The beauty of human skin in every color | Angélica Dass

TL;DR

The speaker reflects on the enduring impact of skin color and shares their personal journey in creating the project Humanae.

Transcript

It has been 128 years since the last country in the world abolished slavery and 53 years since Martin Luther King pronounced his "I Have A Dream" speech. But we still live in a world where the color of our skin not only gives a first impression, but a lasting one that remains. I was born in a family full of colors. My father is the son of a maid fr... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌎 Despite progress since the abolition of slavery and civil rights movements, discrimination based on skin color still exists worldwide.
• 👦 The speaker's diverse family background made her initially unaware of the importance of skin color, but she soon learned that it carried various meanings and implications outside of her home.
• 👧🎨 The speaker's childhood experiences, such as not finding a flesh-colored pencil that matched her skin tone, highlight the lack of representation and understanding of diverse skin colors in society.
• 🏫 The speaker often faced assumptions and prejudices based on her skin color, being mistaken for a nanny, maid, or even a prostitute, which led her to question her sense of belonging and accept certain injustices.
• 📸 Inspired by her personal experiences, the speaker created the Humanae project as a way to question and challenge society's association of skin color with race, using Pantone colors to portray the diversity of individuals.
• 🌍 The project has grown worldwide, including individuals from all backgrounds, challenging traditional labels and representations, fostering a sense of community, and sparking debates on how we perceive each other.
• 💬 The project has received touching reactions and messages from people who feel seen and understood through the work, as well as being utilized in various fields such as art, science, and education.
• 🔬 The project challenges the concept of race in modern science, raising questions about the defining factors of identity, highlighting the need to move past labels and stereotypes and instead focus on individual experiences and self-identification.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main message behind the video "Humanae"?

The main message behind the video "Humanae" is to highlight our true colors, rather than the traditional racial labels of white, red, black or yellow. It aims to question the codes and meanings associated with race, and to foster a sense of community and understanding among diverse individuals.

Q: How does the speaker portray her personal story in "Humanae"?

The speaker portrays her personal story in "Humanae" through photography. She takes portraits of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, and matches the background color to the corresponding color of the individual's skin. This serves as a visual representation of the diversity and uniqueness of each person's true colors.

Q: Why did the speaker start the project "Humanae"?

The speaker started the project "Humanae" as a personal exercise to explore the concept of color and race. Growing up in a family with diverse skin tones, the speaker experienced firsthand how the color of one's skin can influence perceptions and treatment. Through this project, she aims to challenge societal norms and encourage people to question their preconceived notions about race.

Q: What impact has the project "Humanae" had in different fields?

The project "Humanae" has had an impact in various fields. It has been used as a reference by illustrators and art students for their sketches and studies. Researchers in anthropology, physics, neuroscience, and other disciplines have also utilized "Humanae" in their scientific approaches related to human ethnicity and face recognition. Additionally, the project has been featured on the cover of political publications and used as a tool for education, particularly by teachers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses their experience growing up in a family with people of different skin colours and how it shaped their understanding of race and identity.

• They describe how their personal project, Humanae, aims to highlight the true colours of individuals and challenge the concept of race.

• The speaker shares the impact of Humanae, including the positive reactions from people who felt reflected in the project, its use in various fields like art and science, and its recognition as the cover of Foreign Affairs magazine.