Remember the Black White doll test in my previous posts? Well a friend of mine, knowing my fetish for race issues sent me an email on a similar, also controversial study, which was conducted on Black college students. The main focus was on skin tones… light skin or dark skin?
Apparently, this study, conducted by researchers from two Louisiana schools, has confirmed that complexion does matter. Going by history, light skin has been highly valued in the Black community. This is probably because in the early years of the 20th century almost all students at the some of the nation’s prestigious historically Black colleges and universities were light-skinned.
100 Black students between 18 and 19 years old of different color complexions (ranging from light to dark) were interviewed at a predominantly White university in the Midwest. The results? Well you guessed right.In comparison to the Black White doll test where kids picked the white doll as the beautiful one, 96% of the men preferred a medium to light complexion women and 70% of the women picked light-skinned men.
This clearly shows that most African-American college students still seem to find the light-skinned sistas and brothas better looking than their darker counterparts where dating or marriage is concerned.
One of the interviewed students said “I think that people are valued for their light skin. You can take this theory way back to the house slave mentality. I think a lot of people, because that was valued, were taught to value light skin. I think it is still an ongoing type of thing, and society really has not lost that altogether.?
Notice the choice of the word … VALUED? So does this mean that the darker skinned individuals are seen as lesser beings or of lesser value? Generally, the students involved in the study felt that the media is to blame for this preference for lighter skin. “When you talk to a guy, he thinks that he wants a perfect girl he sees on the videos. Usually, the women portrayed in the videos are light-skinned and have long hair,? said another participant.
Jas M. Sullivan, an assistant professor of political science and African American Studies at Louisiana State University, also involved in conducting the study said that the purpose of the research was to test whether the color line continues to be a problem for the African-American community.
“We know that there has been a preference for lighter skin in the past as a result of racism, but we really wanted to know whether or not that preference still exists in the 21st century.?
Do you believe that the 100 students’ views represent most people’s preferences? And if so, why do Blacks generally tend to prefer lighter skin? Isn’t this ironic given the constant chants of ‘black is beauty’ and ‘color blind society’? And how then are we going to curb this segregation if we Black people apply the age old color conscious concept when choosing spouses within the black mainstream?
Tags: shades of black, black white dating, black women white men
Popularity: 6% [?]
Comment by fala on 25 June 2007:
It’s a sad fact that this kind of stuff still goes on these days.
Comment by Cocokisses on 26 June 2007:
Yep Fala…even in church. Most pastors that are dark skinned have light skinned wives. Just something I noticed when I was a kid.
Comment by laugh_sailor on 27 June 2007:
I took a wonderful (black) girl out sailing, last fall and we both picked up a noticable tan. Her mother was so upset at her for ruining her “light” skin (She has a beautiful medium-toned mohagony skin) that she didn’t sail with me, later.
I thought this was destructive on several personal levels, in addition to general societal damage: (1) Buying into valuing someone on the basis of their skin is just wrong, but a mother doing that to her daughter? That was awful! (2) A world of outdoors activities was kept from this woman, in fear of a tan and that’s another shame. (3) I love nature and her refusal to participate in my world significantly contributed to our parting ways. Although we talked about it, my date chose not to confront her mother on this. It’s just so destructive!
It’s an easily avoidable and fundamentally trivial problem, if one starts with the moral stance of refusinng to let petty people dictate one’s life. It does require backbone and sometimes difficult choices. Like all ethical behavior though, these respectful views of treating others as people who happen to have differently-pigmented skin rather than pigments who happen to have people in them increase feelings of self-worth, sense of community and nurture diverse and fulfilling relationships. Isn’t that what this discussion and this site is all about?
Comment by fala on 27 June 2007:
I never thought of that Coco. I’m going to give that a look.
Comment by JoJo on 28 June 2007:
Sad but true. It seem like your only consideried “beautiful or appealing” If your skin is lighter or if you are biracial. Its also very sad when women choose to only have kids with man of another race besides black beacuse they want their child to have light skin “good hair” and light colored eyes. Not because they love the man.
Its like what happend to black is beautiful there are plenty of beautiful dark skinned women out there Kenya Moore she was beautiful enough to be Miss America, Gabrille Union, Kelly Rowland now if they are not example of beautiful dark skinned women i dont know what else to say. I have dark skin and if my skin color or the texture of my hair is the only reason a man wants to be me Id rather for him not to even bother me. I love my dark skin and nothing looks better than to see a dark skin woman wearing all white it just looks good, and would’nt change my skin tone with a light skinned or biracial person for nothing. Its all about self esteem and confidence and if you have it your skin color hair texture and eye color will not even matter. Its all about how you work it.
When im 40 and Im still looking like im 20 I’ll have my dark skin to thank.
When are black folk gonna stop being so color struck because remeber there was a time in history when your skin tone didnt matter if you were black you couldnt vote, or ride in the front of a bus. Think about that
Comment by Jade74 on 28 June 2007:
Thank you JoJo.Well spoken comments.Cocokissses and Fala,thanks for the wonderful comments also.Keep it up beautiful sisters.
Comment by fala on 28 June 2007:
Thanks Jade and Jojo. Remember it takes all the colors to make a rainbow.
Comment by Spress on 29 June 2007:
Interesting study. I wonder what the outcome would be if it was replicated in California. The trend out here, at least in regard to males, is dark skin is in. One light skinned brotha I was dating said that often Black women will not date him. Honestly, it wasn’t until I got to know who he was on the inside that I considered dating him. Dark chocolate men just seem to have more sex appeal. At the end of the day, however, it all comes down to who treats you well and with whom you get along.
Comment by Meemz4 on 1 July 2007:
I wish a flipside of studies like this would be done. Something that is never talked about is there a sector of the white population that cringes from being the palest in the room. I have friends who feel this way or have felt this way. Both sides need to be discussed in order to get to the deeper reasons of why. It seems to me that the consensus is that if the spectrum is too far from either end and either race, panic sets in. That would make a heck of a discussion and could create some healing power within this nation in particular.
Comment by Cocokisses on 1 July 2007:
Its so great to read so many wonderful comment. Jojo, very well said! I guess the bottom line is, all that matters is that we are comfortable in our own skin, no matter what our complexion is.
Comment by mossimo on 1 July 2007:
Intersting article, thanks for posting
Comment by sissy dean on 5 July 2007:
Hi I am a black woman in her late 40’s. I am a dark carmel shade with light undertone. My husband is light light damn near white looks absolutely hispanic. He has been abusive to me for 7 years because he feels that he is better than me. Society tells him everyday that he is better than other black especially other insecure blacks. They treat him special and allow him special treatment which is one of the reason he treats me bad. I too am like those blacks I take his abuse because of his skin tone.
