'Dark Girls' Documentary and the Psychological Effects of Colorism

02/12/12 • 26 min

**This story won a 2012 New America Media Award for Outstanding Community Reporting-- Radio.***

A small film generating big buzz is "Dark Girls." The documentary brings to light the issues of colorism and its effects on darker-hued women in the black community world-wide. In this special episode of "Mental Health and Wellness Radio" host Jenee Darden explores the psychological impacts of colorism on black women. Darden interviews "Dark Girls" producers/directors Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry; psychologist Dr. Dietra Hawkins, and she has a candid conversation about growing up a dark-skinned black girl with PEERS Empowerment Assistant Christal Byrd.

**This story won a 2012 New America Media Award for Outstanding Community Reporting-- Radio.***

Previous Episode

The Voices Behind the 'See Me, Not My Diagnosis' Masks

Head next door to the Paramount Theatre in Downtown Oakland and visit PEERS' "See Me, Not My Diagnosis" mask display. While participating in a mask workshop created by activist and artist Adella, mental health consumers created the pieces. They express their bouts with stigma and perseverance through self-love. "Mental Health and Wellness Radio" host Jenee Darden explains the purpose of the exhibit and introduces the artists' inspirational stories.

Mask by Jader Tadefa

Next Episode

Writer Robert Whitaker on the Rise of Psych Drugs and Mental Health Diagnoses

"Mental Health and Wellness Radio" attended the 2012 CASRA Conference in San Mateo, Calif. to catch up with award-winning journalist and science writer Robert Whitaker. He speaks with host Jenee Darden about the pharmaceutical-drug industry, how some studies show short-term medical use results in higher rates of recovery than long-term use and why there is a growing trend of children being prescribed psychiatric medication. Whitaker is the author of "Mad in America" and "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America."

Photo: Robert Whitaker Gives a Lecture at the 2012 CASRA Conference.Photo Credit: Jenee Darden