Colorism is indeed a known fact, a direct commencement of hostilities afflicted on an individual based on skin color that is used as the basis for a conclusion, or logic that interfaces that a black person possessing a lighter complexion is treated with a higher esteem than a person with a darker skin color. This form of discrimination crosses a broad spectrum of skin color, it is the sister of light privilege and the cousin of racism. This was taught during the slavery where the lighter slaves were shown favor because their features, skin color, and hair texture was closer to that of the Aryan race (white people), the Nordic eccentric features with include, but not limited to, straight hair, light skin, light eyes, straight nose etc.. Colorism is not just limited to the black community, other dark nations suffer the injustices of it as well, both men and women. Light skinned or Biracial women are on the receiving end of this.
|This photograph is the property of its respective owner.|
Colorism, a term believed to be first coined in 1982 by Pulitzer Prize winner author Alice Walker, was defined by her to mean the “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color.
It’s time we shift our focus from deliberating on this subject matter in meaningless preposterous idioms such as ‘yellow bone’ ‘darkie’ ‘tar baby’ and ‘red bone’ and got down to the real dispute. Most women in the world, worship the idol of beauty that demands adherence to a false standard of beauty (and worth). “The light skinned woman.” All around the world, the brown girls are discriminated against based on the color. Preferential treatment of lighter skin hues over darker hues occurs within racial and ethnic groups as well as between them. The practice of inequity, colorism (Pigmentocrcy or shadeism) privileges lighter-skinned women and men over their dark-skinned counterparts. This results in the skin lightening epidemic, self-hatred, low self-esteem and exposes how the media lifts the Caucasian woman since the beginning of white supremacy have been praised to elevated heights as the universal standard of beauty. Women around the world have been bombarded with so many different requirements of attractiveness. To be thin, but healthy; to have a flat stomach, but have ample breasts and a bigger rear end. And sorrowfully, in order to achieve the standard of perfection these women have increasingly been turning to plastic surgery, cosmetics, eating disorders, and self-mutation to fit this beauty standard the beguiling attraction of it and social imperatives that surround it. The quandary of a woman who does not possess any kind of beauty. This world is superficial where your validation is men drooling at you while walking down the street. What about “the woman that nobody sees” you know the one that is ignored by men? Society places so much pressure to be attractive and the procedures in which women pull out all the stops to modify their appearance by any means necessary. This society will train you in your way to think of a particular beauty standard even upon deeper reflection it will be imposed through universal thinking what our perceptions of beauty should be, its trains your mind directly or indirectly, through the power of subjection and propaganda their way of seeing and of appreciating beauty – The Beauty Ideal – embedded into our brains every second of the day through television, commercials, and the media. Sadly, for most of the brown girls in the world, they have a double disadvantage being a woman considered the least of all women and being of a member of the dark nation.
Confessions of a “Colorist.”
Colorist | Unlike a racist, a colorist doesn’t factor race but uses the tone of ones skin to determine chracteristics about an individual.
The Colorist seeks nothing less than to objectify the color aesthetics of dark skin.
My interview with Michael, a 48 year old, Colorist.
Q: What do you think a colorist is?
Michael: A person that denies a person strictly by the color of their skin.
Q: Are you a colorist?
Michael: I think that the term “colorist” is redundant, I would call it to preference instead.
Q: What is your preference?
Michael: I like light women (like yourself) with pretty good long hair, eyes, pretty smile, beautiful figure, and so forth.
Q: You know you can find all the external qualities in dark women to, do you agree?
Michael: No darker women are ugly. I need me a red-bone, yellow-bone dimepiece.
Q: You are a dark skinned man is this a product of self-hate?
Michael: No, not at all. I don’t want someone darker than me I want someone that can make me look good, improve my status, and give me pretty children I can be proud of.
Q: Do you think that there is a problem with your belief system regarding skin color?
Michael: Yes, well, maybe.
Q: Do your thinking your european preception of beauty where did it originate, from the outside world influence or was it taught by your parents?
Michael: When I was a child, my mom always told me to date a light/white woman to have some pretty children with that good hair. I was not able to date darker women, and as I got older, my preference for lighter women never changed. Just maybe there was a level of influence at that young age but its not my fault.
Q: Do you think that your opportunity for success will be impacted by your skin color?
Michael: Dark-skinned men are a hot commodity around the world. I don’t see that happening.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 KJV
The mystery of what the elephant in the room is “”””?”””….Drum roll please, it’s a big one so make preparations right now. Now before you get your panties or boxers in a bunch. Relax free your thinking this is the reality for all of us. This is not something contrived or a figment of our imagination. Now go get you some tea and coffee as we analyze this topic together. The elephant in the room is….. *The Isms* “Racism-Colorism-Texturism-Featurism-Lightism-Shadeism (Pigmentocrcy)-Lookism-Hateism
It is no accident that people of color have been plagued with the nine “isms” associated with our destruction economically, the family, financially, legally, socially, and historically. The ideology of the “isms” progresses from one experience to another. Systemic injustice has plagued our experience and there seems to be on antidotes or solutions in sight.
There are 64 color shades & 64 hair textures. Colorism is indeed a known fact, a direct commencement of hostilities afflicted on an individual based on skin color that is used as the basis for a conclusion, or logic that interfaces that a black person possessing a lighter complexion are treated with higher esteem than a person with darker skin color. This word was first introduced by Alice Walker, the author. Featurism is discrimination of black women based on facial features. Certain ethnic accentuated features such as a part of a face that contributes to its distinct character, especially the eyes, nose, or mouth. This term was first coined by Robin Boyd in his book The Australian Ugliness (1960). Texturism is discrimination based on hair texture of black women its roughness, smoothness, coarseness, and fineness are judged as good or bad hair. Lightism is the discrimination targeted at light-skinned black women who are validated because of their light skin. The recipients of light-skinned privilege that is mistreated by darker skinned blacks, not fitting in based on color in both the white and black communities.
