♪ I'm with this ♪
♪ Complexion ♪ [ Alarm rings ]
♪ Two-step ♪ [ Alarm stops ]
♪ Complexion don't mean a thing ♪
[ Yawns ]
♪ It's a Zulu love ♪
[ Sighs ]
♪ Oh, complexion ♪
♪ Two-step ♪
♪ It all feels the same ♪
♪ It's a Zulu love ♪
♪ Ah ♪
♪ Dark as the midnight hour or bright as the morning sun ♪
Dre: Some days it's like you can guess
exactly where you're going...
Coffee, my half-Nubian queen?
Oh, well, thank you so much, my hobo-bearded king.
Jack: Mo-ooom! Da-aaad!
Ah, here we go.
What do you think he forgot this time?
Field trip.
And I bet you the rest of this creamer
that he wants one of us to chaperone.
[ Creamer splashes ]
I'll take that action. Bet.
Okay, so I need one of you guys
to pay for my class picture, okay?
You can do cash, credit, Venmo... Damn it.
And, Mom, you can write a check.
Dad, you cannot.
Ha!
Thank you.
And also, we only have 42 minutes
to get to school on time, so...
You do realize once you get there,
you still will be at school. Dre.
I understand,
but I've had perfect attendance all semester,
and if I get on time today,
I'll get my first certificate.
'Cause I need something positive
for them to put in the yearbook.
All they have right now is -- Jack Johnson, tries.
Aw. Well, that's nice. Okay, buddy.
All right, all right, I will get you to school.
Aw, look how cute you are.
Thank you so much for not holding
the invisible guns this year.
[ Sighs ] I forgot.
[ Chuckles ] Where's Diane?
What? Right there.
[ Gasps ]
Oh, my God.
What's wrong, babe?
Yeah, that's Diane.
Oh, my God!
And other days,
you never could've guessed where you'd end up.
They O.J.'d my baby!
Principal Biggs?
Uh, y-yes...
Yes, I am calling from a landline
because this is very serious.
My daughter was not lit properly in the class photo.
And someone decided to print it anyway.
Yeah, it's gonna be a fight!
All right, let me give you a little context.
Black people come in many shades,
from Mariah Carey to Wesley Snipes.
Because we look different,
we get discriminated against differently.
Like in the case of O.J.
A magazine made his skin look darker
to make him seem more villainous.
And sadly, it's not just done to us.
Like with the
"Are You Darker Than a Brown Paper Bag Test."
Sometimes we even discriminate against each other.
It's called "colorism" --
the racist belief that lightskin is good
and darkskin is bad.
But it's not just us.
People are color-struck all around the world...
In Asian communities,
some people use umbrellas and visors to avoid the sun.
In Indian communities, some dark-skinned actors
say they have trouble starring even in Bollywood movies.
And in the Latin community,
products that bleach your skin
are becoming increasingly popular.
But with Black Americans,
people believe colorism was the brainchild
of a slave owner named Willie Lynch
who taught other slave owners
how to control us by dividing us by color.
Turns out, the story of Willie Lynch is a hoax.
But it felt real because of the fact that slave owners
did divide us by color,
putting dark slaves in the field
and light slaves in the house.
This separation caused deep-seated tension
and resentment that continues to this day.
The resentment is so great
that it makes us hyper-sensitive
to issues of complexion.
Which brings us back to this...
It's gonna be a fight!
Yeah, we are coming in there to see you this morning.
Mm-hmm, a real cat fight!
Yeah, uh-huh...
Like, immediately after drop-off,
we are coming to your office.
Mm-hmm, I'm talking about hair wrapped, earrings out,
Vaseline on your face fight! Okay. Okay.
Uh-huh. We will see you then.
Thank you. Mm-hmm.
Unbelievable.
You got this, Bow. You got this.
You can get her.
You can take her.
I'm not fighting the principal, Dre. Why not?
-What? -Hey, what's going on here?
D-- I... This.
So when is Rainbow gonna fight the principal?
That's what I'm talking about! What is wrong with --
Whup my ass! What is wrong with you guys?
Diane!
[ Hushed voice ] Honestly, Mama...
How are you doing?
Mother, why are you touching me?
We saw your class photo.
Oh, that? Yeah.
Eh, it's no big deal.
Yes, it is. Dre: Yeah.
Yes, it is.
Sweetheart, it is not okay
for them to light you like this.
They need to be more sensitive to all complexions.
-Mm-hmm. -Mm-hmm.
And we're gonna go and talk to them about this.
Yes, your mother gonna beat up the principal. No, I'm not.
No, you're not.
But you're gonna try your best.
I'm proud of you, baby.
