The television premiere of “DARK GIRLS: The Story of Color, Gender and Race” aired last night on Oprah Winfrey‘s OWN network, however the movie hit a few theatres late last year.

[FLASHBACK: ‘Dark Girls’ Documentary Premieres in ATL – Is Life Different For Darker Women?]

Just days after Paula Deen’s lack of racial sensitivity hit the net, the documentary addressed the touchy subject of ‘colorism’.

Colorism – a term coined by author Alice Walker, is used to describe a form of discrimination based on skin color i.e. prejudice or discrimination in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to the color of their skin.

Don’t act like it doesn’t exist…

[FLASHBACK: Fantasia vs Alicia Keys: The Darkskin/Lightskin ‘Homewrecker Debate…]

We’ve talked about it… argued about… fought about it but every day we witness it firsthand in our music (like when Waka Flocka Flame announced he was giving up black girls, or when Lil Wayne raps about ‘redbones’), in print ads (like Beyonce in ‘blackface) and even in our everyday lives.

We’ve all heard phrases like ‘she’s pretty for a dark skinned girl’ and ‘light is right’ but it’s so common that most of us don’t even acknowledge the issue when we hear it.

It’s a problem so deep-rooted in self-hate that I don’t know if talking about it will even make a difference.  But I guess discussion is always a good thing.  Maybe at least one person will become enlightened.

The journey of a million miles begins with a single step…. right?

Watch the full version of ‘Dark Girls’ documentary below and join the ‘shade debate’…

What did you think of the ‘Dark Girls’ documentary?

Are ‘DARK GIRLS’ Treated Differently?