent the gained experiences, meshing of cultures, and creation of new memories. Leslie is evergrowing and that’s why she illustrated trees as her inner-self. She’s tired of society judging her based on assumptions and stereotypes, instead of getting to know her. My cousin, Leslie is an archaeologist–that’s not something you could’ve known based merely on her looks.
Bella picked her law school graduation photograph as her chosen art medium. She felt this photograph perfectly illustrates who she is and she couldn’t be more proud. She’s a Latina lawyer and only 2% of Latinas are lawyers, let that sink in. She went up against an institution that didn’t want her to succeed, but she did. During law school, she was continuously reminded she didn’t belong by classmates who also belonged to the Latinx community. They were rude and unwelcoming to her. She experienced the colorist hierarchy within our community throughout law school and still chose to enter the legal profession. Women of color are repeatedly underestimated when it comes to achieving higher education, this stereotype is extremely harmful. My sister, Bella is a powerful representation of Latina resilience and inspiration.
Olivia selected this photograph of her mom, Angela (on the left), which was taken by world-renowned photographer, Estevan Oriol. It highlights Latinas from South East Los Angeles, an area where individuals are seen as “less than”. The image of two powerful Latinas going against the norm carries an important message that Latinas are beautiful and that brown skin is beautiful. Boundaries are being pushed and even broken in this photograph because the hate against brown skin that society has created is being challenged. Growing up, Olivia looked up to her mom because Angela made her daughter feel seen, and constantly reminded her to not be ashamed of her skin color. Olivia feels represented as a Latina and loves her brown skin because of what her mom accomplished back in the 90s for the Latina community.
The Podcast
The “Color Me Podcast” is a platform, a safe space, for Latinx voices to speak their truth openly. The Latinx community experiences colorism daily, but our families aren’t known for having difficult conversations, let alone, discussing our feelings. Feeling uncomfortable is a large part of having difficult conversations, and that’s okay. Stepping outside of our bubbles, and our comfort zones are how we’re going to learn and if we aren’t willing to have conversations, we aren’t going to learn. This podcast is for the countless individuals who feel voiceless, and that can’t voice their experiences and struggles. By starting this podcast and welcoming three different Latinas to my platform of choice, I’m displaying what I believe is a diverse and accurate representation of the Latinx community. My guests come from different walks of life, meaning they have different perspectives and experiences when it comes to colorism.
The name “Color Me Podcast” is standing up to colorism and the colorist mentality that lives within our community. The Latinx community is historically known for making individuals feel unwelcome and unworthy because of the colorist hierarchy. Also, rather than allowing White society to continue coloring us with their preconceived notions and stereotypes, we’re taking back our voices and embracing our Latinx identity. The Latinx community consists of various countries, cultures, and languages. Including an array of beautiful individuals with beautiful skin tones, eye colors, and hair textures/colors.
With this archive of conservations, even though it only consists of three conservations, the conversations are meaningful and impactful. I uplifted three Latinas, along with gaining so much knowledge about how their struggles with colorism and how they’ve learned to love their skin. Only through conversation can real change be made, because in my case, I was able to see my sisters and cousin in a new light. A light that showed me their true selves, the identities they choose for themselves, not the ones society has forced on them. Also, hearing their opinions on what must be done to address colorism was quite eye-opening, they want change to be done, and most importantly, they believe change can be done. Their willingness to have a conversation with me and understanding the importance of having a conversation was the hope I needed to believe anyone and everyone can contribute to making a change for our community. With more Latinx voices, we can build momentum for a movement that targets the colorist hierarchy in place within the Latinx community and White society.
I welcomed Leslie, my cousin, as my first guest on the “Color Me Podcast.” She is Latina, specifically Mexican, and a recent college graduate from the University of Cal State Dominguez. She discussed the struggle of not feeling “Mexican or Latina enough.” At a young age, she constantly battled not being “Mexican or Latina enough” because of her light skin color. As Leslie went on to college, the battle continued because others automatically assumed she didn’t “struggle enough” because her parents have a college education and are teachers. With this assumption, the Latinx community is invalidating the struggles she’s endured.
Going forward, the younger generation must be our main focus. Leslie emphasized children are truly the future and the best chance at ending colorism. We must teach them about all cultures, identities, and ethnicities to insure the cycle doesn’t repeat itself. Leslie doesn’t want children to experience the same feeling as she did. She wants younger Latinx to grow up loving themselves and their skin color. If children aren’t taught to love all skin colors, they will become the reason why colorism still exists.
I welcomed Bella, my older sister, as my second guest on the “Color Me Podcast.” She is Latina, specifically Mexican, and a recent law school graduate from American University Washington College of Law. Since she could remember, she has struggled with loving her Latina and Indigenous features because of the comments others made. She received the most hurtful comments from family members pointing out her darker skin. As a child, she internalized it because she was raised to not speak up, simply brush it off. During law school, her ability to finish was constantly doubted because of her identity as a Latina.
Now as a lawyer, she vocalizes the importance of speaking up for herself and her community. She is dedicated to building a platform for all Latinx voices. She is proof that Latinx can achieve higher education and work in predominantly White professions. She believes colorism must be addressed by putting an end to the harmful stereotypes limiting Latinx. Through her platform, Bella intends to inspire and guide the next generation of Latinx lawyers. She wants them to believe in themselves and know their skin color doesn’t rule them out from being successful lawyers.
I welcomed Olivia, my oldest sister, as my third and final guest on the “Color Me Podcast.” She is White and Latina, specifically Mexican and Puerto Rican, and a mother of two boys. Growing up, she didn’t understand the severity of colorism because she didn’t personally experience colorism. It wasn’t until she was older and had children in her early 20s that she realized how colorist the Latinx community is. With her boys having darker skin, she knew they would have a different experience with colorism. As a mother, she does everything she can to prepare her children for the harsh and unfair realities of having dark skin. Children need to be enjoying their lives, not worrying about being discriminated against.
Creating open and honest communication with your loved ones, specifically your children, is what must be done to address colorism. As a parent, you want your children to feel they can talk to you about anything. By creating that open line of communication, your children feel comfortable and safe. Talking about colorism is difficult, especially for kids because they don’t understand why their skin color is “wrong or bad.” Olivia makes sure her boys know their brown skin is absolutely beautiful, not “wrong or bad.” We need to constantly remind our children that their skin color is beautiful, so they truly believe it deep down.
