Melanated Magic with Dr. Karen Moore
[00:00:00] Aicila: In this episode of business as unusual, I dive into the critical issue of colorism with Dr. Karen Moore of I am the color of beautiful global discover how colorism impacts dark skinned black women and women of color and the unique ways Karen's organization is addressing these challenges through media and virtual spaces.
[00:00:23] Aicila: Listeners will gain insights into the origins of colorism, the trauma it causes, and the importance of representation and storytelling in healing and empowering individuals.
[00:00:33] Aicila: Don't miss this chance to hear about actionable strategies for self affirmation and personal growth that drive women to thrive in a world that often underestimates their beauty and potential.
[00:00:45] Aicila: Welcome to this week's episode of business as unusual. I am delighted to introduce you to Dr. Karen Moore of I am the Colour of Beautiful Global. Welcome to the show, Karen.
[00:00:57] Dr. Karen Moore: Thank you so much for having me. I'm glad to be here.
[00:00:59] Aicila: [00:01:00] I am so excited. I mean, Dr. Karen Moore or Dr. Moore. I'm happy to say that sounds awkward to say Dr. Karen. I feel like a child when I do that. I'm scared. So Karen has published piles of books, which we'll link to in the show notes because you should definitely check out at least one of them. I guess maybe we could start with you giving like a really quick overview of what you're up to and then we can dive into sort of the rest of the show.
[00:01:27] Dr. Karen Moore: I am the Colour of Beautiful Global helps dark skin, black women and women of color to overcome the negative impact of colorism. And we do that through film. We do it through theater. We do it through videos and through different spoken word and digital products. And it has really been a great experience being able to provide media to dark skinned black women and dark skinned women of color to be able to help them to understand where colorism comes from [00:02:00] and to be able to understand the hurt and the trauma that they've experienced. So that's a large part of what we do for I am the color of beautiful global.
[00:02:11] Aicila: Well, and thank you. One of the things that you talked about in our pre show exchange, that something that you wish more people knew, Is the impact of of colorism. Are you willing to talk a little bit about the impact of colorism? Just give people a little more understanding of that?
[00:02:30] Dr. Karen Moore: Yes. Well, I'll just say briefly that it Colorism actually stems from slavery, and it was, it was the idea that lighter skin, many times you'll hear people say that lighter skinned slaves were in the house, the darker skinned slaves were in the field, and this was, this was, began the separation of color. and the appreciation of color within our communities as well as outside of our communities. So when [00:03:00] slaves were brought here and they were raped by their white masters and they produced children that were lighter, those children, not only because they were necessarily the master's children were in the house because they were lighter and It began that whole idea of lighter skin is better than darker skin.
[00:03:17] Dr. Karen Moore: You're more privileged cause you're in the house. You're still a slave, but you're in the house and you know, the darker slaves were in the field. So what that has done even since slavery is this idea that lighter skin is more beautiful, more valuable, more worthy and darker skin is not. And so this has carried on since slavery and what it has done for darker skin, black women and darker skin women of color. is kind of given us this idea that we're not beautiful and that we have to navigate spaces so differently because people are looking at the color of our skin, not only from a racism standpoint, but [00:04:00] now from a colorism standpoint, even within our own communities, which is a large part of where colorism is really shows is, In our communities, this idea that okay, because I'm a light skinned woman, I'm pretty, I'm automatically pretty and I'm automatically valuable and worthy.
[00:04:17] Dr. Karen Moore: And we see it in media. We see it in, in, in not only, video media, film media, TV media, but we see it in print media. We see it when we start talking about the beautiful, the beautiful girls for the cosmetics. It's gotten better. You know, it's gotten better. We are seeing, we see, I believe, Lupita Nyong'o did Covergirl, one of those she did, I can't remember which one it was, but you did begin to see her and you began to see some other darker skinned, you know Actresses and models now being the face of cosmetic companies, but it's not as, as, as it not, it's not as much as it should be, but it has gotten. [00:05:00] So the trauma that that gives to dark skinned women, because representation matters and being able to see yourself in these spaces that are considered beauty or beautiful, it makes a difference for dark skinned women and girls who are coming up, not believing that they are the beautiful one.
