'Dark Girls' Documentary Filmmaker Bill Duke Opens Up

Duke said he's surprised colorism is a global issue

Filmmakers Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry shined their lens on one of the darkest stains on the African American psyche. In their new film “Dark Girls,” set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Duke and Berry show how deeply racism and subsequently colorism still affects blacks, not only in America, but around the world.

Loop 21 caught up with Duke while en route to the New York City premiere of “Dark Girls” to discuss why racism and colorism still affect the modern-day African American, how the film affected him personally and if America is more racist with it’s first black president in the White House.

Loop 21: In the 21st century, in this so called post-racial society, why is colorism in the African American community still an issue?

Bill Duke: Well, because we’re not living in a post-racial society and racism exists all over the place. When you see Mr. Obama having a Senator say he didn’t want to touch a “tar baby,” remember that? ...When it’s said that they put watermelons on the White House lawn. Did you hear about that? How could we be living in a post-racial society? So, what we’re dealing with is the illusion of a post-racial society but in reality we are in the most extreme--I have never seen the most blatant--I don’t know how to describe it. Do you?

Loop 21: What surprised you the most when producing the documentary?