Announcements

UK DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE: DARK GIRLS Museum of London, 19 Sept 13, 18:30.

Dark Girls is an important and controversial documentary film that explores the prejudices that dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It exposes 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 offering hope to heal the next generation, as they learn to love themselves for who they are.

In June 2013, DARK GIRLS premiered in the USA on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel, sending #DarkGirls to the top trending spot on Twitter. Prior to the showing, Oprah led a passionate and poignant discussion of the issues with several actresses including Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee (Best Actress) Viola Davis and American Actress and Former Model Gabrielle Union.

In September 2013, director of DARK GIRLS D. Channsin “Chann” Berry, will be coming to London for the UK Premiere. The premiere will be followed by a Q&A with Mr. Berry and a discussion involving the audience, thought- leaders, celebrities and community activists. Says Chann Berry about the two years involved in making the movie: “I watched the continual hurt and disenfranchisement of so many darker-skinned black women over the years, but in making the movie I learned that all women are ‘dark girls’ at some point in their lives. The issues go way beyond hueism, the movie speaks to worthiness and self esteem. I make films to facilitate change”.

Co-founder & CEO of cultural transformation agency Abundant Sun, Dr Jude Smith Rachele, who has organised the event, says: “We are thrilled and honoured to enable a UK audience to watch and engage with such an important film that shows how women sometimes hold back other women because of their skin colour. It is an enlightening film paving the way for more honest examinations of the prevalence of racism and sexism within business and society generally.”

The sponsor of this event is leading international law firm, Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP. Glen Scarcliffe and Maurits Dolmans, both partners at the firm, oversee the firm’s diversity activities in its London office. Mr. Scarcliffe says, “Diversity and inclusion were among the founding values of our firm. Our founding partners were from different backgrounds at a time when this was highly unusual in law firms. It is still in our DNA.”

Mr. Dolmans adds, “Dark Girls is a moving documentary. For me, its message is that whatever our origin, we get the best out of ourselves only if we accept who we are, and at the same time welcome different perspectives, backgrounds and life experiences. Embracing diversity is in fact enjoyable, as well as common sense, both in private and professional life. As a business and as a society overall, we do best if we expand the pool where we find the most talented people. That’s why we are delighted to be part of this valuable project.”

Profits from the evening will be donated to the charity “Make Every Woman Count”, a young African women-led organisation that promotes and advocates for the empowerment and rights of African women and girls. MEWC has been selected as the 2013 FIRE Award Winners in the E-Development category by AFRINIC.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Film: Dark Girls, by D.Channsin Berry and Bill Duke (Producers/Directors)

Charity: Make Every Woman Count, a young African women-led organisation that promotes and advocates for the empowerment and rights of African women and girls.