Reflections on Colorism


Colorism can be formally defined as prejudice or discrimination against those with darker skin which encourages the privileging of lighter skin, commonly within the same ethnic or racial group. Colorism has been an emotional and psychological phenomena that has globally impacted communities historically and in present day. This session is moderated by and features Dr. Sarah L. Webb, professor of creative writing at the University of Illinois Springfield. Webb is also the creator of Colorism Healing, an international initiative to raise critical awareness, promote healing and find solutions to colorism through creative and critical work. In Winter of 2019, Dr. Sarah L. Webb curated Reflections on Colorism: Art as the Alternative Mirror as her first visual arts exhibition which further investigates her theory on healing and resistance. In this complete session, select female artists from the exhibition, Reflections on Colorism: Art as the Alternative Mirror, will join Dr. Webb and give 15 minute visual presentations on their methodology and contextual research that support their artworks in relationship to colorism. Together the women will then have a moderated dialogue on how they resist the international phenomena of colorism and how they foster dialogue and provide healing from colorism within their art practice.

Field of Study:






Chair:
Stephanie Brown, - svbrown@umich.edu
Discussant:
Sarah Webb,University of Illinois Springfield - swebb20@uis.edu

Am I Enough
Stephanie Brown
Colorism Healing
Sarah Webb, University of Illinois Springfield
Colorism: Looking Outside the Brown Paper Bag
Ashley Adele Jones, Independent Artist