Colorism, Pigmentocracy, As with racism or prejudice, the concept of colorism has a pejorative connotation. Also, like racism, colorism can be thought of as either dimensional in beliefs or multidimensional in perspective. In regards to colorism, which can be manifested within or across racial and ethnic groups and can be multifaceted in views among all groups of colored people, not just black people. The brown paper bag theory, Snow and Glow organizations have perpetrated the fallacies associated with these mindsets and beliefs. The One drop rule, and Shadeism with Hashtags: #teamlightskin, #teamdarkskin This issue of colorism not only effects black people but any people of color – nonwhite people like East Indians, Asian, South Americans and so on…. In India, light skin on a pedestal whereas here in the United States, white people frequently tan to look darker like us. The British colonization and slavery played a significant role in the separation of people due to their color. Never understood the reasoning because brown is beautiful! The practice of inequity, colorism (Pigmentocrcy or shadeism) privileges lighter-skinned women and men over their dark-skinned counterparts. The Brown Paper bag rule – In the early 19th century the upper class black American societies would conduct the brown paper bag test to determine if a black person was sufficiently white enough to gain admittance or acceptance in church and other social clubs. If your skin was darker than a brown paper bag, you could not get in and were not accepted. One drop rule was instated in the United States to keep the white lineage pure. Colorism, a term coined by Alice Walker in 1982, is not a synonym for racism. “Race” depends on multiple factors (including ancestry); therefore, the racial categorization does not solely rely on skin color. Skin color is only one mechanism used to assign individuals to an ethnic category, but the race is the set of beliefs and assumptions assigned to that category. Pigmentocracy is the chart in which light skin is measured. The even bigger elephant in the room is the hatred among black people and other nations that view skin color as the determining factor of beauty and success. This brings me to “Lookism,” which is discrimination that affects all countries the world over, Lookism is a concept where discrimination occurs to unattractive people; mainly in the workplace but also in social settings. While not classified in the same way as racism, colorism, and Darkism. Lookism is worldwide and affects how people are perceived as well as changing their opportunities in terms of relationships, job opportunities, perks, and social status.
The “isms” effect all dark nations of the world:
Cuba Tila said, “They hate my nappy hair and dark skin.”
Brazil Adriana said, “My skin is too dark.”
Mexico Rulo said, “They say I will never get married, I am too dark
India Mena said, “My Mom buys me the bleaching cream
Dominican Republic Maricel said, “They said I was dark and ugly.”
Australia Tessa, “They say my skin is so dark.”
Nigeria Eunice said, “They say I should bleach my skin.”
Ethiopia Merit said, “They say I look like a black African.
Pakistan Nida said, “My friend was prettier because she is fair skinned.
Canada Jessica said, “They say I am too dark.”
China Margaret said, “They say I should carry an umbrella to shield me from the sun, my skin is too dark.”
Margaret Hunter in her book, “Race, Gender, and the Politics of Skin tone” which in my opinion the best clinical study on the effects of colorism among blacks and Mexicans … states – “Although typically described as a “black “ or “Chicano” problem, colorism is practiced by whites and people of color alike”
“To be beautiful, handsome, means that you possess a power which makes all smile upon and welcome you; that everybody is impressed in your favor and inclined to be of your opinion; that you have only to pass through a street or to show yourself on a balcony to make friends and to win mistresses from among those who look upon you. What a splendid, what a magnificent gift is that which spares you the need to be amiable in order to be loved, which relieves you of the need of being clever and ready to serve, which you must be if ugly, and enables you to dispense with the innumerable moral qualities which you must possess in order to make up for the lack of personal beauty.” ― Théophile Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin
© Vashtiy Alsaudamir, this interview is included in my new book.
Meet the electrifying beauty, Venika Kalambay, a London based fashion model and youtube beauty influencer.
Q: As a model have you ever experienced racism or colorism? If so, give me an example?
I think there are small instances where you can sense undercurrents of racism but I, fortunately, have not had any severe experiences of direct racism, perhaps growing up in London has meant that I am a part of a broader range of cultures and people are more accepting of different religions here. My father lived and worked in the Middle East for about 3 years and visiting him was one of the first experiences where I felt as though I was in a completely different era in terms of time because people were so fascinated by me, my black mother and black sisters.
Q: What was the best compliment you ever received and what was the worst?
I always get complimented on my eyes, I have super big eyes (at least I think) and people always tell me how drawn to them they are. One of the worst compliments I received was actually something that wasn’t outwardly rude but reading between the lines, I understood what was being said. I was at the till point at my job, and I was serving a lady, I could clearly hear from her accent that she was South African. We began to chat and then she said that she thought I was beautiful, to which I replied with the apparent niceties. She then proceeded to ask where I was from, and I replied The Democratic Republic of Congo, to which she then asked if both my parents were black and I replied yes, they were brought up in the same area of Congo. She then asked if I was sure, to which I replied yes, to add another level of awkwardness to this situation she then began to point at my face and say, no, this, this – looking at me – you have to be mixed with something, is there anyone white in your family? At this point, I was convinced she was honestly just trying to find out more about where I had come from when it was explicitly evident what she was trying to say. After this whole awkward conversation, I relayed the entire thing to my colleague, who happened to be a black male and at this point, I was beginning to feel so incredibly stupid and naive as he was attempting to make it clear to me precisely what the woman was hinting at. It was obviously too hard for her to just point out that I was pretty and leave it at that, she couldn’t believe that I was 100% black. This was my very first “pretty for a black girl situation,” and I was fortunate enough to be old enough, I believe I was 21 at the time, to not allow the situation to knock my confidence in any way. The most shocking thing that was her daughter was standing next to her the whole time, and I was so confused as to why she would allow her daughter to be around her when she was making such blatantly racist comments.
Q: Tell me something about yourself that nobody knows?
As confident as I may appear now, it took me a long time to get to this point. I would honestly say that I never really felt beautiful until I was about 19 years old and now I cannot possibly understand how and why it took me so long to appreciate my talents and the qualities I possess that are so unique to me. When I was maybe 14 or 15, I read a book by Kimora Lee Simmons called ‘Fabulosity: What It Is & How to Get It,’ which taught me so much about being a woman, it taught me such incredible and valuable life lessons and most importantly the book helped me to finally gain some confidence and start loving myself. I am so incredibly grateful to Kimora for indirectly giving me that through what she offered in that book, she holds an unusual place in my heart and to this day I always refer to that book as the book that changed my life.
Q: What would you say to a younger girls growing up with issues of colorism? Being hated because she has a darker skin tone?
It took me a long time to finally begin to love myself and my skin and all the little imperfections so I can understand how hard it is for young girls growing up in 2017. My advice would be to stay true to your reality, do whatever it is that makes you happy and have a belief in your magic that is so unwavering that there is not one person that can tell you otherwise. Don’t focus on growing up too fast, as apparent as that advice may seem, as you get older you will definitely wish for those happy moments that you only really have when you’re young, where nothing else matters but having fun at that moment. Be kind and have courage.
Q: Do you think that light skinned women are treated better?
I most definitely think that light skinned women are seen as more desirable. I think particularly in the case of love and relationships, men, especially black men, do always gravitate towards light skinned women, I cannot speak for other areas of life, but that is mainly where I can see evidence of this. I think music culture has definitely contributed towards this, as these women are often more glorified in music videos and popular culture as opposed to darker skinned women, however, I think we see a shift and people are realizing how beautiful darker skin is.
Q: How has been dark-skinned affected your life? Both negatively and positively..?
