i really was intruiged by this film, it allowed me to further understand the complexities that is self-image and verbalizaiton among the non-white community in regards to their features and perceptions.
Personally, i consider myself hispanic; but i have been called or assumed by other people to be "mixed" "half-and half" and/or even "bengali" or south asian. Growing up in a large family of carribean hispanics i always loved the rainbow assortment of relatives i had, ironicly it was only when i started school and had a more frequent interaction with non-minorities from different back-grounds that my racial ambiguity or confuison became an issue, for them not me. If i had a nickle for every time i was asked "what are you" from the ages 5 to 15 i'd be rich. None the less, i have come to define my self love not neccessarily by my physical attributes in comparison to other people, but in regards to my family as a whole and my healthyness.
I have long, brownish hair. with blondish bits in it, i have dark brown eyes and freckles and moles, my skin is the color of my mother's "cafe con leche" [a coffe drink with hot milk in it]
my hips are the
shape of something rhythmic and my nose has my father's native touch to it. I am dominican, nicaraguan, puerto-rican, british and black.i was born in america, love my brown skin, love all brown people and wish they would see how beautiful and unique they are.

I have also felt like the girl in the film - disconnected from a distinct culture. I wish black people would understand the damage they do to their black children by carrying over these negative stereotypes. Stereotypes like African people do not like us, like dark skinned women are not beautiful, like black men are dangerous, and like black boys are bad all serve to denigrate our people. No one can change these views but us- people of African descent across the diaspora.

As a young professional, I feel the pressure to assimilate more than ever. I think it is a shame that current office standards force black women to hide and to be ashamed of their true hair. Since when did a person's natural hair become taboo?

I know I perpetuate the stereotype by perming my hair and that bothers me as well. I guess all I can do is embrace the blackness that is uniquely mine and try to embrace it in those around me.

I remember when I set out on my journey to create a personal space for my daughter, Mya, 3 years ago and how I felt as a mother and educator! Where are the "things" (books, games, party-ware, journals, dolls, etc) that reflect our African American culture? My passion was so overwhelming that Myas' Place, Inc was birthed! It's more than just a shop, it's an experience for children, parents, and educators. But it was later on my path that I received an article "Teach Children Black is Beautiful" by award winning columnist Leonard Pitts from one of my co-workers and friends that solidified the VERY reason that Mya's Place, Inc needed to be birthed in this very timely season.

So it is my HOPE that Mya's Place will be a resource that will FOREVER change our children's responses to the "Doll Test"! I believe that Dr. Kenneth Clark would be proud and Kiri will be INSPIRED! Please visit Mya's Place @ www.myas-place.com We're helping to shape our future from the inside out! We would love to hear from you!

Wow!!! I'm really amazed that in this day and age, majority of our black children still prefer white over themselves. Like many of you, I am also a mother of two, one lighter hue and one dark. But, I have always stressed to them the understanding that black is beautiful; it is our highly esteemed heritage, and we should not and will not apologize to the world for being privileged to be called black / African American / of African descent, etc.

It is incumbent upon every member of black or African American descent to purposely teach and perpetuate a healthy self-perception for belonging to the colored race. African Americans are historically, a travailing people. We have endured much and overcome many obstacles to reach where we are in society and we still have miles to go before we sleep. Our children will rue the day we were born if we do not teach them to honor their identity and adopt the strength, poise, candor, courage and commitment to advancing our race as our predecessors did.

Ladies and gentlemen we cannot drop the ball on this one through denial and convenient assimilation. GOD made us all beautiful with abundant individual and collective gifts and talents to offer and deliver excellence in intelligence, innovation and ingenuity with the utmost integrity and to incessantly know that we deserve the same in return as we relate and coexist with other races.

Let’s agree to not dilute the substance of what it means to be black and beautiful. We are who we are by GOD’s creative design… each of us becomes great, creating re-presenters of GOD when we enthusiastically embrace our “me.�

Special thanks to the creators of this film which reminds us of our obligation to make sure little black sons and black daughters know they have immeasurable, intrinsic value and that they have a seat already reserved at the table.

“2007 – The Year of Great Expectations�

Hi,

I thought this film was really excellent. It's implied that the filmmaker is a teenager, which makes it even more impressive.

I was very moved and struck that the term "house nigger" continues to have currency in the black community (I'm white, so I didn't realize).

It was a great idea to repeat the doll-choosing study. To be super-picky about it, to publish a study like that, it should be a double-blind study (meaning that the interviewer should not know what result is expected, so that she can't unconsciously influence the outcome). But it certainly made the point nonetheless.

If you are interested in these issues, I might recommend two writers: the first is the great late African-American playwright August Wilson, whose most famous play is probably "Fences" from the mid-1980s. Wilson was very interested in the idea, which some of the girls in the video speak about, of African-Americans' African heritage--how it has been largely lost and how they should try to maintain it. He controversially believes that the Great Migration north after Emancipation was a mistake and a rejection of roots (the contrary view, of course, is that life in the Deep South was intolerable for blacks).

I'd also suggest the first novel by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, called "The Bluest Eye" (1970). It is about a girl named Pecola who is black and desperately wants blue eyes like white people have. It was an Oprah book club selection several years ago. Here's an article from Wikipedia about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bluest_Eye

Anyway, this documentary was very powerful and I really admired it. Thanks for your great work.

Hi,

I just wanted to say how great and how powerful it is for you to do this project. It is very important to keep making people aware of this, it does have an effect, it does cost us, it does change the way that everyone treats us including ourselves.

Thank you for doing this project.

Greetings, All:
I wanted to commend the filmaker, Miss Davis of the short film "A Girl Like Me" . Her work has provided a poignant and thought provoking engagement into the current perceptions of race, beauty, and idenity in this country. My problem with the whole topic itself, not the film, is that it sheds a stigmatizing light on low-income Black mothers, fathers, adults, and young men in the Black community. These persons are the soul, the eyes, the ears, and the heart of the Black community. For them to buy in to the lies, misconception, and deciet proves what P. T. Barnum said: "There is a sucker born every minute." Everytime we listen to the lies, misconceptions, distortion, and deception of these remarks, we will continue to be the slzaves of a people who do not have our best interests at heart. We must open our eyes, open our ears, and open our mounths. We must provide the confidence and the motivation to say and believe that "yes, we are beautiful just the way we are. We are special and need no improvements. What we possess physically makes others envious of us." Therefore, like James Brown said: "I 'm Black and I 'm proud." Be proud to be black, beauty, and bold regardless of what others say or think about us.
Donte Wylie
Assistant Writing Center Coordinator
Coppin State University

I would like to place a copy of this film on the Counter-Racism Television Network. Please e-mail the details of how to go about doing that.

I am so proud of Ms. Davis. She has repeated a study that many have tried to bring to the forefront including myself. She did it and we are proud of her. In 1994 I repeated the Kennenth and Mamie Clark doll study with over 100 3, 4 and 5 year olds. The results are the same as those Ms. Davis discovered. I now have a book entitled Princess Aisha and the Cave of Judgment that shares how a young Nubian princess is faced with adventure, opportunity and danger as she risks her life to prove that sometimes people make false judgments about others without looking deeper to discover the real truth. The book is self published but can be purchased through Amazon.com, Borders books on line and trafford.com. I need help getting it to a publisher and to have an animated DVD made. I have some start up money but need help. Thank you.
Kay Lovelace Taylor
lovelacetaylor@aol.com

There are a few comments that seem to be on the right track. It is up to us as parents and family members to encourage our children and build their self esteem. We must constantly tell our children how beautiful they are, how handsome they are, how smart they are, how the sky is the limit for their potential, how God created each of them specifically the way he wanted them to be. When I buy dolls, I only buy the African American doll, why should someone in my family play with a doll that doesn't resemble them. We have a choice, so we must utilize that choice. We are molding our future!!! This is a big responsibility, we need parents to stop trying to be friends and be parents. Pray for guidance on how to raise your children. They are your blessings and you will be held accountable. We can't blame society for everything, sometimes we must look in the mirror!
Yes, we do have a lot of work to do!!! But with God as our guide, we can do it!!!

Barbara,

Thank you for your interest in the Media That Matters Film Festival.

