About a week ago, I stumbled upon this trailer for a documentary that's supposed to be coming out this fall called "dark girls". I posted the link on facebook and twitter but just in case you hadn't seen it, please watch the YouTube trailer above. This video actually reminded of a story in 2007, where there was a light skinned vs. dark skinned party that was supposed to be held in Detroit, Michigan. The flyer actually said "Light skinned ladies get in for free". CNN reported on this, and provided an analytical spin with the obligatory experts in sociology and African American studies. The loud outcry caused the promoters to cancel the event.
This video really broke my heart. I shared it with a couple of Sociology graduate students in the U.K and here in the states and we actually had a panel discussion via Skype. It is quite clear that the black community still wrestles with the idea of skin color and class. I get so annoyed by the fact that we are one race yet we let factors that don't even exist biologically divide us. The sad truth is, color and race are historically intertwined. We all know that light skinned blacks are more favored and treated differently because they are believed to be "prettier" or "better looking". Lighter skinned blacks received more financial support and social privilege.
According to a study that was done in 2006; http://diverseeducation.com/article/6306/ .The color caste system has greatly polarized employment which affects families and friends in our community and it looks like there is no end to this madness. There isn't much we can do to change the historic wrong of colorism in Black America. We, as a group, have been conditioned for years and years to believe that White people and anyone of a lighter skin tone for that matter, are better, smarter, superior and "more human" than we are. That's the reason society tends to condone Eurocentrism. Unless we sit down and completely change the way we think and view each other, this is a lost battle.
To all my good black people out there, you may not change how colorism affects us, however you can choose to not play perpetrator, participant, or victim in this nonsense of our people. Anytime you make comments based on someone's skin color then you are contributing to this crap. Skin color should not deter or encourage you to achieve certain socialite aspirations. If you are lighter skinned, don't expect to automatically receive the keys to certain doors in life. If you are dark, doors shouldn't be slammed in your face because of your hue. It should be an equal opportunities platform.
One of my favorite Dr. Phil quotes is "You train people how to treat you". Carry yourself with elegance, confidence, style, and grace and I PROMISE you the world will treat you differently regardless of whether you're red, blue, green, black or yellow. Being confident does not mean that you have zero insecurities. Insecurities can never be destroyed because they are hardwired into humanity. Confidence is choosing to act in spite of your present insecurities.
I'm not trying to downplay or devalue the pain and wounds that arise from colorism. I think all black people; have encountered some type of racism or colorism. I, for sure, know how that feels. Not only I'm I dark, but I'm a short dark woman with natural hair. Let's not even go there. With that being said, we can never completely silence the oppressing voice of racism and colorism in America. What we can do is amplify our positive beliefs and thoughts. We must hold on to the belief that in spite everything that divides us, we have everything in common because we are all one race, one people.
I wasn't sure how to end this blog post because every single concluding sentence I constructed was riddled with cliché' and was just too uncomfortable to read. With that being said, there’s a new song by Wale ft Chrisette Michelle called "shades". It articulates everything I'd like to write. Please listen to it.
Thanks for taking your time to read my blog.
Love, peace, and joy.
Namaste.
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