Because I said so

Colorism within ethnic communities is nothing new. Within the Black community colorism was a way during slavery to separate, divide and confuse a race of people.

The prevalence of colorism within ethnic communities is still rampant. Months ago Yung Berg made the statement that he didn't like "dark butts" and that his women must pass the pool test. Fast forward a few months and there is R&B artist Ne-yo who tells a reporter that "all the prettiest kids are light skin". I sat there is stunned silence with my mouth ajar as I watched the clip, inwardly recoiling at the blatant ignorance and unaware self-loathing that such a statement would prompt someone to say.

When we ask other people to view us for whom we are on the inside should we not be able to ask the same of ourselves? We are no longer physically enslaved yet we find ourselves a slave to an old color caste system.

I believed we had made so much progress outside of the 80's when people the complexion of Debarge and Apollonia were all the rage. Yet, here we are again bombarded with psychological images that continue to define the standard of Black beauty under the shallow veneer of skin complexion.

I often wonder of the educational and social cognizance of artist like Yung Berg and Ne-yo when they make such absurd statements. At the end of the day light skin or dark skin you can still be called a nigger.



Image courtsey of Abagond

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A slow divide is occurring within the black community. A divide that is doing what slavery, years of Jim Crow and discrimination could never accomplish. A divide that is driven by economics and classism. Economics has become more powerful than Massa’s whip; economics has become more treacherous than for white only signs. Economics are creating a breach threatening the long built solidarity of the Black community.

More black people are moving to the suburbs, few are electing to live in economically challenged areas.The Black community has become assailed with a new generation of middle class, a class at times more concerned with keeping up with the Joneses than helping the Williams. We now have a middle class that consistently distances themselves from people not of their class or social standing.


How does a community survive without the aid of those that do well? Many economically challenged areas are so depleted because the dollar leaves the community quicker than it is brought in. In the time of Black Wall Streetthe dollar would circulate 36 to 100 times before it left the community.


Growing up in a relatively rudimentary town made me want to leave and never return. I wanted to break free and never have to look back. There is so much more to life than the small corner in which some find themselves confined to. We have to regain our trust in one another and get back to helping each other instead of abandoning one another for the quickest exit sign.

For another perspective visit Siditty's Race and Culture in America post

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Which comes first my womanhood or my blackness? This is a debate that I have had within myself since my sophomore year in college. A debate that I discuss often among my friends. Can you be a woman of color and differing ethnicity and separate these traits from your womanhood or must one take precedent above the other.


I remember reading the Invisible Man in college and often felt invisible myself and wondered who if anyone has so eloquently written the story of the invisible black woman.

Who do I belong to first? Who am I? Who needs me the most: the black community or women? I have come to the conclusion for me the two are inseparable. I am not one without the other; my womanhood is shaped by my race. I am unable to separate blackwoman into two words.


Are there any other race/ethnicity of women/men that go through this struggle or do I alone battle with reconciling these feelings?



Cross post located atDallas South

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"Underneath this apparent accommodation to our diversity, we are in fact hunkering down in communities of like-mindedness, and it affects our ability to manage difference," Clinton


As Americans have we ever done anything other than associate with individuals of similar minds, economic status, or cultural communities? For many people, living in this country the only time for diversity interaction is during work hours. Black, White, Asian, etc. we separate ourselves from each other by at times self-imposed and genuine do not cross lines. Those very traits that make each cultural group unique simultaneously hinder some of our ability to cross cultural barriers and see other for what we all are: human beings.

Race plays an incredible part of the American past and present. The question that remains, is how will race play into the future of Americans. I believe that by first acknowledging that America has a race problem then tackling the issues of institutionalized racism, will direct the future of race and Americans.



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As if there is such a thing! Besides the fact that I generally view Nader as a spoiler he presents stances on some issues that are dead on with my own. However, Nader it is past time for you to cease and desist


"Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?"

What, are the other two candidates sufficiently addressing the problems of the ghetto? Or should Obama take special interest above them because he is half African- American? Whatever! There has never been an overwhelming regard for the ghettos, barrios, or hick towns of America. Why because that’s not where the candidates receive their votes. Nader it is not were YOU will receive your votes. So shut it!


Talk white, eh? So all this verbiage about talking white as just a myth perpetuated by the black community has now spread and been bought by white America. When did speaking proper English become solely designated to the use of white people alone? These are the type of statements whether used by Black people or White people that reek of bigoted, prehistoric ideas that continue to plague the consciousness of American minds.

As far as White Guilt goes, I do not hold White people I encounter responsible for slavery. I hold people accountable for what they do now!

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I have heard this comment from black people (bp) and white people (wp) alike. Whenever, this statement is issued it is offensive no matter the race of the person. When a wp issues the comment they (I think) mean it as a form of flattery (as if) however, when bp issues the comment IT IS meant to question your blackness. In all fairness I have to admit that this comment is infinitely more hurtful when other bp addresses it to me. My husband for years used to say this accompanied by a headshake and additional comments such as you want to do what, you really believe that, or don’t you see. Comments like this one and others along its ilk only succeed in stereotyping or placing people in pigeon holes (which at times I am guilty of both; so please feel free to call me on it anytime).

As far as the typical black person, who is a typical black person, are they the reflection of the media or the newest rap video, or maybe a newer version of the Clare and Cliff. It is so easy for the minority to be stereotyped by the ignorant behavior of the few (which the media takes every opportunity to play up). Do bp have certain idosycnrosises that are distinct (but not exclusive) to their culture? The answer is yes, but those idiosyncrasies go well and far beyond (and often have deeper meaning) than the gold teeth, do-rag wearing people you see scattered across your local nightly news.

I know its going to be difficult to being to value people for who they are because the first thing we see is physical we don’t (and never will) see the interior of the person until we make a concerted effort to engage that person. Stereotypical comments only strain race-relations among the color lines and within color lines. People are inherently a product of their surroundings. I grew up in the country I like country things my husband grew up in da’ hood, at times (in private) he regresses. Surroundings usually will depict the behavior of people and not their race. However, their race can and usually will depict their surroundings.

Jazzy

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