The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists remembers Morgan State University student and For Brown Girls blog founder Karyn Washington, 22, who died from an apparent suicide during the weekend of April 11. She created the For Brown Girls site to promote positive images of young African American women.
According to its mission statement, For Brown Girls “was created to celebrate the beauty of dark skin while combating colorism and promoting self-love. FBG was created to celebrate darker shades of brown; to encourage those struggling with accepting having a darker skin complexion to love and embrace the skin they are in. However, women of all shades may take away from FBG the universal and essential message of self-love and acceptance.
Washington was also an advocate spearheading the Dark Skin Red Lip project to promote “Breaking Barriers and Building Confidence,” according to the website. The online campaign invites women with darker skin complexions to submit and showcase a photo of them wearing a red lip to the website.
VIDEO: In Memory of Karyn Washington : Dark Skin Red Lip Project
Washington’s social media following included nearly 4,300 Facebook likes, 2,100 Twitter followers, 610 Tumbler Dark Skin Red Lip photo submissions
As most news organizations avoid reporting suicides, Washington’s passing has sparked a conversation about mental health in the Black community.
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VIDEO: Remembering Karyn – Founder of For Brown Girls
A viewing will be held at the Howell Funeral Home of West Baltimore on Fri., April 18 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral home is located at 4600 Liberty Heights Avenue in Baltimore.
Memorial services will be held at the First Community United Methodist Church on Sat., April 19 at 10 a.m. The church is located at 5315 Harford Road in Baltimore.