Episode twenty-five: A POV: Colourism and modern art

The More We Know Community Show with Dr. Sylvia

Caroline Chinakwe is a Nigerian-born, London – based mixed media artist, designer, and fashion stylist known for her powerful, colorful, and unapologetic visuals that capture the beauty of black culture and style while addressing social issues affecting people of color. Caroline’s latest art series, “Colourism,” created during the 2020 pandemic lockdown in London, United Kingdom, following the murder of George Floyd, explores the ugly bias surrounding the preference for lighter-toned women in the black community, perpetuated by the global beauty industry. In her own words: “I create art that will challenge the mainstream, igniting an understanding and appreciation for black culture, style, and beauty, as equal to the western ideology of beauty.”

During this episode, Caroline shares with host Dr. Sylvia her experience growing up in the United Kingdom as a Nigerian-born immigrant and her perspective and experience with colorism. And how her experience, together with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shocked and inspired her to widen her view and create a collection of mixed media art, to evoke conversations about colorism, the insidious negative impact of colorism, and the beauty of the diversity with different black skin tones.