"Dr. Valentine Ojo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:19:10
-0500
Subject: [Africare-newpublications] FW: Layers of Blackness - Colourism in the
African Diaspora
Culled from TheBlackList - http://TheBlackList.net
From: BlackNews.com
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 4:27 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: PR: London Journalist Tackles Colourism in the UK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2007
CONTACT:
Deborah Gabriel
Imani Media Ltd
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
JOURNALIST AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BECOMES THE FIRST AUTHOR IN THE UK TO
TACKLE COLOURISM
Bookcover
London, England (BlackNews.com) - How many books on colorism have you come
across written by an author in the UK? Probably none, because this is the first
book to emerge from the UK African Diaspora that takes an in-depth look at the
process of discrimination based on skin tone, that occurs within people of the
same ethnic group.
Written by tough-talking journalist/Pan-Africanist/human rights activist
Deborah Gabriel, Layers of Blackness examines the issue of colourism from a
global African perspective, tracing its evolution from slavery and colonization
in the USA, Jamaica, Latin America and the UK. The book examines how blackness
has been denigrated since the 3rd century BCE through religion, scientific
racism and popular culture, resulting in the psychological phenomenon of
colourism as a means of escaping the negative characteristics and economic
disadvantages associated with dark skin.
An interesting chapter on the human evolution of skin color examines
different theories on the evolution of mankind and how skin color evolved in
human beings from the dark skin found in most people of African descent to the
paler skin of Europeans. The author makes it clear in the book, that colourism
is not some peculiar practice engaged in by people of color for the sake of it,
but a legacy of slavery and colonization that is part of a wider system of
white supremacy. This is explained in detail in the chapter on whiteness and
white supremacy, while the chapter on blackness and black identity looks at
positive representations of blackness both in historical and contemporary
times.
In the chapter on Jamaica, Donna Mc Farlane, the Director and Curator of
Liberty Hall, the Legacy of Marcus Garvey states that: "In spite of the gains
of the Black Power era, the mantra of I am Black and I am Proud has receded
into the background, only to be replaced once again by bleaching creams." A
Jamaican study published in January 2007 also provides evidence that a stigma
against dark skin still exists in Jamaica with children aged between three and
six years old showing a preference for light skin.
Author Deborah Gabriel believes that it is time that people took a more
serious view of colourism. She said: "People need to understand that colourism
goes beyond personal preferences and aesthetic ideals -- we are talking about
social and economic disparities among people of African descent because of skin
color and that's a big deal."
At the recent book launch in the UK held at the London College of
Communication where the author studied, Gary Naylor, Assistant Dean of the
School of Media said: "I'm looking forward to directing students that I teach
and who are taught here and elsewhere in the university and in universities
beyond London and the UK, to look at the issues that are raised, to look at how
Deborah presents these issues, carries them forward and gives us opportunities
to look at this kind of material."
Dr Sandra Richards, Academic and broadcaster: "How bold and important this
work is. It's something that many of us are aware of but we don't talk about."
A special offer to purchase the book has just been launched solely for US
buyers who can save 30% of the normal price of the book and get FREE postage
and package. To take advantage of the offer and watch the highlights of the
London book launch in a 7 min video clip, visit the website
www.layersofblackness.com
-END-
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