[00:05:16] Aicila: yeah, no, it really, it does, representation matters. I met Dr. Moore through a platform we were both on called go brunch. We're in the global business Plaza there, and she has created a space. And I, I don't know if you want to talk about that, but I think it's based on what you've shared about your process.
[00:05:40] Aicila: It might make sense where women, well, why don't I let you describe it if that's okay, like the, what your approach is and how you, do you have a virtual space? You have a virtual space as well as an in person space, or is it all virtual?
[00:05:53] Dr. Karen Moore: it's all virtual right now.
[00:05:55] Aicila: Okay, cool. It's beautiful. I hope people go check it out. I will definitely link to your space [00:06:00] in the show notes so people can find you, but maybe you could describe a little bit about your approach and how you're working on this challenge and the traumas.
[00:06:08] Dr. Karen Moore: Yes, absolutely. So the Colour of Beautiful Studios is our virtual space. And what we've done there is we've created rooms for -We call it a safe space for dark skinned black women to be able to have these different rooms that they come in and we do different things. I, I'm a filmmaker, so I did a short film called who told you you're black is not beautiful. And we talk about colorism in the film and we have women who are both light skinned and darker skinned. to talk about their experience because we do acknowledge that lighter skinned women have suffered some of the residual effects of colorism. I've talked to light skinned women who, you know, have been bullied because they're light skinned with what, you know, people will call good hair. And so they also have experienced the residual effects of colorism. So we have spaces for all women, all women [00:07:00] of color, black women and women of color to be able to come together and connect and talk. And then we also have a membership for specifically for dark skin women, the Melanin Popping Beauties Power Circle, for specifically for dark skin women to be able to come. and tell their stories and share and not feel like they have to be attacked or that they have to watch what they say because of the different experiences that they've had. So this is specifically for dark skinned black women, the Melanin Popping Beauties Power Circle. And so the space kind of gives you a feel for the different things that we have going on with the film where everybody can come and see the different stories.
[00:07:39] Dr. Karen Moore: A few years ago, I was actually talking with a kindergarten teacher. Who said she had various dolls in her room of all shades. And the little girl that got the last doll, the last doll that was left was a dark skin doll. And she got the doll and she threw it across the room saying that was the ugly doll. This was kindergarten in 2023. [00:08:00] So, you know, our, our children are even under the coming up, believing that dark skin is not beautiful.
[00:08:08] Aicila: So they're not beautiful and we've got to
Yeah. When it's so, it's so soaked in a, it's like pollution, right? Like it's in the air you breathe and you don't know. And, and the way is that it, it manifests it's insidious. So I, it's something that I,
[00:08:31] Aicila: I've been in conversations where, where people can kind of like be dismissive of like, why do you need to gather in this way? And it's just like, well, because we live in a world that constantly reinforces this other thing. And it's, and if, if we, if we're going to You know, it's like an air filter, right? If I use the pollution metaphor and we need that, we need that air filter so that we don't start believing those things or we learn to unbelieve them so that we can be [00:09:00] fully ourselves in the world in ways that are expressed and powerful.
[00:09:04] Aicila: And ultimately the world's going to be better if everybody's doing that. It's not scary to have more people doing it. It's reassuring. But, but there's this weird thing that happens where people feel like, Oh, I'm left out. And it's like, no, you're just, you don't have that challenge. You have other challenges.
[00:09:18] Aicila: Go deal with them. Let's all do that together. It's fine. And when I can support you, I will for sure. But I have to clean my house first. Like that's the,
[00:09:29] Dr. Karen Moore: Yes.
[00:09:29] Aicila: know, in a, at any rate. So I think it's really important. I'm glad, I'm glad you're creating this.
[00:09:35] Dr. Karen Moore: And when women get healed. They can come out and be better women out in the world and in other spaces. One of the things that many times we hear about black women being angry. Black women are angry. Well, yeah. And, but we've got to work through that anger. We've got to work through that healing so that we can come out and be, and be more productive and be better [00:10:00] in the different spaces that we have to be in and deal with.
