"Crust, dirt, ash... nasty... disgusting... pitiful..."
These are some of the words used to describe dark-skinned black people by some young black people in this video.
"Cocky, arrogant..."
Words used to describe light-skinned black people.
First off, these kids have been hanging around with the wrong kind of people. They should venture to Africa... they will be shown flames.
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| Taye Diggs, anybody? [from http://www.livitluvit.com/] |
Anyway, the purpose of this blog is not to prove that dark-skinned people are beautiful, because quite frankly, it isn't necessary. "Colourism" isn't an issue that's isolated to black communities (think South Asia), but it's sad to see that so many young black people are so ignorant about it. It's this kind of self hatred that will be our downfall as a race. The media is not blameless at all. Think about it: when was the last time you saw a dark-skinned girl in an American music video? I'll speak for myself, but it has become somewhat of an event when I spot one.
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| Oh look, there's one! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SIetxPjTBs] |
This is nothing new. The opinion that light skin is better and more desirable than dark skin has been historically perpetuated throughout slavery and colonial times. Here we are singing the 'End Racism' song, yet we're perpetuating the very same mentalities. So, it would seem we have separated ourselves into "Team Lightskin" (a.k.a Team Yellowbone) and "Team Brownskin." Each claims the other think they're too good for everyone else. Is that really the case, or is it just a knee-jerk defense from what each group perceives as persecution from the other? Basically, we just keep trying to find more reasons to hate each other.
When are we going to realise that beauty doesn't know a skin tone? The world is not going to see us as beautiful until we see ourselves so. We won't get past any kind of oppression until we stop oppressing ourselves. Of course, if we keep putting down our own, there will never be a reason for others to regard us with any less disdain than that with which we regard our own people.
Anyway, I've said my piece. Let me know what you think in zee comments, pliz!
So, to avoid the risk of sounding cliche, I'm going to end off by adapting a quote from one of the students in this video:
"Black people are black people."
º•º ACS Love º•º