Comment by Meemz4 on 5 July 2007:
Sissy, anybody who is abusive like that isn’t worth your time of day. You shouldn’t take that crap off of him, I don’t care what he looks like! Also, because he is abusive towards you is an indication that your husband is extremely insecure himself. Sounds like you may need to find yourself a new husband. Once abuse starts, it never ends.
Comment by Ebony on 5 July 2007:
when are we black people going to learn to love each other and ourselves? I am a beautiful black woman from west africa and love being black. I wish you could all come to west africa and see the beauty of dark skinned women from senegal, ghana, mali, nigeria, togo and other nations in west africa! learn to love yourself for who you are and not what color you are!
Comment by JoJo on 7 July 2007:
I agree with you Ms Ebony some of the most beautiful women with exotic looks and dark skin are from Africa. You see the on the run ways all the time. Dark skin is such a lovely canvas for color and creation. One day black folks will stop being so ignorant when it comes to skin color. One of the many reason why our race cant get themeselves together because we dwell on unecesssary things
Comment by Miss Ky on 8 July 2007:
I am a dark skinned woman, and I’ve never felt any different being dark skinned because of how I was raised. It was never an “issue” or a topic for discussion. I was only taught to take care of myself and my skin. Beautiful skin, in my opinion, is a skin tone and complexion that is clear, smooth, and healthy looking. I know that many black people tend to be color struck. I have some family members who are that way. Some who are dark skinned and appear to feel inferior in the presence of lighter skinned person. The whole ideology is ignorant…and honestly I just don’t get it. A skin tone does not represent character. It’s quite sad that the black community has this stupid form of self hate buried deep within. Dark skin is bad, aggressive, and unfavorable…while light skin is gentle, tender, and preferred. GET OUTTA HERE! I don’t judge people like that…I don’t treat person any different because of their skin tone. If someone’s dark skinned…I don’t feel like I could be their friend just because I too am dark skinned, and I don’t, as I’ve seen some people do, act like a lighter skinned person is my enemy. lol. It’s just craziness. I’m not a pessimist, but it won’t ever change. It does go back to the days of slavery. Those days are long gone…and we as black people have freedom and opportunities…it still hasn’t changed. I choose to remain calm, cool, collected and confident while not allowing shallow minded people and there ignorant thought processes to bother me. That’s all one really can do. Be happy.
Comment by untitleme on 8 July 2007:
I find it funny that dark-skinned black guys who, even if they prefer light-skinned women (and you can’t really do anything about someone who has a preference like Redheads, Blondes or Black), they don’t think their own dark skin is ugly. In fact, they thrive on it having it!! One black guy I knew had kids with a lighter skinned women and told me he wished his kids were darker like him!!
Comment by sonu786 on 8 July 2007:
very nice topic for all,
Comment by Fran42 on 8 July 2007:
Well spoken ladies and gents….JOJO I with you on the 40 looking 20 weather you are light or dark take care of yourself and you will always look great.
Comment by Cindie on 9 July 2007:
This light-skinned/dark-skinned stuff is getting old! I’m almost 54 years old, and I still hear comments about my “dark chocolate” skin….negative ones from black people….positive ones from white people.
If I were 4 years old, I think I would be thoroughly confused….
Comment by rubie_ru on 13 July 2007:
what a paradox i’ve always noticed most black men mate up with lighter skinned women where as an ivory male the blacker the more beautiful to me. met a woman on the net she was as black as coal. i know she wasn’t trying to decieve me, the lighting is much more critical to show the true skin color but she was at best medium brown when we met in person but by then she had so captivated me i never told her why she turned my head 360 deg when i first saw her pic.
Comment by choxiejason on 17 July 2007:
I am more attracted to darker women. And, my exgirlfriend tans in the summer. Just thought I’d mention that.
Comment by darklicious on 18 July 2007:
I am a dark skinned,very dark skinned female from north carolina so you know right off i have gone through pure hell all my life. I never really experienced any positive comments from black people either,only negative. Naming calling was very common and i think maybe it still exisits today but not as open. You can have some of the smoothest dark skin but just because the tone is dark,you are considered ugly.I remember as a child feeling like God punished me by making my skin this dark and i always felt like he didn’t love me as much as white and lighter skinned black people. This feeling carried on into my adult life and i never realized that i was valuable and loved by God until I was in my 40’s. I beg anyone that is making another person feel this way please stop as it’s something that you just forget,it goes on with you through your life until God reasures you that you are worthy and just as good. As for me myself because of the torment that i’ve been put through,i feel no real connection with blacks,only with whites and this is the connection that i would rather work on. I have gotten to the point where i don’t think black men really want me as a mate so i have become more attracted to white men. I’ve always had an attraction to white men but it was something that would never happen. Now at this point in my life, i am going to purse it until i find the right one,as a black guy once told me, you are to black for a white man.
My mother hasn’t made it any better as she never allows me to make my choice of men,they are always too light. She didn’t like my first love because he was too light and his family would not want me around were her words.Later in life i end up having a beautiful son by him that his family loves and of course our son is not light skinned. I say to any black person that is going to be all into that skin color, especially women like my mother,don’t have children by dark skinned men. My father was dark skinned and from south carolina yet she feel in love with him and had me,it was after they broke up and she was alone that she must have changed. I can only say that she made my life a living hell. Last year i might a mexican male and mentioned it to her and the first thing she said was, is he dark because she doesn’t think i am worthy of a light skinned man or a white man. She put a real knife in my heart yet i choice not to be like her, a single mother with 6 children by 6 different men and none of them really knowing their father but me.
Comment by RayneDelay on 21 July 2007:
Oh my goodness Darklicious, what a horrifying story. You are a survivor of ignorance that has nothing to do with you. Dark, my heart goes out to you and I am sorry for the pain you have experienced throughout your life. You have an insightful and beautiful Thank you for sharing your story. Unfortunately, the effects of slavery still exhists. And it’s being passed down to the children. People have got to understand that parents will passs on thier fears, hatred and prejudices. I am light brown with a dark skinned mother from Arkansas. She met and married my father a fair skinned black man of mixed background who was raised in Chicago. NEVER, have my parents made me feel as if my skin color was good or bad. It was never an issue in the immediate family. However, it was an issue at school and among extended family members. Some family members do not even consider me black. The kids would pick on me at school until my father started walking me to school, then it all stopped. Because they thought he was Native American or White so therefore I had more value now and maybe the fact that my father was there to protect me, made them straigten up and fly right.