I wouldn’t necessarily define myself as dark-skinned, I see myself as a black woman, I never put those kinds of labels on myself because I believe people can sometimes get fixated on just being that one thing. What is often the most frustrating thing is that I am black. I have brown skin, I have cousins who have fairer skin than me, but I don’t feel my complexion is particularly dark. But often I think that because some people only see light skin women as the norm, they label everyone even a tad bit darker as dull skin, which I don’t feel is right and it is almost seen as though is a bad thing to be darker. God created us in all different shapes, colors, sizes, and this is the positive that I choose to take from something that can be so negative. I don’t allow those experiences to stay embedded in my head, I remember I am beautiful, smart, kind, and I keep it moving. In the past 2 years, however, being black is definitely being more celebrated, and I am incredibly proud to say that now more than ever, I feel a part of such a healthy community. Since I am a beauty blogger, I would definitely say that sometimes it is challenging because I don’t truly feel that black creators are given opportunities to grow as quick as our white counterparts and this is something we need to push for. I think there are so many beauty brands that are incredibly problematic in not having shade selections that are available for the lightest of light to the darkest of the dark because this contributes to the feeling of colored skin girls not feeling worthy enough to be included. To name a few, Too Faced, Tarte, it is not acceptable, and I will always use my voice to speak about such injustices. While not attempting to discount everything I have just said, I have to be honest and the state as a black woman, I understand the power in my voice, and overall, I have had a positive experience as a black woman in this industry. Whether it be because I am on the lighter end of the spectrum when it comes to “dark-skinned girls,” I’m not sure. I am always going to choose to love myself and to ensure that what I do and my contribution to the world is what sets me apart and not the color of my skin.
My light skin privilege, her dark skin disadvantage
1. Society, media and television programming promote (glibly facile) among black women. 2. Dividing black into the lines of color (willie lynch letter) in slavery days. 3. Parents don’t teach their children how valuable they are in skin color and hair texture but promote self-hatred (tongue) self-hatred spoken in words.
Envy of others is something taught you have been programmed to perceive something that is not necessarily better than you. From the moment you are born, imagery plays a big part, what you hear about yourself. Blacks were taught to be envious of each other in relevance to light skin and dark skin. The light skinned is raised to fill entitlement while the darker skinned is taught to hate the way they look it’s not good enough. Before slavery, there were no weaves, perms, relaxers, lighting creams, or a desire to be anything other than what you were created for. In the beginning, we are beautiful from our hair to the color of our skin. I clothed thee also with broidered work and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver, and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 16:10-14 KJV
Dark Vs Light series… Do light skinned women feel a sense of entitlement? Part 1
90 % of people I questioned stated that MOST but not all light skinned women felt entitled. Here are a few views on this subject. Charmaine, a light-skinned woman with green eyes and kinky short hair. “First of all I am light skinned, but I feel that light skinned women/biracial/multiracial women have a sense of entitlement… we feel entitled in everything we do, and we are better than dark skinned women. We are loved by all the men, and they treat us like trophies and that we are. We are competitive with one another we compete for men and position all the time. Secretly we don’t like each other, at least, with dark skin women, we are sure to stand out without trying, but with one our color we get picked through all the time. So light women, we are the most insecure and hateful because society and people make us feel we are better than the rest. After who do you think started #teamlightskin.” Tiffany, a product of a black father and white mother, light skinned with dark eyes and long curly hair Comment from Tiffany to Jaci, ” Two of my best friends are light skinned we live close to one another, have known each other since university days. We are not backstabbing one another through endless, so your stereotypes are ridiculous. You look black to me just black you just happen to be light, but you still have pure Negroid features and nappy hair. You are nothing like us light skinned people the beautiful ones the ones that count because we are exotic the biracial ones or the multiracial ones. You are just a nappy headed negro who just got lucky to have lighter skin, so don’t speak about us like you are one of us.”
Light Vs Dark Series.. Are dark skinned women filled with jealousy and hatred toward light women? Part 2
80% of dark-skinned women I questioned stated that there was no underlined hatred of light-skinned woman, and if there was it was because of the treatment from the light skinned women or other people in general.
Omokoyo, a dark-skinned coffee shop owner, I hate no one, the experiences that I had with light skinned women have been nothing but evil. I was picked on a lot by light-skinned girls that thought they were better than me, I was teased called darkie and ugly. They had the unwarranted favor they felt they were the shit and the guys loved them. Oh, how I wanted to be them.
Angela, A dark-skinned former beauty queen, Participating in pageants my whole life, the competition was fierce, but most of my light skin fellow contestants were downright nasty to me, but fortunately for me, I have tough skin, and hey I won the pageants! They always said to me, “Don’t play in the sun, my sister.” The Envy among WOMEN in general. The Haters.
Contrary to popular belief, “Envy” is a universal social epidemic not only prevalent to the black woman but to white, Asian, Hispanic, and so many more nationalities. The common thread of this insecurity has spread through white supremacy. The desire to possess something that another has, whether property or even their looks. Women engaged in this pandemonium of envy are at the root of why women compete with one another. The triggers of jealousy for men and women are different. Like some women, most men, are envious of superficial attributes, money, and position in life. Ladies, no woman, like no man, is perfect. No woman is genuinely and utterly content with herself light or dark. It’s a curse to envy I’m not sure we’ll ever fully break the bonds of jealousy, but we can learn to love the skin we are in.
My interview with Emmitel Abongwa Ndumu Ph.D
Q: Do you think colorism and racism the biggest elephants in the room?
Emmitel: Certainly, they were birthed from white supremacy and European colonialism, this thinking is the philosophy of civilization. In Race and the dogma of skin hue, it is the real war but I say throw the baby out with the bath water. When people wake up then change will come.
Q: Does skin color define beauty?
Emmitel: Facial features define beauty – the harmony of facial features along with symmetry places a big part in identifying facial beauty. Skin hue or color is not responsible for defining beauty. Although, people do pay more attention to lighter skin.
Q: What is your take on the light skin/ dark skin situation among people of color?
Emmitel: Worldwide it’s a real struggle among our people, and a superficial one that has taken a dangerous turn with skin lightening creams which has cancer agents in them but still they are going down that path. Bottom line, a woman of any shade must be comfortable in her skin don’t buy into the lie that light is better. Diversity is beautiful and unique.
Since “Dark Skin” is highly criticized, these are some of the stereotypes and fallacies associated with melanin-carbon enriched dark skin:
This photograph is the property of its respective owner, obtained on Facebook.
Dark Skinned women are ashy… They are ugly… They are lazy … They are on welfare… They look like monkeys… They are the ugliest woman in the world… They will never get married… They all wear weave… They are evil… Everyone hates them… They don’t get good jobs… They will always be poor… The hair is so nappy… Recipient of Pretty for a dark girl syndrome… Perceived as being envious of all light skinned women… Discriminated against because of skin color… Automatically perceived as being a bad person… Judged primarily on skin color and hair texture…
My Q & A with Roderick Israel, a dark skinned Investment Banker
Q: Do dark skin men experience the same colorism as dark-skinned women?
