Anybody who knows me well, or well enough for that matter, knows I was going to write about this at some point...smh...
Why do Dark Skinned Black people hating on Light Skinned Black people? Without Frederick Douglass, we would probably still be slaves. Without Jesse Jackson, helping out MLK jr,, White people would probably ignored him. Without Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas wouldn't be Judge now. Now we got Obama as President... and you know eventually we will have a dark skinned African American President. Bush looked at Colin Powell, made him Secretary of State, then gave Condi Rice a chance. See... Dark Skinned Black people should be grateful that we Light Skinned Black people are making their life easier...Agree?” - Yahoo Answers Poster
I
have grown to accept that many African-Americans don't have a genuine
desire to learn or embrace their history and heritage. I have become
accustom to one's “Blackness” in America being more so defined by
their clothes and vernacular and taste and music- this is the new
Black
Pride, at least among younger people.
What
I still find increasingly difficult to accept however, is what I
refer to among my friends and associates as “Light Skin Complex”.
Like most things in life, there are multiple dimensions to this
phenomenon- you have the light skin blacks who perceive light skin as
a default certification of beauty, you have the light skin blacks who
think that all darker skinned people are out to get them and envious,
and you even have light skin blacks who believe, as the Yahoo Answers
passage above illustrates, that light skin people have somehow
carried the weight of Blackness on their backs. It's not all light
skin Blacks, obviously...but with the advent of social media
platforms like Twitter and Instagram, the Light Skin Complex is not
only more visible, it's openly glorified.
"#tbt" refers to "Throw Back Thursdays"; on Thursday many Instagram/Twitter Users
post old photos from childhood. How shallow must you be to remind us that you're light skin?
The
younger generation is so oblivious, so ignorant of what it means to
be Black, that we now have terms like, “team light skin” or “team
mixed”. (you can find 'team dark skin' or 'team caramel' on social
media as well but the prevalence is drastically lower and often the
context is far less narcissistic). There are even entire Instagram
and Tumblr accounts dedicated solely to the proliferation of light
skin beauty. What significance is their in reaffirming your skin
color in a photograph when the photograph makes it obvious? I have to
assume stupidity unless you're a child.
I
forgive children caught up in the Light Skin Complex but if you're a
young adult or older, chances are you just unknowingly self-hating
and stupid. As far Blacks in the United States go, I hope more of us
come to realize that there's a lot of dark(and light) skin people
dead and gone and forgotten who sacrificed themselves for us all
because of what it meant to be Black, not just dark skinned.
“Even
if you in a Benz, you still a nigga in a coupe...” -Kanye
West
For
what it's worth, I honestly don't care what color a person is. And
I've never found a legitimate reason to arbitrarily reaffirm and
broadcast mine, especially when it's obvious.
-P. Maestro
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Oddly enough (or maybe not so), I find that African-Americans in the South tend to be more "color-struck"" than those elsewhere!
ReplyDeleteBeyond-The-Political-Spectrum
I can believe it...seems like a lot of the less endearing qualities about African-Americans are only intensified in the South..
Deletewell why don't you all just bleach your skin.
ReplyDeleteI think I understand what the OP is saying, but I have to respectfully disagree
ReplyDeletewith this article. The same things that are said about light skin women can be
said about dark skin women. Just as it was pointed out that some light skin
blacks think all dark skin blacks are out to get them and are envious, there are
dark skin blacks, especially women, who mistreat light skin women due to the
assumption that they will have some sort of superiority complex. I have what
most would consider light skin and I can't count the number of times I have been
in the presence of darker women who would roll their eyes and try their best to
make me feel completely invisible. I have been the target of many passive
aggressive comments and have even had these women try and test or assert my
blackness. One woman actually said, "...You know, because no one is going to
approach a sista like me, with dreds and all with some BS." What was that
supposed to mean? Was she somehow blacker than a black women without dreds, and
was this supposed to be universally accepted?
I have never known a light skin person to claim to have carried the weight of
the struggle alone. That statement is preposterous and insulting at best.
The OP says, "...light skin blacks, like white people will NEVER understand what
it feels like to live day to day with dark skin," but then reminds us "..it
still doesn't negate the fact that light or dark- you are still Black to the
world." It can't be both ways. Either black people have or have not been
discriminated against. And it is an impervious fact that ALL black people have
experienced some form of discrimination and has been or still is a victim of
some institution of racism.
Maybe the OP feels that light and dark skin people have not been discriminated
against equally, that is, at every opportunity, or in the same manner or by the
same method. Maybe in different environments under different circumstances.
But still, we have ALL felt it and despise it.
I don't see the big deal with someone liking their light skin. So what! No one
says a thing when darker people refer to themselves as chocolate, mocha, or brown suga. I guess it's ok for darker people to embrace their
complexion but pretty arrogant of lighter people to do so. It seems to me on
average that darker skin yields more even skin tone, is less prone to acne,
looks richer, smoother, and is more age-defying. So, if after all this dark
skin people are still focused on light skin people's reaction to their own skin,
then by far you are your very worst enemy.
check your light privelege
DeleteAll black societies that are mixed race are self-organizing into mulatto privilege. Jamaica is one example, in both government and business.. Eric Holder is a perfect representation. Colin Powell is also Jamaican.
ReplyDeleteHaiti is purely black run only because during their revolution they not only killed all the whites, but the far more numerous mulatto. That is why Haiti is a black paradise to this day. And then there is Detroit.
Actually Haiti is about 5% Mulatto and "other" this group runs the country with little concern for the Black masses, predictably.
DeleteAfrica is a continent and is ignorant to call yo self african american. Most blackies don't even know where they be from. You be black not african american, you stupid ass niggers.... You know what I be saying, awwright.
ReplyDeleteI am greatly conflicted. I am a light skin black women, as a child grew up in predominately poor minority neighborhoods in NY. My older sister has a dark complexion, all of our lives I felt she was beautiful body wise and complexion. Others would balk at the idea we were related because our physical appearances were opposite. Me slender, her curvy. Me pale, her dark. All the while growing up I was made fun of for being "yellow" and "skinny" all the way up to graduating highschool. Long story short to this day I have no self esteem, am weery of socializing and untrusting. Heres the conflict, now that Im well in to adulthood I now understand a great deal. With the black lives movement I am a passionate supporter. I love my people and it hurts me when any of us are misrepresented or mistreated. I come to various blogs and articles to see how we are responding to various topics and issues. Naturally the topic of colorism comes up and I read the comments and I come away deeply hurt, confused and hopeless. Why am I as a light skin black women not "enough"? We are supposed to stand in solidarity but my personal experiences count for nothing because of systemic racism that has placed lighter skin on a pedestal? Yes I have light skin privilege. What now? At the end of the day I am black and yes I have been treated so. I want to support my people but I feel like my people arent supporting me because of a color I didnt choose. I feel like colorism is a secondary issue. We need to get our foot into politics, into the legal system, into the banking system, into medical fields one black person at a time regardless of who is what shade of black and return what weve secured to our people and stop putting it back into the "white" mans hands. Stop believing everything "they" say and do our own research. Anyway, I am mess when it comes to organizing my thoughts any yes this is all coming from an emotional view point. Im sure someone will pick this apart and insult me instead of enlighten me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Blackman I think your beautiful I face I woul love to smell your bootyhole.
DeleteYou know what I don't understand
ReplyDeleteWhile there's articles like this stating the problem of "the light skin complex" or the argument we're all black
People have to realize the argument is never ending because some blacks don't consider biracials or anyone lighter then the paper bag black.
Should I say dark skin black people or just black people....Stupid question right.
There's a video on YouTube
Black man talking about the mulatto is the enemy. It's never ending. While there are blacks saying we're all black there blacks that doesn't consider lightskins black.
It's never ending.
Kendrick Lamar wasn't pro black anymore because of his gf...
It's never ending.
Colorism smh
W.e the argument is, you are human first. You are human before your nationality ethnicity and skin color
What is black anyway right?..
DeleteNice Post! Thanks for sharing such an amazing article, really informative,it helps me a lot. Are you looking for a Skin Complexion Treatment then please visit: Skin Complexion Treatment in Hyderabad
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis skincare cream with the LIGHT SKIN COMPLEX has truly been a game-changer for me. The formula feels light on climax spray the skin, and I've noticed a significant improvement in my skin tone and texture. It's become an essential part of my daily routine, and I can't recommend it enough for those looking to achieve a radiant and even complexion.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your insightful piece on "The Light Skin Complex" and found it to be incredibly thought-provoking. The exploration of such a nuanced topic is truly commendable.
ReplyDeleteIn particular, I appreciated the perspective offered on mamalac, which adds another layer to the discussion. It's refreshing to see diverse viewpoints being brought into the conversation, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the subject.
Looking forward to delving deeper into your content. Keep up the fantastic work!