When my mother would go for walks with my light bright skinned older sister in her stroller, neighbors would think that my mother was the nanny. LOL, my siblings and I are various skin tones and people just assume that we have several different fathers. It irratates me when my sister and brothers show up and someone starts asking, “So um do you and your sister have the same father?” Of course I usually go back to my sister and tell her what happened and we laugh at the ignorance that people have. I get very embarrassed for some people, how could they walk around being so STUPID?? It’s like they never matured since the 5th grade.
I had a best friend in grammer school who was dark skinned and she was treated terribly, was insecure and clingy. I loved her and understood her. Eventually we both went to seperate highschools and we have never seen each other. Every now and then I would see her walking down the street with a different kid. She suffered a lot of abuse. I had a close light skinned friend but she was crazy. My closest friends tend to be dark skinned. I attribute it to my darkskinned mother. I noticed that dark skinned & brown skinned men tend to seek me out as a mate moreso than any other skin tone. White/Latino/Asian men rarely seek me out. Light skinned men almost never. I am attracted to all types of men, with more of a preference for White European (English/Welsh/Danish) or Eurasian(Keanu Reeves).
Comment by Ringo on 24 July 2007:
Scanning over most posts, I assume you are mostly Americans and boy how depressing. I don’t know how much is fact, how much is fiction and how much is bitterness but as long as you keep seeing race first and foremost, you will never achieve an integrated society. I live in London and while things aren’t perfect it sounds a whole lot better than over there. You will get groups on all sides who feel hard done by, but for every minority ethnic group complaining about discrimination against them you will find whites making the same complaint. I came from a social housing background, and what I have achieved I have done so myself. I studied hard and have got every job I have ever had through open and fair competition. No doors have been held open for me, no favours done. And crucially where I have failed I have never blamed my shortcomings on anything else – I have faced them not looked for excuses. A common mistake is qualifications guarantee you something. WRONG! It’s how you can demonstrate you have or will apply them that count. I know people who are bristling with business diplomas and degrees but wouldn’t know how to make a dollar if it hit them in the face. Passing exams is totally different to working, don’t expect to be chatting academic theory in the work place. So if you turn up at interviews thinking your qualifications guarantee the job, you are deluded. Think outside of the box, qualifications may help you get the interview, the employer wants to see how you’d do the job. I have an Economics degree and can’t recall the last time I used anything I was taught at university. The real enemy is not race it’s poverty and that affects all races over here. Then again we have NEVER had segregation like you had as recently as the 60s (plus we also get at least 20 days a year holiday [I actually get 30], unlimited paid sick leave, free hospitals and health care, better pay, £1 sterling is worth almost $2, and London is a far cooler city than NYC – you should move here) Here, in my experience, mixed race relationships aren’t even noticed, and as a white man I can say whenever I have been in mixed relationships any eyebrow raising has not been from my family or friends but from her family or friends. But for the most part race has been a non-issue and I have 4 mixed race children from more than one relationship and culture. I look years younger than my age as well, have distinctive blue eyes which I wouldn’t swap for anything which many find irresistible. I’m in good shape too and cool, stylish, successful, educated and urbane – just classy. It just shows a handsome man is a handsome man no matter what his background.
Comment by Starthai on 24 July 2007:
Hi guys, I’m feeling this topic it is a shame we still have color issues. Ringo thanks for letting me know how cool London is when I get out of school I might just move there:) Ok, First I would like to comment on Miss Ky I think you are very strong and confident, however I’m dark skinned and love it I like to hang out with other dark skinned girls not because I’m intimidated by light skinned, but because in a way I feel empowered walking along side another beautiful, intelligent, confident dark skinned woman. You will be surprised how people clinge because of that. Check it:) I have no problems with hanging with light skinned girls my best friend is light skinned, we moved to different cities and lost touch, but we adored each other I miss her. What I want to say to you Miss Ky is I respect you but if me loving to hang around other beautiful, dark skinned girls because I feel even more empowered makes me ignorant then so be it. Cindie you are so cool and right, these kids are confused I have a mixed child and when tennis comes on he says, “Mommy who are you rooting for the dark girl or the light one, of course I love Venus and Serena, but where is he getting this from, it seems as if he thinks dark is not good at first but when I say I’m cheering for Venus he changes his mind, he is 6 yrs old how did he learn to distinguish two talented woman from dark to light, the hell with society I never wanted to show him that, so now I have to mold what he hears and see, which is normal, but when it comes to color I hate that he has to go through the BS. I’m happy with myself, but it wasn’t always this way I used to date only dark guys as well, but I didn’t feel as valued with a Black guy like I do with guys outside of my raise and don’t get me wrong there are bad guys in every culture. So to black guys when a dark skinned sister gives you no time of the day check yourself and see what you have created. To darklicious, sorry but your mom is stupid and her stupidity seems to not have any reflection on you - thank god. For her to say your’e not good enough for a white man, who says all white men are good she is the problem and not the solution. I don’t date white guys, because of money or that they’re better I feel that I am looked at and treated like a queen moreso with white men and all white men don’t like black women so it makes it a lot harder for me. In any event I think all people go through things, but it seems that us dark skinned woman go through more, so respect the attitude when you see us coming lol…
Comment by Starthai on 24 July 2007:
I have one more comment, does anyone know why black males that are dark skinned do not get critsized as much as dark skinned woman. I always wondered if it is women who are not dark and can’t tan to be as dark hating and keeping dark skinned sisters down, because I’ve never meet a dark skinned girl yet that is jealous of a light skinned girl, I think the most of us don’t understand why we get pushed a side for lighter. I think dark skinned woman espcially love ourselves the way we are it’s other people that put the BS in our heads that were not beautiful.
Comment by raymond on 25 July 2007:
hello i just want to sasy it doesn’t matter what color is a person if they want to have some fun or going sailing then they have the right to say yes or no.i know some one who get tan and he don’t mind because he love it and he is black i know i am that man so it really dopn’t make any diff aty all
Comment by raymond on 25 July 2007:
hello i just want to sasy it doesn’t matter what color is a person if they want to have some fun or going sailing then they have the right to say yes or no.i know some one who get tan and he don’t mind because he love it and he is black i know i am that man so it really dopn’t make any diff at all
Comment by Laurie on 27 July 2007:
I was wonder if someone has consider doing a doll test on hispanic and white dolls and/or asian and white dolls
would be very interesting to see what the results would be.
Comment by Jade74 on 27 July 2007:
Very good thought for testing Laurie.
Comment by RayneDelay on 28 July 2007:
Laurie they won’t do it, because that type of test was meant for black folks. That test was created by some racist white folks that wanted to show black folks as a bunch of mixed up knuckleheads. They already proved that many asians would and have gotten eye lid surgery to make them looke more “western” (white). White folks tan, increase lips, ass, breast and kink up the hair to get the looks of a black woman. Latin women repeately straighten and bleach there hair to look more anglo. Pretty soon we all will assimilate and morph into aliens from the planet Zotar.
