Black Women On: The Light, Dark Thang

A film by Celeste Crenshaw and Paula Caffey

1999 | 52 minutes | Color | DVD | Order No. 00659

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SYNOPSIS

BLACK WOMEN ON: THE LIGHT, DARK THANG explores the politics of color within the African-American community. Women representing a variety of hues--from honey-vanilla to brown-sugar chocolate--speak candidly about the longstanding "caste system" that permeates black society. These women share provocative, heart-wrenching personal stories about how being too light or too dark has profoundly influenced their life and relationships--from childhood on and throughout their adult years. Originating in a culture of slavery, the "light, dark thang" still persists. Even today it haunts black women's individual and collective memories. Both entertaining and transformative viewing, BLACK WOMEN ON: THE LIGHT, DARK THANG combines personal interviews and historical footage with literary and dramatic vignettes.

PRESS

"...a powerful commentary on the dangers of measuring our standards of beauty against mainstream society's colorless yardstick."

Vondie Curtis Hall Actor/Filmmaker

"A frank and provocative look at a problem most Black Americans would rather not talk about....Bound to promote discussion, understanding and eventually healing."

Derek McGinty PBS Straight Talk

"A wonderfully straightforward examination of the things we are usually afraid to say out loud....A valuable contribution to discussions of both race and gender, and I recommend it highly."

Pearl Cleage Author/Playwright

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Capitol Region Emmy Award, Best Public Affairs Program

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Celeste Crenshaw

Celeste Crenshaw has the skill and heart to move an audience to take action in health and matters of diversity. Her quest is to educate and change the apathy surrounding issues like hunger, health, colorism and media stereotyping which continue to plague African-American communities.

Emmy and Addy award winning Celeste Crenshaw began her broadcasting career in Reading, Pennsylvania, becoming one of the first African Americans and the first black woman to integrate a Pennsylvania radio station, WEEU, in the late seventies. She went on to produce award-winning content for PBS and Black Entertainment Television. Nationally celebrated programs include: Washington Week in Review, MacNeil Lehrer Report, the 13-part series, New Perspectives, Television from the Developing World and From Jumpstreet: The History of Black Music. Her production contributions extend to landmark campaigns on SIDS, AIDS and Diabetes.

Crenshaw was nominated for an Emmy award as co-producer of a documentary entitled HUNGER: A CAPITAL SHAME She later won an American University Women’s Award for this same documentary. Crenshaw and her co-producer have received Emmy Awards for another documentary BLACK WOMEN ON: THE LIGHT, DARK THANG. A superior songwriter, she wrote the theme song for ...THE LIGHT, DARK THANG. She also took home the coveted Addy and Davy Awards for the slogan and theme song used in a campaign against Diabetes geared toward African-American women. Her quest is to educate and change the apathy surrounding issues like hunger, health, colorism and media stereotyping which continue to plague African-American communities.

Ms. Crenshaw continues to write and produce television programs for her company. Following another dream, she completed an MFA in writing, has been published in several anthologies and is in the process of completing two novels. (8/14)

Paula Caffey

Paula Caffey (South Carolina) is a Washington-based producer who has worked in promotions and affiliate marketing, in addition to long format production. Her program “Black Visions: The Life and Works of Oscar Micheaux, featuring the host Brock Peters, which she produced and co-wrote for the BET Network, was marvelously received. For five years, Ms. Caffey produced the award-winning television series “African Journal”, an international series for and about the African continent. (04/00)

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