The National Assoc. of Indep. Schools People of Color Conference

This was my 7th year attending the People of Color Conference and the fifth time I have presented at the conference. Every year the conference is at a different city, I've been to Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans with the conference. Last year we exceeded 3,000 participants since the conference also runs along side of the Student Diversity Leadership conference for highschool students. This year the conference was in Denver Colorado. My presentation was enttled: From Hottentot to Barbie: Dismantling the beauty Standard for Girls of Color. Powerpoint Title Screen by M.Diaz>

The presentation was on the following:

In an attempt to teach wholeness, inner strength, and fortitude, we must ask: How do young women of color internalize the beauty standard of our society? This presentation will demystify the roots and contradictions that affect the self-esteem of young women of color. Partcipants will look at the historical roots and transforming standards of body image, cosmetics, and beauty via power point. They will also see a short movie of young women of coor dissecting the role of self-esteem at their schools and in their lives. This presentation is meant to encourage educators to use new forms of teaching that include character development and interdisciplinary activities. We will seek to empower educators to broaden, the very standards by which we instruct and dissemniate knowledge in and outside the classroom.