Celebration of World Women’s Day at WARC: Screening of the documentary DARK GIRLS (2013, 71mn)

Initially projected to take place on March 8^th, the day dedicated to our mothers, spouses and sisters the world over, the screening of Dark Girls took place on March 15^th  following the unfortunate developments on Friday March 4^th with burning, looting and loss of human lives in Dakar and environs more specifically but also in other parts of the country.

Dark Girls is « a fascinating and controversial film that goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures that span from America to the most remote corners of the globe. Women share their personal stories, touching on deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes of society, while allowing generations to heal as they learn to love themselves for who they are ».

The film was aptly analyzed and discussed by two prominent young women, Mrs Fatou Kandé Senghor, a senegalese filmmaker and artist who collaborated with famous names such as Wim Wenders and senegalese artist Jacob Yacouba and Dr Rokhaya Touré, a Toni Morrison scholar currently adjunct faculty in the Department of English (UCAD) and interpreter. The two panelists discussed the issues in the film with reference to the situation of skin color politics in the US but also in Africa, particularly in Senegal where skin bleaching may be said to have reached alarming proportions, specially among women.

A lively conversation ensued between panelists and over 27 viewers and was moderated by the Director of WARC, Professor Ousmane Séne, and his colleague from the UCAD Department of English, Professor Louis Mendy.