Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 17 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 9 months ago by
.
- Posts
I think the only competition light skinned women get is from other women who are as light or lighter then them. I consider my self brown skinned, but have been told that I would be considered light skinned by others in my race. I too have encountered the same problem you have, but have noticed that the attitudes always come from those who are lighter then me. I honestly think that it’s jealousy or envy that causes black women to give each other attitude. It’s a well knwon fact that a lot of light skinned women feel that they are better and more attractive then those that are darker then them. It’s not all their fault. Black men go for lighter skinned women, and black society has always held higher standards for lighter skinned women. When light skinned women see other light skinned women, they see them as a possible threat. Also, as a light skinned women, are you giving off the same bad attitudes as those who you complain about. if you give off bad vibes, then others will give you back those same bad vibes regardless of their complextion or race.
User Detail :
Name : Chene, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 19, City : Chesterfield, State : VA, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,You run into such hatred because of a standard that is put on what real beauty is. The hatred comes from low self esteem on the part of the hater. Real beauty is a personality, a feeling. Not a look.
User Detail :
Name : Mark Buchanan, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 36, City : Cali, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Government, Education level : Technical School,I am a dark skin African-American woman. I am not an expert, but I would like to offer a response to your question. Black women have all types of issues. It comes from the media, other ethnic groups, and the male race. I think it started during slavery, dark skin women had to work harder and were put down (often called unattractive). Dark skinned women began to resent our light skin sisters back then because their lives were easier and they were placed on a pedestal. Even today, most black men have a complex. There are a lot of brothers who would prefer to date a light skin woman because she is seen as next best thing to having a white woman. I’m from the south and black people often describe someone as being light skin, yellow, dark, black when we all are just black. It is so much I could say on this issue, but I don’t want to make this response too long. But, black women will continue to have this issue as long as we believe what the media and other ethnic groups say. So, my advice would be for you to not take it so personal and realize that you have not done anything wrong and that dark skin sisters who react this way do not have enough love for themselves. So, until dark skin women can began to appreciate our skin tone and believe that we are just as beautiful they will continue with ignorant actions.
User Detail :
Name : Gina, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 24, City : Fayetteville, State : AR, Country : United States, Occupation : Graduate Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,I’m a light-skinned African-American woman and notice that often when I’m out and run into another woman of my race, they show such hatred toward me. I’ve seen it happen to other light-skinned black women as well. I don’t know what it is. Is it a competitive thing, or what? Can someone shed some light on this?
User Detail :
Name : Tladi, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 26, City : Virginia Beach, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : medical technician, Education level : 2 Years of College,Black people of Light skinned complexion have been percieved by some blacks as being better, smarter,prettier, and arrogrant. It stems back to Slavery where the lighter-skinned blacks were treated better than the darker-skinned blacks. As a result, the darker-skinned blacks resented the light-skinned ones. Sadly, this feeling still exists today.
User Detail :
Name : Rodney29606, Race : Black/African American, Age : 21, City : Prairie View, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student,Im a black woman(dark skinned) and my mother is very lightskinned, in fact from far away she looks caucasion or latina. My father however was very dark skinned and hence my complexion. My family is a blend of different complexions as are most black families. I’m 21 and as far back as I can remember black women never judge each other on complexion. I(we) always consider ourselves all black period. In fact, among my friends(blk females) there is such a wide range of complexions from the light- near-white to what we call the ‘dark chocolate’!. Therefore, I believe that you are just thinking the ‘hate’ comes because of your complexion. I don’t believe it does. In fact, I strongly doubt it does. Maybe its you who has hangups because your lightskinned and most black women are brown.
User Detail :
Name : alea, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Age : 21, City : NY, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I know what you mean. I get the evil eye simply because my hair extends down my back and nearly to my waist. Is that your real hair they ask.
User Detail :
Name : Kimberly C., Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Muslim, Age : 28, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : housewife, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,I too am light-skinned (redbone) and ive noticed the same thing although it doesnt bother me as much because i encounter that kind of negative attitude more from darker skinned females. Its all about being ‘insecure’ with these sisters. History proves that ‘passing’ made things easier for black folks back in the day (even now) the lighter you are and perhaps other light-skinned women feel threatened or even jealous of another like complected woman will receive more attention or acceptance.