Yes, this film is available for purchase on our website. Please visit our online store at http://www.artsengine.net/store. A Girl Like Me is included on the sixth annual festival DVD. The cost of the DVD includes public performance rights as well as 15 other great films of consequence.

Thanks again!

Is it possible to buy a copy of the film? I present a transracial adoption workshop around the state of NJ. Adding this film to the presentation would be extremely helpful in my efforts to educate white parents of children of color about the issues these children face. Thanks for any help you can give me.

this was a very interesting and such a true story film!...i liked how the filmer filmed various african american girls...i like how she did the comparison between the two dolls..it's pretty sad that mostly all the kids picked the white dolls!..but you can't get madd at them cause thats how this society is and hows it's basically always been but not as worst!...i thought this was a very educating and interesting film and everyone that watches it will surely have things to think about afterwards.

I finally got to watch the film and I was blown away. Seeing the young children choose the white doll as superior confirms my suspicion that another generation of black children have internalized the inferiority foisted upon us by a white supremacist culture. It broke my heart. I remember being told as child to stay inside on sunny days because I "would burn up". I have been called "pretty for a dark-skinned girl" as if such a phrase were a compliment. This is so painful to talk and yet so freeing to finally have out in the open. Kudos to the director for airing our dirty laundry, for the scourge of colorism serves to divide us a black people, and especially as black women.

Thank you for making this film. I hope you are working on your next project.
cwr

My nieces are nine and seven and are the most beautiful color ever - chocolate brown. I tell them every day how gorgeous they are. I buy them black dolls every chance I get. While they were younger, they would have failed the dolls test - not today. Aunts, cousins, mothers, we have our work cut out for us, but we will win the war if we become the role models our young girls can look up to and emulate.

This film is both a sobering realization and a validation for the creation of my company- Aisha & Co. As a child, I had a similar experience of valuing the white doll- mainly because even as a child I knew that the black doll was really a chocolate colored version of the white doll. I set out to make dolls that were beautiful and unique in their own right (Ishababies) and I think that I have succeeded--the darkest "flavors" of dolls are my best sellers. There is a hole in so many children that grows over the years into a vicious self hatred. I feel that part of my responsibility is to convey love and appreciation to each and every child that I see so that fewer children endure the inner torture of low self-esteem. I thank you for the creation of this film.

A much needed educational document. Necessary for the esteem of all children and adults

I give you so much props on this film. It was so real. I attend a film school right now and this is better than most of the films I've seen produced here. I've always felt this way. My cousin is light and I'm am dark. We're very close in age. And as we grew up, I began to hate music videos because all of the girls in them were light skinned, wavy hair and super skinny. I can't wait for the day when the world realizes what I already know; black women come in all shapes, colors and sizes and we are BEAUTIFUL, naturally.

Loved It,
Christa

I loved this film it was powerful and very interesting, it showed the reality of black society in America, particularly from a female's point of view. Great job, keep up the good work!

This is a powerful I wish that every young African-american sister could see this. I pray that my grand daughters will come across this work. Please continual with what you are doing to enlighten young sisters about themselves.

WOW!. .This film brought tears to my eyes!

As PARENTS, we MUST teach our children who they are!

I live in the "burb's" of Detroit, where my family is the ONLY black family on our street, my youngest daughter attends a daycare, where she is the only chocolate face.

Nonetheless, I have a MEMBERSHIP to the African American Museum(in Detroit) I expose my children to our culture in everyway possible, regardless if it's just a family reunion! We cannot leave it to the schoolteachers to teach our children EVERYTHING. This young lady did a wonderful job on this film. My prayer is that many parents will learn something from it.

I don't even know where to begin. I actually was given this film by my teacher to watch before a class period. As a black female myself listening to these girls was like listening to myself, and I agree with them it is hard to be that black girl because most guys seem to normally be attracted to mixed or light girls...and in reference to the children, that was a shock in itself. For them to feel that someone is nicer just because they are white is such an incorrect construction of reality. And little do these kids know, that when they get older these people are gonna be the ones against them and all they can do is continue to be apart of them. It's such a sad circle, of injustice...

I am a 35 year old white woman. This film was fantastic and the results of the experiment were astonishing! I would have assumed that all children would choose the doll most like them. How very sad that these children have been made to feel this way by society. Its appalling. The children and young women depicted in this film are all beautiful, well-spoken people. Thank God America has these intelligent young women today because they will lead us in the future! Great film! Thank you for opening my eyes!

I really just wanted to say thanks for this video. I was actually doing research for my english class of the contrast of beauty for blacks and whites and I came across this site. It was very powerful and I could just relate. I go to a dominant white school where there are probable less than 5% black people so I feel alone when it comes to beauty and my skin. But after watching I know that I am not alone so thanks.

I truly hope that those children used for this illustration were nurtured to afterwards in truth. Tests like this can put them on the spot and force them to make a choice where as before in their childhood innocence they may never have thought about the difference. Each of my children (6) range in skin color and hair texture. They each know that their parents believe they are beautiful and a precious treasure from God. They reflect this joy to the world through their interractions with others and in their play. Psalm 139 (King James, Authorized Version)gives us the truth about who we are.
Jesus Saves-Ephesians 2:8

I think that a lot of young african americans ages 13-21 are ignorant to what they are capable of. I myself am a very darkskin girl and I am often told by my light skin friends that they are glad they are light skin. I am comfortable with my skin color and I think that we all should be. No matter what if your light skin or dark if your an african american you originated from africa and your ancestors went through the same struggle as mine. I believe that with all of the raping by white masters all of our african blood is tainted just some more than others.

I was depressed as to the doll test. I thought we had come far to know that we black no matter what shade is Beautiful. The film made me think that we have not come far enough to accept whom we are. Thank you for your work, may we overcome to know we all should be loved.

KIRI! amazing documentary. Really brought me back to the good old days. I'm so impressed with your work. I remember when you first got to school. You must be so grown up now : )

I'm so proud of you!

I strongly believe that the majority of the children chose the white dolly not because of the color but for the simple fact that the white dolly is made out to be prettier than the black dolly. In all of my years of growing up I never received a black dolly for a gift. I always received a white dolly from everyone. My 7 year old daughter doesn't even play with dolls because she knows that the white dolly is not her skin color, but at the same time they make the black dolls as ugly as ever. Have you ever seen a pretty african american doll?

I was taken aback after witnessing the doll test. I wonder what the little girl was thinking after the interviewer asked her to give her the doll that looks most like her after she acknowledged that she felt it was bad because of it's skin tone. That is disturbing!!! Great work, nonetheless. :)

I enjoyed the film. It was very eye opening. I am Black and I have two daughters, one has a Black father, the other has a white father. My 'mixed' daughter seems to have more problems in school (majority Black students) regarding race than my other daughter, until I come into the school then they know she is Black as well. I think I will try the 'doll experiment with my girls, just to see where their head is at.

Wow! This was a very powerful film short. Although shocking, I'm not surprised. I am an African American, who happens to be light skinned. All my life I've been ridiculed by my brown skinned sistas just for being lighter. I never acted like I had an advantage over anyone due to this fact. But I think all of this self hate can all be related back to slavery. How else does a whole group of people loath themselves so much as to want to look like their oppressor? All the hundreds of years of being told you have to look, act, talk and believe like "us" is the only culprit! But we as a people are continually wrong for telling our children that who they are and what they look like is wrong. As I mentioned, I am light skinned, my husband is dark skinned, my four children, three boys and one girl (two of which are light skinned and two are brown skinned), go figure! My sister-in-law calls us the Rainbow Coalition! We get comments constantly from older to younger people. They always mention how my light skinned nine year old child is "sooo cute and has nice hair" right in front of his older brother who is thirteen which is brown skinned! My three year old daughter (who is light skinned) has been getting looks since she was two from little girls and even pre-teen girls! Then they stair at her twin brother (who is brown skinned) like he's crazy! I hate that! And because of this, my second child only see the exterior of himself and others. We have to constantly respond to peoples supposed "compliments" with "All of our children are attractive!" In which they respond "Yhea they are!" We teach our children that first and formost, you are people, you are African Americans and although all of you are attractive children, it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside if the inside is jacked up! I've been treated poorly by my people cause of this "slavery syndrome mentality", but I love us! I love how strong my sistas are with our no nonsense type of attitude, but we can tone it down and be sexy at the same time. I love the strength in our brothas and their swagger. When they walk into a room, you take notice, when in love you know that man is my protector. There is nobody like "us" and as soon as we embrace, accept and love who we truly are, we are always going to be lost! Although our ancestry and heritage have been stripped away from us, we are a strong people and deserve to be anything we want to be!

