DARK/LIGHT...SKIN COLOR.........Is this still an issue? Let's be honest Sorors & SF'

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

They may be presumed to be mixed, but they may necessarily be not. I am not exactly talking about being light-skinned, but more of a different shades of brown among Africans all over the continent. The image that pops up in someone's head about people of a certain region is a misconception for the most part. I know in Somalia/Ethiopia/Sudan/Eritrea, there was no mixing. They've been this way for generations. And People for the western countries are thought to be "extremely black skinned" but I will guarantee you they have many shades of brown there as well. I've met light, non-mixed West Africans, and dark-skinned North Africans.

We've already acknowledged that Africa is a diverse continent in terms of physical appearance with or without "mixing." It isn't safe to assume that there was no mixing in Somalia/Ethiopia/Sudan/Eritrea. Being a certain way for generations doesn't preclude mixing (but it also doesn't assume mixing). Afterall, many African American families' appearances can be traced back to an era when white men forced themselves on black slaves or when blacks intermingled with Native American cultures.

The fact of the matter is that many people assume that being "straight from Africa" implies that you are less mixed with voluntary or involuntary "white blood" and that your physical appearance is stereotypically "pure African." I've been hearing that eversince elementary school when darkskinned children with defining features were called "African booty scratchers," especially after Shaka Zulu aired.

Originally Posted by _Opi_

Also, you'd be surprised how colour is still an issue even in many parts of Africa.

I'm not surprised at all. "Color" is an issue in almost every society.