The Oasis Center for Women & Girls held a film screening and discussion at the Black Archives Research Center and Museum on Sunday.
Attendees viewed short films and discussed the relationship between historical contemporary issues and the intersection of race and gender in the U.S.
Haley Cutler, executive director of Oasis, welcomed and informed guests of the organizations mission.
“We are a nonprofit organization in Tallahassee whose mission is improving the lives of women and girls through celebration and support,” Cutler said.
The short film Black isBlack Aint focused on subjects such as hair, beauty and sexuality. Yolanda Fairell, a sociology professor at Tallahassee Community College, facilitated the discussion. She spoke about the struggles black women face in a white society.
Black women that white society deems beautiful have to give into white standards of beauty, like straight hair and fair skin, Fairell said.
After the screening, guests began a discussion. Cheryl Moore, a Tallahassee resident, had strong opinions.
I believe everyone needs to find their self-value, Moore said. Once that happens, nobodys opinion matters.
Hip-hop artists, their suggestive lyrics and the effects music has on young black men were also discussed.
Lyrics such as those lead the black male to glorify having sexual intercourse with a lot of different women, Moore said.
According to Cutler, important issues concerning the well being of African-American females will be discussed at a public hearing Thursday at Workforce Plus.
In this hearing, some issues that will be discussed are violence against women, women-friendly workplace policies and African-American girls being expelled more frequently, Cutler said.
For information on the hearing, call 850-222-2747.
http://theoasiscenter.net/29.html