Comment by truthebtold on 28 July 2007:
Has anyone ever thought that lighter skinned people are just better looking then dark ones? I know this is controversial but 96% preference is pretty conclusive and culture does not explain all of it being that skewed. They have done studies on female figures and me prefer the women also with a good hip to waist ratio. This test was done using the same female but of different proportions the men all found the one with the better proportions as pretty.
Comment by Jade74 on 2 August 2007:
Good topic.I have read a book recently on this topic:”THE COLOR COMPLEX THE POLITICS OF SKIN COLOR AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS” BY KATHY RUSSELL,MIDGE WILSON AND RONALD HALL.
Comment by lovingstar on 11 August 2007:
Darker skinned women are beautiful but in the society we live in, they seemed not as valued as other women.
So when I see a successful woman of color, Naomi Campbell, Oprah, Secretary of State Ms. Condolezza Rice, Tyra Banks, Sanna Lathan, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, Mo’nique, U.K.’s Freema Agyeman(Dr. WHO series 3), Gina Torres, Jennifer Rodriquez, Toni Braxton, Canada’s Rachel Luttrell(Stargate Atlantis), Whoppie Goldberg, Wanda Stykes, Canada’s Kandyse McClure(BattleStar Galatica), and my favorite: Renee Elise Goldsberry(ABC’s One life to live).
I look up to these women of color and I love them equvaliently because of their talent, their skill, their cleverness, their attitude. They make me proud of who I am and they make me proud of my sisters (Black, red, yellow, and white).
Preference is shaped by both society and what we are innately attracted too. Black women are treated differently because of our skin tones just like white women are treated differently because of their age.
Generally as a black woman I was taught by my Haitian mother, not to count on my looks because it fades, I was instead taught to count on my wits and to surround myself with positive people because in the end that is what really counts. Beauty comes with age in my family anyway.
Comment by John Lindsay on 12 August 2007:
cocokisses wrote:
“Most pastors that are dark skinned have light skinned wives.”
Jordan: Why is ALL the attention on the dark-skinned person in the relationship?!
Couldn’t we also say “light-skinned women are attracted to dark-skinned pastors?!”
JordanMardan
Comment by John Lindsay on 12 August 2007:
Ringo: But as long as you keep seeing race first and foremost, you will never achieve an integrated society.
Jordan: Unfortunately, colorism is not only a problem among Blacks but also with ALL other groups in the US and around the world.
Most immigrants arriving in the US seem to avoid Blacks in order to be viewed favorably by whites.
I have a number of peer-reviewed research articles and popular culture articles that examine “immigrants’ behavior in regards to ‘race’. ”
We’ve all been conditioned by the media, which includes textbooks, movies, commercials, radio, novels, etc., to think in a very narrow way, and it takes INTENTIONAL thinking, reflection, and actions to act counter to what the mainstream culture bombards us with on a daily basis.
Google the following: Implicit Assumption Test.
The test evaluates one’s preferences in regards to “race”, gender, etc.
Ringo: I live in London and while things aren’t perfect it sounds a whole lot better than over there.
Jordan: That could easily be disproved by simply googling “London and racism” or any other similar terms.
Ringo:I came from a social housing background, and what I have achieved I have done so myself.
Jordan: While I highly doubt that “race” has not played a role in “your” achievements, I have to ask: what does that have to do with the topic that began this thread?!
Ringo: A common mistake is qualifications guarantee you something. WRONG! It’s how you can demonstrate you have or will apply them that count.
Jordan: I would tend to agree, but for a different reason.
For example, in the US workplace employers often look at one’s GPA, but the GPA tells the employer nothing about “how will this potential applicant work with others” or “what type of leadership could we expect?”
I would agree with the “ability to apply the knowledge.” The TV show McGyver is an excellent example of the ability to apply what you know and do it creatively.
But again…what does that have to do with the initial topic?!
Ringo: The real enemy is not race it’s poverty and that affects all races over here.
Jordan: Socio-economic status does play a huge role.
However, if a poor white person was given the necessary membership fees, he/she could join most any country club in the US while poor People of Color could not.
So although “race” is a social construction, it IS real (biological) for those who are racist.
Ringo: and as a white man I can say whenever I have been in mixed relationships any eyebrow raising has not been from my family or friends but from her family or friends.
Jordan: That’s because…..generally-speaking…. middle- and upper-class whites do NOT publicly reveal their racist and/or prejudical beliefs.
But once in private, their behavior is just the opposite.
Those pretending in public will often find a private or indirect way to express their hatred, etc., such as writing someone out of their will, making private threats, etc.
While you may not have experienced any of these, Ringo, your experiences are not the norm.
In general, middle- and upper-class whites communicate in a passive or indirect manner in public.
While middle- and upper-class Blacks may assume the indirect communication style while in public or at work, many revert back to a more direct style when at home or places that are predominantly African American. (there are exceptions to the rule)
JordanMardan
Comment by AhTrini on 14 August 2007:
Thank you JordanMardan, your rebuttal to Ringo is very well appreciated. I laugh at his simplicity to such a complex matter of race relations and the reasons for prejudice. While most of us on here came for whatever reasons, it’s naive to think racism does not exist, especially in upper class White society. That’s sooooooooooo laughable.
Comment by Jade74 on 14 August 2007:
Thank you JordanMardan for the comment to Ringo.
RINGO…AS AMERICANS AND SOME OF US THAT OR ON HERE…WE ARE NOT DEPRESSED IN WHATEVER MATTER U ARE THINKING.WE ARE MOSTED BLESSED PEOPLE THAT ARE ENVY BY MANY.RACISM EXIST WORLDWIDE NOT JUST IN AMERICA ALSO IN LONDON AS WELL.
Comment by heartnsoul59 on 14 August 2007:
I read something today on another site. A gentleman had made a comment on a scripture in the bible it said “he who finds a good wife finds a good thing” then he stated God didn’t say a black wife or a white wife or a brown…you get my drift…wow…. it said it all for me!!!!
Comment by John Lindsay on 23 August 2007:
Contrary to Ringo’s 7/24 message:
http://www.obv.org.uk
Rev Jesse Jackson to visit city
The civil rights activist, Rev Jesse Jackson, is to visit Bristol.
The Reverend will speak at a ticket-only event in the city, addressing topics including inequality and debt.
Cllr Peter Hammond, the city council’s deputy leader, said he welcomed the visit, which is scheduled for the week beginning 20 August.
He said: “On behalf of all the people of Bristol I’d like to welcome Reverend Jackson to Bristol.”
