Light Skin versus Dark Skin - What's in?
By TIA EWING
Black Horizons Staff Writer
African Americans were suppressed and oppressed for hundreds of years due to slavery. Within the idea of slavery was an overall mental blockade. This blockade affected the idea of unity within our race to prevent any plausible cause of revolting against slave masters. Sadly enough, this idea still looms in our modern-day culture.
Many African-Americans are feeling the wrath of racial segregation. However, this racial injustice is stemming from none other but our own people.
For years television has depicted light-skinned African Americans as beautiful, probably because light-skin is the closest thing to being Caucasian. Are media networks like MTV and BET contributing to this notion that stems from slavery?
“I feel that BET is contributing to the younger generation’s views on skin color,” said ‘D,’ a sophomore who did not want his name mentioned. “BET shows a lot of videos that depict beauty as light skin with long hair.”
Music networks may be a contributing factor to the problem, which leaves some black women in the cold. However, black men have a mind of their own when picking their women. Or do they?
“My preference is dark-skinned females, due to the fact that my grandmother is dark-skinned and I think that persuades how I feel,” said Idris Green, a senior in history. “There is a perception that light-skinned is better, not to say that it is true. I feel it is just an image.”
“The image in the media is the light-skinned black woman or white woman,” said ‘A,’ a sophomore who wished not to be mentioned.
“I am fed up with foreign (models) in the videos who need a green card. Why not put a real citizen in the videos? Do you think Jay-Z knew any beautiful models when he was a nobody, looking like a camel!”
“I would love to see a dark-skinned person in the videos, but not too many people find dark skin beautiful,” said Brian, a recent graduate from Ohio State. “Who cares what color you are as long as you’re fine, I don’t care.”
Since the media and the rest of society seems to think of the light-skinned black person as more acceptable in magazines like Cosmopolitan, and TV advertisements like Noxzema facial cleanser, is this stereotype trickling down to what blacks think is an acceptable skin color? Are African Americans now starting to categorize the light-skinned black as being better than the dark-skinned black person, especially when it comes to male/female relations?
“I love all black women, they are all beautiful! There are so many to choose from. Who would want a white woman with all the beautiful, intelligent sistas in this world, said Lee, a senior. “Besides, all black women have a butt bigger than J.Lo, so I don’t understand the hype about her. It is sad that brothers are so lost, using and abusing their women.”
“If a man is going to judge me on account of what I look like, instead of what I have to offer mentally, then he is not worth my time,” said Trishana Jones, a junior. “Men watch TV and see all these light-skinned females with nice figures and they have the idea of that it is what all women should look like. That’s nice if you have long hair or you look like a model, but that is not being realistic.”
Whether your skin is light or dark, hershey kiss or butterfinger, there is more to African Americans than their outer appearance. It’s just unfortunate that the media doesn’t always feel the same.