Black women BLAME YOURSELVES! Yes, I said it! It all comes down to Black women building up the self-esteem of our daughters.

How can Black girls feel GOOD about themselves when we are slapping perms in their heads before their 2nd b'day and before they can spell "SODIUM HYDROXIDE (lye)? We Black mothers hold onto these keep the baby hair alive dreams and our daughters learn at an early age that something is WRONG with their HAIR and it needs to be FIXED! You don't see white mommas en masse putting caustic chemicals into their daughters hair telling them that what God gave them is "jacked up".

Then, we MOMMAS run around with all of this permed hair (90% of all Black women in this country have chemically straightened hair) crying and screaming when our nappy roots are coming through and we cannot get a hair appointment until the next week. We watch Black mommas sit for hours getting HAIR SEWN IN to make use look like bad immitations of COUSIN IT from the Adams Family and we FOOL ourselves into thinking, "IT BLENDS SO WELL!"

Why shouldn't Black girls hate themselves? We grow up listening to the garbage that Black momma's spew about NAPPY A hair! We get chastised for "SWEATING OUT" a fresh press when all we wanted to do was run around and play hide and go seek with our friends. We would rather be overweight and out of shape then sweat out a perm!

Black momma's stop the madness! Start embracing and loving your hair so our daughters won't keep the chickenhead mentatlity alive!!

I found this film very upsetting although I am not surprised. It appears as if we as African Americans have not made much progress in terms of positive cultural awareness. It is our responsibility as a community to love, teach, model and set standards for our children starting from infancy. Of course we have obstacles, the media, the school system and ourselves.

It's so upsetting that the people in this country promote looking "white" as being the most beautiful. I'm white, and I can't even imagine how these young women in the beginning of this movie must feel. I was really disturbed to hear about people using bleaching cream to have lighter skin. It's troubling to think that anyone would think that they were ugly because of their skin color. To feel that way... I can't imagine how much it would hurt. To be honest, I truly did not realize how much of a premium this society holds on light skin in conjunction with being beautiful - It's disgusting. As Kiri Davis has shown, while everything on the outside seems to be okay, everyone is seriously affected, especially children. It broke my heart to see the children interact with those dolls. For a young child to believe that black is "bad" and white is "good"? There's seriously something wrong here. This video should be seen by everyone, no exceptions. It's good that they're making this a part of some curriculums, but I think it should be shown in every single classroom, not just a few.

It's very disheartening to see that the results of the doll test haven't really changed. To make it plain, I have to say that this is something that has to be learned at home. Our children need to be taught that they are black and we are descendants from Africa. We are a beautiful people even though the media and white culture feel otherwise. Some whites know we're beautiful, how else can they explain tanning at the cost of skin cancer or preferring to bear children of a black man (or black woman). The culture in America really works against the self esteem of black children so it's really up to parents to promote black beauty in their childrens lives.That can mean exposing them to the beauty of Africa and the Carribean Islands and other positive black images (male and female). Rap videos do not count.

I am an African American pediatrician and the author of a book entitled IT ALL STARTS AT HOME. Several years ago as an intern I was in the clinic seeing patients when I over heard two young black mothers say:"I hope a white intern checks my baby." I was shocked. This "black is bad" mentality is alive and well and It All Starts At Home!
As parents we must instill in our children (at an early age)
that "they are some body"
Thanks Kiri for your eye opening film

As sad as it sounds this situation is painfully true. I myself, an Afro American female have experienced having a low self and now that I am 39 years of age, I watch my daughter along with other girls developing a low self image of themselves. I work with my daughter daily and remind her of who she is and where she comes from, I tell her to share the information she learns with other young girls. I finally got it at 39 and on a daily basis I tell myself my ancestors where more than just slaves. I strive to educate myself and others as much as I can.

The adults -- parents, teachers, retail workers, church staff, law enforcement officers, county desk clerks, receptionists, politicians, etc --- ALL have the responsibility to be the real mirrors to all our children --that their goodness and worth are unconditional. How far haven't we come?

thank you for making this documentary. it is heart-breaking to see that kids are getting the same message 50 years later. the documentary should be a call to action --a different kind of action than we have tried before. i don't know what it is but i am thinking --it's urgent.

Hello,

I am not surprised about the content of this film presented by Kire Davis. In fact, when at one point in my life I actually had the same thoughts as these young girls.

However, through Black History courses I attended in college I learned how GREAT and PROUD our ancestors were,
which in turn taught me to be PROUD of who I was, my heritage and my body.

We MUST show and teach our children to stop thinking negative thoughts about themselves. We MUST teach our children about Black History. We may not know where in Africa our ancestors came from, but we can let our children know their ancestors were intelligent, proud Africians.

The media is doing an GREAT job in portraying Blacks as ghetto, ignorant, lazy folks and in some cases we are to blame for this. Our children
pick up on what they see and
hence the thoughts demonstrated in this film by the little children.

I was THANKFUL to see two children select Black dolls over the White dolls. This tells me their parent(s) are
teaching them right.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY!

Respectfully submitted,
Beatrice

This was a great film undertaking for a modern day crusader. It is very sad to know that nothing has changed over the years how blacks view themselves in regards to hair and skin color.

Where does it stop? As adults we are passing our self dislikes on to our children.

WHAT A SAD AND DISTURBING REALITY.

Another great film! Getting to the heart of low self esteem, self image of the young black youths. Light, dark, good, bad hair it really does not matter; we're all God's children. However, society has placed expectations on us conscience or unconscience it happen. It's a shame that young people are stiffled with the images they see in the mirror - and not just be a teenager. Thank you for getting the information out. The study that you ran with the dolls; I was amazed with the out come. Again society has taught us that being dark skinned is wrong and if you're white you're right. This is definitely learned behavior. Keep it up YOU"RE doing something about it.

A very outstanding documentary that clearly provides an awesome display of PTSD, Post Traumatic Slave Disorder and its modern day affects on American-Africans (Americans of African descent). However, I believe we can begin to make change on the negative affects of this self-perception if we show this film to more parents, teachers and children.

I would like to commend this young lady for not only recognizing this issue, but also for attempting to do something about it by bringing it to the attention of so many others. Great Job!

THIS DOCUMENTARY IS VERY IGNORANT, IT IS LIKE THEY INTERVIEW A BUNCH OF LITTLE GIRLS WITH LOW SELF ESTEEM. IT IS STUPID. BEING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IS NOT THOSE THINGS UNLESS YOU PRESENT YOURSELF IN THAT LIGHT. i THINK THESE GIRLS WERE VERY INSECURE AND THE VIEWS THE TALKED ABOUT WERE NOT THE VIEW OF BLACK FEMALES BUT OF THEIR OWN INSECURITIES ABOUT BEING ONE. SORRY FOR TYPOS.

Your film really opened my eyes. I had tears running down my cheeks when I saw that beautiful young child's reluctance to choose the darker-skinned doll as the one that looked most like her. It was heart wrenching. I knew of Dr. Clark's original study, but would never have guessed that 50 years later so little would have changed.

I also learned something about African-American culture from your film. I am white and live in a relatively rural area that is predominantly white. So while I view people of all races and walks of life as equals, I have limited direct experience with black culture. I had not realized that there was still such a common preference among many blacks toward "white features" over darker skin and kinky hair. I would have thought that this, too, would have greatly diminished over the many decades since slavery and government-sanctioned discrimination were abolished.

Your film made me realize just how deep the wounds are that are caused by bigotry and racism. And how we as a society (both blacks and whites) still have a lot of work to do before we reach the day where that little five-year-old child simply says, "I like both of the dolls the same, but this one looks more like me."

