Colorism isn’t new. It’s the curse embedded in Hollywood’s DNA.

Today, Christiana sits down with scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay to unpack how colorism operates behind the scenes of pop culture, why lighter skin is still centered, and how these hierarchies shape everything from stardom to self-worth.

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00:37 Defining “colorism”

03:30 The relativity of colorism 

06:04 How colorism functions in Hollywood 

08:15 A history of colorism and skin bleaching 

12:50 Gender bias and colorism in entertainment 

17:02 Beyonce and colorism in the music industry 

28:40 Moments that feel like societal shifts

33:00 How skin bleaching has transformed 

37:00 Understanding the context around why people bleach their skin 

42:55 Hair trends among Black women 

51:00 Questioning society and capitalism (not just the individual) 

54:20 What choices can we make in light of colorism?

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