by Joneka Percentie Many people underestimate the power that representation in the media can have for young girls, and especially young girls of color–but connecting with the experiences of another person and empathizing with their stories and lives is powerful. Whenever we talk about why representation matters, I always think about this quote from actress Whoopi…
by Joneka Percentie If you follow Dear White People or TWENTIES, you’ll know why I was so excited to talk with writer, producer, and creator Lena Waithe about her current projects and her thoughts on the representation of Black women in television. Waithe is making noise in the film and television industry and and isn’t…
by Joneka Percentie After my first blog on SPARK, I’ve given much thought to the roles of women of color, specifically black women, in the production process in film and television, and how it affects their representation on the screen. So much of our everyday perceptions are shaped by what we see. Positive and honest…
by Joneka Percentie Living Single. Girlfriends. A Different World. These successful 90’s and aughts sitcoms featured black leading ladies who portrayed real women. As a young girl, I didn’t understand the importance of what I was watching. Nowadays, accurate representations of black women on television is out of style. According to the Women’s Media Center,…