[00:10:02] Dr. Karen Moore: So we've got to have that time to ourselves where we connect and heal.
[00:10:07] Aicila: Yeah. Can you share a story about, what prompted this?
[00:10:13] Aicila: Like what, what in you or in your life, cause you're definitely not the first person. to notice this is a problem. But then you decided to commit yourself to creating this solution. And that's not like, that's not a casual Saturday morning, right? Like, like you, you had to be very motivated and inspired. And what, what created that motivation or inspiration for you to dedicate so much time and energy to this?
[00:10:38] Dr. Karen Moore: I do so many things. I'm such a, I'm a very creative person. I do a lot of different things. So I, I have a spoken word musical production. That I do call My Blues, a Sister Story. And in that I did a piece called Brown Skin Blues, and I began to really see how it resonated with dark skin women when I did the piece.
[00:10:58] Dr. Karen Moore: And [00:11:00] I decided that I needed to be able to do something more than just. on stage that I needed to be able to reach women across the country, across the world, who deal with the issue of the color of their skin. And so I decided that I wanted to really be able to make this something that Women could really come into a space and talk about it and feel better about it.
[00:11:27] Dr. Karen Moore: I know what I went through. I remember I tell the story that when I was in fourth grade it's this boy I wanted to have lunch with and I asked him if I could have lunch with him and he told me I was too dark and in fourth grade. So I remember how that made me feel and I remember the different things that I've gone through and how it has made me feel in different spaces and how, you know, It is so important that we address it and that we understand it and that we begin to really see how we're going to heal. [00:12:00] And that was one of the things that was very important, even with my film, I didn't want it to just be a film where people came and said, okay, yeah, that exists, that happens. Yeah. I've been through that or whatever, but there was space for conversation because I really believe that's how we're going to heal. is conversation and acknowledging it and being able to listen to one another and understand where we all are and where we've come from and our different experiences. I remember we did a, I do a lot of colorism conversations. And so in one of our colorism conversations, one of the light skinned women said that her grandmother wouldn't, Let her sleep in the bed with her. She called her a light skinned heifer. And she treated her really badly because she wasn't darker like her, the rest of her cousins. And her grandmother was like, she was, you know, she was privileged because she was lighter skin and that the other children had to be protected. She didn't have to be protected. So it's, it's, there's so much that's involved in what we experience- in our childhood, in our families, in the workplace, [00:13:00] in our communities. And so I thought it was very important to be able to have a space where we're going to actually sit down and talk about it. We're not going to just brush it aside and say, yeah, I know that was a problem or it doesn't exist anymore or whatever, but we're going to actually acknowledge it and we're going to talk about it and get past the hurt and the trauma of it so that we can lead the productive, wonderful lives that we've been created to lead.
[00:13:25] Dr. Karen Moore: I
[00:13:26] Aicila: Yeah. That's It's so powerful. And do you, do you feel like, do you see change? I know that, you know, change requires, time and action and also sometimes awareness inspires change. Do you feel like those conversations, like people leave with some sense of how to engage differently?
[00:13:53] Dr. Karen Moore: Do. I really do. I think that, for one thing, people appreciate the opportunity to speak their [00:14:00] truth
[00:14:01] Aicila: yeah.
[00:14:01] Dr. Karen Moore: in an environment that is not judgmental, in an environment that is not Real housewives in
[00:14:12] Aicila: no drama here. We're not, we're not creating the drama.
[00:14:15] Dr. Karen Moore: an environment where they can be heard and appreciated. And it's not, you're not going to be attacked for what you might say based on what your experience has been. I share, I share often that I had an experience where, there was a, the, the beautiful Nicole and she's very fair. As a matter of fact, she's so fair.
[00:14:36] Dr. Karen Moore: She, at one time, she tells a story of how she actually passed - for white. That's how fair she is. And I remember I was in an event and she came in and I was like, okay, here we go. Here she comes. You know, that was my, that was my guard up against how I've been treated. And she came and she sat down next to me and she's like, I can't even believe I'm here.