“His visit is a significant boost to the work we are doing and will give confidence and encouragement to members of the black community,” he said.
Comment by kayla on 2 September 2007:
This is so wrong….darkskins think theyre better than us darkskin ppl and lightskin ppl think they re better than darkskin ppl either way there’s both ugly and pretty from both sides..and yess the majority of guys and even my family members which are guys prefer light skin girls cause they think theyre more attractive im sorri but thats the truth and theyre all darkskins still i stick wid my theory which is it all depends on what the individual prefers.. its not that hard to get im so rry to all yall who are offended by your skin colour and letting what other ppl say affect yall
Comment by Darklicious on 15 September 2007:
Kayla, you don’t really understand the whole subject as your commnet was so off base. It’s not that dark skinned women don’t like their skin color, it’s people in this world that try to make us feel like we’re not as good as them. It just happens to be that lighter skinned women do feel this way and have always felt this way. This is something that has exsisted through the years and it’s still instilled in some people. In the slavery time the lighter skinned slaves were always inside the house while the darker skinned slaves were in the field,this gave the lighter skinned slaves the idea that they were better. Regardless of what you or anyone else thinks, unfortunately it still exsists in 2007. Yes I believe in perferences too but I don’t try to make anybody feel last attracted or less of a person. I can tell by your name that you are much younger than me, being 51, I have taken the real insults in my younger days so that maybe the young dark skinned young women can feel better about themselves. Just like our grandparents took the worst part of racism. I don’t know your skin complexion but if by chance it is dark, you can enjoy being beautiful,gorgeous because the real bad insults have been directed at us dark skinned women that’s older and we only hope that it’s better for our beautiful dark skinned young women today. It would be nice if we as a race would focus on something else but unfortunately we don’t and it is this attitude that keeps us hating one another. I have two sons(20 & 27) and I tell them to date whomever in fact I told them to date all of them because that is the way it should be.
Comment by Leah on 18 October 2007:
I am a very light skinned african-american teenager and I feel as if I have to work harder because im constantly being looked at for my fair skin.Alot of dark girls look at me as a threat. Its not fair.
Comment by Ndeye on 31 March 2008:
I am a dark skinned woman who grew up believing that I was “a pretty dark girl”. I think it’s because people where constantly making that comment about me and my sister and because on many occassions I would be the be the girl that the most popular boy(s) in school were claiming or bragging was his girlfriend. I also remember lighter skinned girls treating me poorly, pulling my hair and saying I was wearing a weave because I did have long hair and according to the lighter skinned sisters, I was to black to have long hair. I haven’t had problems dating or catching any kind of man I want from the darkest to the lightest and I am sorry if anyone feels insulted but the men and women that I do know of who are stuck on the light skinned thing tend to be of a class and mind-set that a consider unappealing and defintley not suitable to my high standards. Although, I didn’t grow up feeling any less wanted are attractive because of my chocolate complexion, I have talked to a lot of sisters who say they were while growing up and still feel that they are treated very poorly by men becuase of their dark skin. My experience has been different. While I have not been treated poorly by men I can say that I have experienced negative interactions with lighter skinned sisters. It has always been one of them that makes it her business to tell me that people tend to be prejudice against dark skinned women. Maybe it’s done as a reminder for me to stay in my place and not be too confident in myself. I don’t know. But, I definitley believe that one of my friends was so right when she said, ‘it’s all good and fine when I light or carmel skinned sister is beautiful and feels good about herself but, it seems like they have a problem when we darker hued sisters are fine, beautiful and feel good about ourselves and that just looks like jealousy to me. Maybe it’s the black women who have bought in to the ligheter better ideal and maybe it’s these women who have or think they have benefited most from this ideal who are perpetuating this issue and maybe we need to get a grip and learn to respect and accept each other then we can ask for respect from our men
Comment by koriee on 3 April 2008:
I am so much glad to visit this web,my question is how can I make a friendship? which can led to serious marriage?am A kenyan am justin my first year of University if there is someone there who have theresame interest has I do then i will be hapy to get intought,thanks.
Comment by Morningflower on 3 April 2008:
Koriee.. I am embarrassed to read your question? are you really a college student? I am of Kenyan origin and your grammar puts me to shame. I am sorry.. I do not know what school you claim to attend but if you are sincerely looking to meet someone, I think its important to be ableto communicate exactly what you are looking for. I apologize if I have offended you in any way, but I just needed to put it out there that this is not a reflection on “all of us”. I get enough grief from being classified under Black/African Descent”.
Secondly.. your question has no relevance to the complexities of having a dark or light skin; but hey! Good Luck in finding whatever you are looking for Girl! It’s a mush-pit out here but I know there a couple of wonderful men out there and I am sure there is one for you - Assuming that you intentions are sincere? SO GOODLUCK!
Back to the forum - RIA - thanks for posting this question I think it’s fascinating to read the different points of view. Personally, I love the skin am in!
Comment by yanna on 7 April 2008:
Who am i in this society? I know that i am a dark skin female and the most publicity that i will recieve is a main character in a bet movie or a porn star spot on a film or recording. Why is it that we as dark skin women are still expected to be the “dirty hoodrat” from around the corner. Yet, we are always viewed as the best strongest bays mother that the man wants to come home to
Comment by DarkAndProud on 8 April 2008:
I am sorry everyone, but I must get this out!
“Hi I am a black woman in her late 40’s. I am a dark carmel shade with light undertone. My husband is light light damn near white looks absolutely hispanic. He has been abusive to me for 7 years because he feels that he is better than me. Society tells him everyday that he is better than other black especially other insecure blacks. They treat him special and allow him special treatment which is one of the reason he treats me bad. I too am like those blacks I take his abuse because of his skin tone.”
I read a book about a similar experience. It was about a young girl who began to date a supposed all around good looking man, and everybody loved him for his “Hazel Eyes” and his “Fine Skin”. The girl began to date him, and he treated her like she wanted to be treated. After a while though, he attempted to abuse her, and she got up, and walked out of the door. She told the Police, and the man was over with. She did have some problems, and she didn’t talk to anyone, but she realized that NOBODY can put her down! I love how she handled it, and she really did do a great job becoming all she can be! The book is named Darkness Before Dawn. Always remember, the sky is the limit, and the sky is endless!
Comment by DarkAndProud on 8 April 2008:
Also note, I am an extremely dark male, and as a child I was made fun of for it. I still do have problems with it, but I’m working through it!
