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

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Ooooh, that was deep! *snaps*

This is reminding me of the latest episode of ER with the teen white girls who tanned themselves into raisins. They looked like Beyonce did in Dreamgirls while Jamie was singing and she did that photoshoot as a darker, African-esque woman...intriguing on her, not so much for 2 teenagers in the emergency room! Is that what made you think of this, Susan? I notice that when notable things happen on TV, I end up seeing related posts soon after.

[SummerChild]

Exactly Soror! I keep posting in these threads that this phenomena, which is a fascination with more European features, is not limited to AA cultures. For example, there was a front page LA Times article this past summer/fall about the fact that Asian women are now one of the greatest consumers of fade cream and a substantial number of them apparently carry parasols when walking in the sun to avoid tanning b/c paler is better. I had a friend a few years ago that explained to me that the more European features were also deemed as better in the Latin cultures. Thus, she explained to me, when Latina newscasters were first on the news on their stations, they were women with the paler skin and the blond hair - not the darker skin with dark hair. I don't think it's really limited to AAs.

And incidentally, I don't recall who posted that men tend to prefer lighter women. I think that it all depends on the, strangely enough, the complexion of the man. I am a dark skinned woman and typically attract light skinned men. Many of these men, when I see pics or know of their old girlfriends, they are dark skinned women like me. Therefore, many men that are dark, I see with a light woman and many men that are light, I see with a dark woman. I think people just like to try something a little different from themselves to spice it up a little. LOL.

It's all good. LOL.

SC

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

So, how come there are several cultures worldwide that avoid having exceptionally darkened skin? Of course most of sub-Saharan African cultures are quite dark and could never absolutely lighten their complexion--except in one instance that still occurs. Albinism at the Tyrosine locus.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

And incidentally, I don't recall who posted that men tend to prefer lighter women.

That was me

Originally Posted by christiangirl

prettybreak1908--one of my classmates did a study on Black college students and how they feel about skin color. The majority of men were more likely to date a light sister than a darker one and the majority of women didn't have a preference.

[GatorDimeBreed]

Hey guys after reading this thread i felt compelled to make my first post

I just want say that I am a light (bright) skinned female with green eyes and what has bothered me the most throught the years is not white people who dont like me b/c im black but other darker skinned females (not all of course but im referring to the rude ones i have come across) Have you ever had a situation where you walk into a group full of white people and you can see them give you this look..like they dont want you there. That has happened to me plenty of times with darker females. It hurts because i feel like we are SUPPOSED to be on the same team..yet you are dividing us. In school i even had this one girl say ''well if your light skinned that means your not black youre white' WTF! So i said then that means Malcolm X was some random white guy helping our cause b/c following that logic he is not black either. What doesnt help light skinned sistas are the few who ARE stuck-up, think they are better than everyone, so they perpetuate the stereotype and make it harder for people like myself.(dont get me wrong i used to be stuck up when i was a young child b/c of my eyes but my mom who is mixed but considers herself full black..put an end to that quickly...and for that i am grateful ). I still kind of have issues w/ feeling completly comfortable with my skin tone ....I feel like the oddball when i am with my friends (most if not all are darker skinned) but i am starting to get over that.
On another note while i do have a preference for darker men, if i see a cute light skinned brotha i like im not going to hesitate just because he's light (i might if he's white b/c like some one posted a while ago i dont want my kids to be see through) so I think there is a diff. between having a preference and purposely not dating a particular color

Thats just my 2cents

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Exactly Soror! I keep posting in these threads that this phenomena, which is a fascination with more European features, is not limited to AA cultures. For example, there was a front page LA Times article this past summer/fall about the fact that Asian women are now one of the greatest consumers of fade cream and a substantial number of them apparently carry parasols when walking in the sun to avoid tanning b/c paler is better. I had a friend a few years ago that explained to me that the more European features were also deemed as better in the Latin cultures. Thus, she explained to me, when Latina newscasters were first on the news on their stations, they were women with the paler skin and the blond hair - not the darker skin with dark hair. I don't think it's really limited to AAs.

And incidentally, I don't recall who posted that men tend to prefer lighter women. I think that it all depends on the, strangely enough, the complexion of the man. I am a dark skinned woman and typically attract light skinned men. Many of these men, when I see pics or know of their old girlfriends, they are dark skinned women like me. Therefore, many men that are dark, I see with a light woman and many men that are light, I see with a dark woman. I think people just like to try something a little different from themselves to spice it up a little. LOL.