Please let this be a starting point toward greater things. Your film was poignant and powerful in its humanity. You have said more in seven minutes of film than many people say in a lifetime. I hope that your voice will continue to ring just as powerfully in years to come.

I really like this film. It's deep and show's just how much we are still being ruled by this western world. I think every young and old black female should see this. The young so they can access themselves and the old to see where she is lacking in teaching her daughter how to love herself no matter what.

I heard the Kiri Davis interview on NPR. Great movie. Are you black and Jewish? I ask because a friend has a great website and your work should be listed on it.
http://www.currymedia.com

Simply amazing.....
It's a shame that in 06 we as black women are still feeling this way so many years later.

This film is very eye-opening for me, especially the black doll/white doll test. The results of the test were quite distressing for me, I had thought that perhaps things have gotten better over the years but maybe that was an illusion. I highly recommend this film to anyone.

Dear Young Sister,
It is beautiful that you want to tackle a topic that even most adults won't tackle.

It is also breathtaking to see young black women on the screen discussing issues that are pertinent in a very articlated manner.

As young black women you dael with so manyt issues. You are also shut out of the picture because so much focuse has been on out men.

Not to say that the crises affecting young black men is not important but our your girls have basically been out of the eqaution when it comes to issues that they face.
Keep up the good work you and the young ladies that were interviewed.

I hope to see more of your work in the future.

Congratulations! Your film "Girl Like Me" should be required viewing in socially-economical
schools, on MTV and all media outlets that influence young girls of color. Now lets see one for the young Brothers to let them know that wearing your pants below your 'butt' is a style that was born in the U.S. prison system.

This film was created well for the age group that presented it. I just wanted to have seen some positive reinforcement about how beautiful black is and all the the contributions we have made the HISTORY UNIVERSLALY! Withouth black people there would be no history. We were your inventors, builders, and everything else. By the way the NAACP DOES nothign for blacks like they are supposed to. Please check there track record in debt. Look to see who there board of trustees are (color matters) why? b/c it was started by blacks but now owned and operated by whites and what have they done for the black popluation which they are supposed to serve?

GOD bless this child, she is on the right path.

I just want the author to know that she is an AMAZING artist. This is a wonderul film for young African-American. I hope that you prosper in all you do GOD BLESS you and continue to do what you do. It only takes one to change the world even if it's a small corner of it.

This film was inspiring. It is refreshing to see a young sister with such a great deal of insight making a contribution such as this.

Keep striving and thinking!

I'm speechless. This video really hit home and I was pleased to see these young sistas addressing this age old issue in our community. This should be mandatory viewing for all Black Americans. Kudos!

This was outstanding; the fact that someone so young had the ability to translate, so powerfully, a heavy disheartening problem in our society and culture today. This topic was handled with great care and intelligence. Good for you Ms. Kari. Keep up the good work. You are one of our future leaders and may hopefully, once and for all, abolish such skewed views of our culture.

Unfortunatetly, there are still color complexes among the Black community... Even now that standards of beauty have changed, women are seen as beautiful if they were "ethnic" looking, meaning they can pass for any race. My younger sister, with thick hair and all, can pass for hispanic with a tan, and Egyptian without, yet has the stereotypical features of a black woman. It is depressing to think that these young women still have to endure being placed into a category of being ugly, based solely on skin color. My neice, who is darker, refuses to date dark men, for fear that her children will be dark. I have been told that I am just light enough, because of my brown complexion. Unfortunately, we learn our behaviors from our parents, who have passed their ideals down to us. In order to change the mentality of our youth, we have to change the mentality of our elders.

Great work and very conscious!
Hope that many people will have a chance to reflex on the significance of this research.

That was so incredibly good. The movie was so truthful and clear. I believe this young filmmaker has a very promising future ahead of her because she has great instincts for telling a good story.

I just watched the film "A Girl Like Me". Thanks Keri for making a film that had alot to say in a few minutes. So the point gets across to all young people I hope you're able to share this film with as many people as possible. So many young and old just are not aware of how racist our American society still is, and it starts so soon in our innocent children's lives. I hope to hear your name mentioned again with other great works. Thanks for the education - and I'll do my part and pass it on. Laura M.Quinn

Wow, how insightful for a 17-year-old filmmaker! But how sad for our people. I will be sure to share the link with my peers. Thank you for sharing this with the world.

I think this film was right on. It captures exactly how our young children feel but no one ever talks about. My daughter is Bi-racial and i wonder if she will feel this way when she gets older. Will her hair be too kinky? We all need to wake up to what is happening in our world.

I think this film was right on. It captures exactly how our young children feel but no one ever talks about. My daughter is Bi-racial and i wonder if she will feel this way when she gets older. Will her hair be too kinky? We all need to wake up to what is happening in our world.

I really admire your boldness,also those that were interviewed because this effects us all. And in this society confidence goes a long way. Please continue to raise awareness. It is so refreshing and a relief to see a young lady put here effort towards somehing that really matters. The best to you!

This is an excellent film. It is painful but it brings to home the issues we still have about our own self image. We have a lot of work to do, we must teach our children that being Black is not bad. I love the young girl who spoke about how her mother thought her natural was good for a couple of days. She was pissed. I may not agree with how she expressed it, however, in her indignation she stood up for herself. If we could only see ourselves, Black and Beautiful,Intelligent, Brilliant and all the great attributes. We are fearfully and wonderfully made but our soul does not know this quite well. Our babies need to be loved and praised daily and in every way possible to build their self-esteem and we must have high expectation of them so they can be successful at whatever they want to achieve. I know that is tough if we do not have high esteem ourselves, but we must be determined to change our views, educate ouselves, get up, stand up and get moving or we will continue to die daily. No one is going to Save Us But Us!! To God Be The Glory!! FAITH, FAITH, FAITH

Hello,

I just viewed "A Girl Like Me" and thought it was an excellent documentary. However, my question is what are we doing about these issues? When you conducted the doll test, I was truly shocked because our black children chose white dolls. I think this is a learned behavior and we have to start the education at home. We can't allow our children to learn race relations in school because we know the story they are going to give. A story that is lacking the substance we deserve. As a child, I always wanted black dolls, action figures, etc. My parents taught black is beautiful! I think parents have to work on educating their children on skin color issues without emphasizing it so much that it becomes a stigmatism. Again, this is an excellent start because hopefully it will open eyes to do more because the years have changed, but our thought process is still playing catch up.

I would like to see a study of why the children thought white was "nice". From what experience did they learn that?

Thank you for this short but very honest film. It is so nice to see young women be so aware of there surroundings. Thank you for disproving the myths about Black people let alone black women. Thank you for making your mothers proud. Thank you for making your race proud. Thank you for being proud, and even though you dont know me and I dont know you, THANK YOU for making me PROUD!!!

wOW---wHAT AN EYE OPENER

Thought provoking and sad, but because a young black girl made this film, it encourages me that despite society's view of her... She and the other teenage girls, seem to have high self esteem. Great short film...

This film has brought pain to my heart, yet it opened my eyes. We need to teach our child that they are special, beautiful, GOOD, brillant, precious gifts. I will make sure that I think before I say things to my child and be aware of my actions. Our children learn our behavior; let's watch what we do.

Hi ladies,
Great job!
However, I wish you don't have to bit up yourself that hard. You are doing great and try to be focused on the possitive thing you have going on in your life (school, career or talent). The gospel truth is that "it is not what the society say you are that really matters, but what you believe within you are as a person".
You should be proud of you heritage and it does not matter which part of African your ancestor came from the point remains that you are a legitimate African child. Above all, I am proud of you all.

Ade Kukoyi

Kira,
This was very well done. I read about it in Leonard Pitts column and am also sharing it with a friend.
My friend is African American and has a 6 year old granddaughter who wants to be white with blonde hair. Having watched your film I now realize her Mama is right to be concerned.
As a caucasian American I can only tell you how sad it makes me feel that color is defining a person's image. I do remember having a Fresh Air Fund child who was lighter skinned referring to a classmate of my daughters as being a "crispy boy." She was quite young but this was when I came to learn that shades of color can be an issue.
In my opinion, the girls in your film were all beautiful, light or dark. Color should not even be an issue but I know it is and to me that is sad.
I hope films such as yours can bring this point across.
Thank you for your work.