Comment by Sassfem on 9 April 2008:
Hey! wow, so many awesome comments! This is an important topic and this post shows that many people do and are moving towards change! I just wanted to say a few things
1) I think this is an imp survey but as a Sociology major I find the sample to be VERY unrepresentative. I apologize in advance if I missed something, but people do have to take into account demographics. African-Americans are not homogeneous and a sample of 100 people from LA will not in any way be the same as NC or a place as super diverse as D.C and New York. I can only speak for myself but I grew up in New Orleans and Charlotte and currently reside near D.C . The socioeconomic and cultural differences of the black populations all differ in each place and that DOES affect attitudes. I am not saying colorism does not matter. It DEFINITELY matters a lot! I am just saying it would be stronger if the sample was wider. Also the notion of “value” and skin tone was a great thing to hit on RIA. We need to talk about it that way more, bc that is the problem.
2) I think colorism within the black race has to be explored with gender as a major factor. StarThai asked a great question about the diff rxns and attitudes of skin tone with black men vs black women. Honestly,i think the sexism intersecting with racism better explains why more emphasis is placed on the female being lighter (lighter is more “feminine” and attributes on women matter more than on men in terms of determining their value) Also darkness is masculine and strong and we like our men that way don’t we?
3) Gender matters, and the anti-dark sentiments affect both men and women for sure!! However, size affects men and women, but women are the ones pressured to be thin and base their worth on how they look. Same with skin. For example, have you watched MOST commercials and seen black women and especially black daughters? No matter how dark mom and or dad are, that girl always ends up looking bi-racial or light skinned. So begins the cycle of brown and darker African-American girls getting subtle messages…
IMPORTANT: Addressing the need for brown and darker women representation or embracing should not be confused with disliking lighter skinned blacks or bi-racial females. Honestly light skin and Euro featured African-Americans should be celebrated as well. BUT when you almost exclusively acknowledge and promote lighter skinned females (as the representation of black women), you send the message that brown and dark skin is not desirable, and that affects the women who are not light and all men who will then decide WHAT they find attractive.
4) I agree that we can not blame society alone! Parents play a big role and the individual black person has to recognize that admitting “the kitchen mentality” existed is not enough. We as dark or light or medium brown skinned ppl etc etc have to stop the blame game and start the healing one. Easier said than done! But like many of u said, we need to take that step!
5) I agree that we in the states should look at West Africa and how brown and darker skinned women are celebrated. But, let’s not forget that TONS of women are bleaching their skin. Like, a disturbing number. And this pattern is directly correlated to people getting more access/interest/influence from U.S media (like BET, MTV and other shows are JUST as popular there now)And I am from there so I have seen it first hand. I am not saying that to be negative but to unite black diaspora and show that we have the same problems. More importantly, I say that to show it is not simply a “personal preference” It is a personal preference directly molded by societal attitudes. So truthbtold, I see where u r coming from, but you have to ask yourself how much of the ppls own rxns to light skin or the ideal proportions of women is in fact affected by society! I do not think tons of Liberians, Nigerians, Cameroonians etc are just NOW changing their mind about their love for their browner and darker women because they think the lighter end is better suddenly! Their influence from media which now plays a more central role in youth lives shows that their perceptions are affected by society.
OK, I hope I did not sound preachy bc I just wanted to share my thoughts. I love the dialogue here. More of it is needed!! Thanks everyone for educating me as well!
:0)
Comment by calif.peach on 11 May 2008:
This is a frustrating topic - but it seems that the answer lies less in psychology than in geography. Think about it - I live in the United States which is led, right or wrong, by a “white majority” - therefore, our vision of beauty is based on what that majority values or desires as they are the ones with the money and power who rule our media and who are seen and held up as examples most often.
In Africa I venture to guess that this ideal is very different.
In Japan very different again.
In Israel too, and Sweden and Brazil -
Each country’s idea of beauty is modeled through the tastes of the majority. It is why, in my opinion, it is all about being even handed and raising our children in a diverse and balanced environment with an open exchange of information about media and political misconceptions.
As for the implicit Association Test mentioned above - it is a very interesting test - I took it (I am white) and I was rated as having a preference toward black people - what I was really surprised to find was that I was among only some ridiculously small percentage (I don’t remember exactly but I think it was somewhere between 2 and 10 percent - in that catagory) the thing is . . . that tiny percentage of people who preferred black people INCLUDED black people. It was rather stunning for me to know that and I felt really bad about that. Here is the link to that test if any of you want to take it - it isn’t JUST about color differences, you can also take it about preference/prejudice for weight, religion, education, etc. -
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html .
Comment by MissJamaica on 18 May 2008:
okay you can tell the girl near the top of these posts who called herself “dark caramel WITH LIGHT UNDERTONES” has some SERIOUS colour issues…trying to make herself sound as light as possible. I mean UNDERTONES? When the hell did we start doing 2 shades on one person? Get a GRIP.
Yes, black people are still colourstruck. And yes, dark skin men have it harder than everyone else in every aspect of life except the bedroom…there they are highly favoured…carry more immediate sex appeal…i saw a girl say it up top, and i said nearly the same thing in another post. It’s easy to pass over a very lightskin or mix looking black guy as some pretty guy who is only there to look at and can’t make your toes curl in bed. lol. Don’t know why, just the stereotype. I’ve been proven wrong on that though so I watch my mouth now. lol.
Comment by bahiana828 on 28 May 2008:
your comments towards ringo’s statments are interesting but as a black british female, born and raised in london i can completly support his statements..i think the problem is you immediatly judged what came from his mouth as soon as you saw that he was a white male…I never experienced racism until my fianl job in London that was after undergrad, after 5 years of engineering..London is totally a different environment and people for the most part are judged on the essence of their character not on ‘what they do’ or ‘what they earn’ but who they are..
Most immigrants avoid blacks? i have never in my life heard people of African descent referred to in such a disrespectfull way as i have by African americans..part of that is ignorance as people do not travel, also the historical damage we all know about..Many of us ‘immigrants’ came here expecting with the amount of great leaders and political movements you’ve had that you would be way more culturally advanced than for example england and willing to embrace our fellow african brothers and sisters..but its sadly exactly the opposite..i’ve many times had to remind african americans that we came on the same boat and landed in a different destination because they’ve been so busy judgeing me by my accent or way of carrying myself as being too ‘white’ for them!