[00:14:54] Dr. Karen Moore: You won't believe the day I had. And so I was like, I said to her, you're good sis. It's okay. You're here. Everything's good. But see, [00:15:00] I already made a prejudgment about who she was before we had a conversation based on my hurts from other light skinned women. So I think that the idea that we come together and we talk about these things that we understand that many of us are predisposed to feeling certain ways because of the way we've been treated.
[00:15:20] Aicila: Right. But it's not natural, because kids don't do that. You watch kids, they don't, they're not, little kids are just so welcoming.
[00:15:26] Dr. Karen Moore: They are, they will play and, and, and all kinds of things cause, cause, you know, racism, colorism, all of the isms are taught. They're taught. And so when we come together and we talk about these different things that we can, we can understand and begin to make the change. And one of the things I remember when I did a screening, it was a virtual screening, but one of the women said afterwards, she said, you know, I text my sister during the screening and told her we've got to stop teasing our light skinned cousin. So there was a change that happened. And so. when she was exposed [00:16:00] to the stories and the words that were coming out of women's mouth that she needed, she needed to make a change, even about how she was treating her light skinned cousin. So I do see that there's a lot of change that has taken place with women and how they've come away feeling like, okay, there's some changes I need to make even in my attitude. Towards other women in my, in the way that I engage with other black women or women of color, there's some changes that I need to make. So I think it's been a really transformative journey for a lot of women.
[00:16:31] Aicila: yeah, I can see that. Do you have any actionable tips or strategies that you could offer ? Like, is there, I mean, I think, you know, they could watch your film of course, but, or if they're questioning like, how can I show up better in my family?
[00:16:49] Dr. Karen Moore: One of the things I think that's really important is knowing who you are. And coming to, coming to grips with [00:17:00] who you are as, as a woman and that you are valuable, that you are worthy. I think that affirmations are very important, affirming who you are, find affirmations or write your own affirmations, even that you can repeat to yourself during those times when your inner critic wants to tell you, you're not good enough, you're not valuable, you're not beautiful. Tell yourself you're beautiful. Start there telling yourself, I am beautiful. Don't wait for someone else to tell you. You can tell yourself. And I think many times we don't realize that we can talk positively to ourselves instead of talking negatively to ourselves. Tell yourself how beautiful you are.
[00:17:39] Dr. Karen Moore: Look in the mirror and tell yourself, I am beautiful. I am valuable. I am worthy. I am enough. Continue to repeat that until you actually do believe it. And it starts with really looking inside and deciding who you are. One of the things I tell people is, you know, sometimes you need to just sit down and write down the amazing things that you've done and look [00:18:00] at that list and say, wow, I did that. How amazing I am. And there's nothing wrong with that, but value yourself, value your worth. And understand how really complete you really are without anyone else's affirming your beauty. Affirm yourself first, and then when other people affirm you, it's even, it's even more wonderful. But make sure that you're doing that for yourself because we are responsible.
[00:18:25] Dr. Karen Moore: We all are really responsible for our own lives and for our own beliefs and for how we show up in the world. So begin to tell yourself all those amazing things that maybe you even tell other people.
[00:18:38] Dr. Karen Moore: How amazing start telling yourself how amazing you are.
[00:18:42] Aicila: That is, that's great advice. What does success look like for you?
[00:18:50] Dr. Karen Moore: Success is really seeing women transformed. Seeing women walk away and say, okay, I know that I'm [00:19:00] beautiful. And being able to communicate that to other women and especially to our children, what our little children can look in the mirror and say, I am beautiful. That means everything. I am the colour of beautiful-
[00:19:15] Dr. Karen Moore: that means everything. When a child. Can say I am the color of beautiful what even even women when they can actually say and believe I am the color of beautiful. That that's success for me that they come away believing that they are really beautiful.
[00:19:31] Aicila: Yeah, that feels like success for sure. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
[00:19:38] Dr. Karen Moore: Oh my gosh. Oh my
[00:19:42] Aicila: This has become my new favorite question. I love it.
[00:19:47] Dr. Karen Moore: I asked that question on interviews sometimes
[00:19:51] Aicila: Oh, nice.
[00:19:51] Dr. Karen Moore: No, oh my gosh, my 18 year old self. Oh, that was so long ago It's so
[00:19:58] Aicila: mean, maybe I, I [00:20:00] feel you if you can remember that far back.