I think this video is very very powerfula dn black girls all around the world should see this and really think about the way socioty has black people thinking that white people are better. Which is not true. The outcome of black girls and boys thinking that white is prettyer or better makkes them think that they are not prett unless they are lighter or white! but this is very powerful again and i hope that we all can spread this video so that we can have a better look on this subject and try and change the bad views!

~sacha~

i wonder if the interviewer asking about the dolls was white?

I am planning to send this link to my sisters, all my family and friends. We like to think that we have come so far in the new century, only to learn that some of us still have the slave mentality and the inferior mentality.

I feel so proud of this young filmmaker. She's so smart, so articulate, so thoughtful (full of thought), so conscientious--in essence--so beautiful.
I am also very appreciative of the adults in her life and the lives of these other young filmmakers; their teachers, parents, surrogates, HBO; whoever is supporting their creativity, critical thinking and discipline (to get the job done).
What I'd like to see as an extension of the work is some attention to what we'd like to do about the problem. You see, this issue has been hashed and rehashed in the Black world ever since the first children of slave rape walked the plantation. Our real challenge is to understand the root causes of this devastating problem and act to change it. I want us to move to spending less time describing the problem (and often blaming the victim, regardless of hue) and more time describing and working on solutions. Where is the critique of White supremacy and its agent—internalized racism? Let's make it plain. Where's the critique of patriarchy and its agent—internalized sexism? Let's make the invisible visible.
I work with a local Black women's health network that focuses on the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health of Black women. We made a pact with each other this year that we would commit to a 20/80 split in our work: spend 20% of our time discussing and coming to understand an issue and 80% of our time doing something about it.
These young people could kick some real butt (figuratively speaking) with the support of progressive adults in their lives. What would Phase Two of this film and overall project look like with a commitment to 20/80 work?
Much love, respect and appreciation for your work—now and in the future,
Imani Bazzell

This film was very eye opening. The young girls made some very clear points that I myself can relate to. We black females are often misunderstood. The more hurtful thing is that we are often misunderstood by our black males. Who seem to forget that their mothers are the same black women they call boistrous, loud, attitudal, ghetto, angry, so on and so forth. Me a single mother of 3 small children, the youngest two boys will do ALL WITHIN my POWER to in still in them that you treat ALL women with R E S P E C T but most importantly you treat BLACK women with RESPECT. For that is what I am as well as your sister. And if you don't want a man mistreating me or your sister than you respect the black woman. B/c someone somewhere is out there completely disrespecting us.

We ourselves need to demand that respect that is due to us. Its time for us to STOP sitting back and allowing ourselves to be called out of OUR NAME. Our voluptuous figures are worth way more than some trashy video. We need to be the one making the money not a piece of it.

This is my peace,

Shalan Moss

This was very disappointing to see that the self esteem of so many african american young women has not advanced beyond that what it was in the 1950s. What ever happened to "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud", "Black Is Beautiful", "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair"? Why the psychological regression into self hatred?

moving. I really have no words for it but I just wanted to let you know you did a good job. Thank you for putting this out there for the world to hear.

I appreciate whoever decieded to make this movie. I feel the same way you do, I am light skined but am not biracial, most people think that I am b/c of my long hair. My younger sisters who are darker than I, have just as long her. I used to wish that my skin was darker so that my sisters wouldn't feel different from me. It truly hurts to know that the majority of the childern choose the white doll; what does that show you ? That today's society hasn't really changed. When will soceity change over the next two-hundred years or will all of us use bleaching cream to make us as light as possible. Even though we do not know where we came from in Africa we still need to love ourselves . it may be hard, trust me i know it is but you have to try b/c if other women of colour see that you are confident about who you are; maybe in the next ten years more childern will choose the beautiful black baby

WOW- I'm sadden by the fact that so many young women & probably some men too, don't know their worth. The new study shows that society continues to paint negative images of black people. It's a shame because black parents are too consumed with day to day life to teach our children about self worth. Some people think I'm a racist because I won't let my daughter play with only white Barbies. She has to have both and I'm always saying that the black Barbies are just as pretty as the white ones!

Unbelievable. So sad that we have not advanced from the stereotypical "White is Right" attitude. So unfortunate that our children are also being brainwashed. You know the brainwashing is there- because almost everyone buys into the good hair bad hair concept and most people, including brothers, can't handle natural hair.

Thank you for this film. It is quite poignant -- it will not leave my memory any time soon.

I prepare individuals to become teachers. I will insist they watch it.

I love this film. I think it is very important to educate our youths about self-pride. I wish someone would address something to our young black men about using the N word and lack of sel-pride. I'm a school teacher and do what I can to teach them about the origin of the word, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

we film maker always look for that one story that tell us it right there in your face. but! you never ask that type of question just like in her story. we love to show this shortfilm in a complete 7 to 2hr long it your work kiri get it done i am sure that the producer at american black film festival can give you a greater audience this is a reality show in it self too.

This is a very powerful film that needs to be shown in many school across america and in africa so that they can see our truths and may be one day we can come together and love our black selves here and in the mother land because they are trying to be more like us.

It's getting worst and somewhere and somehow we have to stop it.

Please, let the next film be about our bothers so they can see how they hate themselves and maybe we can start to work together as a people for real.

Loving me as the gift that God created, thank you Lord.
Bernadette Carolina

I think it is very sad but very true that even in 2006 we as black women still have yet to define and embrace our own beauty. In many ways we are still very driven by mainstream media and society's standard of the blond-haired, blue eyed goddess, or the lilly-white girl next door image of what a beautiful or at least attractive woman is. The reality is two thirds of all women in the world are of color or other ethnicities besides caucasian, so beauty does and must be in many forms and manifestations. Sisters let's remember it is all propaganda. This is not to say that white women are not beautiful, just that we are too.

After watching "a girl like me" i felt confidence for myself, my body, and where i'm from. The show was great, i like it expeciall whe them girls starting talking about how you can be you.

I cannot view the film. Any suggestions?

Heartbreaking. I am 62 years old and remember how it was. My heart is broken.

very troubling to see this
at this time in our history
you would think things would be far better off than this.
I hold out hope for the years to come.

This is a wonderful film that should be seen by every young black girl in America. I am 42 years old and I am hurt that these types of self-esteem issues still exist amongst our young women. As a light-skinned black female with so-called "good hair" I can say I've become sick of sisters telling me "... yeah, but you've got good hair."

The sad reality is that I probably did get more opportunities because I looked more caucasian and thus appeared to be more like the majority. What's even sadder is that I have always been well qualified for any job that I've applied for and gotten and after working in a position for so long, I feel that regardless of my qualifications or my appearance, I still butt up against that glass ceiling, particularly when I refuse to "Tom-out."

I remember being upset because I could not get my hair into an afro when I was a child, and for me to still see young black women calling hair like mine good breaks my heart.

We have got to make a greater effort to show our young sisters how beautiful they truly are so that they will never again choos a white doll over a black one because they think it is better and more acceptable.

I watched this film after reading the Pitts article that mentioned it.
It made me cry. To watch those small children chose the white doll and state that it was better.
It makes me wonder as a whole nation how far have we come if our children feel so badly about who they are as a race.
If you haven't checked out the L. Pitts article, please do. He makes some wonderful observations about what is fueling this backsliding of ethnic pride.

amazing impact with such a short film -- exceptional work -- but made my heart tear.

MY NAMES IS INDIGO, I AM A POET (52 YEARS OLD) AND IT HURTS SO BAD TO KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL WITHIN OUR RACE. I HAVE A POEM THAT I TITLED "DARK GIRL" AND IT SPEAKS TO THE VERY ISSUES THAT THE YOUNG LADIES IN THE FILM ARE TALKING ABOUT. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU-NOT SURE IF THIS THE RIGHT FORUM TO DO SO, LET ME KNOW.

