That's That: Perception of Beauty

It was early Saturday afternoon when I decided to catch up on some music videos as I folded my laundry. I figure, I need to know what dances and song lyrics to watch out for in my classroom. R. Kelly & Snoop Dog's "That's That" comes on and I think, "Oh, this is that song I've been hearing on the radio." It's been growing on me, so I decide to watch it. As I see video chick after video chick I notice a pattern.

They're all light complexion Black women, Latinas, or white women!

I try to give R. Kelly the benefit of the doubt when I see a chick with a brown/dark complexion. But no, they put her under high beam light giving her more of a light complexion.

What are these types of images doing to the self-esteem of young Black girls who idolize these "video vixens"?

Are young girls measuring their worth based on their curvaceous curves or how much they've learned?

It has taken me many years to become comfortable with my complexion and body. As a young woman, I am still battling against society's perception of beauty that values European features as opposed to womanly curves. I'm also battling a culture that values the measurements of my bust, waist, hips, and booty as opposed to my ACT/SAT test scores or college degree!

Young Black females have the feat of going against a lot of opposition from the womb. As I begin my sixth month of teaching a second grade class of twenty boys and five girls, I take it as my personal duty to help the young ladies in my class decide how they want to measure their worth: booty or brains.

Enjoy the film!