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When we think of Black, we often are thinking of a race of people. Not necessarily all who live in America, but people of what was once and [sometime] still called the African/or Negro race. I recently held a discussion with a few Black people, I being a mediator of the feelings of Black people asked: "How does it feel to have Black Skin? " In this small /short discussion I wanted hear a few opinions. Now, let me enlighten you' if I may. I am not necessarily writing of Blacks as a race, I leaning more toward Blacks who have really dark skin. The skin shade of darkness. We are all aware that shades and skin tones have been a fight among many Blacks for years. Often people with real dark skin are ridiculed in many ways in by people of color. They are less likely to be looked upon as beautiful, and they are often stero-typed for being born having really dark skin. Lots of black-skinned babies are considered less becoming. Look, too often when one sees a beautiful dark-skinned man, or woman, they are often observed with stares and are seldom complimented for their beauty. Even when one with dark-skinned who are not so charming looking, often are met with giggles and joking. Many of them said they face scorn almost everyday! I recall in my years at grade school, because I am a dark-skinned girl -- I felt I had a tougher time being accepted by my peers all because of my skin color. The light skinned girls/boys were considered the prettiest and most handsome, and they were the ones who won all the beauty contests, and pageants. I'm not kidding, Black skin was a step back even among my own race of people. What I heard most from my short exhibition in the ones I questioned with dark skin was today most of the dark-skinned people, or Black people feel little has changed within it's acception of them within his or her own race of people. How so often we say whites are prejudice of Blacks, but the truth of it racisim is right at home in own view of others with darker skins as well . The discussion was short, but I have gained a more opened view of how I will see my darker brothers and sisters from now own. It shows me that racism is not a just a case of show from white only. Racism has many places it can land. Since the discussion, I have to start my observation with looking at the person inside the skin. Blacks who are dark-skinned often feel racism from their own people. A Dark-skinned Black may live with racism everyday among Blacks and Whites.
Posted By: MIISRAEL Bride
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 11:14AM
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Thank you Irma..for your honest comment. It takes a real down to earth person to admit they may have some draw backs when it comes to a real dark-skinned person. I appreciate your comments, your encouragement that a person to be strong and proud of themselves and their wholeness...blackness of skin. The few people I spoke with didn't have a problem of knowing themselves, most deal with it with little effect on their personal views, even when they are reminded with a racial slur. I admire their inner strength. You're right they do have beautiful teeth! Clark: I read your comments too! I have listened similar experiences among light-skinned persons. It's so in depth what you've written... We are left with all these years of stero-types that linger from one generation to the next. Your last sentence made a highlighted point of view: [ That “black people” would play out these age old stereotypes amongst themselves, without being forced, tells you just how powerful this racial propaganda campaign was. ] /Thanks for your response.
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 5:32PM
MIISRAEL Bride
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Smiling....Thanks again Shorty!
