Hello, all! My name is Ka’Neisha Davis. I am a current public relations student and an aspiring PR practitioner. I was born and raised in Philadelphia; my experience here has greatly shaped the person I am today. As my graduation looms, I have been inspired to reflect. Recollecting my experiences as a woman of color has subsequently fueled me to maintain an inherent passion for diversifying film spaces. Film is a personal interest of mine that is far too often lacking in its valuable representation of women of color. With this blog, I will not only explore the historical context of this phenomenon but also examine what the steps toward progress may look like. 

From a young age, I had a notable fascination with superheroes that has remained through my adulthood. The X-Men, in particular, were a group that stood out to me most as their identities always resonated with me. Despite the inspirations of the mutant characters being debated for years, the crux of the story ideology remains the same. No matter the physical depictions of the characters, their hardship was rooted in discrimination. Without knowing the name of such a phenomenon, I was still able to identify with that feeling of otherness as a kid.

Photo by Ka’Neisha Davis, shown at the X-Men ‘97 Airbnb Experience

Whether it be the X-Men or movies more tailored to my age demographic, I was subconsciously analyzing them. Disney Channel Original Movies notably also shaped my identity. From the music to the high energy, I wanted to emulate those I saw on screen. The protagonists in DCOMs are well-liked, zealous, and intelligent. As I got older and revisited them, the themes remained the same despite the harsh reality becoming clear; rarely did I physically identify with the leads.

Historically, film has often reflected our society. Unfortunately, there have also been times when movie media have been slow to catch up with contemporary demographics. This did not go unnoticed by me. I became older and started to become more aware of why this was. I would, without knowing, see similarities to my own life. Growing up in Philadelphia meant I was no stranger to disparities in my community in comparison to others. I would then question what made my story less valuable to show on screen. 

Over the course of my time at Drexel University, I have dedicated time to interpersonal communications. Knowing the importance of being socially conscious, I also took women and gender studies, sociology, and philosophy classes. Though the subject matter differs, at the core, each of them has substantiated my work toward change in public relations. My ultimate goal is to make noteworthy changes in the way brands work with and represent people. 

As public relations professionals, we rely heavily on ethics. I believe this inherently encompasses being knowledgeable about the world. As I continue with this blog, I explore themes that resonate with me. Having discussions with those impacted by a lack of representation for women of color helps contextualize this as well. This blog covers an array of topics that are dear to me, from colorism to women behind the camera. While prompted by my senior project, this blog represents much more to me than an obligation to graduate. This platform allows me to express my passion for meaningful depictions of women of color in film.