I was very impressed and agreed with most of what was covered in your film. What did bother me was the comment made that we are at a loss because we do not identify with our ancestral heritage, due to having been ripped from our ancestral home thought slavery. I feel that what most of us have to realized is that this historical mishap has afforded us with the unparalleled opportunity to create our own culture through the many African Diaspora that exists today. For instance, thanks to US African Americans, the world enjoys Jazz, Hip Hop, Motown, Soul Food, World track records galore, refrigeration, electric lighting, Kwanza, Cuban Salsa, Detroit Ballroom, Chicago Step, Cornrows, Zillions, Basketball (heck sports as we know it!), American Style and Pop Culture as we know it would not exist without us. And the world, including Africans that sold us into slavery are enjoying every bit of it! So we need to stop worrying about not knowing the African Culture - and be proud of how we've invented our own - Every African I've met is trying to copy ME and My style - right down to obtaining my citizenship. And most importantly, remember that we reinvented ourselves from slavery - no other people has living proof of our inventiveness! The black woman is known for her ability create something priceless out of a hopeless situation - just look at our history!

I was able to personally see the influence of the African American Culture on the rest of the world as I travelled on foot through Northern Spain last summer. Every Spanish Video was reggeaton - which is Spanish version of Rap! I even heard Stevie Wonder's newest release at the time "Shame on You"? on the Spanish Mesetta! So we should keep our heads up and keep creating.

To the journalists, radio, television and written That offers us?

In this advanced world, we do not have time to analyze the News.

I have respected the press as our faithful allie since even look at in their spaces internet that request suggestions to the
audience. I expect my comment be taken objectively on behalf of you.
As it surprises us the media of communication,

Journalists, It wanted to do of the knowledge of you my anxiety, I have always believed that when we refer to races we speak of the human race, just to listen to speak to the person that have the Responsibility to report the masses,

worries me that they refer to three, four and five races, in repeated ocassions for I alone to mention an example.

I listen to man say of that of "black race", always I have believed to know, that when we refer a black or black person calling is a despective meaning we are making use of a scornful one (black scornful subject synonym of slave) to where I have knowledge the time of slavery it was a sad episode of history,

where some men thought to be a superior by the color of their skin;

seems like a lie today in which we are listening expressions that do mention to the pigmentation of the skin as a race or It forms to describe an individual, if by the contrary we speak of ethnic backgrounds themselves is left to see the degree of knowledge and education of those that gave the events in the middle that they surround us.

Journalists, there is not but one race; the human, coming from there, there is a series of physical characteristics that are specific by the ethnic origin,

without forgetting that we the human beings, we are, in a 99.9% exactly similar, leaving a 0.1% that does us different and are exactly the color of our skin, the eyes characteristics and the color of hair, etc,

How can we speak of races? The scientists have removed the light the patron genetic human to scrub in the face of all those that by the color of its skin they believe to be superiors not being it sufficiently even objectives to see that the despigmentation of the skin is the only reason to leave us in disadvantage.

We have to be realistic and not to consider that someone is lower because he has more pigment, the only thing that leaves to see is that he has that privilege, to be fortunate to say that he is 0.1% superior.

Journalists, lets be realistic, the journalism is a course or a profession? Because if we are speaking of a profession, we should be able to know that all Afro that is found in America was brought from Africa as the slave in the year 1503 after the Portuguese in Africa, when Baltolome de las Casas (Spanish priest, Catholic) had the idea of the killing the Aboriginans to be replaced by Africans to work forcefully.

Me as a Haitian, to be able to know so much of my history, because my country was the pioneer of independence of Latin America and also the first people to fight for the respect of human beings.

I feel offended when I hear a "busybody" of any referring to the Afro, black race. (Dopaminelenguistica), anyway if the memory does not fail me, the moorish governed Spain for 10 centuries and they were Africans of gold skin, that has given that so common mixture to the cultures well adapted, therefore the Cubans say if is not of congo, is of canabalie or where is your grandmother?

P.S. Afro-American: individual born of African origin in America (Afro) matter of fact ,America is not a country, it is a continent in which the Italian cartographer, Americo Vespucio from Alaska to Argentina is its name. In my personal opinion, I believe that you are promoting complex of superiority that already exists in this country of the conquerors.

The man is the only animal that self destroys systematically. The War is a form of coverage for the bareness of the crime.

Joseph R. PointduJour

That was an excellent film. I kinda' expected the results of the doll test but was very unprepared for the last girl's reaction. I got chills down my spine...

It's disheartening that we have not come very far with our self image after all of this time. Proves there is still so much work to be done. Each one of those children were so beautiful.

This was very enlightening to a "baby-boomer" like me. The film reminds me that though we pride ourselves on raising a generation of girls to accept the beautiful way that they are created, instead, we grandmothers, mothers, and aunts must have been sending another message. As our younger generation watched us perm our hair, make crude comments about those who didn't look like the "main-stream" and push our young ladies to believe that they must "do their hair" a certain way before a job interview, we continue the negative cycle.

I am so glad that this study was re-visited. I knew that not much had changed in reference to how not only children, but grown women today view themselves as it relates to skin color and features. It has got worse as television and Hollywood has done a fine job decreasing and limiting the self-image of black beauty. I have learned that children as young as possible need contant re-inforcement that they are beatiful because the world will tell them and sibliminally show them daily that they are not.

Outstanding film about the unique cultural phenomenom of African (American) women. I wonder what answers would young women from the continent of Africa would provide to the same questions, particularly if different countries were represented?

Your film has opened my eyes...and broken my heart!

I must admit I was pretty tired of what I perceived to be excuses by some in the black community. I reasoned that I never owned slaves, or know of anyone that ever owned slaves, so it was time to move on because we all had an equally opportunity to succeed in our country if we possess a good work ethic.

In fact, I thought things in general had done a 180 degree turn around because I see so many white kids trying to act black. I thought black was "in".

Your "doll test" has broken this old man's heart. Thank you for being so much smarter than I, and showing me the truth. We must all work quickly to change these innocent and beautiful children's perception of themselves.

I am going to make it a point to engage the children I encounter in conversation and be sure to tell them how beautiful they are. In the hope that if they hear it often enough they will believe it.

God Bless you, your film, and the children.

I am a M-Cauc. 59 years young. Truly, this is a most sad state of affairs for the AA community.
It seems to me that the primary work needs to be done within the AA community. Inner city school districts should be showing this film, followed by class discussions. A successful life starts with a positive self-image. God bless!

A Girl Like Me is so well done and important. Thank you for making it and for posting it for everyone to see for free. I wonder how to begin to change the way dark skinned children feel about themselves. How do beautiful women in Africa wear their hair? Beauty comes in so many forms. I hope we can get to a point where relaxed hair is not the only way to have beautiful hair.

I am a light-skinned African American who is the oldest of eight. It saddened me to see the expressions on those children's faces when they chose the white doll over the black one. We as African Americans have a duty to let our children know no no matter what their skin color is they are beautiful. My family is made up of a mixture of skin colors and hair types. Due to this I never thought that I was better than dark skin blacks. I blame us as black people for stigmatizing our own race. I never knew this type of racism in my home because I was use to seeing dark skinned family members and light skinned members together all the time. Remember we may be all colors with all types of hair textures but we as a race of people are very special and unique. I am proud of Kiri Davis for making us aware of how far we have come in the struggle but how little things have changed.

Thank you for making this beautiful and disturbing film. I am SO NOT happy to learn that young African-Americans still prefer the white doll and think it represents goodness. Yuck! I'm "white" and belong to a 12-Step recovery club that is primarily African-American. I don't get a sense that my female co-members feel like I'm any better than they are. Recovery includes accepting that we are truly OK the way we were created.

As a "white" 62 year old I envy that my "black" friends look about 30 years younger than I! Their skin is gorgeous,soft and smooth, not all wrinkly like mine. Other than my non-youthful skin, though, I'm fully aware of the "white privilege" I have often unconsciously enjoyed throughout my life in this society.
Like one of the young women who said she wishes she knew where she came from in Africa, I don't have a real sense of culture either. I'm told my ancestors came from Switzerland, Germany, and England. Kind of a mish-mash, right?

Let's all support each other, we all need each other.

This is a GREAT video! Must say that it's very educational and should be studied further.