‘googling london racism’ is not going to tell you about london racism! have you been there? maybe you should take a trip..live there for a few years and then form an opinion..its actually as he said it is..its more based on poverty than it is a racial structure..the working and middle classes live in the same community go to the same schools..our school system is integrated so we are not as ignorant to each others cultures as i find people are here
Another note about immigrants avoiding african americans..when my younger sister came here from london she was 7 years old..the black children bullied her because she was different while the white children embraced her..later on when she was in college and mixed with alot of white kids in a predominantly black school it was frowned upon! but these were the same kids that had been her friends for years when no one else wanted to know…
There are racists in every community rarely will they stand up and say who they are in a public areana..black, white, hispanic whatever they define themselves as
I know totally away from the topic..i just had put in my pennys worth
Comment by Kay on 11 August 2008:
I think black people are still color struck in the 21st century. BET (the main network)makes me sick to my stomach with the negative images of black women they put on television. I had to tuned out Hip hop too, because of the degrading and color bias videos they have of black women. Now I know all women light and dark skin are disrespected, but it always bothers me that dark skin women are always placed in the background, reduced to just an ass or breast shot, or always playing the role of a ho or stripper.
I was born in the Caribbean and we have our share of colorism too, but I find that African American men takes it to a level where they make me sick because of the way they openly treat or mistreat women based on skin tone.
Comment by Keke24 on 24 August 2008:
I am a proud dark skin woman. I think it is sad that in our society today African Americans still think light skin is better and darker skin people are not. At the end of the day we are black and their is way too many issues concerning the world today to worry about who has less or more melanin in the skin.
This topic is embeeded in alot of minds from family and friend influence and could only get resolved if people talk and listen to every one story. in certain areas Lightskin people might be viewed as weaker, and easy to run over and other places darker skin blacks are viewed as uncivilized, and hard to deal with. What we forget about eachother is that we are all black and are going through the same political issues. We are all jumpin the same hurdles in life yet we still try to break each other down. Unfortunatley the color issue would not change in the black community that is another bad trait that will continue.
Comment by mahogany2007 on 13 September 2008:
I am a black woman with dark skin and have never had any problems being desired by men of all races.
I wish I were darker because dark skin is so hot.
I’m beautiful, sexy beyond belief, confident and revel in the darkness of my skin. I can have my pick of men and my skin color has never been an issue.
My preference is black men with very dark skin. I have never dated a black man with light skin. They just don’t move me the way dark chocolate rich skin does. When I’m with a black man with dark skin we are the most awesome, powerfu, hottest couple. We rock and get so much attention.
One last note, it depends upon the sample surveyed, what the data reveals.
Dark skin is beautiful, powerful, sexy.
Comment by Totally_T :) on 18 September 2008:
im not in college im actually in highschool
but unfortunatly it is the same if not worse,where i am
not that guys are like totally disgusted with dark skinned girls
im pretty popular and have a lot of guy and girl FRIENDS(though i do hang out with more white than black people)
that’s the problem.
while i tend to like white guys (not because i want a “pretty baby”)
but because i just do,i can’t really explain it.
it’s not to say i don’t like any other races becuase i do,i like all types of guys.
but anyway,
while i like white guys most of my friends: white guys and girls
say they wouldnt even date a black person
or if they would,she would have to be light skinned
so they don’t even consider dark skinned girls like me an option.
yet when i ask my black friends almost all of them said they would date another race,and that it doesnt really matter
but that even THEY,(some of them) wouldn’t date a dark skinned girl
sadly,this tends to be way more about girls
because i know plenty of white and black girls who go out or would go out with,or think that a dark skinned guy is perfectly acceptable to be with.
so what i can’t figure out is:why doesn’t the same go for girls like me?
i;m pretty,outgoing and friendly
but when it comes to stuff like that
i get very sad,
because i feel like my skin color is holding me back,
i shouldnt feel that way,but i do
im not the only one either,when i talk to other girls as dark as me they mostly have the same problem.
i don’t think it’s fair,or right.
why does dark skin have to mean unatrative?
and why doesnt the same apply to light skinned girls?
i’ve seen light skinned girls who get away with a lot of crap becuase of there color and hair
and also a lot of them who arent even pretty and yet are very popular and treated specially by guys just becuse of there skin color,to many times.
you know how i know they are treated that way only based on color?
because they have bitchy personality’s
not all,not even most,but some are like that.
Comment by vt33 on 19 September 2008:
Totally, you got some growing in the mind to do, let me plant the seed for you. There is so much more in life for you to see, experience than you worrying about your dark skin being the bottom of the food chain.
Young people tend to follow the crowd, and it usually transfers into adulthood. Look at it like this, if you saw a pair of Lucky Jeans on the rack, and you thought they were the coolest jeans ever, but your best friend is with you, and she thinks they are the ugliest thing ever created and adds that “no one will ever wear those jeans”. You go to school the next day, no one who’s “popular” wears them, only a few, and people whisper and laugh. That falls back on “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
T keep in mind, in the society we are in, visual sets the tone (unfortunately), look at this Taye Diggs, Edris Elba, Denzel Washington, are billed sexy men, all of them are dark skinned and a lot of female fantasy black and white. Samuel L Jackson, not quite billed sexy but a awesome actor, but I can’t find a soul who wants to have him on their pc screensaver. There hasn’t been many dark skinned women in media who has that sort of, goddess quality. Latina actress and supermodels, have their place, mixed race actresses, and models have their place, light skinned actresses and supermodels have their place. Notice not so much dark skinned, Ester Rolle (RIP) exceptional actress, dark skinned, split tooth, she didn’t quite fit the Hollywood Bill as beautiful, but within the black cinema she was found beautiful, same can be said for Cicely Tyson, dark skinned, protruding lips, she played a lot of roles, that held strong ties, to the black race of the 1900’s. Never quite made the bill as sexy but she had her following in the black cinema.
Alek a true african model, dark, sensual, not quite Kimora Lee, or Lidya, but again she has her following. Grace Jones, was the closets to sexy dark skinned, and desireable women in the black culture of today. I don’t know about you T, but last I checked Missy Elliot, dark skinned, big teeth, talented from the tips of her toes, to the top of her head, wealthy. Seems to me, she didn’t let dark skin keep her from living and worrying about who finds her attractive, looks to me she found her self attractive and has made a fabulous career from it. (hint)
Dark skinned does not mean unattactive, dark skinned means, deep beauty. Thats a quality a lot of people would kill to have but can’t posses so they must rely on the outer beauty to get them noticed.
Don’t second guess yourself, because a few people, a small amount in our vast society, does not find you attractive. That’s their foolishness, if they can’t see, who you are. Besides, you’re gonna see a lot more than that in the world once, you step out into it, love the skin you’re in, don’t worry, someone else will love it as well.
I’m gonna let you slide with that “pretty baby” comment, you bloggin with grown folks now, and all babies are “pretty” no matter which color they come from.
T, Black is still Beautiful!
Over did it again!
No Jibberish Replys just a thought!
Over and Out!
Comment by Pia65 on 20 September 2008:
I agree with your assessments Coco and Fala!