It's all good. LOL.

SC

This worldwide phenomenon results from the economic domination leading to cultural domination of the European in the last several centuries. This behavior is more pronounced in formerly colonized areas (India, US, South Africa for example).

What everyone needs to keep in mind is that the European was not always culturally or economically dominant.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

This worldwide phenomenon results from the economic domination leading to cultural domination of the European in the last several centuries. This behavior is more pronounced in formerly colonized areas (India, US, South Africa for example).

What everyone needs to keep in mind is that the European was not always culturally or economically dominant.

So far, this is the best statement I heard on this thread.

[OneTimeSBX]

the next time a dark-skinned person says you are pretty/cute/nice looking to be so dark...

..say "so are you!"

i hate nothing more than to be reminded that i am dark. yes, i look in the mirror every single day so i dont need to be told that. yes, i am a good looking woman. those two things should never be in the same sentence/statement. one has nothing to do with the other.

[Still BLUTANG]

i find this puzzling.

i don't like the comment "you're pretty to be so dark" but at the same time i don't mind "being reminded" that i am dark-skinned.

i don't have a problem acknowledging within myself that i am dark-skinned. that's what your post sounded like and if i am way off base I apologize.

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by Still BLUTANG

i don't like the comment "you're pretty to be so dark" but at the same time i don't mind "being reminded" that i am dark-skinned.

I am not dark skinned, but when I hear someone make a comment like that I get pissed!! Someone said that about my grandmother (they were looking at a picture of her from back in the day) and I wanted to deck them.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

the next time a dark-skinned person says you are pretty/cute/nice looking to be so dark...

..say "so are you!"

i hate nothing more than to be reminded that i am dark. yes, i look in the mirror every single day so i dont need to be told that. yes, i am a good looking woman. those two things should never be in the same sentence/statement. one has nothing to do with the other.

What is the problem with being dark-skinned ?

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Still BLUTANG

i find this puzzling.

i don't like the comment "you're pretty to be so dark" but at the same time i don't mind "being reminded" that i am dark-skinned.

i don't have a problem acknowledging within myself that i am dark-skinned. that's what your post sounded like and if i am way off base I apologize.

Dark AND Lovely

[AKA_Monet]

I don't like it either when folks belittle darker complexion folks. It cuts my heart terribly so...

[JWithers]

Well, I am about as pasty-white as you can get (sorry to crash, but the title was eye-catching).

But, my dad lived in the Carribean (D.R.) for 17 years so I spent alot of time there, and they are very hung up on light vs. dark down there. To some extent, most everyone is a person of color, but the combinations are really extensive. Light eyes with dark skin but euro features, bright skin with dark eyes and more African features, probably more 'differences' than in the States.

But I always thought it was strange they way the people would say how 'bonita' a girl was just becasue she was light, even if she wasn't all that pretty. But a woman with very dark skin didn't get as much attention, even if she was gorgeous!

Anyway, I am white(did I mention pasty? ), and probably shouldn't have chimed in, but I was kind of surprised that that kind of thing is an issue here, too.

Thanks for letting a newbie post.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by JWithers

Well, I am about as pasty-white as you can get (sorry to crash, but the title was eye-catching).

But, my dad lived in the Carribean (D.R.) for 17 years so I spent alot of time there, and they are very hung up on light vs. dark down there. To some extent, most everyone is a person of color, but the combinations are really extensive. Light eyes with dark skin but euro features, bright skin with dark eyes and more African features, probably more 'differences' than in the States.

But I always thought it was strange they way the people would say how 'bonita' a girl was just becasue she was light, even if she wasn't all that pretty. But a woman with very dark skin didn't get as much attention, even if she was gorgeous!

Anyway, I am white(did I mention pasty? ), and probably shouldn't have chimed in, but I was kind of surprised that that kind of thing is an issue here, too.

Thanks for letting a newbie post.

Yes, sweetheart, it has been going on for a long time.

[JWithers]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Yes, sweetheart, it has been going on for a long time.

Thanks for your kind reply. I saw some posts where new people get kind of reamed. I guess no matter who you are , people feel like they have to divide into groups, and then groups within groups. It seems wrong, but I guess , like you said, it's been going on a long time.