Roderick: Not exactly but in the business world we really have to prove ourselves.
Q: How do date dark skinned women?
Roderick: Yes exclusively. You are drop dead gorgeous but I love my dark skinned sisters.
Q: What advice would you give to a dark-skinned woman facing colorism?
Roderick: That things will not change for her until she gets into the truth and surrenders all to Christ. Like I told my daughter, the world will never accept her, she must accept herself.
Elvira “Cookie“, a fashion consultant from Panama.
Q. What is the best compliment you have received on your skin color?
Cookie: You’re beautiful for a dark-skinned girl!
Q: How did that make you feel?
Cookie: Actually I wanted to slap the guy that said if he was so ignorant to my feelings. He was saying that dark skin women were not attractive.
Q: What has been your experience as a dark-skinned female?
Cookie: Not good.
Q: Tell me about your experiences.
Cookie: for starters, I was picked on a lot as you know, I was looked over for modeling jobs. I was called ugly, darkie, smut dog, burnt wood, and being from Panama didn’t help they are just as color struck as being blacks in America. None of the guys wanted me they always looked at you, I felt left out, but you ever made me feel good about myself. The guys really were the worst.
Q: Some black men can be so ignorant.
Cookie: They always gave more attention to the light skinned women like you, even if they are not as beautiful as you. That is one thing I couldn’t also understand if a woman is light but ugly, they still preferred her. That is why I dated and married a white man, he treats me like a queen. Q: It is really the facial features that make someone pretty, not the skin color. Those guys had brought into a lie that was set into motion long before we existed.
Cookie: You are so right but it doesn’t take away the pain of not being excepted by your own race.
Q: How did your mother help you deal with it?
Cookie: She didn’t at first, she told me I would never be a symbol of beauty because I was dark. Now she tells me that I am an excellent role model for dark women. Enough about me so – we are talking about me but how about you being light skinned? What is your biggest problem with being light skinned?
Q: I will cover that in the light-skinned privilege section.
Cookie: That is good to know.
Q: Do you think that light skinned women issues are more damaging than dark skin women issues?
Cookie: No, I think dark skinned women have it worse.
Q: So what advice would you give to other dark-skinned girls/women?
Cookie: To be comfortable in your black skin. Your black skin will never change. So love it.
I must admit that it was tough for me to write on this topic of “privilege” I didn’t want to appear to be a narcissist or presumptuous. I believe that physical beauty is measured by your features and symmetry, not skin color. It’s really in the eye of the beholder literally. I have traveled the world, there are endless beautiful dark and light woman the world over, all possess one common thing – their facial features an in harmony together. So the theory that your skin color makes you attractive only is a fallacy. Not to be believed. The whole premise of a debate of light vs. dark is unsettling, ignorant, and not edifying the unity between women of all shades of brown. Willie Lynch created a standard method for teaching slaves divisive behavior and through colonization people around the world have adopted these self – denigrating issues that light skin is the best and anything that deviates from that theory is not good. Lynch supported division to keep the light slaves against the dark slaves to prevent rebellion and unity among blacks. Still, today that residue from the past has conditioned people around the world to adopt “light Skin” as the best. This is a general world problem not just by black people but many nations face this reality daily in America, India, Africa, Latin American, South America, Brazil, Dominican Republic, the West Indies, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba just to name a few. In these countries, the lighter you are, the more beautiful you are perceived as, the smarter, and the nicer. The Darker you are, the more you have recognized the s menace to society, evil, and ugly. These stereotypes are far from the truth, people of color are still suffering from healthy delusional thinking based on skin color. Most feel that a light-skinned woman has attained a status, reached a level of success, met the European standard of beauty that dark-skinned women could never measure up to. As for the white woman, she doesn’t have to try, they woke up in privilege. They have been born this way. They have become a god.
My light skin privilege
Is Beauty a Gift or a Curse? I was born into the privilege of walking the earth as a genetic freak, often referred to as beautiful. In a world where beauty is considered a gift and a curse. You see it is a double-edged sword for me, on the one hand, I have been praised highly for my physical attributes. Considered the “outcast” or the polar opposite “the trophy doll.” In my lifetime, people have been extremely generous with their compliments on my physical attributes, but on another hand, I live with the curse of being a darker hue toned woman, a non-white woman. There are opportunities that I will never get because of my skin color. The acceptable light skinned synopsis. What is it like to be in a shell, melanin light café au lait hue woman? Honestly, I never thought my color played much in my life, success, or in general. I never really came to that realization until now. I always thought that my personal beauty was based on my facial features and other attributes not so much the pigmentation of my skin I will have to admit that my alleged light-skinned privilege has given me endless opportunities: Opulent gifts from men, modeling opportunities, many marriage proposals, free stuff, better treatment, etc. Is all that people say about you is that you are pretty? Aren’t you tired of people always telling you you’re beautiful? That question was asked continuously of me… People were uncomfortable around me. I was embarrassed about being pretty whenever eruptions of phases referred to my beauty in front of others. I don’t handle attention concerning my aesthetics well. I felt insecure that I would get a compliment while others around me became unnoticed, people around me were irritated by that, even on social media. The negative treatment. This aspect runs so deep, finding myself in the pit on many occasions. Most of the animosity that I experienced from women, in general, were primarily but in the black community, it has been from both light and dark skinned women. Some of my friends are black, but most of my friends throughout the years have been Aryan Caucasian. Enduring many years of haters, negative remarks, jealousy, threats of injury to my being or violence, backstabbers, insecure women, sabotaging opportunities for me, prejudgment, and envy, jealousy, strife from my own people and other nations I have become desensitized by the effects of it now it just rolls off like water on a duck’s back. The Downside of Beauty. I know a lot of women would put the “unfairness treatment” on a specific shade of color, but my negative experiences have been with both light and dark skin women, and also other nationalities. Women, in general, suffer insecurities about their beauty across the board. Caucasian woman, as well as other nations of women, have their own beast of burdens like fitting into the media perception of perfection the supermodel fantasy look. I learned a long time ago that what people say about doesn’t dictate who you are. You have to be comfortable in your own skin.
The image I see in the mirror is what I really look like? Is my image a reflection of the Most High? My outer shell is made of dirt; it will return to the earth as dirt. The real me is not what is apparent to the eye, my soul perhaps? To be politically correct, my soul is my mind, will, and emotions. My soul will separate from my body when the silver cord is broken, at my death. My soul will receive the harshest judgment of all, whether it is placed in Abraham’s bosom of Hades, according to how I lived my life. The image I see is really just an outward expression of skin and features that are judged or scrutinized by the opinions of others. Mankind judges the outside but the Most High looks on the heart. “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:17 ..With that said, our emphasis should not be on the flesh but on the condition of our souls.