User Detail :
Name : Fuschia, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 34, City : JACKSONVILLE, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : health care, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I am also a very light-skinned African-American/Native American woman who has experienced alot of that same hatred(which I have learned to ignore.) From what I gathered (from friends and my own observations,) it seems to be just another one of the many stereotypes concerning African-Americans. Unfortunately our own people believe in them, if not more than other races. And that would be that ‘light-skinned women think that they are cute, that they are better, that guys think they are more beautiful then dark-skinned women’. For myself, I do not think like that, but when something false is so believable, it is easier to except, than to not have any reasoning at all.
User Detail :
Name : LASHAY, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 24, City : PHILADELPHIA, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : banking, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Hello. My mother is a light-skinned african-american. Truth be told, the majority of african-americans in this country aren’t from Africa. Most are from Jerusalem. The light-toned people in this country experience tension because of your diverse background (being mixed with white, mestizo, native, etc.). I experience tension, because my skin color is dark, however my features don’t match my skin color. I have native eyes and cheak-bones, etc. Plus, my hair isn’t like ‘black people hair’. People automatically assume that I go to extremes to change my look and I don’t. Basically, it all boils down to stereotypes. I can’t really limit myself to a race, because my blood line doesn’t match one particular race. Its confusing, but its true.
User Detail :
Name : James, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : Moreno, Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 15, City : Jacksonville, State : FL, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Upper class,This is due to the internalized ideal of beauty imposed by the WASPs of socitey (white anglo saxon prostants). It is also a direct result of the ‘Willie Lynch Letter’ where he says turn the light skin slave against the dark skin slave and the dark skin slave against the light, it was used to create distrust in the black community so that they will be more loyal to whites than to their own kind. This is another one of the many slave mentalities that have deeply embedded themselves in the black community.
User Detail :
Name : Jennifer, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 19, City : San Diego, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Full-time student, Education level : 2 Years of College,have you ever heard of willie lynch ? he held a meeting about his thoery, keep light against dark, old against young and so much more! don’t worry i’m brown with full wavy hair i’ve got teased so much it a shame. oh yea this theory was supposed to last for hundreds of years and it has
User Detail :
Name : michelee20523, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 16, City : chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,I think it all has to do with society and, sadly, our own race having this ‘bright is beautiful’ attitude. I’m a dark-skinned black woman and find that I have a lot of light-skinned black women turn their noses up at me. I have even had a few tell me they were considered ‘in’ because they are fairer-skinned than I am. I don’t let it bother me and feel you should pay ignorance no mind.
User Detail :
Name : Shanna T., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 21, City : Oxford, State : MS, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class,Black people still haven’t gotten over the color thing. I’m light-skinned, and I deal with it all the time. I use to try to be nice to darker-skinned blacks. Now I don’t even try. Just ignore the colorism.
User Detail :
Name : Jhainine, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Free, Race : Black/African American, Age : 18, City : Greenville, State : SC, Country : United States, Occupation : College student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,In the black community we have a problem with skin tone. As a dark-skinned black woman, I have often been befriended by light-skinned people simply because I have long hair that is not a weave. I guess they feel that because I have ‘good’ long hair, I am worthy enough to be spoken to. My point is that such things do not just occur to you. I also think it is unfair to make such a general statement, as I do not have a problem with light-skinned women. What I will say is that often in the black community, we place more value on those who are closer to the shade of white because of their ability to blend in. Many dark-skinned women are raised to believe they are inferior or less attractive. When you watch TV or look in the magazines, what’s considerd beautiful is not a brown siste, but one who is carmel or lighter. I am not saying it’s an excuse for their attitude, but it may be the reason they have one, and you might want to take that into consideration. It’s difficult to be comfortable in a society where you go in and out of style like clothes.
User Detail :
Name : Arrissia, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Education level : 2 Years of College,
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.