Over the pass few years I’ve been invited to 3 different churches. In each case the pastor was a dark skinned man and every wife was fair skinned!
I think it doesn’t matter what shade of the rainbow we are….we should feel good in our own skin.
True ‘beauty’ is in the eye of the beholder!
Comment by lala2qz on 19 January 2009:
SERIOUSLY??? where have I been ? Girls in places I’ve been love dark skin. They think its sexy, honestly. I know I very well do. And to girls with lighter skin, I can tell you that the contrast between it and that of someone like Taye Diggs is just beautiful. Only black girls I’ve seen really discriminate against guys with dark skin, had pretty dark skin themselves and were only a little lighter than the guy in the first place. I find it odd, that the majority of black girls chose the lightest, wouldve expected them to go for the brown or dark one, because girls I know, majority would pick those.
Anyway, I agree with sassfem completely, her assessment is very much on
Black is beautiful, all shades are beautiful, all ethnicities PERIOD are beautiful. Hopefully, one day people will love to appreciate the diversity of ALL the people of this world. I have a special appreciation for dark skinned black women like Gabrielle Union because she and her skin are both so beautiful. I think everyone should learn to love having their own skin and know that noone else’s is better or worse, but just as beautiful. I find it very sad if a dark black girl holds my hand to hers and says how she would like mine, when personally I think her’s is so pretty and don’t see why she would prefer mine.
Comment by Resee on 25 February 2009:
It’s sad that this “house nigga” mentality is still ingrained in the minds of many African-Americans today. Why does it matter what your pigmentation is? I’ll repeat the best answer that has been given: The Media. For many of us all around the world, THE MEDIA dictates what is hot and what is not, and since the dawn of slavery up until now, it is considered “substandard” to be black. Unfortunately, even though many try to claim that this is not true, it’s deeply intrenched in the minds of many. What can we do about it? That’s a deep question, and it would require re-vamping society as a whole, including the educational system and social castes based on color. Can it be done? Not likely. So, it looks like we on an individual basis have to give our children unconditional love, tell them that they can be anything or be with anyone they want to be with, no matter what color, and try to reach out to as many young ones (black, white, asian, etc) and fill them with universal love before any of these racial stereotypes set in their young minds. This, short of a miracle,is just about the only thing we can do. Oh, and one other thing: we can teach ourselves to love OURSELVES unconditionally, no matter how we were raised to feel about being BLACK or BROWN or LIGHT-SKINNED - we are all uniquely beautiful.
Oh, and by the way - I have always thought the most beautiful skin in the world is the dark, mahogany/chocolatey skin. I, a golden-brown woman, tried to tan myself to a beautiful chocolate color one summer. How did I end up? Well, let’s just say that lovely golden-brown can turn a pretty hideous brick-red when exposed to the sun for 3 days straight! ALL black is beautiful, from the lightest-honey to ebony dark-chocolate, and until we realize that as a people, no one else will.
Comment by AP on 28 August 2009:
.
Since mention was made of the topic of the ‘house’
and the ‘field’ slave — I just wanted to note that
this false concept that so many people have
– that the lighter-complexioned chattel slaves
“had it easier” or “thought they were better”
than the darker-complexioned slaves -– and
/ or largely “relaxed in the big house” while
the darker-complexioned slaves “suffered
in the fields” — is very much (just like the
infamous ‘Willie Lynch Letter’ Hoax) all VERY
MUCH AN URBAN MYTH (and, is one which,
in nearly every way that’s possible, completely
defies the true historical recorded account).
The historical record shows that
those enslaved people who were of a
lighter-complexion (i.e. mulatto-lineage)
and that were found on the continental
United States during the antebellum
(chattel-slavery) era were actually treated
MUCH WORSE than were those enslaved
people who were of a darker-complexion.
In fact, the record shows that most of the White
people (especially the White women) tended
to look upon the lighter-complexioned slaves
as being mere ‘mongrels of miscegenation’
(resulting largely from the rapes caused by the
plantation ‘Overseers’); in their disgust at the
sight of these slaves — insisted that they
be “banished to the fields”; and also then
purposefully reserved most of the ‘big house’
positions (ex. mammy, cook, driver, etc.) for
the darker-complexioned slaves — who most of
the White people had perceived as being “more
loyal, more docile, less competitive, etc.”, and,
even more important, they were also of a skin tone
which could never cause them to be seen as being
any part-’white’ (and even worse, perceived as
“possibly” also being “a member of the family”
–as it were– of a given plantation ‘Owner’).
And this maltreatment was generally even much
more so the case if the lighter-complexioned
enslaved person was even remotely ’suspected’
(by, say, a wife, sister or daughter — who ran
“the big house”, while a ‘male’ family member
ran “the plantation”)of possibly being the
offspring of a given plantation ‘Owner’
(or his son, or father, or brother,
or any other male found in the
plantation ‘Owners’ White family).
In addition, the few lighter-complexioned enslaved
people that were actually permitted to do any work
in the “big house” were (as a punishment for having
the lowly status of “mongrel” and in order to make
sure that they did not become “too uppity”) kept
under a much more severe work supervision (by both
the White women who ran the plantation household
and also by the darker-complexioned enslaved people
who had been placed over the lighter-complexioned
enslaved people and given various “rewards” in an
exchange for the promise to ‘keep an eye on’ them)
than were most of the (more trusted and seemingly
endeared) darker-complexioned enslaved people.
Books by Deborah Gray White; Paula Giddings; bell
hooks; J. California Cooper; William Wells Brown;
etc. expose the truth about the urban-myth and
show that the lighter-complexioned enslaved
people received NO special treatment and were,
instead (due to being seen as mere “mongrels of
miscegenation”) usually treated much worse than
were most darker-complexioned enslaved people.
The hatred, fear and mistrust that many of
the antebellum and post-antebellum era White
southerners felt toward the people who were
both of a light-complexion (mulatto-lineage)
and were also chattel-slaves, is very strongly
presented in the ‘D.W. Griffith’ racist film
‘Birth of a Nation’– where pretty much
all the trouble, tragedy and dangers found
experienced by White southern families in
the film is falsely presented as being
caused by “uppity” Mulattoes who ‘needed to
be taught “their place” among White people’.
(i.e. they “needed” to be beaten, raped, lynched,
etc. by the “proud” White people who had been
reared to make it clear that they felt
“no connection” to any non-White person).
Anyone who would like any additional information
on this topic can feel free to contact me directly.
Hope this information is helpful
& that everyone has a great day.
– AP (soaptalk@hotmail.com)
Related Links:
http://boards.mulatto.org/post/show_single_post?pid=34070161&postcount;=13
http://boards.mulatto.org/post/show_single_post?pid=34070414&postcount;=14
.