Govans Presbyterian Church Racial Justice Speakers' Series - Featuring Petula Caesar

TO PARTICIPATE: Please contact Lea Gilmore for the Zoom link at lea@govanspres.org

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Author and lecturer Petula Caesar will be kicking off Govans Presbyterian Church's Racial Justice Speakers Series by leading a discussion about colorism - a discussion that will be framed by the events she writes about in her memoir "She's Such A Bright Girl: An American Story." Petula writes extensively about the ins and outs of colorism, sharing her experiences growing up as a light-skinned black woman with a father who encouraged her to take advantage of her fair skin in order to ease the burdens she would face as a black woman in America. You can learn more about Petula, and order copies of the book at www.petulacaesar.com/aboutpetula.

WHAT IS COLORISM? In 1983, Alice Walker used the term colorism to describe “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color." Deeply rooted in the myth of white supremacy, colorism allows Black people access to certain levels of societal privilege based on their physical similarities to white people, especially skin color. While there are many layers to colorism, from the way it manifests itself within Black families with members of varying skin shades to the privileges White people instinctively and subconsciously afford to Blacks that seem more like themselves in appearance, colorism is one of the best examples of the power of the myth of white supremacy.

TO PARTICIPATE: Please contact Lea Gilmore for the Zoom link at lea@govanspres.org.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS: This event is co-sponsored by the Racial Justice Ministry and African American Affinity Group of Govans Presbyterian Church.