You guys don't have to do this.
Everybody takes bad pictures.
Yeah, especially Dad in the '90s.
♪♪
Do y'all know how hard it is to lean on a cane?
Oh, my God. Huh? Do you?
Okay, well, the point is we have less than 40 minutes
to get to school on time.
Yes, and we are gonna get you there.
And when we do,
we are going to explain to Principal Biggs
that this is thoughtless and hurtful.
And we are gonna demand
that she retake this photo with proper lighting.
No...
we're gonna go in there screaming
how racist they are
and get free pictures for the rest of our lives.
And then I'm gonna ask for some Kanye tickets.
-Kanye? -I really want to see him,
but I will never ever give that man any more of my money.
We have no idea if this was intentional.
We can't just walk into Valley Glen
yelling about racism.
It can't always be peaceful, Bow.
Sometimes you need a Ferguson.
We don't need either.
I honestly think the photographer just messed up.
So can we please just drop this?
This is nothing to be ashamed of.
And I know this is uncomfortable,
but you have to trust us, okay?
We're gonna figure this out...
[ Sighs ] ...together, as a family, okay?
Whoo! Morning.
Do I have time to get a smoothie before work?
Uh, we're gonna be late.
We got to go to the school
because Diane has had her first issues with complexion.
Mm.
So a yes on the smoothie.
Thank you, bigotry.
Junior.
But, hey, don't worry.
If you can handle our family's issues with complexion,
then you can handle anybody else's. What issues?
[ Car tires screeching ] If you're wondering why this feels
like an accident about to happen,
it's because colorism is something Black families
really don't like to talk about.
I just meant she'll get used to it.
You know, since we're all colorists.
Whoa. I mean, especially Dad.
[ Car tires squealing, glass shattering ]
What the hell are you saying?
Oh, uh, my bad.
Did you guys want to be the ones to break it to her?
[ Ruby muttering ]
Rainbow: Junior.
What are you talking about?
Yeah, we're not colorists.
Oh, oh, s-so that's what we're doing here?
Oh, my bad, yeah.
This family willingly accepts Black people of all shades.
You sound stupid.
You think we treat Diane the same way the school does?
[ Sighs ] No one is saying that.
Can we just forget about all this?
Yeah, I don't think is gonna help me get to school on time.
Look, I just meant that sometimes
the lightskin people in this family
get treated badly.
That's what you meant?
But you know, baby, lightskins don't have problems.
Or course fair-skinned people have problems.
Yeah, but it's the same way rich people have problems.
[ Scoffs ] What?
Oh no, I can't fit all my money in my pocket.
Heavens, the butler is sick.
Who will apply my SPF-162 to my translucent fair skin?
[ Laughs ] Rainbow: Setting a very good example, Dre,
with all these jokes.
That's really good. No, they liked it.
This is what happens every time we talk about this.
We get jokes.
Calm down, Team Lightskin. It's all right.
Yeah, it's just jokes. Thank you, Mama.
That you guys constantly do all the time.
Team Lightskin. Or half-Nubian queen.
Or "Oh, you guys come from Lightskinsylvania."
Don't you? Or me looking like Raven-Symoné with a fade.
[ Laughs ] Guys, come on. We're talking about jokes.
Not oppression. Jokes.
Well, if it's so harmless, Dre,
then would you mind if Junior and I
just start making a couple darkskin jokes?
Come on. Yeah, a darkskin guy walks --
I dare you. Mm-hmm. Guys, go up.
Finish getting ready. You can go now.
[ Both sigh ] Go ahead. Get out of here.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, wh-- what are you doing?
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. We -- We were just talking.
Oh, we're just talking? Yes.
Well, I do not want them learning about colorism
through a whole bunch of ignorant jokes.
You know what?
You can act like you're hurt if you want to, Rainbow,
but if you get to complain about a few jokes,
I get to complain about how lightskin
is the Black standard of beauty.
[ Scoffs ]
Who do women with deeper skin tones
have to look up to, huh?
Um, Lupita.
Yeah, name another one.
Nyong'o.
Okay, see? See? See? Sit down.
Yeah, great list.
Let me help you out -- Tika Sumpter...
Mm-hmm. ...Viola Davis...
Ooh, yeah. ...and that beautiful bald-headed lady
from "Black Panther"... Danai Gurira?
Yeah. But Lupita's on all the magazines
because they only choose one darkskin woman
to celebrate every 10 years.
I'm not saying that's okay, because it's not.
But I did not choose to be born with fairer skin.
Still, people act like we created the problem.
That's why we can't tell jokes but you can.
It's like you're saying we're not really Black.
Look at this.
