PinkPassion08, let me preface my comments by saying I understand what you are saying, but I do not agree with you.
I was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in NYC. I am half black and half Puerto Rican. I am dark-skinned while the majority of my family is light-skinned.
I say this because, I too, like chAKAlate, was teased as a child. I was called every derogatory nickname you can think of for a dark-skinned person minus the "N" word. Maybe this makes me more sensitive to this issue and to BET, but that doesn't mean that this hidden racism doesn't exist.
I moved to the Virgin Islands 5 years ago and boy was I shocked to hear about good color vs. bad color. Or, high color, which is supposed to be "good". Not to mention "good" hair and "bad" hair. Especially from the older women.
My son is light-skinned and last month he told me the only black person he loves is his mommy...something he learned in school from his classmates. He then went on to tell me that he only likes brown girls, not black and he will not play with anyone that is not his color. He's five years old.
This cut me to the very core of my being because I have worked too hard to impress upon him that skin color does not matter. And in a matter of months, his peers have changed that.
I wholeheartedly agree with chAKAlate. Maybe because we have had similar experiences. I, too, once upon a time wished that I was light-skinned. Just so the teasing would stop. No child should have to go through this. It's hard enough just being a child these days.
One last comment, the majority of women here in the VI do not look like Rachel. They are predominantly BEAUTIFUL dark-skinned women!
Anyway, thank you Ladies of AKA for this very stimulating and thought provoking post. I'm sure we can all relate to this issue in one form or another.
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Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity