Unfortunately, within the black community, there has always been an oftentimes unspoken division between women of color. With its roots in the days of slavery, skin color was used to separate and determine one’s perks and advantages within the black community. Sadly this “house” versus “field Negro” mentality has been internalized by our beautiful queens of today.
In an upcoming documentary entitled Dark Girls, it explores “the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color–particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.” The Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry-directed film is set to be released in Fall/Winter 2011.
Do you think we’ll ever evolve from this light vs. dark skinned mentality?
Watch: ‘Dark Girls’ – Preview
( Photos: GETTY IMAGES STOCK PHOTO )
NOPE..This will always be a Staple issue.
sure will…its up to us as people to change it..honestly..
This issue is not going to be resolved. The primary ones who keep this issue alive is men, especially men who control marketing and the media.
The main ones are the ones who book the models for advertising campaigns, magazine shoots, runway, designers, retailers and other brands. Those who control print, tv and internet advertising. Entertainers who ‘okay’ which models to use in videos, on tour, etc.
The few males out here who date women with their own personal hangs up and preferences that are influenced by society’s so-called beauty standards. Start there first.
it will be a staple issue if we make it one..change can be if people let it..jus like everything else if u let it be it will
I could not agree more @ The Shopping Diva- It is also those who acknowledge that there is an issue seem to be of dark complexion (myself included) and those who think that there isn’t one (our sisters of fair complexion)….I have an issue with those who believe that women of dark complexion possess these horrible traits, when women of the lighter complexion have traits just as equal. However these traits that they possess seem to be much more acceptable and a turn on….smh
I feel so upset because The so called light skinned girls// Redbones – get a bad wrap. It is sometime presumed that we have a higher self esteem than the dark skined women. We are women of color also and face the same issue as any black woman. The color issue is meant to divide us.A real man can see the beauty in you but you 1st have to see it in yourself. If you ask a light skinned women how she feel about this issue you will see there hurt on both sides. Self Image is the issue and Self Love is the answer.
oh common word “beautiful” stand beyond being darker or lighter
people are moving further and further away from the things that make up the basic foundation of living a quality life. we are becoming a society filled with alot of nonsense. i dont like these people that have power and uses it for no good. d
WOW WOW WOW WOWO!!!!! this is so sad and all week ive been witnessing this i even posted something about this issue on my Twitter page abotu all the #TeamLightSkin in ppl’s profile smh.
yeah this damn near made me cry
I don’t think it will ever be resolved. Colonialism has left the legacy of colorism on communities all across the globe. The problem exists in Asia, Africa, The Americas and yes, Europe.
My hope is that black folks put as much energy into other more pressing social and economic issues as they do in having the color conversation over and over. Not to knock this particular documentary, but it is repetitive and shows nothing new, yet folks have been talking about it for the last week all over the blogs. Yet the black unemployment gap persists, health disparities worsen, educational attainment gaps abound…
We need to put our energies, both mental and emotional into different issues.
And yet a lot of black people are saying they’ve never heard of or experienced this issue. I think the color-ism issue has much to do with the other problems. If you feel less than you don’t care about what you put in your bodies,if someone things another person is better based on skin tone, they won’t hire the darker person over the lighter person etc. These sort of topics points fingers to everything else that is impacted by it so it needs to be said/heard for as long as it take for people to change.
There will always be an issue when it comes to this because there will always be ignorance coupled with people that benefit from how things are currently and therefore could care less, but that doesn’t mean there cannot be any change.
This is so true ! This is even an issue in African culture..
I have an african father and a white mother and i’ve noticed that african guys are more interested in me because of my lighter skin, which i find to be very sad ! Even though i am lighter skinned this is an issue that really bothers me because we are still all black, and it is sad that after all the racism that black people had to endure they still have perceptions about EACHOTHER and discriminate against eachother, like it hasn’t been enough that black ppl have been through already ..
I am African and I can say that, in East Africa at least, dark women, whatever their skin tone, embrace their skin colour, voluptuous shapes, etc… I think it just depends on whether while growing up you were told that however you are, you need to love yourself. As already stated in a previous comment, racism in our world will never end and the Caucasians will always, generally, look down on us relating to beauty, intelligence & potentials in many other domains, but YOU, as a person, HAVE to believe that you are beautiful the way you are, whether it’s dark skin, big nose, big lips, short hair, etc… Summing up, I think it’s just very sad that black women, and men, have to things like bleaching themselves or think they cannot have their natural hair. This proves that the concerned believe they are inferior to the white race and this will elongate the period whereby the whites will believe they can dominate us, rule the world and are the most beautiful people on earth, which is absolutely wrong.
You know I can sadly say that as an African man with dark skin [my mother is Kenyan & Egyptian, Father is Sudanese & Samoan] I can say that in my years of living I have always been treated as less than by African American people, its always been a very big deal with them, but for my friends of every other descent [ie. Asian, European, Latin] it has never been an issue, as a matter of fact it is always them that have pushed me and pushed me to model, and to love and embrace my skin because its like treasure, not many people have the complexion, and its so dark and rich why not treasure, just the same as someone of Chinese, Korean, or Japanese descent love their tightened eyes, and how people of Northern European descent have light eyes and fair skin, or how Latin blood usually gives beautiful olive skin, and rich dark hair. Ultimately its up to an individual to embrace and love their best features, but it does help to be surrounded by positive uplifting people, and unfortunately its always been african american people who tore me down, but regardless I’m still the shit, and I will always be the shit. #realtalk
BLACK MEN and THE MEDIA are the cause of dark skinned women’s low self esteem. 9 times outta 10 black men always prefer white or mixed woman. The media nearly always choose white or mixed women in magazines T.V modelling even in music most of the woman that are on top are light Rihanna, Beyonce, Keri Hilson Alicia Keys
I think that its up to the masses to make their own decisions, if a Black man and the media are your go to source of inspiration, you need to go to Church sit down with God and get your spirit right. That is just a recipe for low self esteem is what that is. I can only hope that women of ANY race do not count on the media and men to validate their existence. that is pathetic.
Well somewhat true, but there use to be a time when dark skin men were treated the same, and I’m sure there are still those cases which is part of why they look at lighter skin as more beautiful. Maybe because dark skin women have been just about blocked out of media as much as possible we aren’t seeing those same mentalities in them and also because we’re seeing dark skin men in the media, at some point it changed where dark skin men are desirable, some light skin comedians have joked about how light skin is making a come back. So that could be the case where as dark skin women haven’t seen that change in thinking towards them. Not as a whole.
But on the flipside a lot of dark skinned women have confidence
young 1
I AGREE.
young 1
I AGREE.
SLAVERY AND WHITE PEOPLE ARE THE CAUSE OF THIS MENTALITY!! PLEASE STOP BLAMING BLACK PEOPLE. WE ARE THE VICTIMS. IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK & TIME TO MAKE THIS GO AWAY.
I will tell u this most of these guys tat are spreading their opinion are not QUALIFIED TO DATE NONE OF THE WOMEN BLACK LIGHT PURPLE. Ladies if you want your self esteem to be rooted in others opinion thats another thing. do not let other people define who you are and what you are worth. opinions are wind…what you know for sure and the truth about who u are u just do …do not settle> xoxo
This is GREAT! I find myself thinking of women the same way. I’m one of the ones that prefer light skinned women probably more than dark skin, but I have seen some beautiful women that are like caramel. Notice i said caramel. Its sad how i felt like i had to categorize the shade of a Woman’s blackness.
I felt compelled to shed that about myself because I think more people should open up on this discussion. If you want to see different stuff on CONCRETELOOP continue to comment on things like this and i’m confident you would see more of it. I hope this post reaches at least 100 comments. its worth it. Thanks to CL.
I am smart pretty well educated funny one of kind but when i start liking a guy and realize hes more into my looks than who i am i run! i dont stick around. of late ive been experiencing this light skin thing with guys its dumb! im smarter than all the ones ive liked but they prefer to live a life based on fantasy than reality..these ppl that have money n preferences are living their life the way they feel coz they think money is everything and they dont have to answer to anyone… But thats no way to live. They are not happier than the average Joe. some people just dont know how to go about living anymore they wanna fit in where they can and act a certain way. sad. being in a relationship where you’re liked because of your light skin is so superficial being in one where u connect with someone because you love how smart and funny they are or the fact that they know how to fish! two totally different things!. im only 24 but im no dumbass. I hope to have kids one day and if ever i hear any of em talkin about this crap…life is stressful enough without always having to be put down for superficial things…bills…ur job u wish u could quit..can’t take a vacation…child please if someone look at me n said ure ugly id laugh at them they would think im crazy coz does that help me pay a bill who got energy for that kind stuff…
I seriously doubt it.
I really hope ppl know that this issue concerns America only or should I say mostly, I have many black African ppl I know and Ive been to Africa and this problem of segragation between blacks does not exist there at all, excepting for some Cap Verdians who think they are whites. The only problem there is that there are growing industries producing skin products to supposedly make your skin look better and these products make the women look too clearer and it’s a shame. But ppl hating on each other for skin complexion or men only looking at and dating light skinned women, not really. You dont see kids going home crying because they wish they were light-skinned. The problem is major in the US. It’s def not all black people.
Second thing I want to say is the problem has its roots with the segragation and racism we underwent centuries ago, when the black man wanted to make sure he looked like his master. They wanted to have their hair soft and to date white women because they felt superior and no one can really judge this because the time was different and the context. They were enslaved mentally by the white men that they weren’t good enough and we all know that black people hate on their own people, hence why they betrayed some of their own and “sold” them and those had to leave Africa to the Americas, hence why still to this date you have commentators on blogs spending time hating on our own ppl succeeding like Beyoncé & such.
Black people always wait for the approval of the white men who have abilities to bring disorder among us. So basically, this is where the issue comes from. The desire to look like a white person because they supposedly look better. But who taught you to hate yourselves, your skin colors, the shape of your nose, your lips, your body, the texture of your hair? White people. This was said by Malcolm X. “There you are in the middle of the ocean you can’t swim and you worry about a white man who can’t swim in a bathtub”. This says it all. Also, Black people are insecure. They or should I say we are dumb enough to follow and never think for ourselves. This is why the problem comes from ourselves. You have some great grand parents and family who teach you that it’s better to be light skinned. SAD. There is a video model who even talked about how angry she was at Lil Wayne because dude told them they were pretty to be dark skinned and she told him back his daughter is dark skinned too and the gremlin said that his daughter was a millionaire at least and he wanted his kids to be light skinned (you will notice how all his baby mommas are light skinned). It’s like light skinned have better chances to succceed or do somehting off their lives but as much as I hate it, I can see where they’re coming from, I’ll explain later. Did you see the documentary about the Cap-Verdian ppl? Just to tell you how present in the mentalities it is. Pathetic. And since the society and world is dominated by white people, they will always prefer black ppl who are closer to their own skins and will not hesitate putting more light on them while taking their pics (Beyoncé case, it was a photo). Hence why very few dark skinned ppl in Hollywood make it or are the most successful. Halle Berry had a nose job and many other ppl who wanted their best to look whiter. As far as Im concerned I dont have a problem with ppl bleaching or wearing weaves or fake hair, everyone is fake anyway, but I have a problem when they do this not because they like it, but because they desperately want to be white. You can wear a weave because it’s easier to keep it up, white ppl tan to look darker, not to look black, it’s okay to persoanlly want your skin to look a certain way but dont do this in comparison of other races. It is what it is. Dont complain black people, stop and take things in your hands. Love yourselves, think for yourselves, be secure, they either take you or leave you no matter the shades. We are all beautiful but we are dumb enough to be mentally enslaved at a very young age and its still spreading like fire. I dont think it will be solved though. Ppl are real dumb, you dont see white ppl fighting over who is more white like milk or something! And no matter how white you wanna be, you will always remain black to other races anyway. SMH.
Yes it does exist outside of America. Have you not heard about what goes down in South Africa, there is still a brown paper bag esque rule there? My friend from TOGO told me of how mixed raced black women are often preferred over dark skin black women, or at least fussed over. Skin bleaching in general is an epidemic in many African Countries.
It also occurs among the British from some of the comments I’ve read by black people there let alone other non black ethnic groups being color-ism was spread all over and the idea that white is right. To me it’s crazy how someone can dictate your beauty, yet it is the reality and how many judge themselves.
WOW…I think you talking some sense…but I couldn’t even read all that shit right there….thats a book.
Also very prominant in India…. the higher caste were the light skin and colored (blue or green) eyes so now bleaching in very prevalent among ladies…
Don’t talk about what you don’t know…
First of all don’t categorise Africa as country, because every single country in Africa is different with different languages, cultures… So this just shows your ignorance.
Secondly I lived in Africa a place called Angola and in there, there is a huge problem between the light skin and dark skinned, in such a manner that every single rich dark skinned brother marries a mixed or a light skin women. Staying with a light skin women means respect, achievement, power, swag… whatever you wanna call it.
Thirdly whats ironic is that while in Africa I used to hear that this discrimination (racism) between the blacks only existed in Africa and not in the USA. I ALWAYS HEARD THAT IN America black ppl are all black, and only in Africa we have this complexity…
This proves that this exists all over the world wherever there is black people.
SMH God bless America!
You guys are talking about PREFERENCE for women of a certain shade, this is not what I’m talking about, I’m talking about how important the problem is in the african american community to the point that in school, children are put down and ridiculed for their skins or dark skinned are seen as highly inferior in the community and light skinned think they are closer to whites therefore better. Ive been to Africa for years and I didnt witness black people putting down each other for strictly skin problems which is what is happening in the US. I however saw industries producing more bleaching products and women using it but that’s preference, some women like it and some men do but Im refering to the bigger picture like whats happening in the US where ppl are beyond mentally enslaved hence why I used it concerned MOSTLY African Americans. Key word, MOSTLY which means Africa and many other places are touched but it’s more alarming in the US. Of course, not 100% of Africa or America is that way, Jeez!
@ NOT SO thanks for answering maturely, didnt know about the south african case. As I said, I wrote “Mostly in america”. And for the rest, You’re talking about preference.
@Dontalkshit, Funny thing how ppl pick one or two things in a post and leave what they can not criticize. SMH. Ive never mentionned Africa as a country so dont call me ignorant and dont talk about what I know or dont cause you dont me or my origins, Ive been there in West Africa for years and have african family and ppl as long time friends, Ive never seen ppl in school in Africa, among blacks, getting segragated or talked bad because they were too dark, not saying it does not happen, but where I was, no, it’s not an issue at all; contrary to the US, it’s not major. In the US, it’s a real problem since childhood. You have even your own family telling you black is not good enough. Now when you have men loving more light skinned females, its going to happen everywhere, that is called preference and I explained why in my post (enslavement…). It has nothing to do with the traumatism some ppl undergo at a young age.
Not sure where you got your information but that’s far from the truth. I’ve travel to Europe and to the Caribbean and ppl did treat you different based on your skin complexion. I work with a group of ppl from China, Germany, Pakistan, Austria and Britain and I must say they have race issues too. Especially the ones from China and Pakistan. Yes, we do have race issues in our community that needs to be corrected. However, it only starts with one. I’ll admit I’m closed-minded due to my grandmother telling me I was pretty because I am fair complexion and I shouldn’t date dark skin men cause their weren’t attractive. So I’m working on myself also.
@dumbass my comment wasn’t meant for you, it was for @Giovanni Dayevid.
yes it does exist outside of America absolutely but its not aggressive as it is here…you got hip hop music all about loving light skin women over dark skin..in no other country that nonsense exists…people might say it now and then…im from the caribbean so we grew up differently i can tell you never will there be songs about nonsense like this…hip hop has crossed the line and noone holds them accountable.
Perhaps this is an issue that needs to focus on the mentality of the parents not teaching their children to love one another, as well as the lack of exposure to other African’s and the high ignorance associated with where we actually originate from. We are our own worst enemy continuously comparing the skin tone of our skin, and using it to determine how pretty or intelligent we are. Black is Black whether you are light or dark in skin tone. We are one race, and will always be treated as one race to other people external to our own race-we are a minority. We are the only race who still in this day and age use our skin colour as an excuse of our lack of achievement, when in some cases we can use it to our advantage.
There is nothing wrong with having braided hair or an afro, because this is all I see when I go back to Africa. It seems the need to have long hair or straight hair is a result of being in a western world/culture. I remember one time when I was in America and I had my own natural hair out (something I do all the time in England), but the response was so different there. I was called an African princess or looked down on. I didn’t realise that hair could determine so much about an individual. It’s truly sad.
For all those wondering, I am a proud Black British female, I am 23 years old, and I’m getting my Master’s degree. I have my hair however I want it, when I want it, and can walk down the road knowing that I wont be judged for it even if it looks natural.
I visit this site a lot and shake my head in shock when I read some of the comments, and it just seems to be a lack of knowledge and ignorance. People talking about Iman’s hair line, instead of appreciating her beauty??? Why are people so angry and full of hate? Not that it matter’s now, but Iman is an East African woman, and it is common knowledge that a slightly bigger forehead is common to that geographical area, even attractive.
It’s just really sad, that Black people as a race are so backwards, and would rather hinder their progression instead of developing it.
For clarity, I am considered to be light in skin tone, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I still face the same challenges when applying for jobs. It is up to you as an individual to change the way you are perceived by others, and not to be a barrier to yourself.
I’ve been told that I sound white over the phone, but how are black people supposed to sound? People consider Estelle to be ugly because of her African features, when in her country she’s considered to be beautiful. Leona Lewis looks bad cos of her nose, where is it all going to end? I was called a yellow monkey when I was younger by another black child, as if that was supposed to hurt my feeling. I knew then, just like I know now, I don’t look like a monkey, and I’ve never seen a yellow one either.
I was in the states and was told that “I bet the guys over in England must be lining up round the block for you.” – why? Because of my skin tone? The first time I heard someone say “you’re pretty for a dark girl” (said to my cousin), I was like is this woman serious? What is that supposed to mean anyway?
And for guys who talk about girls with long hair, ummm beyonce, rihanna, brandy, ashanti, ciara etc, that isn’t their hair. It’s called a weave!! Which other races all use too.
You are who you are, and should be grateful for what you have. People like to complain too much, but what about the people less fortunate? I bet a burns victim would rather have a “darker” skin tone rather than to look at scars everyday.
The privileges of living in a western society has mad us blind to our roots and heritage, something we should be proud of, not ashamed.
We’re are all going to die some day, and our skin tone isn’t going to determine whether we get to heaven or not. Think about it.
Thats all
First, congrats on your achievements. Dont take the responses on this blog too serious. Sometimes ppl say things for shock value or to just get a response. We must remember that people have preferences. As cliche as it sounds, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The key is to build self-esteem. Because as much as we want to, we can’t change the world. Using Iman as an example, she is truly a beautiful woman. But ppl (including me sometimes) will still pick out what we see as a flaw. Iman is a model, the world thinks she’s beautiful, but if someone doesn’t see the beauty in Iman that the world sees that doesn’t mean that they’ve abandoned their culture. There are two types of beauty, that which catches the eye, and that which catches the heart. We will ALL be judged on our outside appearances. Thats life.
Thanks @Dude-N-Htown
Yeah I get what you’re saying, at the end of the day it does boil down to preference, and we do get judged from our appearance. I am no saint, I know I do this too, sigh. I guess the thing to remember here is to not let those comments define you as a person. Attitude will remain, but can also be changed too, it’s just a matter of time. Probably something we’ll never witness the way things are going.
I disagree with some of your generalizations. I have been to Ghana, Ethiopia and Haiti and the people there are affected by the Western standard of beauty just as much as African Americans. I proudly don natural hair and when I went to Ghana I was surprised by how many of the women wore weaves (it was the majority). I live in Michigan, which has a nice-sized population of Africans, and the majority of the women wear weaves. Many African American women are promoting natural hair.
This movie will be very interesting… I have 2 sisters… 1 light skinned & 1 dark skinned… wtf..
Giovanni Dayevid That is not the ONLY reason but it DOES contribute to the way SOME dark skinned women feel the way they do
How humiliating is this? I see women all ready to kill themselves trying to be light, when in fact it isn’t that much of a pride. I hate dark skin women because they don’t know how to love themselves and bring beautiful girls down simply because they are shades lighter than them.
First off, not all dark skin women do this so how can you hate dark skin women!?!? Secondly, those who do often lash out because of how they are treated. It’s the same as a brother that lashes out at a sister who was treated better, a coworker who was treated better etc. Although it’s not the fault of that person anger in them due to what happened to them causes them to focus on the wrong individual.
oh wooooow! you see this is the epitome of ignorance. yes true this happens but thats not the case with all dark skinned women. thats like saying all black ppl are ghetto. but the problem is there is no love in our community and lack of understanding. If you do find that this is an issue understand that this is a result of the same hate you’ve produce in your comment. its just an obvious cycle. God made us in his image. who is anyone to call anyone ugly? dark skinned people are not only beauiful but gorgeous as well as light skinned. please if anyone being dark skinned should read this believe me when i say that you are no mistake and you truly are beautiful in someone who is black’s eyes, and again i say as well as light skinned and lets not forget brown skinned. I <3 BEING A BLACK WOMAN,PERIOD. and however my daughter comes in the world SHE IS BEAUTIFUL,FACT!
Dark skin women do have a habit of taking their frustrations out on lighter skin women, in my opinion, that’s is the wrong place to start. Light skin women do not control the media, they do not control big advertising machines, designers, etc and they don’t tell men what preferences they should have in terms of who to date.
well i think your issue is a little more personal than the BIG issue here. . in general black women are being talked down too all the time heres your opportunity to learn a bit where this behavior and frustration comes from….is why this post is here in the first place…the BIG Picture lets not loose sight of that. noone is making excuse for their behavior but here u have an opportunity to see first hand whats it like u get it?
Lemma be ignorant for a second : WTF was wrong with these women teeth. PPL lets talk care of our mouth. I think that, if anything, is probably more unattractive.
I only made it through have of the video, and what i saw was good. Very sad. But there is also another side. Imagine being the fair skinned girl at a school where the majority of the girls are darker. You labeled “stuck-up”. You hear stuff like “She thinks shes all that”, and I’ve witnessed the light skinned girl getting jumped by group of girls.
Parents, talk to your kids. Show them the beauty in ALL shades.
I agree.
*made it through HALF*….not have
I was just talking w my cousin about how being light skin isn’t so ideal either. There are Black American males who won’t date light skin women b/c they feel they aren’t “Black enough.” The first question you are asked is which one of your parents is White. You are often labeled as an Oreo or thought of as stuck up before you even speak. You are hypersexualized due to the videos and lyrics which specifically point out your features as ideal. Not to diminish what darker skin women endure at all, but the grass isn’t that green on the other side.
Haha, yessss having beautiful teeth is one part of real beauty IMO. Not skin color, not hair texture. Having white, straight teeth, clear smooth skin, head full of healthy hair, low body fat and high muscle ratio…that’s physical beauty, that’s what human beings were designed to look like anyway. Not everyone is blessed with those things, and that’s fine too, but IMO when someone IS blessed with those attributes, then they’ve got it going on! It’s not about skin color or hair texture!
@J. Li, when I was younger I was called “white girl” by my own so-called friends. I got a lot of strange comments like, “how can you be black?” or “you can’t be black.” I’ve had many people try to TELL ME WHAT I AM when they don’t know me or my family. It’s crazy. But you know what, I took it all with a grain of salt. One time to dispel all of the questions of my parentage, I brought a picture of my mother and father to school to prove I don’t have a white daddy. However I learned I can’t go through life showing everyone my family tree. I accepted the fact that some people, even our own black people, just don’t “get it”. I took all my father’s physical attributes, but I was raised by a brown/dark-skinned woman with cotton-like hair. I feel like I’ve lived two experiences- my own and hers, because she’s shared so much with me. I’ve heard and seen how people have treated her just based on looks alone. I’ve peeped the games people play- and I’ve been privy to it since I was a little kid. She also made me aware of the things I might experience b/c of how I look, and she was always very candid about it, no sugarcoating. So when people tried to come at me with all that superficial bullsh*t about me being light or having this/that kind of hair, I mostly just shook it off as them being super ignorant. I never got a swelled head nor have I ever felt like I wasn’t “black enough”. I was always secure with myself and it showed. I have to thank my parents for instilling that in me and just being lucky that no one violently hated me just b/c of my appearance lol. But it’s definitely harder to handle these issues when you’re a kid or a teen though, because as some have already stated, it’s hard to have a rational discussion with kids b/c they are immature and probably just parroting what their elders have said and what they’ve seen in the media.
This was beautiful!!! Thanks for posting Concrete Loop!!! =]
Hate to be a pessimist, but no, I don’t think it will be resolved. Not through discussion anyway. We (the black community) are not the only group of people plagued by this issue. It is prevalent around the world. I actually watched a program about Chinese occupation in Cambodia this weekend, and a Cambodian man was resentful towards the Chinese, yet hated the fact he wasn’t “light” like them. He was beige/tan in color but wished he was light-skinned. Ironically he would be considered light-skinned in black America, but anyway- this issue transcends the globe. Reason why I said it wouldn’t be resolved by discussion is b/c conversations like this usually end up going no where. If change were to really occur it would have to be through actions. The easiest way to differentiate is through our senses- specifically our SIGHT. If there is a visual difference, then it’s just human nature to compare, contrast, and to make a mental note of the difference. The thought process can be benign or it can be malicious, like prejudice. I guess if something were to change, humankind would have to learn or re-program ourselves not to make malicious distinctions, i.e. “light is better than dark” when there is no solid reason to substantiate such claims. How would that be taught, how would that ideology be spread…I dunno.
wow….I am a dark skinned girl and I know I am beautiful..Now if these men (whatever race) do not think so I dont even give a damn..I am in medical school..soon imma get me a porshe, a dog and a Dildo and keep moving right along.
*two thumbs up*
I love to read that confidence and best of luck in your studies!
thank u Lisa…=)..
dildo’s arent real dicks..
I SO LOVE U FOR THAT GOD BLESS,BOO!
It’s a sad issue that are community still faces. I see it all the time especially at my University which is predominantly white. When they see us tear each other down, this makes them believe if we can do it to our own kind why can’t they do it to us as well. I see it all over campus. People want to hide the way they feel about it, but it seems like this mess will never change/end. This also goes along with sororities where they tear each other down. It gets to a point where you’re being cruel to down right ignorant. We must do better as a people folks!
In the video, there’s a lot of pointing else where, someone else said this or that about my dark skin, but the real issue is how they allowed those views to ruin their self image, and that’s the honest truth and source of the problem imo. I understand how we allow that to happen…we give other’s far too much power on how we feel about ourselves, but the problem will not be solved by trying to get other people to see dark skin as beautiful and acceptable because you can’t control how other people feel. Therefore, most of the work should be focused on not allowing what other’s say to make you feel like shit.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the only thing you can control is how you feel. Someone else is always going to have something to say (probably negative), but you have to find a way to love yourself despite that because no one else can possibly love and care for you the way you can and should. Don’t let another person have power over how you view yourself (and really think) because you’re opening yourself up to a world of pain.
Seriously, why not love yourself? Why not believe you’re beautiful and intelligent? Why not?
Who cares if someone thinks you’re ugly? Does that make it true? If someone doesn’t find you attractive, why is that your concern? Is that not that person’s issue? Believe me, they are not worried about it half as much as you are so do yourself a favor and don’t put that on yourself.
Anyhoo, colorism has been a huge issue globally for who knows how long. I simply refuse to let some false generalizations impact the way I feel about myself or other people. I can see for myself that there are assholes both light and dark and beautiful people both light and dark. People are far too complex to tightly box based solely on superficial sh*t so I don’t, and I refuse to be impacted by narrow minded idiotic people who do. Now, I recognize it happens, but I don’t follow the trend.
If you let some idiot allow you to feel bad abut yourself, is only the idiot wrong or are you wrong as well? You have to take some responsibility for your poor self-image.
I totally agree. We give too much power to others and not enough to ourselves. I have learned with eperience to take the power back. Now nobody can tell me anything.
If no one loves you, LOVE YOURSELF. Love the skin you are in. I love mine.
AWESOME CLOOP !!! THIS IS SUCH AN ISSUE AROUND THE GLOBE FOR BLACK’S , AND BLACK HOLLYWOOD PUSH’S IT MORE THEN EVER ,,,LIGHT FEMALES , ARE PRETTY , LIGHT FEMALES SHOULD BE YOUR WIFE IF UR A RAPPER ,IF UR A SPORT ATHETE , WE CAN START TRYING TO MAKE THE CHANGE BY SPEAKING OUT MORE AND BREAKING THAT SELF HATE , THAT SO MANY BLACK’S HAVE TOWARD THEMSELVE’S !!!!!
WOW CLOOP !!! THIS IS SUCH AN ISSUE AROUND THE GLOBE FOR BLACK’S , AND BLACK HOLLYWOOD PUSH’S IT MORE THEN EVER ,,,LIGHT FEMALES , ARE PRETTY , LIGHT FEMALES SHOULD BE YOUR WIFE IF UR A RAPPER ,IF UR A SPORT ATHETE , WE CAN START TRYING TO MAKE THE CHANGE BY SPEAKING OUT MORE AND BREAKING THAT SELF HATE , THAT SO MANY BLACK’S HAVE TOWARD THEMSELVE’S !!!!!
“WE CAN START TRYING TO MAKE THE CHANGE BY SPEAKING OUT MORE AND BREAKING THAT SELF HATE , THAT SO MANY BLACK’S HAVE TOWARD THEMSELVE’S !!!!!”
I’ll remember this when next I see you calling a certain female artist derogatory names
I thank GOD my BRILLIANT and AMAZING mother instilled SELF ESTEEM in me as a mocha DARK skinned, chocolate female therefore I grew up thinking I was fab and others picked up on my HIGH SELF ESTEEM energy and treated me as such…that’s how that works…
it truly start in the home people !!!
wake up to those of our people who are ignorant, break the cycle and stop being a weakling geeshh …
GOOD hair is HEALTHY hair not based on hair texture…!!!!!!!
All complexions are beautiful. It is sad how SOME black people can say things to their own race that are almost worse than another race putting us down. I am a brown complexioned girl. I have a lighter skinned sister but I have always been taught that we both are beautiful. I am so glad my household and family never said some of the horrible things these beautiful ladies experienced. I believe this film will make the world appreciate beautiful dark complexioned women even more now.
I’m a light-skinned woman and I got picked on as a child. Girls would tell me that I thought I was “all that” because I was light with long hair. I was about 7 years old and didn’t know what the hell they were talking about. I never understood where it was coming from until I got older. Then they would tell me I was half white knowing that both of my parents were African-American. I’m so sick of this issue. Many of my friends come in different shades and they are all beautiful. Everyone needs to love themselves!!!!!!
I’m light skinned as well and kids would pick on me in school, calling me all kinds of names referencing to my light skin and that I thought I was “all that” too. Both of my parents are black, but I sure couldn’t convince anyone that one of my parents weren’t white. It’s just really sad that we cannot be united as black people, b/c that’s really the issue.
Some of us have already “evolved” past this bullshit. Too bad so many black men have not. That’s one of the reasons we as a people are fucked.
Don’t talk about what you don’t know…
First of all don’t categorise Africa as country, because every single country in Africa is different with different languages, cultures… So this just shows your ignorance.
Secondly I lived in Africa a place called Angola and in there, there is a huge problem between the light skin and dark skinned, in such a manner that every single rich dark skinned brother marries a mixed or a light skin women. Staying with a light skin women means respect, achievement, power, swag… whatever you wanna call it.
Thirdly whats ironic is that while in Africa I used to hear that this discrimination (racism) between the blacks only existed in Africa and not in the USA. I ALWAYS HEARD THAT IN America black ppl are all black, and only in Africa we have this complexity…
This proves that this exists all over the world wherever there is black people.
SMH God bless America!
COULD WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING JOBS PLS, creating a new lane, doing for self, creating good families, doing things legitamate that put food on the table. Helping young people with self, having fathers and mothers in the house, living by example to your children, waiting til your mature enough mentally to have kids. Finding the best place on earth for you as an individual to be your safe haven, i mean so much other ish, and get past this 4th grade ish. Who likes who more, who does this, man tell me how i can make more money, tell me how i could better myself in this world, tell me how i could progress to be a better individual, tell me how to ignore dum ish and rise above other ish, i mean anything other is irrelevant if its not making me be a better human.
Yes, yes yes!!! Ideally these should be the things we should be figuring out. However the funny thing is, sometimes this superficial stuff plays a role in all the facets of life you just listed b/c we live amongst superficial people…and sometimes they outnumber us. But I feel you on making individuals better. It does start with one person. Hopefully positive people can get together and influence the rest.
Bob Marley said it best; “Emancipate Yourself From Mental Slavery, None But Ourselves Can Free Our Minds..” It has to start with us first.
This mess is so stupid. Pretty is pretty…..PERIOD.
I am the mother of a beautiful 13 year girl who is biracial. She’s mexican and black. She’s light skinned with beautiful blondish brown curls and she has hazel eyes like her black grandfather. Because she was born that way girls beautiful black girls on the darker shade hate her before even knowing her. She started a new school last September and from October to now we have arrested two of them for assault but actually there is a pack of them. Yes these girls act like animals because of the way my daughter looks. Not one of them were ever friends….they don’t even know my daughter’s likes or dislikes they hate her because of what she looks like. I come from a long line of light skinned women and my father had the smoothest chocolate skin he was gorgeous. In my family we were raised to simply love not hate for our differences. These girls ARE NOT being told they are beautiful they are not learning to love themselves their mothers should have their asses kicked because in this day and time beauty is not just being defined by our white sistas or even the light ones we have come far but we are not there yet but it’s up to my generation and others behind us to change it.
I feel sorry for the situation that your daughter has been put through, but you talk of your daughter in the way that white people talk about black people when they’re trying to separate them. I have heard teachers telling lighter kids that they’re no like them, they’re honey, caramel or cinnamon. Even the way you describe your father is doing the same thing because then it becomes a an issue of what shade of chocolate. I come from a family of different shades because of the mixes in our heritage, my brothers and sisters range in different complexions from myself, we are all brothers and sisters and we are all black and i think thats what people have to realise. The children who are abusing your daughter could be told that they’re beautiful but the media says otherwise. How many “darker” girls get major endorsement deals? Why did vogue have to do a black issue, and why is there such a hoo ha when there is a new black model with a major campaign? I think there are a few lessons that these girls can be taught, but i also think there is a few for you and you daughter
Who gives a damn?? Mainly self hating black men have an issue with this. I could give two shits what the next person thinks about my skin.
This is a subject covered over and over. It would be interesting if they went to other countries around the word and asked different women.
America has much more black advertising and programmes than the uk so i’m interested to know how the women feel here, or in Africa and Jamaica where skin bleaching has become the norm how it’s perceived there. This looks like a good documentary but its a worldwide issue, so they should make it international.
Jesus This Is Crazy…I Was Crying Watching This…Too Know Women Hate There Skin Color Too That Extent Is Something I Am Finding So Hard Too Process…Black Girls Whether Dark Or Light Are BEAUTIFUL!! As A White Girl What I Woud Give Too Have Gorgeous Fill Lips Or The Amazing Flawless Skin Or Body Shape And Booties You All Have You Wouldn’t Believe!!
Them Women In That Preview Are All Beautiful…This Thing With Wanting Too Bleach Skin?? OMG I Just Dunno What Too Say I Am Literally Lost For Words…
@BLKAMAZONQWN – I Really Hope These Girls Attacking Your Daughter Grow Up ASAP And Stop What They Are Doing, These Young Girls Should Be Uniting And Each Giving Each Other Confidence…I Hope It Stops Soon For Her.
I Just Dunno What Too Say, I Wish I Could Get All These Girls Together And Tell Em All How Beautiful They Are…Such A Sad Sad Thing x
I think that this whole slavery thing just needs to stop! it happened…it wasnt right but DEAL WITH IT!!!! The white man today could care less about your skin tone. Light or Dark…you are still black!!!
Its now past the era of blaming history for a mentanlity that we have te freedom to dismiss. It our minds and our misconceptions.
I am sooo dark skin and even though i was made fun of at times….I dealt with it and i love myself. I am just as beautiful as the next light skin girl.
If one feels that their friends make fun or mock their skn complexion, guys dont wanna be seen hand in hand with you…then you are mixing with the wrong crowd and maybe its a wake up call to tell you that even though we are black, we cannot always relate!
We are not and we should not forget our past and segregation still exists in some parts of America. Hard to believe, but it does. And furthermore, it has only been 50 years..ask your parents how was it growing up in the 50s or 60s. We youngsters for some reason believe that it has been a 100 years..stop covering up the truth, let it breath, see it for what it was/is; but we must NEVRE forget the past. Do the Jews forget the Holocaust? Does a rape victim forget?
I don’t think black people in America should particularly fortget about slavery but you are right, women shoudlnt care about their friends or men talking bad about their skin tone! They think too much about other peoples opinions, it shouldn’t matter to them what a self-hating black man who was obviously raised wrong or follows everything that the media is protraying, has to say about their skin ! Women should be above that and find themselves some friends and boyfriend, husbands who are past this ignorance and embrace their beauty !
I’m at the other end of the spectrum, and if you think it get’ easier being very light skinned you need to walk in my shoes. I’ve heard all the light,bright damn near white jokes
you can think of.
I was a teen-ager during the Black is Beautiful era, and when James Brown said “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”. So imagine someone saying to me “What are YOU singing that for Creole? with your high yella self”! You ain’t Black WTF!!!!!
I was crushed…….I have always felt I had to prove my Blackness like it was an exclusive club, maybe that’s why I always seem to gravitate to the darkness Brothers I could find so I wouldn’t be questions. Believe me the grass ain’t no greener on this side.
I could take being ostracized by White folks but I couldn’t take it from my own.
People please teach your children they are BEAUTIFUL no matter what shade they are beacuse BLACK is truly Beautiful!!!!!!!!!
I can so relate!
Its sad how you dont hear white people talking about who’s more Tan Vs. Pale or Blonde VS. Brunette and Red head in the media a lot….Black is beautiful and we need to all just come together
Nope… This will not go away. Insecure women need a reason to hate. And they need a reason to justify hating themselves.
HOPE! We continue to perpetuate the very things that we gripe about needing change. A black woman tried to embrace her naturally kinky hair and black women are the FIRST to scrutinize her for not “getting a perm”.
I DEFINITELY meant to say, NOPE!
I am a light skin black woman who happens to have the same issues that darker skin women have with Black men.. First of all Yes, Im light but I have kinky hair that doesnt grow long as a child my Mom would braid my hair with fake hair so that it looked longer.. that gave me a complex so I continued to do this as an adult (wear fake hair) When i meet a man that is looking for that “light Skin girl with good hair” he is all over me until he finds out “thats not my hair” now is when I have problems.. sad but true.. Not denying my skin color absolutely gets me thru the dooor! but once in it changes…
I wish with all of my heart Black people can get beyond the conditioning that has been ingrained into us by Eurocentric Europeans throughout the centuries. Our young people need to stop perpetuating the things that divide us and learn to embrace the wonders of who we actually are without assimilating into their Eurocentric ideals!!!!! Take some Afrocentric courses, learn what it is that makes us beautiful and stop accepting Eurocentric ways!!!!! You will always be at the bottom of the barrel if you cannot get it together as a people!!! I am just saying……..Don’t be stupid forever!!!!!!
CL is sooooooooooooooooo late w/ this post. It has been on the next for over a week now.
Yes. Blacks will always be judgemental towards their own. But what bothers me is that dark skin girls believe that being “light skin” will solve their issues. Umm… dummy u are still black at the end of the day. Light skin girls receive negative feedback and they are not excluded when it comes on to discrimination.
better late than never. sick of people saying this “late” crap.
wow that vid was very touching, as a dark skin girl myself i have never experienced any abuse about my complexion, never really thought it was that serious but i now see that it is…smh
I grew up at a time when people talked about light and dark skinned. I was not affected because I was a light brown, and since have become brown skinned. I have to say, I honestly have never cared…can I just tell you…I’m a fan of beauty. I never cared what complexion someone was I noticed if she was pretty (or he). I’m about the face…forget all that other ish. If you happen to be dark and ugly then so be it, if you light and ugly so be it. I remember people giving props to the girl cause she as light skinned. i remember looking at her with like a million red juicy bumps all over her skin, and beyond that an unattractive face and thinking…maybe i’m missing it. i wasn’t they were just saying cause she was like people no matter color that chick was a dog. oh but she brought into it hard, lol
lol im light brown also i may seem a little bit insensitive to the situation but hey im neither either or i just stand back and let the lights and darks fight it out
totally agree… it’s all about the face…. not the complexion… I’m also smack dab in the middle so it really doesn’t matter… I can go bother ways depending on how long i stay in or out of the sun… it’s not that serious…
Of course I have 2 sisters (biological) on the both sides of the scale and they are just as conceited as I am… so I guess complexion was never an issue for us…we know we’re beautiful…
this video is very sad. I can relate to it as a light skinned sister with 2 dark skinned parents I was often asked as a child if i was adopted. The dark skinned girls taunted me and wanted to know why my hair was so nappy. I got teased for being the “light skinned girl with nappy hair”. Some of the light skinned girls did not want to play with me because I didn’t have “good” hair. Now that I am a grown woman with a 13 yr old dark skinned daughter, I can’t believe that I have had men comment on her skin color, it just makes me so sick. I am grateful that my daughter has very high self esteem, she thinks she is the greatest thing since sliced bread and she will need that mentality make it in this twisted world.
This is not just an African American issue. This is a global phenomenom. Dark skin is known to be “taboo” in many cultures. Darker Indians are discriminated against…as is darker Asians…and darker Hispanics…
Having Euro-centric features (lighter skin, straighter hair, etc.) has always been the barometer for beauty.
I AGREE. African American dark women just take this issue to extreme because they’re not happy with themselves. Where the dark Indians at? Oh yea their not insecure and know that their beautiful no matter what color they are lol
@The Girl, No silly rabbit. Dark Skinned Indian women have no voice. You need to stop worrying about AA women and worry about educating your simple minded self. The truth of the matter is that most educated black women in this country would be considered dark skinned. Grow up and educate yourself.
they do have i freakin voice! they just dnt give a freak cuz their beautiful and they know it they dnt care what color they are they are secure enough to that a skin color doesn’t make you beautiful lol i take it that your dark skin and miserable?
they do have i freakin voice! they just dnt give a freak cuz their beautiful and they know it they dnt care what color they are they are secure enough to that a skin color doesn’t make you beautiful lol i take it that your dark skin and miserable?
I am a light skinned girl who was beat up very badly and had my hair set on fire back in middle school, i had to wear a cap covering my hair for 2 years until all the scars had healed and the hair started to grow back, all because of me being light skinned and thinking I was all of that(thats what they told the cops) I have had beautiful dark skinned friends who would always take there anger out on me when we went out and the men didnt choose them first they would talk to me. This was not my doing it was theres so why be mad at me, I dont have a preference in dark men or light men, I just like men period!! But women come on, wether we are dark or light we have to love ourselves more than these stereo types, we should lean on each other for help when we are feeling depressed or unloved. dont care what color you are cause I’m not better than anyone, we are all queens in my eyes so lets just be who we are. Now I am jelous of those damn girls who grow there hair down to there asses. thats the only thing I wish I had
Peace and love to everyone here
Great comment!
Honestly i don’t think skin color is the issue, self esteem and self worth is. Dark skin women feed this crap to their kids and then they have a complex and low self esteem also. The reason your not pretty enough is not because your dark but because you have low self worth and think you aren’t i’m sick of people whining and crying, Dark girls stop feeling sorry for yourselves GEEZ. Every race has gone through something. Indians,Jews,Japanese,Chinese,and Arabs have all suffered racial discrimination. The Indians land was took from them but there not out making movies and stressing the issue, During the Japanese American war most Japanese and everything that looked Japanese related(Chinese) was kicked out their homes and sent to detention camps. People make fun of Japanese people all the time but you don’t see them making movies about how their not pretty because their eyes are slanted, you don’t see or hear about Chinese,Japanese,Vietnamese, and Koreans arguing over who got better skin or hair their all oriental and they embrace that. How many times have you seen an Arabic and got scared because you thought they were gonna bomb you just because of how he’s dressed and his nationality lol its funny but all this is true. Stop crying and embrace your beauty yall grown ass women crying because yall dark skinned grow up! P.s the reason why Beyonce may appear lighter is because SHE IS!!!!!! Beyonce tans to make herself a caramel brown color, so when she doesn’t tan she’s way lighter. And how come tanning isn’t an issue like skin bleaching is????? People have mouth fulls to say about people using bleaching creme but NOTHING about how light skin and white girls go tanning to make themselves darker. This is all a bunch of insecure woman crying in a movie.
Great point of view!
A lot of comments are pointing the finger at black men, but the reason why black men reject dark skin women is because of their own low self esteem. I wish this was called “Dark People” because it’s not easy being a dark skinned man either. But this looks very good and I cant wait for the release.
THANK YOU!!! Amen well said im jus sick of them crying about it it freakin 2011 the jim crow laws and slavery has been gone for how long?? These females really need to stop. All thats on tv now is black women and fat women crying because they’re unhappy with themselves can we PLEASE move fwd. Stop blaming men,stop blaming your parents, stop blaming yourself, and stop blaming the world. Ugh it pisses me off when black women dnt recognize how beatufl they are and they walk around angry and makin movies for NO reason jus chill BLACK PEOPLE are no longer the victims anymore so sorry to ruin the pity party. And its not easy being any color. this is America we abused every single race except whites. this is a world where you either get or get got. This is a place where nobody is really accepted.
I am a black woman of mixed descent (one of the light skinned folks) I would love to see more beautiful dark skinned women in commercials, magazine covers, film, and on the runway. We need to unite and tweet and facebook the production studios, modeling agencies, cosmetic companies, casting directors, fashion designers, and advertising agencies. We all know the cause of the problem lets contribute to the solution and be heard!!!!
