"The Souls of Black Girls" is a documentary speaking on the societal pressures that Black women have to face in order to be beautiful. Celebrities such as Chuck D., Regina King, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gwen Ifill, Michaela Angela Davis and Daphne Valerius gave insight on their own personal or interpersonal struggles in a society that enforces the European standard of beauty. Michaela Angela Davis describes how the image of Black women has been hyper-sexualized as well as degraded, particularly in music videos. Whereas now the use of chocolate brown women is becoming more common in videos, they are usually presented sexualized fashion, dancing and gyrating to the rhythm in less than there clothing. Black women in videos, Davis says, are presented as prostitutes. The documentary also takes you into high schools, where young women of color are asked how they feel about themselves. One young lady replies, "I can't stop looking in the mirror. I have my T.V. here, and my mirror there."
The documentary also gives you a historical analysis, focusing in on slavery and its roots to the stereotypical images of Black women. It also depicts that we as a community are continuing to perpetuate these vulgar images of Black women by supporting these artists, for example. Michaela Angela Davis says in closing that it is no one's responsibility but our own to protect the image of Black women by protesting as a community. I believe in that case she is right. This is definitely an insightful and informative watch!
-Sophia