This film that you did was incredible.. It's sad that still today children believe that lighter skin tones or white are picked to be better. Growing up I wanted to be chocolate. I have always believed that chocolate skin tones were beautiful. regardless that I fit in the "mixed category" I hate when people tell me that. Personally I think if we want our children to start thinking different we have to start teaching them different.

It really saddens me that we are not teaching our young people the importance of being who they are, proud Black, African-Americans, Negroes, etc.

I grew up in Mississippi and remember putting white people in their place repeatedly because of they way they would talk to me.

I have two daughters who will tell you they never had a white doll. I always encouraged them to recognize who they were and to be proud of their heritage. I raised my daughters to believe they are just as important if not more than the next person; that no one is better than they are.

This a very powerful and moving documentary directed by a promising high sochool student. Her recreation of Dr. Clark's famous doll experiment is sad and poignant. The comments of the beautiful interviewees are heartfelt. Sometimes I heard my own thoughts and words coming from their mouths. Scary, especially in 2006.

I learned about your incredible film through the column of Leonard Pitts, Jr.

I see Willie Lynch mentioned a couple of times in viewers' comments. I was unaware of Lynch's historical speech on the James River until recently, it never made it into any history lessons while I was in school. It belongs there now.

Though this piece is painful it restores my optimism in our youth. Too many of us would believe that the young do nothing but consume. You have contributed greatly to society.

Be yourself and smile.

Thank you Kiri Davis. I read about your film in a newspaper column by Leonard Pitts. I went to the web site right away to see the film. There is so little in this world right now that gives me hope for the future. You have lifted me up today with the thought and work you gave to your film. To see those little children choosing the dolls is heartbreaking - I am white and hate the racism that brought these children to see white as good. Leonard Pitts makes the point that black culture has got to work for black people loving themselves. Meanwhile whites better stop being so blinded by their ignorant and dangerous racist actions. Not a single one of your actors was born thinking of themselves as bad or ugly they had to learn it. Thank you for your courage and creativity. Oh if only each young black child could see the perfect beauty that they are.

This was heartbreaking, but true! Unfortunately, dark skin people are not given the proper self-esteem from their parents or society as a whole. I'm a 49 year old African-American female born in Wisconsin and currently living in Texas. I am, what I call, an "in-between color"; neither light nor dark. Growing up, I never saw any black people in successful/leadership positions, but I was very proud of who I was and was determined to prove that blacks were as educated and progressive as whites. I got married to a lighter skinned, curly head man from Florida, not because he was light, but because of who he was on the inside. On the inside he was "blacker" than dark skinned brothers. The dark skinned brothers I grew up with wanted white women; my husband wanted no parts of white women. We moved to Texas and have a light skinned, curly head daughter. We are not perplexed about that, but everybody else is! We expected her to look like that. It was never a topic of discussion in our house. We never told her she was prettier or better because of her looks, but everyone else automatically assumed she was like that. I am so sick and tired of this "slave mentality" thinking! My daughter came home to me when she was 3 years old and asked me what color she was. I asked her why she was asking me that, which I already knew, and she said, you're brown what color I'm I. She told me that someone said she was mixed up and she told them she wasn't mixed up! I thought this was funny, but sad. I told her to tell them she wasn't mixed up, she was an African-American just like them she was just a light one. These were little, young girls. Their parents had already established differences and division among different "colors" of black people. We have worked on the character of our daughter. Her external features were given by God. If her character is messed up, it doesn't matter what color she is. I have been so disappointed by this. Being a black female from the north, I've had less problems from people of the white race than my daughter has had from people of the same race. But I'm glad to report, my daughter is now 18 and has turned out to be a very "fine" young lady. The one character trait that has come out of this is she is attracted more to dark skinned men, which is okay with us, but I think it's more for acceptance and that is another subject.

First, let us congratulate the young woman who produced this excellent and outstanding movie! It was excellent!

Second, I started to cry when the last child stated that the black doll was the 'bad' doll.

Third, God must be crying too! It is sad that we do not appreciate, nor know how to begin to appreciate our self-worth and beauty as a people.

Fourth, when I was a child (6-16yrs) my parents ONLY let us watch TV shows/events if African-Americans were presented in a fair, positive and strong manner. Needless to say, we did not see much TV. However, we did have wonderful grades and a strong sense of self and place.

Conclusion: We really must decide to fight for the souls of our children!

I think the video was very informative and was wondering if a copy ia available for my children to review @ home

While watching this video the part I picked up on was the influence the mothers had on these children of the image that was acceptable in the world. Teaching the culture and heritage of our nationality is educational but one thing I would like to point out to the moms today is to encourage our children who we are in the eyes of god and the image we uphold in his eyes. We are all beautiful in many different ways. I am sad that we only look skin deep. Black is beautiul of all shades as is white.

This was a very refreshing piece of filmmaking. The doll test was especially touching and effective in hammering home the films thesis. Possibly the greatest problem facing African-Americans today is a lack of true identity. Good work keep it up.

I want to thank the young women for bringing this issue to light. I think that as we make progress in this country that we need a fair assessment every year or so to see what we are doing. That test of the children to pick which doll they felt was the better one is a clear signal that we're failing in teaching our kids, the next generational warriors that culture is very important in order to prevent a repeat of history.
As a BlK Man Age 30, darkskinned with a light brown daughter i still enforce the positive reinforcements of the african culture in our household so that she will have the connection and not use her lighter skin as a tool of separation from the darker brother/sisterhood but as an apreciation of the diaspara in all the shades of light it brings to the table. thank you once again

I learned about this during a morning talk show, I believe, and wrote down the address. This film is wonderful. The young women have been open about their feelings, and the children reflect the opinions "taught" through their lives. Each is so beautiful, and the black doll so equal. With time I hope this changes! I have watched just a few of the films, and am so impressed by the work done. I am going to pass this site on to friends. Thank you!

Many times us adults get so lost in our world, and problems that we forget about our children. The identity issues that we had while we were growing up are still around. As this documentary shows our daughters are dealing with the same issues that many of us had to deal with when we were young. It is sad that so many children still think that white is good and black is bad. That experiment just goes to show that we have not made as much progress as we thought we did. Let this be our wake up call, we need to help our children understand who they are.

I truely enjoyed this short film and I will have my daughter and her friends review it as well. I would like to know how I can purchase it. My email is above.

Im a 19 year old female. The points made in this film are matters that i have dicussions and sometimes arguements with my friends on a frequent basis about.
Im lightskinned, but I was only made aware of this at a young age by my schoolmates. I knew we were differrent shades of brown but it was only made clear to me that I was "different" by the teasing names I was called.
And recently I was told that I'm conceited because I'm lightskinned. Which to me is utter nonsense.
So to me it doesnt matter if you are light-skinned or dark-skinned you will have insucurities.

A Girl Like Me
- Absolutely Stunning

Initially, the film invoked a flood of sadness. It is 2006 and young black children still have little to no pride in themselves. It is disheartening to be reminded that little black boys and girls are waking everyday with feelings of inferiority and shame.

Yet, still we must look for signs of hope. Young black women who took the challenge of reintroducing this issue to the public produced the film. This means that black teens are thinking and engaging in dialogue about their self worth - and as a result questioning the status quo. We can celebrate the fact that the drive to heal and make whole again the psyche of Africans, in America specifically, is a concern of our youth.

WoW! How far have we really come? These are our babies, our next generation, all ready programmed to self destruct. Thank you for your work. I'm just speechless at this time...

I did not know that this problem still existed now. I thought that the majority of us thinks like myself that black is beautiful, intelligent and always have been. Name one race where everyone of them are prefect. You can't no one can.I teach my children that if you can't love self you can't love anyone else.

I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes; my heart hurts. What I just saw in "A Girl Like Me" is painfully true. Throughout my lifetime I have seen this pain manifest as anger, jealousy, hatred, low self worth, and countless other ways in my people. I feel like I want to do something to help, but at the same time, I feel helpless. I want to trace my family history back to Africa. I have started my family tree and I am determined to go back as far as I can. This film made me realize that a huge part of problem with our race is that we can't trace our roots back to the Motherland. I have so much to say but unfortunately I have to sign off now. However, I will be SURE to e-mail this to everyone I know. I think that everyone everywhere should see this film. Thank You.