1. Tell me one of your darkest experiences being a light-skinned woman and how you were treated?
In my adult life I’ve never really had any dark experiences being the ‘dark or mixed girl’ in Ireland but when I was a child I was surrounded by white people and kids and was teased a lot of people would call me the “N-word,” made fun of my hair and tell me to straighten it. There was a grown woman that lived in my neighborhood who used to call me a monkey.
2. Is being beautiful a blessing or a curse?
I think being physically beautiful is a curse because people tend to rely on it to get them through in life when it’s not a permanent thing. Also, people tend to criticize you and direct unwanted attention towards you. If you accept yourself and have confidence in how you look, being a beautiful person on the inside is a blessing as I do believe in karma.
3. What is the best compliment that you have received about your physical appearance? And the worst?
The best compliments I receive are usually to do with my hair. The worst, “I like your face, but I’m just not into the whole black hair.”
4. Who in the black community treats you the best? Dark skinned women or lighter women? How do the people in Ireland treat you?
I feel I get the most positive comments from dark-skinned women.
5. Do you feel that black women are united?
Yes definitely. I’m obsessed with social media and every site I’m a part of the women support and accept each other, especially on Tumblr.
6. Do you think colorism exists and how would you change it?
Yes, colorism definitely exists but I think most people discriminate subconsciously they don’t set out to hurt people of different races. The best way to start a change is to educate yourself and others and try to be open-minded towards people you don’t identify with an open-minded towards people who don’t identify with you.
7. What advice what you give to black women about life in general?
My advice to black women, in general, always believes you are worthy of love and respect you are terrific.
1. Tell me something about you that nobody knows?
No one really knows that I’m super sensitive. I play it off like I’m ok, but honestly, I’m super responsive.
2. What has been your experiences being a light-skinned woman? How were you treated? By dark-skinned women and other light skinned women?
My experience being a light-skinned woman has been excellent and bad, on the one hand, other light skin women welcome me with open arms, and some dark skin women did too but not many growing up especially with having long hair. They often accused me of thinking, “I am cute.” Now, as an adult, people often think I am mixed due to my light skin color, the length, and the grade of my hair.
3. Do you think virtue is more important than physical beauty?
Yes, virtue is more important than physical beauty, especially today. Physical attraction isn’t even real, whereas, getting caught up in physical beauty can and will lead you down the wrong path.
4. Do you think there is an injustice with the way dark-skinned black women are treated? Do you think the Willie Lynch Syndrome still exists today?
I think dark skinned women aren’t really being seen as the real beauty they really are. Their darkness of there skin is vibrant and beautiful, but society makes them seem ugly. The latest trends are mixed girls with black features. Dark skinned women are put in the back view a lot. Yes, I genuinely believe the Willie Lynch syndrome still exist today.
5. What is the best compliment that you have received about your physical appearance?
My 8-year-old niece told my mom she wants to as beautiful as me and like me when she grew up. I am a woman of the Most High and family woman with modesty and live a natural lifestyle. I want to set an example for another young person is more than I can ask for. Too many lousy role models today.
6. What advice or would you tell a woman or young girl about how your life has changed coming into the truth about the Most High?
I always thought I would come to the Most High when I was much older. Now I’m in the truth I wish I was way before now. All I need is to know the Most High and that bible is a special gift through the book your eyes will be opened to know good and evil what to watch out for. Your life will be for things that will make sense. And knowing that you and your children can be saved is the more excellent gift. Knowing the truth can really save your soul.
Her dark skin disadvantage
“Blacker the Berry the sweeter the juice. Darker the flesh the deeper the roots” — Tupac Shakur
The degradation of dark skin has lingering effects from slavery and colonialism. The recipients of the most beautiful hues the most Melanin in the skin. Dark Skinned women are so regal the most beautiful of all their skin is silky and smooth such richness and history. What is Melanin? The pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people have. Dark skin has been the ridicule of jokes. Stated as being the ugliest skin color. The most hated but yet the most emulated around the world many Caucasians tan annually to darken their skin. There is a deeper reason, a more sinister revelation, a deeper root conspiracy against the darker skin people. Whose hue unlocks their history. The reason why I named this segment “Dark Skin” disadvantage this is metaphoric representing the pain the injustice to all the dark women around the world. Dark skin is often associated with a lack of privilege with eliminates – “The Dark Skin disadvantage,“ But now in 2017 through social media, these perceptions may change for the better in la la land. Dark skin women are flaunting their melanin and gaining a massive following through natural hair movement and social media outlet only still be ridiculed by their peers. Black women have gone neck to neck with European standards of beauty. In slavery time, the dark-skinned slaves served as field Negros having to endure hot temperatures out in the heat of the south. They lacked the advantages of education, food, clothing, and opportunities as their light-skinned counterparts, who emulated whiteness for their benefits. So the perplexity of sorrow that has been endured by the darker skinned woman can only be deep-rooted in pain for generations. The mere fact of being overlooked by the very people of your race can be disheartening, to say the least. My hearts and my prayers go out to all my beautiful dark skinned sisters. I endorse your beauty as my own, we may be of different colors, but we are of the same stock and dilemma.
I remember the first time I heard this phrase, “The Dark the Berry, the sweeter the juice.” My dark skinned cousin made it in reference to her dark skin being better than my lighter skin.
Although there is a hatred for the darker woman of color, through my studies, there have been instances were the darker girls were perceived as beautiful. Here is another perspective of being Dark Skin from the strikingly beautiful Fumi Desalu-Vold, a dark-skinned fashion model and actress. This exert is from an episode of her youtube program “Sister2Sister” – the episode titled “DARK GIRLS” -My life as a DARK skinned woman” (Fumi Fashion and Beauty), Not all experiences of black women are alike, relatively that depends on what area of the earth you reside in.
I was very intrigued by what she said, “While in Scotland, she and her other siblings were spoiled by everyone, they were perceived as being special she experiences no racism what so ever this was in the ’70s.” Then when she moved to Nigeria, she noticed that a lot of women who bleached their skin. I think the most fundamental thing in any young girl’s life is her father, his acceptance of her beauty, and she had it. He told her she was beautiful. She didn’t experience any white supremacy, becoming the first supermodel of Nigeria. While at University in London she was often asked to model for the art department as well as the fashion department, they marveled at her look and skin color. The men from many nationalities highly regarded her as beautiful, especially the men from Italy, a country that is known for their love of black women. While in America, she discovered that it is a melting pot of nations and that her perceptive of herself might have been different if she lives there first.”
Q: What was your most negative experience being a dark skin girl?
Wahima: As a dark-skinned adolescence I had many things said to me because of my skin tone. I was called names like “blackie” and “Tar baby”, but the worst is when I was called ugly directly to my face in a very casual, nonchalant manner by a boy in my class.
Q: What is the best compliment you have received on your physical beauty?
Wahima: The best compliment I’ve ever gotten was when I was 17 and a guy said to me “You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? You’re worth 2000”
Q: Who was your greatest inspiration?