[00:20:06] Dr. Karen Moore: my 18 year old self, you know, I, I would tell my 18 year old self to believe in yourself and your dreams and really pursue your dreams. Don't feel like whatever it is you want to do, Is not going to be able to provide for you. I talked to so many, especially artistic people who took another path because they were discouraged that they would be broke artists or they would, you know, they would not be able to take care of themselves. And one of the things I would really say to my 18 year old self is pursue your dream. Don't let anybody tell you that you're not going to be successful, that you won't be able, you will be a starving artist. Cause it's just not true. It's not true that, you know, as artists, we can create things that will enable us to [00:21:00] take care of ourselves and take care of our families. And so I would say to anybody, especially, I remember talking to a dancer who said, I asked her, I said, are you going to school for dance? She said, no, my parents weren't having that. And I thought, Oh, my gosh. But she wants to dance. That's that's who she is.
[00:21:17] Dr. Karen Moore: So I think it is so important. And I hope I'm not gonna get in trouble with any parents. But, you know, artists, we artists need to pursue what they love, what is in what is inside of us to create. And you need to make space for for your Children to do that. Don't discourage them from being you. For me, actors or actresses or dancers or painters or whatever it is. And encourage people to pursue the artistic part of themselves because it's who we are and we
[00:21:48] Aicila: Yeah.
[00:21:49] Dr. Karen Moore: else but that
[00:21:51] Aicila: Yeah.
[00:21:52] Aicila: No, it's really true. That's a. Wow. Do you think she would have listened?
[00:21:58] Dr. Karen Moore: I don't know if her father,[00:22:00]
[00:22:00] Aicila: There's that, right? Like
[00:22:03] Dr. Karen Moore: her dad said, but,
[00:22:07] Aicila: Yeah.
[00:22:08] Dr. Karen Moore: I hope she would have listened
[00:22:10] Dr. Karen Moore: though. She was hardheaded. Oh, that 18 year old Karen. Oh my gosh.
[00:22:14] Aicila: Oh yeah. Me too.
[00:22:15] Aicila: What's something you're excited about in your business? Do you have any events or. Use your space launching or their new offerings or anything. I know, don't you have like a million books out? Do you have another book coming out?
[00:22:29] Dr. Karen Moore: We have the virtual installation that is happening. It's opening February 1st. It's on the Go Brunch platform. So we have 10 beautiful rooms that people can go into and hear women's stories. And we have a meditation room because we want You know, there sometimes is that, we don't want, we want people to walk away, not feeling, not revisiting the trauma so much.
[00:22:56] Dr. Karen Moore: So there's a meditation room where there'll be some affirmations and some things to [00:23:00] kind of decompress from what may have. stirred up in someone when they hear some stories. So we have a meditation room and we have an art gallery where you can go and purchase art, beautiful art from the art gallery. So we're really excited about that. It's opening February 1st. It's going to run February 1st through March 29th. And if you use the code black beauty, all in caps, , you get 5 off for black history month.
[00:23:29] Aicila: And then for folks that are listening, if they want to learn more, follow you, get in touch, what's the best way for them to do that?
[00:23:35] Dr. Karen Moore: LinkedIn Karen Moore is the best way. Also our website, the color of beautiful colors spelled C O L O U R because you are beautiful. The colour of beautiful dot black is our website. So those are two places where you can reach me pretty well.
[00:23:51] Aicila: Well, thank you so much. That's wonderful. I appreciate you.
[00:23:54] Dr. Karen Moore: Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.
[00:23:58] Aicila: All right.
If you [00:24:00] found this conversation insightful, pass it on by sharing this episode with someone, you know, and go check out Dr. Moore's website, virtual space, and many books. Remember, stand in your truth and affirm your own beauty to inspire change. I'll talk to you more about how to understand your energy and use it to build your business while maintaining your well being.
Thank you for tuning in to Business as Unusual. Remember, in this ever evolving world of modern business, it's not about fitting in, it's about standing out. See you next time. Stay curious, stay innovative, and always keep it unusual.