The lion is king of the jungle,
but when he's lightskinned, his mane is flat-ironed.
And he sings. [ Off-key singing ]
Not to mention all of the "Drake be like" jokes.
Okay, look here, man.
Drake jokes are not lightskin jokes.
Of course they are.
You're saying he's soft because he's lightskinned.
No, I'm saying he's soft
because he pees with his pinky out.
[ Ruby and Dre laugh ] It's like you can't even help yourself.
Let me tell you this --
I'd gladly trade a few jokes for lightskin privilege.
Oh, mm-hmm.
I have worked for everything that I have.
Okay, so you're saying white people
don't have white privilege?
Of course white people have white privilege.
Okay, then why can't lightskinned people
have lightskin privilege?
Because, Dre, we're still Black.
In what community?
When I walk down the street,
people don't see my privilege.
They see a Black woman.
A tan woman.
I'm not tan, Ruby.
Okay, guys, guys, I'm gonna call this, okay?
Because we are not about to solve
a few hundred years of colorism today,
all right? Mm.
So let's just agree to disagree.
I agree to disagree.
Yeah, you should probably get Jack to school, Dad.
Because clearly we are not gonna fix you guys
in one conversation.
Fix us?
♪♪
Hey, homie?
That was crazy back there, right?
Yeah. That was pretty intense.
I know, man.
One silly little comment about us being colorist
and then the ladies, they start tripping.
Right.
You know, but...you and me, we're cool.
Because I know you didn't really mean
those things you said back there.
No, I meant what I said.
Hey, man, I'm not a colorist.
I love lightskinned people.
Yeah, you love lightskinned women,
but you think lightskinned dudes are soft.
No, I just think you're soft. But Jack's not?
A guy who dances and collects flowers
on the field during his soccer game?
I did do that.
Oh, and uh... hey, Dad... Hmm?
...I think I invented a dance move.
Ah.
That's not soft?
That's just Jack.
That's just me.
Okay, that's Perfect Attendance Jack.
Meet you in the garage?
Mm-hmm.
You see?
I don't treat you any differently
because of your complexion.
[ Scoffs ] Whatever, man.
♪♪
Okay. Hey, hey, hey.
"Whatever" is what people say when they're wrong.
No, "whatever" is what people say
when they're done with a ridiculous conversation.
Hey, hey, hey, man. Where you going?
I'm not done agreeing to disagree.
I thought you said we were dropping this.
I thought you said you're gonna take me to school.
No one's gonna care if I'm lightskin or darkskin.
They're just gonna care if I'm late.
Okay. Whatever, Jack.
Ruby: Hey, hey, hey.
What's everybody hollering about?
Are the lightskins crying beige tears again?
God, can you just stop?
I go out in the world,
and I have to deal with everything
that comes with being Black,
and then I come home,
and I got to deal with your jokes.
It's like I have no safe place to be.
You think you're the only ones fighting two battles?
Darkskin people have been picked on by white people
and lightskin people ever since they brought us here.
So you're gonna blame me
for something I had nothing to do with?
[ Groans ] Babe, that is literally
the same thing white people say about slavery.
Mm. You're right. You're right about that.
You think you're so much better?
"I'm not a colorist because I've got a lightskin wife"?
[ Indistinct arguing ] Uh, hello, police?
Yeah, if I told you I had information on a crime,
would you come take me and my sister to school?
Hey, want them to come?
Tell them we know where to find a missing white girl.
Oh. Yeah.
Guys, what are we even arguing about?
Okay. [ Indistinct muttering ]
Lightskin people have it better.
I'm sorry. You just do.
Next time I get pulled over,
I'll make sure to tell the officer that. [ Sighs ]
You've never been pulled over.
I've gotten some glares from bike cops.
So maybe now we can stop pretending
that you don't earn more than us?
Or maybe that you don't get something
like 12% less time in jail?
No one's saying that's not true,
but that's not what this is about.
This is about looking at damn near every movie,
magazine, and television show
and only seeing a lighter version of yourself.
Ooh. Are you happy for them?
Yes.
But God forbid you say you feel left out,
and you're called a crab in a barrel.
The only time I see a darkskin person on TV
is when the news says
the police have murdered another one of us!
Thank you.
Since when did you become darkskin?
I'm not dark-dark, but, uh, I'm dark enough.
Not as dark as me. Oh.
No one in this family is as dark as me.
That's the problem.
That's not a problem.
The fact that you're different is a good thing. Mm-hmm.
If it's so good,
then why are you all so scared to talk about it?
Like today.
You're saying that it's about
"the camera lighting" or "complexion."
No, it's about me being darker.
Well, it's, uh, a complicated issue,
but, Diane, all Black skin is beautiful.