Wahima: My older sister has been the greatest inspiration in my life. She has been through a lot in her life and yet she manages to keep her head up and move forward. She is one of the most pleasant, caring and loving people I’ve come in contact with.
Q: List anything you want to share your experiences as a dark-skinned woman?
Wahima: I’ve had good and bad experiences with being dark skinned, and most of it has been uphill through a tunnel. I’ve been so lucky to be able to come out the other side with confidence. The purpose is to help uplift and help encourage other dark-skinned ladies to embrace their skin and their beauty. I want them to feel like they are apart of the beauty conversation and know that their beauty is valuable and worthy of praise.
Colorism around the World
|(Nigeria) Olaniyi Adeosun-Obabiyi|
Q: How does skin bleaching affect Nigerian women?
Olaniyi: In Nigeria, it has become a common trend for women to bleach their skins. I have often asked other women the reason the phenomenon is on the rise, the women tell me that it’s because of the men; that men seem to prefer light skinned women. My respondent said to me if women are gathered in a place, they always see only the light-skinned ones. So in all of this, my understanding is that women who bleach have this sense of inadequacy and inferiority complex. The most unfortunate is the fact that some use very cheap creams to carry out this their trade. I have once had close ties with women that do the business of mixing these bleaching creams, and they tell me, they make a lot of money from their fellow women.
Q: Do you prefer light skinned women?
Olaniyi: I think I have dated lighter skinned women more in my life. Yea I can tell u I like stunning women and somehow, unfortunately, I tried to drop my taste, and unfortunately, it never fell. But if you ask me in all sincerity, what I usually look out for is a woman I am attracted and connected to. If a woman is light skinned and empty-headed, I am not interested. I am, and I will always be attracted to intelligence. Beauty will ever fade away, what’s left is the content.
Q: What are some of your experiences as a Mexican with the light skin vs. dark skin issue?
Marie: In my country, they value light skin at birth if you have light skin and bright eyes you are appreciated. Dark people are not worthy.
Q: How do white people view this light skin vs. dark skin issue among people of color?
James: I am married to a dark-skinned black woman who is very beautiful. As a white man and other white men can attest to this – We don’t look at the color of a black woman, dark is dark, there are no light people within the black community to us there are all black and we often wonder why it is such an issue along with natural hair with black people.
Q: What do you think about the rivalry between light vs. dark?
Earnest: It is only black people to measure themselves on skin color; it is time to wake up from our slumber and unite as a people.
Q: Does the issue of light skin affect black men too?
Julian: No as bad as women but I do recall being called light bright and almost white in school as well be referred to as a ghost, but the white people treated me as one of them literally. Where women are concerned, I think the problem is that a lot of black men are color struck and that plays into all the hype surrounding this issue. Being a light-skinned man is was called the pretty boy a lot growing up
Q: Is skin color relevant in China?
Huang: Pale skin is the epitome of beauty in China. A lot of women bleach their skin daily to achieve this look. We stay out of the sun.
Q: What is your experience?
Huang: I don’t use bleaching creams, but a lot of my relatives do. I just enjoy the skin I have that comes with ridicule from my relatives, but I have to learn to live with it. ‘Bai Fu Mei,’ which means the white, wealthy, and beautiful ideal standard for beauty for my country. In Asia, light skin is esteemed highly because it reflects high class in social circles, while dark skin is indicative of working manual labor outside associated with the poor.
(South Africa) Roger Tinley
Q: Is light skin important to men or is it just a woman issue?
Roger: It is relevant to everyone, men and women. We perceive light skin as a trophy because it is closer to white. I love the look of light skin.
(India) Shweta Rai
Q: Is light skin relevant in India?
Shweta: Yes, very much so. We worship light skin, we all want it, desire it. We think it makes us more beautiful and desirable in terms of marriage. We are told as girls that if we’re going to be chosen in marriage, we must lighten our skin. Bollywood endorses light skin that needs to change. Many dark girls and guys in India are pretty too. I am dusky that is why I support various lighting creams, I want to be fair and beautiful plus I want a husband, and this gives me a fair chance. Billions of dollars are spent annually for fairness creams in India, this is a precursor to marital status, and the naked Bollywood celebrities are literally worshipped as gods.
(Dominican Republic) Angela Gonzales
Q: Is being light skin important in the Dominican Republic?
Angela: My mother taught us to use bleaching creams and marry someone lighter than us to keep our race white looking. Like all the Caribbean and Hispanics countries all like light skin.
(Nigeria) Ugo Nwoke
Q: How important is light skin in Nigeria?
Ugi: Light skin from my personal observation seems to be selling in Nigeria. As far as looking beautiful goes, most women chose to lighten up their skin, and that calls for bleaching. The women in Nigeria bleach their skin as they wear lipstick daily. People pay more attention to light-skinned people, and a lot of women bleach their skin. I instead think Its more the colonial thing and what is seen on television and magazines. There is a fascination for light skin.
(Mexico) Maria Elena
Q: Is being light skinned or dark skinned an issue in Mexico?
Maria Elena: Yes, as a child, my Mom told me I was too dark. She would never let me go outside in the sun. I noticed that the lighter Mexicans were valued as being prettier. If you had bright eyes and skin, you were considered a treasure.
(North American Indian) Steven
Q: Is being light skin important within Indians?
Steven: When a tribe has a baby that has blonde hair and blue eyes, they are treated like this baby is a symbol of God. The baby is esteemed as very special and will have all the benefits entitled to light skin people.
(South Africa) Joyce
Q: How many procedures do you do annual to lighten the skin?
Joyce: 100 per month, maybe more or less but on the average 100 procedures per month. Q: Do you think light skin should be a reflection of beauty?
Joyce: No I think your features are they are more celebrated to change in my line of work.
I think people in my country place to much value on the way they look.
Q: What was a personal experience that you had with colorism?
Joyce: My first experience was with my Mom, who said, “I was so cute, but if I had light skin and long hair, I would be a beauty queen.” This was devastating to me, parents need to be aware of what they say to their children.
