May 24, 2011 – Hour 1

Today we weigh in on the controversial study “Why are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women?,” which was released and subsequently taken down from the website of the popular journal Psychology Today last week. The study was shown to have been conducted with little scientific integrity, in addition to receiving strong criticism from feminist and African American groups. Our panel comments on the perception of African American beauty in American society and the implications of this study for the body image of African American women.

Joining us today are:

Meshelle– comedienne, actress, author of 101 Things Every Girl/Young Woman of Color Should Know

Kimberly Moffitt – Assistant Professor of American Studies at UMBC, Co-Editor of Blackberries & Redbones: Critical Articulations of Black Hair/Body Politics in Africana Communities

Shawn Bediako– Assistant Professor of Psychology at UMBC, President of the Greater Baltimore Association of Black Psychologists