Lupita Nyong’o’s 2019 New York Times bestselling children’s book about colorism and self-love, ‘Sulwe,’ will be adapted as an animated musical on Netflix.
‘Sulwe,’ written by Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, centers around a young girl whose complexion is darker than that of everyone in her family. The book demonstrates the effects colorism has on dark-skinned girls and follows Sulwe’s journey to realizing both her outer and inner beauty.
The Oscar-winning actor, who has often been outspoken about colorism and how it’s rooted in racism and white supremacy, said in a statement that the story of Sulwe is close to her heart.
“Growing up, I was uncomfortable in my dark skin,” she said. “I rarely saw anyone who looked like me in the aspirational pages of books and magazines, or even on TV. It was a long journey for me to arrive at self-love.”
She continued, “Sulwe is a mirror for dark-skinned children to see themselves, a window for those who may not be familiar with colorism, to have understanding and empathy, and an invitation for all who feel different and unseen to recognize their innate beauty and value.”
Nyong’o celebrated the Netflix announcement on Twitter, writing that she was “excited for this next adventure.”
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