False Advertising

My mother taught me that when it comes to appearances there are three versions of “you”: as you see yourself, as other people see you, and the natural looks you were born with. As an African American girl, my mother had the added responsibility of providing me with positive messaging to counterbalance the power of “white beauty” ideals and the structured policies and practices of colorism in society—prejudice based on the lightness or darkness of the skin. I was surrounded by images that generated emotional and intellectual responses that could damage my self-esteem.

Young women today do not feel they measure up. Feeling unlovable, many seek attention by transforming their appearances. In False Advertising, we have a young woman going out for a night on the town, hoping to attract attention, and possibly love. We see her picture on the wall as she naturally looks, her “beauty standard” in the mirror, and her clownish transformation.