I had the opportunity to have a one-on-one interview with Dr. Brown-Glaude, and the conversation was truly engaging and exciting. She spoke about her research interests with such passion and clearly explained what initially drew her to this work. I began the interview by asking about her idea of Blackness as something “factual,” which she presents as a kind of foundational understanding before discussing skin bleaching in Jamaica. She responded by foregrounding bleaching particularly in Jamaica as a way to rethink or even “destabilize” Blackness. She connected this to neoliberalism and intentionality, explaining that some individuals bleach their skin as a means of achieving social mobility. This can look like pursuing better or more “professional” job opportunities, given the unfortunate reality that lighter skin is often perceived as more desirable in the workplace. As she described this, I found myself asking how a place like Jamaica where Black pride is so prevalent can still have such deeply rooted colorism that it pushes individuals toward bleaching in order to move up socially.
We explored this tension further. She emphasized that whiteness is globally entrenched, and even in spaces where Black pride is strong, its influence persists. She also noted that Blackness and Black pride are not monolithic or confined to binary categories. Recognizing this complexity helps us understand that Black bodies are not interchangeable or reducible to a single experience. We also discussed what has shaped her research. She reflected on growing up in Jamaica and her own experiences with colorism within her family. Later, while working on her dissertation about market women in Jamaica, she noticed that many of these women were darker-skinned. Because market work is often viewed as less desirable, this observation pushed her to further investigate the intersections of labor, colorism, and social value.Toward the end of the conversation, we bonded over Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, which is one of my favorite books. She shared that one of her favorite aspects of the novel is its exploration of madness, how the world itself is filled with it, and how we internalize and project it in our everyday lives. This led us into a deeper conversation about what it means to live in a Black body and how to navigate a world shaped by that kind of “madness.” I really enjoyed speaking with Dr. Brown-Glaude. She was kind, thoughtful, and incredibly insightful, and the conversation flowed with ease. I am excited to see the results of her work in the future.
-Da’Mirah Vinson