Hollywood’s Colorism Curse With Dr. Yaba Blay

Colorism isn’t new. It’s the curse embedded in Hollywood’s DNA. Today, Christiana sits down with scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay to unpack how colorism operates behind the scenes of pop culture, why lighter skin is still centered, and how these hierarchies shape everything from stardom to self-worth. Follow Dr. Yaba Blay: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: [email protected] If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: [email protected]  00:37 Defining “colorism” 03:30 The relativity of colorism  06:04 How colorism functions in Hollywood  08:15 A history of colorism and skin bleaching  12:50 Gender bias and colorism in entertainment  17:02 Beyonce and colorism in the music industry  28:40 Moments that feel like societal shifts 33:00 How skin bleaching has transformed  37:00 Understanding the context around why people bleach their skin  42:55 Hair trends among Black women  51:00 Questioning society and capitalism (not just the individual)  54:20 What choices can we make in light of colorism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices