Am Hollywood’s Acceptable Version Of A Black Girl Zendaya isn’t afraid to talk her mind in terms of problems with race. Along with registering her objection to the killings of unarmed Black people by law enforcement, the Disney star has discussed every part from Black hair to the importance of Black women in social movements. While it’s no surprise the Oakland native is so comfortable addressing the problems, she also isn’t afraid of confronting her privilege as a light-weight skin woman in Hollywood.

During this 12 months’s Beautycon Festival in Recent York City, Zendaya discussed colorism within the entertainment business and what number of see her as an “acceptable version of a Black girl.”

“As a Black woman, as a light-skinned Black woman, it’s essential that I’m using my privilege, my platform to indicate you the way much beauty there may be within the African-American community,” she said during a conversation with Bozoma Saint John, Uber’s chief brand officer. “I’m Hollywood’s, I suppose you possibly can say, acceptable version of a Black girl and that has to vary.”

“We’re vastly too beautiful and too interesting for me to only be the one representation of that,” the actor continued. “What I’m saying, it’s about creating those opportunities, sometimes. You’ve to create those paths. And that’s with anything, Hollywood, art, whatever.”

Zendaya isn’t just all talk, either. In her quest to make sure Black folks are represented on screen, she’s producing a movie concerning the first Black female Vassar College graduate called A White Lie. During her conversation with Saint John, the style maven also said she feels an obligation to make certain Black women of all hues are seen.

“I feel a responsibility to be a voice for the attractive shades my people are available in. Unfortunately, I even have a little bit of a privilege in comparison with my darker sisters and brothers,” she said. ” Can I truthfully say that I’ve needed to face the identical racism and struggles as a girl with darker skin? No, I cannot. I even have not walked in her shoes and that’s unfair of me to say. But I’m completely behind that woman.”

“I need to be an element of the movement and growth,” Zendaya continued. “And if I get put ready due to color of my skin where people will hearken to me, then I should use that privilege the appropriate way.”