The Light Skin Preference
Dense, short, skinny, light eyes, dark eyes, white teeth, big but, long legs, long hair, short hair, or big boobs. These and other terms are associated with general preferences of individuals. The dividing line where choice becomes detrimental when you down another to fulfill your quota of personal preference. Clearly, preference can be defined as a selection of somebody or something: the view that one person, object, or course of action is more desirable than another, or a choice based on such a view. From the perspective of the “big picture,” we have options some are manipulated by our parents and the media as we identify with the culture and skin color. The psychological problems associated with preference, we are hard-wired at birth or in our most impressionable years to perceive you truth of another. We have got to come to an understanding of who we are (dilemma 11) and come together as a people. We as a people are so indifferent instead of embracing the whole spectrum of our array of color or hue we discriminate among our own people. I am sure that Willie Lynch is clapping in his grave for him did an excellent job of separating a people according to skin color, are we the modern day Willie Lynch? When will black people wake up? What are the preferences? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder or is it … Preference? We all have choices – Do we prefer coffee or tea? Do we prefer to wear this or that? Do you favor or dark people? What is a preference? A selection of somebody or something; the view that one person, object, or course of action is more desirable than another, or a choice based on such a view. What is a preference made? It can be embedded in teachings and philosophy by society. The power of suggestion like beauty can convince a person of believing a myth or lie. You hear or see something so much that it can become a preference. Preferences are actually performed to us through media, what you see is what you esteem the best. As a child, they can be programmed to accept anyone standard of beauty, through watching hours of television programming. We all have our preferences but where the danger lies when our decisions affect another person or shed light on an individual in a negative light. For examples:
1. Taking negative about your own race. (the self-hating negro)
2. Marrying someone to have light kids with curly hair. (the lousy hair myth)
3. Putting all black women or man in a bag together. (stereotypes of the black woman that don’t apply to everyone)
Proverbs 22:6 KJV “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Which is stating that there is a level of conditioning training that a child must go through to be able to except themselves and not be a partaker of negative views of superficial aspects of one’s self. Trying to differentiate the reason why there is such a light skin preference which leads to destruction mentally. I sometimes feel that it has always been about the white people controlling the slaves encouraging the controlled populations to fight amongst themselves so that they can be more easily manipulated. So I go back to slavery which was the biggest determiner of our psyche as black people. Willie Lynch Letter + Colonization = The Great Divide among our ancestor’s Media views of black people + parental agreement = Disillusionment of our people
Fullten, who is a mixed raced woman on tumblr stated,
“As a product of a black man chasing after white women, it makes me super uncomfortable when black men reblog my photos, and I go to their page, and it’s nothing but either, white girls or lite bites. Like, my dad dated nothing but white women, and my mother seemed to gravitate towards this type of black man, who would get a ton of arbitrary African statues from pier 1, listen to nothing but jazz, only buy from black artists, and yet, seemed to exclusively go for white women. I’ve heard my stepfather at the time say he loved her pale skin, and that he didn’t even know she was Spanish, he just saw white. These men foolishly gravitate towards whiteness like a moth to a low watt light bulb in the dark. My father and stepfather used the whiteness of my mother and the women they dated as a status symbol. It was common for my father to say ‘I got a big house, a Corvette, and a hot wife,’ she was tall, white, and blonde, and she hated when he said that. She hated when he listed her among his possessions. He used her as ‘proof’ of his success at the time. That if anyone looked at his life, they would see a successful black man, and a white wife solidified that. I hate it because this mentality comes at the price of dark-skinned black women and women who are proud of their blackness. It seems like something they need to stomp out. I dated a lot of black men who fetishized my light skin, and hated dark skin and anything that was linked to blackness in women, they tied it in with failure, ugliness, poverty… So many comments about my afro and hair, they wanted straight hair, I had to adhere to the European ideal of beauty as best as I could. I remember drawing black women and getting comments from these guys, laughing at my work, ‘why did you draw her so dark??’ but when I brought dark men, there was never any laughing. I noticed how my father treated my grandmother, sometimes well, but towards the end, it was horrible. Just using her and nothing else. There was no respect. Black men who chase white women and lite bites ain’t shit. They hate dark skin women, and they hate blackness outside and inside themselves.”
“If you’re black, stay back; if you’re brown, stick around; if you’re yellow, you’re mellow; if you’re white, you’re all right.”
Redbone – Yellow Bone – Bright – Light bright almost white – Wannabee – White girl – Darkie – Ugly – Tar Baby – Blackie – mellow yellow – midnight – Jigaboo – pretty for a dark girl – burnt – angel – blue-black It’s time we shift our focus from deliberating on this subject matter in meaningless preposterous idioms such as ‘yellow bone’ ‘darkie’ ‘tar baby’ and ‘red bone’ and got down to the real dispute. Most women in the world, worship the idol of beauty that demands adherence to a false standard of beauty (and worth). “The light skinned woman.” All around the world, brown girls are discriminated against based on color. Preferential treatment of lighter skin hues over darker hues occurs within racial and ethnic groups as well as between them. The practice of inequity, colorism (Pigmentocrcy or shadeism) privileges lighter-skinned women and men over their dark-skinned counterparts. This results in the skin lightening epidemic, self-hatred, low self-esteem and exposes how the media lifts the Caucasian woman since the beginning of white supremacy have been praised to lofty heights as the universal standard of beauty. Women around the world have been bombarded with so many different requirements of attractiveness. To be thin, but healthy; to have a flat stomach, but have ample breasts and a more prominent rear end. And sorrowfully, to achieve the standard of perfection these women have increasingly been turning to plastic surgery, cosmetics, eating disorders, and self-mutation to fit this beauty standard the beguiling attraction of it and social imperatives that surround it. The quandary of a woman who does not possess any kind of beauty. This world is superficial where your validation is men drooling at you while walking down the street. What about “the woman that nobody sees” you know the one that is ignored by men? Society places so much pressure to be attractive and the procedures in which women pull out all the stops to modify their appearance by any means necessary. This society will train you in your way to think about a particular beauty standard even upon deeper reflection it will be imposed through universal thinking what our perceptions of beauty should be. Its trains your mind directly or indirectly, through the power of subjection and propaganda their way of seeing and of appreciating beauty – The Beauty Ideal – embedded into our brains every second of the day through television, commercials, and the media. Sadly, for most of the brown girls in the world, they have a double disadvantage being a woman considered the least of all women and being of a member of the dark nation.
Racial Caste System
This system introduces the white woman as the hierarchy of beauty, which has been the world’s declaration since the dawn of slavery. Through media, and the invention of television, we are brainwashed daily with the Eurocentric kind of beauty. What indeed is the Racial Caste System? The caste system as it exists today is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the Mughal era and the British colonial regime in India. The failure of the Mughal age saw the rise of powerful men who associated themselves with kings, priests, and ascetics, affirming the regal and martial form of the caste ideal, and it also reshaped many apparently casteless social groups into differentiated caste communities. The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organization a central mechanism of administration. Between 1860 and 1920, the British government segregated Indians by caste, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to the upper castes. Social unrest during the 1920s led to a change in this policy. From then on, the colonial administration began a policy of positive discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes. Aryan Race is the master race that was a concept in Nazi ideology in which the Nordic or Aryan races, which were thought to predominate among Germans and other northern European peoples, were deemed the highest in an assumed racial hierarchy. The Nazi official Alfred Rosenberg believed that the Nordic race (not limited to blondes but all classes of hair color with Nordic features) was descended from Proto-Aryans who he believed had prehistorically dwelt on the North German Plain and who had ultimately originated from the lost continent of Atlantis. The Nazis declared that the Nordics (now referred to as the Germanic peoples), or Aryan as they sometimes called them, were superior to all other races. The Nazis believed they were entitled to expand territorially.
|These photographs are the property of their respective owners.|
What is the most celebrated skin color? (www.theperfechumanface.com)
49% Light skin 20% Dark Skin 32% It doesn’t matter.
