. On the topic of self image and how people of color see ourselves...Light skin is in. That was it in the 90s...suddenly dark skin became the thing as people rebelled against the former movement. Interesting shifts in self image. Of course this all comes from a long history of division. Darker man worked the field, while lighter man was given privileges of working in the house for the master. Images embedded in our life and on our brain from the time we were born...television, magazines, etc. Only light skin Black women with White features were in the leading roles when I was a kid. I had a friend that said to me once a long time ago, "how can I not think a certain look is beautiful when that's the only thing that's shown to me as being beautiful?" It's not just a Black thing, but around the world when you look at adverts, it's the lighter the better. From Latin America, to Asia to America. Of course in the Americas, South & North this all has to do with ancestry...slave ancestry versus colonial ancestry...but can be broken further into socioeconomic ideas and that's the same thing plaguing Asia...It's the field versus the house. It's not simply color of skin, but what that color means regarding socioeconomic power, earning power and ability to rise to positions of power. Finally some of the images are now being redefined as we see more dark skin figures in power positions on television and movies. I would argue that the insertion of multiple Black presidents in movies and TV shows prior to Obama's election had a hand in gently easing people into the idea that it's possible. Multiple television shows and movies did that through the late 90's and early part of this century. Things are moving in the right direction...Just remember there'll always be haters, that's the way it is. Check out "Black Stacey" by Saul Williams as he delves into his own self hatred and feelings towards himself imposed on him by others when he was young. And when I say that Hip Hop Brings the most unlikely people together you have to check this vdo out as Saul is paired up with an orthodox Jewish guy who's beat boxing.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Sunday, January 23rd 2011 at 9:33PM
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