Okay, Sorors and Sisterfriends! I understand the unappealing attitude of this animated ghetto video queen, Cita, but what is this constant connection between her stereotypical character and skin color?
Is it not just as stereotypical to "assume" that by placing "lighter skinned" Blacks on BET and in certain acting roles that they must think that "dark-skinned" Blacks are not good enough? Or what about the saying, "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice"? Could that statement be "misconstrued" as offensive to those that are of a ligher "hue"? If your answer is no, why not?
I feel that sometimes we tend to try to justify the reasons, in particular to this issue, by saying, "Oh it was because he/she was light skinned. Could we be reading into this a little too much? Could it have been that Tichina Arnold fit the role of Pam as opposed to Tisha Campbell, better if they were both going up for the role, based on their past roles or natural or personal backgrounds?
As far as BET, I remember turning on BET while in college and seeing nothing but darker skinned Black people reporting and anchoring the news. Big Lez used to be a choreographer for many rap/hip hop videos and performances, so wouldn't it seem natural that she would have more background "knowledge" about or a general interest in the rap scene? I don't know if any of you remember a few years ago, Rachel used to be the host of the Caribbean show on BET, probably because she was from the Caribbean and she had more "knowledge" and a general interest in the music. If any of you know anything about broadcasting and programming, there are reasons why a network will put a particular show on at the end of the day (like a rap show). And to be honest, I think that Rachel IS much prettier than Big Lez and it has nothing to do with skin color.
I'm not saying that racism (within our own race) based on skin color does not exist, all I am saying is that skin color is not always the issue!
I am curious to know, where some of you are originally from or currently located. You may think this is a stereotype, but many times, where you were raised and where you live have a lot to do with some of the attitudes, particularly toward skin color, seem to brew.
Just FYI, I have been considered to be "lighter skinned" and I was born and raised in California. By the way, to me, Rachel is not really all that light skinned. Just my opinion but it is something to think about.
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