Is Colorism Still Dividing Black Women, or Are We Finally Ready to Talk about It?
- Lillie M Jones
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
By: Naomi K. Bonman
Colorism didn’t disappear just because we learned a new language to talk about it.
It still shows up in casting calls that say “open to all shades,” but somehow always leans lighter. It shows up in the way darker-skinned women are labeled as “strong” while lighter-skinned women are allowed softness. It shows up in dating preferences whispered instead of spoken aloud. And most painfully, it shows up when Black women are placed in silent competition with one another for space, love, and visibility.
Colorism isn’t just about skin tone—it’s about access. Who gets grace? Who gets believed? Who gets centered? And who is expected to carry everyone else without complaint.
What makes colorism particularly dangerous is how subtle it’s become. It rarely announces itself anymore. Instead, it hides behind phrases like “marketable,” “relatable,” or “fits the brand.” And when these coded choices repeat over and over, they reinforce a hierarchy that keeps women divided rather than united.
FFF: Full-Figured Flings confronts this head-on.
In the film, Amber and Lauren—both plus-size models—discover that their agency is intentionally exploiting colorism within the Black community, positioning them as opposing symbols instead of allies. Their bodies are already politicized. Their skin tones become another tool for manipulation. What should have been a space of empowerment turns into a system of profit built on division.
Their response is what makes FFF powerful.
Instead of turning on each other, Amber and Lauren choose solidarity. Their final runway walk—side by side—is more than defiance. It’s a declaration: we will not be used against one another.
FFF doesn’t pretend colorism is easy to dismantle. But it reminds us that healing begins when women refuse to compete for seats at tables designed to keep them separated.
This isn’t just a film about fashion or modeling. It’s about choosing unity in a world that profits from our division.