Why Representation Matters
When Kamala Harris took to the stage on November 7, 2020, to deliver her acceptance speech as the new Vice President-elect of the United States, she accomplished a feat that transcends politics. In her speech, she said, "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities." She then encouraged all children to see themselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. For many women and people of colour, the reality that Kamala Harris spoke of is all too real. It isn't easy to see yourself in new ways when you rarely see anybody who looks like you in those positions.
There have been glimpses of it in the past, but it's only recently that we have seen a real push for diversity and inclusion from many mainstream brands. As the demand for more representation of the B.A.M.E population continues to grow, corporations have begun to recognise the needs of this marginalised group. Where corporations have not stepped in, small business owners have worked to fill the niche. Take makeup, for example. For a long time options for darker complections where virtually none existent. Ethnic hair- and skincare were also sorely lacking, although they're both valuable market segments. Fortunately, those segments finally have the attention of big brands.
Young girls and boys model their behaviour on people they look up to, which is even more powerful when those people look like them. Without representation, girls and boys of colour are apt to buy into the idea that they are different, other or less. The damage this causes during their formative years can be long-lasting. When children don't see themselves represented on screen, on the runway, or even in their Barbie dolls, it can take a toll on their mental health. Studies have shown, some develop low self-esteem and poor self-image that can carry over into poor social and mental health and affect their academic careers.
Beyonce: Multi-Award Winning musician
and actress
First black woman to travel into space:
Mae Jemison
Barack Obama: First Black President of
the USA
Actor Chadwick Boseman
as Black Panther
Lewis Hamilton: First and only black racing
driver in Formula One
Kamala Harris: First female and woman of colour to be elected as Vice President of the USA
Living in a multi-cultural society is key to ensuring that there is equal representation for everyone no matter their colour, background, sex, ideology or faith. Multi-cultural communities get to experience the joys and pain of diversity on many levels. Shared ethnicity and rich heritages give layers to the human experience.
If the trends continue, the number of multi-ethnic communities will continue to rise and children growing up in these communities will look for themselves in commercials, internet ads, the aisles of supermarkets, and modelling their favourite brands. With the increased awareness that real-time reporting and social media can have, representation is both desirable and necessary. People of colour deserve to see themselves as integral to the societies that they participate in and work to uplift.
The most impact, perhaps, can come from the little things, like, finding a makeup shade to complement the undertones of their skin colour or coming across skin tone plasters that flawlessly blend with your complexion can make all the difference. These products send a message of inclusion and worthiness that signals a sense of empowerment. Meaningfully empowering gestures can only come from the full and sincere embrace of diversity, inclusion and representation.
As a celebration of the cultures and backgrounds of people of colour with various ethnicities, inclusion is the way forward. When people of colour find themselves depicted and recognised for their contributions, they will step forward with increasing confidence to enrich and enliven their communities.
We are all the better for listening to the viewpoints and experiences of those who are different from us. Only by hearing those voices through active representation can we decipher the best way forward for all of us, this embodies the true human ideal—a world in which people are neither defined nor limited by the colour of their skin.