I find it amusing that some dark skin sistahs hate on light skin sistahs……yet they luv them some light complexioned black men. Therefore producing light complexioned babies. To some dark skin sistahs having a light skinned child is like a commodity. Especially if that child/children have soft hair. It’s not the the lighter or brown skinned black people that fawn ova children like Nahla Aubry….it’s the darker complexioned black people. They will be the same ones that call Nahla a stuck up wench when she becomes a woman,lol. My point is that black people as a whole needs to love themselves. We come in ova 80 different shades of beauty. If some of you would stop waiting and wasting your time on some of these no good black men……maybe you would find your knight in shining armor. Cause white men love them some dark skinned black women. How many white men do you see with light complexioned black women on their arms? Yall crazy as hell….I would be all up on that good credit,money and easy access to getting everything,lmao. I don’t care if some of ya get mad, it is the truth. My sister is a beautiful brown skinned sistah engaged to a white man. Man credit isn’t the best and he still got her a 2010 brand new car last year. Now they looking for a nice house in suburbs and we all know he gonna get it. Hell sistahs, why yall think these nuccas be behind these white girls all the time? Cause they know they can get stuff easily, sad but true. Like I told my sister…..get urs, plus they are in love. Where bout my nephew trifling black azz daddy gave up rights to him because he didn’t wanna support him. This white man stepped right in and claim him as his step son. Plus it doesn’t hurt that he is russian, because this 6ft3 russian do not play, especially when it comes to my sister and nephew. So color is really just an issue within our race with some of our black men. Yall betta start thinking outside the box. Stop believing that myth about white men. Cause white men I been with was slinging like a tree trunk and then there been some black men drawn up like a dayum rubber band. Done with my ex and now looking for me a good fionneeee arze white man myself…..holla.
I have to say that I agree with you. I come from a large family. My mom was Creole and my pops was a light skinned black man with blue eyes. My siblings and I all went to the same school. The dark skinned chicks used to throw rocks at me and call me a mixed raced mutt. They tried to hold me down once and cut my long hair off!! However, these were the SAME CHICKS calling my house trying to talk to my brothers who were just as light as me. They say the root of all Jealousy is self hatred and these dark skinned girls hated themselves because they could not look like me. They were so twisted they tried to get with my brothers to have children that look like me. Today I am afraid to let a dark skinned chick get close to me.
Yes by the way I am light complexioned, very fine hair and nice facial features. I have neva considered myself betta than any of my sistahs. That’s speaking on sistahs by blood and sistahs by race. My sistah alway got more men anyway, guess it’s that big ole booty,lol, plus she is gorgeous with same hair and features. I don’t see that many light skinned women on the runway or modeling. Maybe some of you are looking at something totally different. I must admit in the black race, I luvvvvvv me some dark dark tar dark brothas, yes baby. That beautiful dark skin laying across my yella skin, lawdy,, holla. I don’t discriminate though, cause I done had it thrown on me good from couple different races of men. Call me what ya want, I aint no more out there than those women in hollywood that yall glorify, especially Halle!!!!!
I don’t feel the issue will be resolved. As long as we have women, men & society comparing the two, stating which shade is better. It’s sad because I feel as black people we are the most unique because we come in every kind of shades of browns. It should be something we embrace. I have had more compliments from people outside my race on my natural hair and my skin color. BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
Looks like this is going to be a great and informative documentary
These women need to get over it. Short men have it FAR WORSE in dating. Nobody wants them, not even Dark Skinned women.
This is not just about dark skinned women. This is about women who feel invisible in society. A similar documentary could be done on older women or overweight women. From childhood girls are made aware that much of their sense of self and belonging will be linked to the way they look. Almost all toys and clothes designed specifically for girls, such as dolls and pink party dresses are designed to communicate to girls that one of their main roles in society is to be noticed- to be looked at. We are conscious from an early age that we will be judged and valued or, indeed, devalued for our looks: our beauty, our weight, our youthfullness. In short, girls are taught:’look good or be ignored’.
And that’s what happens to dark girls, they are ignored and therefore, devalued by society in a variety of ways. Ever notice in TV/film The media does have a big part to play because the handful of times they even choose to use a black female she is light skinned. This in itself is not a problem, black people do come in all shades. But when a light skinned image of a black woman is the ONLY image of black women in media, it starts to communicate something else. It’s saying ‘We don’t want dark skin’. Ever notice in TV/film that dark skinned black women are used to play more negative or aggressive characters, while lighter skinned black women are often seen in roles that symbolise beauty and hope within the storyline. This is a rejection you may only notice if you have dark skin. But if you choose something else, like if you were an older woman watching TV and you always saw young women, old men, but young women. You’d start to feel that you were being ignored because, contrary to what L’oreal would have you believe, you’re NOT worth it! A white woman with brown hair would begin to feel the same if she only ever saw blondes on TV and a bigger girl would too, if she only ever saw size zero models in magazines. The media, in terms of advertising, at least, doesn’t show society as it is; it represents society as it thinks most people want to see it. So in not showing certain types of people it’s saying ‘The WORLD doesn’t want you’; A rejection that runs far beyond the cruelty of the school playground. It becomes embedded in the psyche and some women, like the ones in the feature, struggle to build a proper sense of self worth on top of such rejection.
But I say, go on Dark Girl, Big Girl, Old Girl. Go on and take over the world, while everybody is looking the other way!!!! Love your skin.
Races just don’t like extremes of themselves, this isn’t exclusive to black people. White people don’t wanna be too white either, in the UK the use of sun beds and fake tan is insane! Come over here and you’ll actually hear white folks say ‘i’m too white to wear that, lemme get a sun bed first!’ no one wants to be too anything anymore! Mad.
I wish this film would also focus on women of the latino community as well because they go through the exact same issue!
well guys this is one of the reasons i wanted to be a teacher..an elementary teacher…being raised in the caribbean i have grown up with alot of confidence. We experience racialism and all that but its not as aggressive there as it is here and im talking about having your own black people dislike you because you’re dark skin. Im not that dark..and interestingly enuff i do think ive been treated differently all my life coz i am a little lighter than most of my family members..sad. Because ive never considered myself prettier but the older people have always told me that i was.
. I really beleive for anything like this to go away it must start in the home. Tell your kids what u appreciate about their inner qualities not love them for their outward appearance. Because in reality people might think that you will gain lots of advantage in the world because of your skin color but trust me you are still no where without an education and the right attitude. Unfortunately black people have adopted alot of “coping mechanisms”. I think thats what they are to cover up alot of other stuff. We need to bring it back down back to the basics and go from there.