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 6:49PM
MIISRAEL Bride
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Sister Miisrael, Your blog really hits home for me. When I was younger, I used to pick on my dark skinned first cousin, April. I didn't realize how much I had hurt her until I grew older and had matured. I don’t remember what I was doing at the time, but I was in my house when I felt impressed to write her a letter to let her know how sorry I was for how I had treated her when we were kids and asked her to forgive me. Not long after that letter --- I got a phone call from her. We cried on the phone together and from that day own things have been much better for us. When she was in trouble a few years back, she called me to ask for my help which made me know that she had truly forgiven me. Today I go out of my way to compliment my sisters from different countries in the Diaspora. I remember telling my co-worker recently who is Ghanaian how much I liked her short fro. I often compliment my sisters when they are looking good or when they do something amazing like go back to school. I hope that we can change our own ways as a group of people within our own culture/ethnic group. It's sad to me that we do the things we do to ourselves. I think before things can change in America that we have to change the way we see ourselves amongst one another and be better to one another. The song says "Sweep around Your Own Front Door Before You Try to Sweep Around Mine" and that's what Black folk as a whole need to do for ourselves before we try to tell America at large what they should be doing for us.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 10:20AM
Jen Fad
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I am a dark skinned sister myself, and although I am slim and boy-shaped, let me say I am happy with the skin I'm in. And I have nothing against light skin, to each his own, but I must admit that I got mad love for my Almond Joy brothers...LOL!!! However, I recall in public school and college (and some of us still do it to this very day) how most of the dark-skinned brothers would only chase after the light skinned "good" haired sisters and vice versa, leaving the darker ones feeling ugly and undesirable. I remember watching a Tyra Banks show where they were discussing the light-skinned vs. dark-skinned thing and this light-skinned teenage girl made a statement about how she preferred light-skinned friends over dark-skinned friends because dark-skinned friends are seen as poor and low class. She was saying that if a girl had dark-skin and nappy hair guys will not consider her as s*xy. But we all know children are innocent and the words that this girl speaks are only from her feelings and what her mother had shared with her. We know that feelings change. I wonder why its okay for rap artists to display dark-skinned women in the worst light in their music videos but they pick light-skinned women to sing the hook to their songs. Black women and men are as beautiful regardless of what shade they are. They are equally to me and in the eyes of God. I have lots of love for my people and in time their eyes will be open as well.
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 2:56PM
Siebra Muhammad
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[Black women and men are as beautiful regardless of what shade they are.] So true Sister Siebra!
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 4:21PM
Jen Fad
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Hello Jen and Siebra! Want to thank you love skinned ladies for voicing. JF: I've had a experience with my cousins like that too. Except I was the darker cousin. We were teenagers and they said some awful things to us because my sister and I were dark. My mom's and her brother had a big argument over how his kids treated us at a birthday party. We sobbed for days! For a long time we didn't associate with them anymore. Later, we grew up and found it's was all so silly. Sister Siebra: We are beautiful, it's too bad some of those who see us are not truly observing just how beautiful black skin is. Thank U!
Tuesday, March 9th 2010 at 4:52PM
MIISRAEL Bride
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Sister Miisrael, Your mom did the right thing by protecting you and your sister from those hurtful actions of your cousins. As Parents, we have to teach our children how to treat others. It's too bad that my mom didn't correct me. Thank God for maturity!
Wednesday, March 10th 2010 at 10:06AM
Jen Fad
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Is that individual proud to be their "whole" self are is that individual using a negative from 'out there' as an excuse for not being "Black and "Proud"... MIISRAEL, "I" must confess that I do stereotype very dark skin peoples. "I" say they all have beautiful teeth and the most beautiful smiles of any peoples. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Clark, thanks for those personal, private comments. I am so glad that this all has helped you to be the peson today that I can: love and respect and trust your judgements without any needs to doubt you.(smile) Again thanks MIISRAEL AS THIS POST IS THE SAME, to me, AS THOSE INSPSPIRING POEMS YOU POST. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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HERE COMES IRMA WITH HER EMPHSIS ON AFRICAN-CENTERED BIA!!!!!!!(smile) We must learn to accept that this light skin, dark skinned stereotyping can only be directed to THE BLACK SINGLE MOTHER'S PRODUCING THOSE "POSITIVE CHILDREN " (you know like we were taught by that CNN BIA?!?)... Those born with skin cLOse enought to almost pas Sor pass were allowed to work in the house or was considered public worthy for tHE guest of the master's dwellings for his guest. etc... THIS LIGHT SKIN ,DARK SKIN IS THE REASON THAT SLAVERY WAS JUST THE OPPOSIT IN ENGLAND AS IT WAS IN AMERICA...Y yOU SEE THE DARKER THE SKIN OF THE 'SERVANTS' OF THE BRITISH ELITE, THE GREATER THEIR SOCIAL STATUS. ANOTHER ONE OF MY 'STEROTYPINGS' OF DARK SKINED PEOPLE IS THEIR SKIN IS SO SILKY AND PERFECT LOOKING.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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