Viewers of OWN’s Black Love are calling the show out for its colorism.
As reported by The Root, Twitter users gave the series a weekend full of critique after the trailer for its upcoming fourth season dropped. The trailer showed a lack of darker-skinned Black women as part of the highlighted couples.
The series’ tweet reads, “Our lives matter. Our joy matters. Our LOVE matters!” But responses ranged from anger to disbelief that it seems like darker-skinned women’s love lives weren’t explored. Some also critiqued the show’s lack of queer representation, since only one queer couple is featured in the trailer among a majority of heterosexual couples.
I hate to be this person but let me know when you have an episode with brown skin and dark skin women. Thank you.
— S.???? (@SlimSadee) August 14, 2020
Oof. This is bad, y’all. And this little bit of gaslighting just made it exponentially worse.
— Shannon Miller IS JUGGLING DEADLINES (@ShannonL_Miller) August 15, 2020
How is it so many people caught this when watching the trailer and no one on the production or network side didnt?
— Rebecca Theodore-Vachon (@FilmFatale_NYC) August 15, 2020
So only light skin women den?…..oh ok pic.twitter.com/beWBkB6Q6n
— Bannece (@annecebannece) August 15, 2020
PLEASE TAKE IT BACK AND FIX IT Where are the queer folks?? where are the dark skin people??? This is the representation you’re offering us? This is what I’m supposed to use to believe in love?? I was genuinely looking forward to this and now HELLA DISAPPOINTED.
— Auntie Divine Favour (@LiveLoveLolLala) August 15, 2020
The series’ Twitter also responded to one of the complaints.
“When I say that ‘Black love’ is nothing more than a lie, this is what I mean,” wrote a commenter. “The women had to pass a paper bag test to even get the so-called ‘Black love.’ This is why I’m [a] firm believer in Black women opening their options and dating the right person for them regardless of race.”
“Hey Ella! We agree,” the series’ account responded. “This is why we show Black men and women of all shades in loving relationships–we even show them in relationships with someone who isn’t Black[.] And some folks are mad. It sucks. But we still show US being loved. Because that’s what matters.”
Hey Ella! We agree. This is why we show Black men and women of all shades in loving relationships – we even show them in relationships with someone who isn’t Black ???? And some folks are mad. It sucks. But we still still show US being loved. Because that’s what matters❤️
— Black Love (@blacklovedoc) August 14, 2020
The response caused an even bigger backlash:
It might be better to just acknowledge that the show reflects the reality of colorism, rather than peeing on our leg and telling us it’s raining.
Good luck with “Black Love ???????????? ???????????? ????????????”
— ????????????eBoPeep???????????? (@eBoPeep) August 15, 2020
a terrible response to a legitimate critique. The trailer literally only shows LSW. If unwilling to talk about colorism and featurism, reconsider the positioning of this show as celebratory of “Black love.” Can’t be about Blk love and investing in such obvious harm to DSBW.
— Treva B (@divafeminist) August 15, 2020
So by ‘interacial relationships’ you meant black men with non black women like we don’t see that all the time and then call the show black love?? Why don’t you listen to your audience instead of defending your obvious colorist choices?
— dragonfly (@_the_gazelle_) August 15, 2020
The series gave a different response to another commenter who brought up the point that the series has control of who they give a platform to.
“For 3+ years we have shown a diverse representation of Black men & women and this teaser didn’t reflect that or the upcoming season as a whole,” Black Love‘s tweet reads. “We believe in all Black people in loving relationships and our commitment is unwavering.”
You’re absolutely right. For 3+ years we have shown a diverse representation of Black men & women and this teaser didn’t reflect that or the upcoming season as a whole. We believe in all Black people in loving relationships & our commitment is unwavering. https://t.co/zMOfUSarP5
— Black Love (@blacklovedoc) August 15, 2020
The series has featured darker-skinned women including Ryan Michelle Bathe, Viola Davis and DeWanda Wise among others. But many of the series’ couples exhibit a colorist dynamic, regardless of intention. This particular problem within the Black community when it comes to desirability is something that should be explored within the series, and it is clear that viewers want this to be depicted.
You can judge for yourself when the fourth season drops Sept. 5 on OWN.
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Photo: OWN