Order of rank for Racial Caste System
1. Nordic/Aryan (white)
Standard of beauty for the world – Nordic beauty is arguably the most promoted beauty in the media around the world. Cited as “the ideal beauty” (White women) possessing blonde hair, blue eyes are arguably the archetype of beauty.
Straight hair, pale skin, thin body, and light eyes.
Asian standard of beauty – Pale white skin, Heart shaped face (v face shaped), large eyes, small pointed nose, little feet, and slender frame. The
Hispanic standard of beauty – Light skinned and light eyes (features that adopted a more European look)
The black standard of beauty – Light skinned and long hair (features intimately favoring that of white women) This prejudice exists among blacks
Order of rank for Black Caste System
1. Light Skin Blacks
2. Dark Skin Blacks
The light skinned woman is questionably considered the most beautiful among black people. Long hair is preferred. The dark-skinned woman has been declared the ugliest of the black woman, the subject of ridicule because of skin color and hair texture.
My interview with Trina, a light-skinned Indian model & businesswoman
Q: What are the views in India concerning beauty? Is light skin or dark skin an issue?
Trina: International standards are fast modeling and re-shaping the precepts of beauty in India- at least to my knowledge. I can’t opine on behalf of almost a billion people but according to my individual experiences big eyes-pointed straight nose-bow lips-at least 5’7 is the general beauty paradigm. Fair skin is a HUGE advantage and does add to a girl’s reputation. But thankfully, people realize the importance of healthy, glowing skin irrespective of the tone. In 20 years maybe India will be as appreciative of the dark and glossy surface as it is of excellent and luminescent today. I have had an unfair advantage in several situations because of my fair skin. Like interviews and even a positive impression on teachers in college. Put a light complexioned studious girl beside a dark-skinned equally diligent girl, and the former will always come out better!
Q: What I would like to know about in India is the skin lightening epidemic and what has been your experience with that? How much do Indians spend on skin lightening creams annually?
Trina: Skin lightening is definitely NOT a fad where India is concerned. Even though the British have left, the yoke of fair skin oppression still afflicts us. Fair is beautiful, without exception almost all over the country. Men might deny that they aren’t complexion conscious and label actresses like Bipasha Basu attractive. But at the end of the day, it is a Kareena Kapoor who rules the Box Office. I personally do not spend much on skin lightening products. But I would say the average Indian woman quickly spends Rs. 5000 a year on facials and enhancers.
My interview with Anita, a dark-skinned Indian student
Q: What are the views in India concerning dark skin and light skin?
Anita: Light skin is definitely favored, it can affect you getting the good job or a husband.
Q: How has this affected you?
Anita: When I was young I was told by Mum and other family members that I was too dark and that I would never get married. It’s about the Caste system you know. Us dark Indians are frowned upon in society. This is why I had to leave India. My country is the worst, a girl and gets martyred because of her dark skin color. I was not willing to bleach my brown skin. India is very satanic with the worship of so many pagan gods.
Q: With a country is so heavy into idol god worship, how did you escape?
Anita: The attitudes of my family drove me away then I saw the light when I traveled to the west.
Q: Who is your beauty inspiration? Anita: That is easy, you are, I have admired your striking beauty, grace, kindness, and charisma.
My interview with Sanjay, an Indian web designer
Q: What are the views in India concerning dark skin and light skin?
Sanjay: Light skin is better is the motto of the South Asian. That is not my view but it is shared by most. The women in my family endorse fairness creams. I know the British regime is to blame for this. I have been told I must marry light skin so our children will be fair.
Q: You live in Ghana (Africa) now, how is it different from India?
Sanjay: The people are more chill. India is far worse, from what I have seen with the obsession with having light skin.
Q: Is it a custom in India only to marry light skinned women?
Sanjay: Yes, well most of the marriages are arranged, and the dowry may be higher to marry a darker woman. They love women that look like Aishwarya Rai, she is highly desired for the mere fact of the light eyes and skin. I personally, don’t find her attractive, she looks white. If you looking at Indian actresses, I think Priyanka Chopra is much more beautiful.
Q: How did this affect you when you chose your wife? And how did your family react to your chose of the wife?
Sanjay: It had no effect, my wife is a black smoking hot, dark-skinned woman, from South Africa. My family was not happy about it, they wanted me to marry a Bengali girl they picked. I wasn’t having it. The people in my country have a hatred for black people, but secretly they know there is something peculiar about them.
Light skin is favored to divide and conquer the dark nations. To keep our people divided to retain the oppressor dominance in this world, this oppressor wants to remain its position on top. If the wicked countries would discover the truth in who they really are, it would literally set them free. The dividing lines of color are among the dark nations, the people of color, to most Caucasian/white people we are all considered Dark skinned.
Colorism is defined as the racism between people that possess color to their skin, stating that light skin is the most coveted. Colorism is something that was taught during Slavery to separate the light from the dark, the excessively curly hair from the loosely textured hair. The descendants of slaves have bought these myths and dwell on these beliefs daily. They hate each other and anything that is a close resemblance to the white race is praised. The white people of that time conditioned the minds of the Negro that further their agenda that they are the superior being. Through much negative mind conditioning, the black people bought this lie. Who told us that our hair or skin color wasn’t good enough, mere people, right? Truthfully, people don’t have a heaven or hell to put you in, do they? We can put up a thousand articles about Colorism and videos nothing will ever change.
What defines us?
Is our virtue not our color Let’s embrace our uniqueness Ladies Just like your eye color dimensions to your fingerprint were as unique Why should the world win in the mist of sin I’m light you dark we both can win.
Don’t let the world define you. Don’t let them tell you who you are. Don’t let them stop you from taking your rightful place. Don’t let them stop you. Don’t let them tell you that light skin is better than dark skin. Don’t let them tell you to fit into the Europeans standards of beauty. Don’t let them stop you from being all the creator wants you to be. Don’t let them define you. Don’t let them tell you that you are not made in the creator image and likeness. Don’t let them separate us. Don’t let them keep you from the kingdom of God.
This artwork is the property of its respective owner.
The answer to “Colorism” is to repent of our sins, seek the father in heaven, our creator, the Most High God of Israel. Purify your mind and thoughts with the word of the Most High (the holy bible) He will teach you who you are, your purpose and destiny. We were sold into slavery due to our iniquities and transgressions against the Most High. Seeking the Most High and renewing your mind will change your thinking about yourself, making people aware of it will not change, the conditioning as already permeating the souls of our people. Repent and return to the Most High, that is the only way.