Is 'Cute' better than 'Beautiful' Among Black Folks?
My beautiful mother, who was undeniably born and lived most of her life epitomizing conventional beauty, still shares horrendous stories of her personal challenges with overcoming insecurity. Her Sade (the singer, of course) complexion made people call her “white girl”. Her skinny, tall body inclined neighborhood kids to call her 'string bean' and Olive Oil (Popeye's wife). Her sandy brown hair and face full of freckles earned her the two nicknames she still identifies with today--Big Reds and Sand Man (a little butch, but she's straight. I promise!).
Now, in sharp contrast, my uncle Jerry was born and still is the color of pumpernickel, and though very handsome, teased for being dark. Many of my mother's peers were "thick", even as children (today they would be deemed unhealthy or overweight). And more than a handful of her girlfriends back then would have easily traded her face full of freckles for the barrage of acne breakouts they endured.
In truth, it's often that many lighter-skinned people want to be darker; a significant number of skinny people want to gain weight; women dissatisfied with their boobies seek breast reductions or enlargements; and of course tons of brothers with average-sized *****es nearly kill themselves each day pulling, tugging and positioning to create illusions of...well you know.
So where is beauty anyway?...
Click link below to continue reading...
http://thedwperspective.blogspot.com/2012/...
Now, in sharp contrast, my uncle Jerry was born and still is the color of pumpernickel, and though very handsome, teased for being dark. Many of my mother's peers were "thick", even as children (today they would be deemed unhealthy or overweight). And more than a handful of her girlfriends back then would have easily traded her face full of freckles for the barrage of acne breakouts they endured.
In truth, it's often that many lighter-skinned people want to be darker; a significant number of skinny people want to gain weight; women dissatisfied with their boobies seek breast reductions or enlargements; and of course tons of brothers with average-sized *****es nearly kill themselves each day pulling, tugging and positioning to create illusions of...well you know.
So where is beauty anyway?...
Click link below to continue reading...
http://thedwperspective.blogspot.com/2012/...
I enjoyed reading your post and I think it touches the core of what I've at times been struggling with throughout my life... trying to be thin enough. I don't like taking pictures because I feel my face is too, fat and in photos I look like a blimp in the face. Anyway, that's neither here nor there, but I think alot of what we face as women deals alot with what the mainstream media deems as beautiful.
You are so right. How can someone crown Beyonce' as the most beautiful woman in the world when they haven't seen all the women of the world!? That's crazy. I think we women are challenged with so many things, but let it not be that way forever.