-Yes. -Mm-hmm.
Okay.
So then why do people bleach their skin?
[ Scoffs ] How many people do that?
It's like a $10-billion business.
-[ Sighs ] -Oh.
Diane, I had no idea that this hurt you so much.
How could it not?
♪♪
Diane: It's everywhere I look.
Oh, trust me.
Women like us shouldn't wear red lipstick.
Try this one.
It's everywhere I go.
Oh, look at you.
You are gorgeous for a darkskin girl.
[ Chuckles ]
It's everyone I talk to.
[ Sighs ] Sweetheart.
You see, now you feel bad for me!
[ Stuttering ]
This is why I didn't want to talk about it.
[ Sighs ]
I just don't want to be different!
I'll -- I'll go talk to her. Okay.
Hey, Rainbow, Rainbow.
Let me talk to her.
Excuse me?
I can connect with her on this.
Oh, and I can't?
Why? Because I'm lightskinned,
you don't think I can understand my daughter?
What is wrong with you?
Now, you know that's not what I meant. O--
But if it struck a nerve...
Ladies, let's not do this.
Let's not do what?! ...all morning!
Ruby, every -- You're wrong for that, Rainbow!
I'm wrong for that?! Yes, you're wrong for that, Rainbow!
Oh, my God. Over here telling me
I can't go talk to my grandbaby.
You told me. No, no, no, as if color
had anything to do with what I was talking about!
I don't need to know what you were talking about
because you're always saying the same thing!
You've been saying it all morning!
That's what I'm talking about!
You say to me you're better than me!
That you're Blacker than me! Ooh, and I have no struggle!
Seriously?!
My struggle is you, Ruby.
You're a monster.
I am not a monster!
I've been called that all my life,
and I'm not about to sit here and let you do it.
Oh...
What just happened?
Dre: I guess you can see why
we don't talk about colorism.
Because after generations of pain and hurt feelings,
talking about it never goes well.
Guys.
I don't know what happened back there.
I'm sorry you had to see that.
That's not so bad.
No one got shot.
Okay. [ Sighs ]
Ruby: Kids, I need you to come look at this.
Come on, baby.
Come on.
Okay.
Here we go.
Grandma, is that you?
It sure is.
[ Chuckles ]
I used to feel different, too.
You see, I was the darkest one in my family
because my people were Creoles from Baton Rouge.
They were all light enough
to pass the Brown Paper Bag Test.
Well...
until my mother met my father.
They were evil to my father.
And they were even more evil to me.
I wasn't allowed in the front yard
with my cousins.
I had to play by myself in the back
so my dark skin and my nappy hair
couldn't embarrass my lightskin family.
I can still hear their little nursery rhymes.
"If you're light, you're all right.
If you're brown, stick around.
If you're Black, get back.
Get back.
Get back."
I was mad at them, not you.
And today I realized
I have been hurting you the same way they hurt me.
I'm so...so sorry, Rainbow.
You're an incredible Black mother.
[ Quietly ] Yeah.
And I swear on everything that I love...
[ Quietly ] Come here.
[ Normal voice ] ...I'm never gonna talk about
your complexion again.
Thank you, Ruby.
I'm so, so sorry that happened to you.
Oh, I am, too.
Thank you.
Um, hey.
Son, about before, man, I --
Y-- I-It's cool.
I was so wrapped up in my own thing
that I forgot how hard it is for you out there.
It's still not an excuse.
You being you is not being soft, and I'm sorry.
Willie Lynch may not be real, but he was real today.
Oh, yeah.
And we will not allow that in our house anymore.
Sounds good to me.
So what's the hold-up?
Are we gonna talk to Ms. Biggs or what?
Are you sure?
Yeah.
This morning was rough.
Yeah.
They need to do better.
Let's go.
Okay, so now y'all want to go?
'Cause we could have done this over the drive
or during a three-day weekend
or during an episode of "Shark Tank."
We are not late.
There was an assembly this morning.
What? Yeah. Mason texted me.
I didn't tell you because I felt like
you didn't have my back today.
So w-we still can make it? Yeah.
You heard the boy. The school is on CP time.
Come on. Let's make some moves.
-Let's go. -Okay, got --
Colorism is our secret shame,
and the pain it causes keeps growing
because we rarely talk about it.
But as I looked at my multi-colored Black family,
I realized that because we talked about it,
our wounds could finally start to heal
as we learned to love ourselves out in the open.
Because nothing gets better in the shadows.
♪ Ahh, ahh, ahh ♪
♪♪
[ Pants ]
♪♪
Sorry, Jack.
It's over.
Nooooooooooo!