Excellent, truthful and extremely insightful. This just proves that we as African americans have some inprovements to make in assuring that our upcoming generations understand their value and worth regardless of skin tone and hair texture. Its actually deeper than this. Thanks so much for this awesome work!

This film was powerful! It's not everyday that you can hear the voice of young black women and I cherished the info. they shared... The child/doll test was so hard to watch... I was balling at that point.
We need everyone in this country to watch this film... It's a tool to bringing awareness not just for the mind, but also for the heart!

i like it so much. im mixed an im light skinned but i would have choosen both dolls.because god is not partial so y should i be. keep up the good work KIRI DAVIS.an let the kids know whats happenin today .

I want you to know this was so profound, It touch me to see that this feeling of not knowing the beauty within our beautiful Black girls is universal, the message that society has given us as permeated into us, and we must put an end to this, by any means necessary. We need to teach culture and history to our babies, thank you for your film, I will spread the message through my organization!
Peace Within My Sista's

Tracie Berry-McGhee CEO
SistaKeeper Empowerment Center

The young lady who recorded the film should be commended for an excellently, incredible job. The other young ladies in the film are beautiful, smart, and so open and honest in sharing their thoughts and experiences.

I'm inspired by this film to discuss this issue with my 15 year-old daughter and her friends. Being black is an issue that's not always discussed in the teen/youth segment of society. And there's a definite need to discuss it, if we are to make a more positive impact in OUR CHILDREN's self-esteem, self-worth, integrity, values, and morals and all the things that affect them as individuals in a big, sometimes harsh and cruel world.

Kiri,

You are indeed a very talented young lady. I read about your film in the recent issue of JET magazine. We need more people like you to stand up and bring issues such as this to everyone's attention. I am an elementary teacher and I see some of the same things with my students that are depicted in your film. Keep up the good work and congratulations on a job well done!

Mrs. Kenya Jones

Wow! This short documentary was powerful. I am almost speechless, but not really shocked regarding the experiment that was done with the children and the dolls. I read about the study that was done years ago, but to see that this is still going on in 2006 is sad. That proves that we have to start teaching our children to be proud of who they are.

You remind me not to forget. Dr. Harriette McAdoo and I conducted a research project on some children in a church based project called Project SPIRIT in the early 1990's and found that skin color also plays a role in how children see parental preference and treatment of siblings. It is important to bring this issue to the attention of the public again. I am saddened by the results of your work and find the same to be true. Unfortunately, in the work that I do, it is obvious that the racial deprecation has become internalized and passed down in our homes.

Keep up the good work. I, and other women who received your film, are extremely proud of you. I will share your findings in the training I do with parents and others. Let me know how I can support your work.

Vanella A. Crawford, MSW, LICSW
President
THE VANELLA GROUP
Trainers in Transformation and Results
www.thevanellagroup.com

While this film is not surprising, it is nevertheless sad. It also exposes the failure of the civil rights movement regarding the psychological dimensions of maintaining a unique Black identity within the context of historical grievances.
Unfortunately, however, this problem will probably not be solved (saddly at the expense of our children) because of the social taboos that non Blacks have have forced upon those who have for so long pushed such ideas. We are witnessing the death of Black America here...

This is a very good topic it
really made me think about our young girls and how they think they have to be.(based on what people think we should be) Keep up the good work hope to see more soon.

It's heartbreaking to hear that in this day and age, young African American girls still have these beliefs. Even younger girl and boys have an innate feeling of inferiority. My heart hurts to hear it and see it in 2006. Where will it end?

hey I think all these nonsense come from us black people not recognising our identity.Then you have hollywood making it clear we can never be beautiful being black.I am a chocolate dark skin girl and am very beautiful to alot of people like it or not.I have never had this skin colour view problem,please people wake up in 2006,love who you are.Wake up every morning I am beautiful if am black light a shades inbetween wright, or just white.Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder no matter how you look at it.

First of all, I am very pleased that you all repeated that famous psychological study with the dolls. I have always wondered about what effect the eyes, voice, skin color etc of the interviewer has on the choices of the kids -- know what I mean?

And I also want to say that y'all did a terrific job.

Looking down on skin color and hair is all over the planet believe it or not.

I live in Taiwan where there is an ancient saying "One white covers three uglies". This saying, and generally any talk about skin color, refers to girls. This particular saying is in reference to a girl's ability to get married.

School rules stipulate that students cannot color their hair, nor perm (there are other rules about appearance). Girls with naturally curly hair get in trouble if they haven't already straightened their hair. Straightening is very popular here because no one wants to get teased for looking like an African.

If I tell people I am attracted by ladies with brown or dark skin, they call me a liar or look at me like I am crazy.

By the way, these attitudes are not imported from the USA!

Excellent film! I like the way that you reenacted the study. Good luck in the future!

The film brought tears to my eyes to think about my heritage and to not know where I really came from I would love to trace my heritage all the way back to my ancestors and to go to where they originated from and to learn what my culture really is. The sister at the end of the film and what she said really touch me to want to know more about my heritage.

Thanks

I love this film....The young lady who thought of creating what I would call a documentary, due to her ability to place visual footage on film, documenting our current climate of society in the 21st century. The climate of which I speak is that of ignorance by the masses, in particular those of us of African decent. I believe that the mis-education of our youth is no longer the fault of our white brotheren.......It is our responsibility to be pro-active towards the education, the real emancipation, and future of our youth. Young lady you took a very pro-active role in the stuggle to free our minds. I was so happy to hear the young sistas in the video speaking so strongly about the Afrikan roots they have and are proud of. It is a matter of psychological fact that the imprinting of success amongst Afrikan people, EXPOSURE to our beautiful heritage, and reinforcing this at a young age increases a since of pride, self-esteem, and many other things i could name, one of which is ACADEMICS..... This is so important ....I will end with keep up the good work......And HOTEP

"D. Burton"

This film makes you very aware of the fact that many children are negative about the color of their skin,and fell it is negative to be black and positive to be white.This is a terrible awareness of how black children are brainwashed in today's society.They are confused as to what beauty is about.

Wow this video was really eye opening for me. Im a 24 year old black woman and I could relate to a lot of issues that were addressed. The part that brought it home from me was when the little girl in the doll test said that the black doll was bad, and then when asked which one she looked most like she handed over the black one. That showed me that as children we are made to see ourselves as inferior and negative... wow. I'm brown skinned kinda dark and as of the last couple of years I have learned to love my complexion and to dismiss the complex that came with it.

Powerful! I wept when seeing this film. The doll experiment was painful and reminded me of the deep wounds of racism especially when it is internalized to this degree. Hand to the plow, the work to eradicate this ill from our psyche must continue unyielding! Thank you for keeping this at the front of our consciousness and close to our hearts! I provide antiracism seminars around the country, and with your permission, would like to share this production with a larger population. There are many teachers and administrators who would benefit from younger voices.

Franklin CampbellJones

First of all, I must say that I am extremely proud of 16 year old Kiri, who had the curiosity and awareness to make a film examining the obvious bias and white supremist additudes reflected in society and the media.

Hopefully, this film will be a wake-up call to people of all races. We as human beings need to see one another for who we are and not the color of our skin. It is inspiring to see that there are members of the younger generation who are raising these issues. This awareness will go a long way towards changing these detrimental attitudes.

I completly dig where they're coming from,although I'm proud of my skin now I wasn't as a child and I can say it was due to lack of education.I'm 40yrs.old now and will proudly announce to the world how proud Iam of my skin.THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION LITTLE SISTA'S.

I watched this film with an open mind and I find that these young ladies "hit the nail on the head".

I admire their honest opinions and I will definitely share this with others.

This film is very unique and very real. Let us not forget that it is not ony us African American females who feel this way. Almost all females want to be like the white barbie now.

A big thank you to Kiri and all of the young people featured. I knew it was bad, but this was eye-openingly sad to watch these tiny children show such loathing for their own color at such a young age. It really broke my heart that we haven't progressed a jot since the 1950s. Heaven help us.

I enjoyed this film short. I was able to get a clearer picture of the way that darker and lighter people are percieved. Be