Colorism – Expanding Black Beauty by Kela Price

Colorism, discrimination based on skin tone, is a subset of racism and often exists within the African – American community. It is that elephant in society’s living room that no one wants to tell the entire truth about. This is mainly because even minorities don’t realize the conclusions that they derive based on skin tone. African-Americans are confused on where the problem currently exists; not where it started, but where it exists now.

 

I will preface what I’m about to say with the following: My mother’s side of the family is from Mississippi, and I love them all dearly. They are some of the kindest, sincere, hospitable people that you’d ever meet. I had the opportunity to visit them recently and as soon as I walked in the door of my grandmother’s house, my cousin said, “Hey Lilly White!” My brother’s best friend said, “Come and give me a hug with your high yellow ass.” My other cousin said, “Come here girl with your yellow conceited behind.”  They all said that I was yellow so I must be too good for the country. Of course they were saying it in a joking manner, so I didn’t take offense to it at all. But, it does prove that many still think that light skinned is some how more favorable than dark skinned.

 

 

Many studies and scholars suggest that these negative perceptions that are based on skin tone are one aspect of “cultural wounding.”  Shawn Alfonso-Wells, a visiting assistant professor of anthropology in Carnegie Mellow University’s history department, has studied racial classification in Cuba and the United States.

 

 

“Here we are in the 21^st century and once again those relationships that were forged under enslavement are coming to light again, all that between the domestic (house slave) and the field [slave], “ Dr. Alfonso-Wells said. “If you had lighter skin, your conditions weren’t as harsh. Those who were lighter skinned had more opportunities to escape their conditions than those who had darker skin, and you can still see that today.”

 

 

The fact of the matter is that yes, this is an old age struggle that began with slavery. However, the struggle has continued among African-Americans because we refuse to let it die. Black people are harder on other black people due to their skin tone. And, I understand it’s because our identity was stolen from us, but we know that now so why do we continue to tear each other down? Dark skinned isn’t good enough and light skinned people are just trying to be good enough because we think we’re white. What that says to me is neither is good because it’s not white. As a light skinned woman, I can accept this from whites, but it’s a hard pill to swallow when it comes from your own people.

 

I recently learned that in commemoration of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 100 years of sisterhood and service, the Sorority unveiled the AKA Centennial Barbie Doll that was produced and marketed in partnership with Mattel. Before I even saw the doll, I read several emails and blog posts that suggested that this doll was causing tons of confusion among African-American sistahs. Apparently, some sistahs were really upset because the doll was a direct reflection of a light skinned, long-haired woman. Some thought she’d look better with darker skin and a fro. Many thought the doll continued to perpetuate the division among women who belong to sororities. According to them, AKAs are usually lighter skinned women who think they’re better than the other sororities. There were many, however, who were saddened by the fact that the color of the doll overshadowed the fact that this doll represents the first Barbie in Mattel’s franchise to honor a sorority on a milestone celebration.

 

 

Tyra Banks recently aired a show on the topic of light skinned versus dark skinned in hopes of expanding the idea of black beauty. Although it started a dialogue, which I think is needed in order to resolve old issues that aren’t yet dead; I don’t think Tyra accomplished her goal. However, it would be impossible to accomplish such a task in one show. At any rate, one guest was asked if he preferred light skinned or dark skinned women. When he said that he preferred dark skinned women, the applause and cheers were almost deafening. However, when another guest was asked who he preferred and stated that he liked light-skinned women, everybody booed. This is very offensive to me, mainly because I am a light skinned black woman who feels that she is just as black as any other African-American. My ancestors were brought over on the ship just like any other African-American’s ancestors. I can’t help the color of my skin any more than a darker skinned sistah can help the color of hers. Why am I continually penalized by my own people???

 

http://www.236.com/feed/2008/04/25/the_best_of_tyra_video_6121.php (copy and paste link in your browser to view clips of the light skinned versus dark skinned episode).

 

 

The question remains – “what’s the solution?”  No matter how we got here, how do we fix it?  I don’t want my children to have to endure this struggle among their own people. How do we create unity among us? How do we get each of us to understand that black is beautiful no matter what shade it comes in? How do we get each other to really believe (not just say it, but believe it) that black people come in all different shades and we are all descendants from Africa, even the light skinned blacks? How do we get each other to understand that light skinned blacks are not trying to be white? We can’t help the skin tone that we were born with just like dark skinned people can’t help what they were born with. Furthermore, how do we get each other to understand that our mission in life now needs to be about unity and educating ourselves on our history?  We need to develop a mentality that will allow us to take pride in our culture instead of trying to attach ourselves to somebody else’s or continually degrade our own. 

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Black Is Black As Black
• TV discrimination ?
• Light and Dark Balance II

~ by blendingin on July 30, 2008.