War Of The Skin Tone. . . Light Skin vs. Dark Skin

If you’re African American you know that there has been a long standing rivalry of sorts between “light Skin” & “dark skin”. You’ve probably heard the jokes before regarding the different shades but what you never realize is how serious this stigma has become in today's society within the African American race. While listening to the radio yesterday morning I heard actor Bill Duke promote a play he will soon release titled “Dark Girls” A documentary about dark skinned prejudice and how it affects dark-skinned black women.

 I’ve actually had this conversation with “dark-skinned” friends before just to get their take on life and the issues surrounding their skin tone. Believe it or not they have many stories to tell of instances where they were treated differently or made to believe they were less adequate because of their dark skin. What’s more shocking is the comparison that is made between who is treated more fair-minded isn’t between the dark-skinned female and a white female, this time the comparison is made between dark-skinned females and light-skinned females both of the African American race. From TV commercials, news paper & magazine publications all the way down to the President of the United States. It is argued that dark-skinned people are still looked at negatively in society. I can remember when President Barack Obama was elected hearing “black” people say things like “if he were dark-skinned he wouldn’t have ever made it into the White House”. It used to bother me to hear things like this as that’s exactly the kind of talk that I feel continuously separates us but when I think about it more in depth I can definitely see the point. When you look at today’s media it does seem to be more of the lighter skinned African Americans with the most all around exposure. Music videos have been long criticized for omitting dark-skinned actresses and including only light-skinned women to enhance the fantasy surrounding the video.

 So where exactly did this battle of the skin tone begin? I would say early slavery. If you’ve ever heard stories of slavery you know the dark-skinned slaves were in the fields working while the light-skinned slaves were in the house tending the less abrasive household needs. I know you all have heard the term "house nigger". I would be willing to bet that this was the true beginning of the dilemma we're facing today. What’s truly disheartening and the question I ask is why are we (African American women) so easily pitted towards each other. In this situation it seems so clear and easy to discern that this so call difference is nothing more than an extension of the days of slavery when we were divided and conquered. I don't see the conflict in men nearly as much as it's seen in women. I personally know dark-skinned women who despise lighter skinned women. They feel light-skinned women feel entitled and always has the upper hand and hasn’t faced nearly the struggles as your average dark-skinned woman. As a light-skinned woman myself I can definitely attest to situations where I have been treated differently/better because of my skin tone so I know this issue to be true.

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 While  because of my skin tone I've probably been on the nicer and more obliging end of the spectrum, I cannot be oblivious or take away from my dark-skinned sista’s who feel & know that they have been treated poorly for the shade of their skin. What we face now is nothing more than racism within the African American race.  I can remember being young and hearing the phrase "color struck" and I new exactly what it meant. Even now when visual test are done with young dark-skinned African American children you would be amazed at how they truly see themselves and if they had the choice the skin tone they would prefer. It's been a long standing thought that what's light/white is considered right.  Even within mating some (emphasis on some) black men look at the different shades of skin as the determining factor. Most dark-skinned women seem to feel like they are second choices to light-skinned women when courtship and relationships are involved. I know there are some shallow human beings living in this world and if you base your dealings with someone on the color or shade of their skin you have bigger issues to deal with like the fact that your ignorant but my argument to this sometimes lies on the difference between racial prejudice and a mature preference. Example: I am a light-skinned black female. I have dated guys of all skin tones but visually I am more attracted to dark-skinned men. It's not that I think any other skin tone is ugly or should be any less respected, I just like what I like. Does that mean I am a self hating sista or do I have the right to have a preference? Usually when it’s a woman who has a shade preference (within the black race) there’s not so much of an issue but lets change the story. I am a dark-skinned man who prefers light-skinned women. You know like I know all hell breaks loose, but why? As mature adults don’t we all have the right to have a preference without being accused of self hating or being color struck? Does having a skin tone preference always mean that there is a deeper underlying issue?

It’s hard to judge what’s right and what’s wrong in this situation but what I really wish black women would understand is this is not the time to hate your fellow sista for her skin tone. With all honestly I have never heard a light-skinned woman talk badly about a dark-skinned woman over skin tone. Some would say it's because we are always on the receiving and more accommodating end of the spectrum but in my experience It’s always the other way around (just my experience). During slavery we were intentionally divided so why is it in 2011 are we still allowing these same senseless divisions to rule our lives. It’s about embracing each other because at the end of the day we are BLACK and there is so much white/black racism that we are faced with on a day to day basis that it’s beyond ignorant that we are now struggling with racism in our own race? I don’t know how to break this cycle or change the brainless people surrounding us who do seem to feel one skin tone is more superior than another but I would be willing to bet it would be much easier to fight for change together as one race vs. falling into the trap of division and hating each other. It’s obvious that the division hasn’t given us any positive results thus far. I acknowledge these issues but I must admit in acknowledging that there is a issue and difference in treatment I sometimes feel as though I am acknowledging guilt for being me, a light-skinned woman. If you’re a dark-skinned woman that’s being treated unfairly because of your skin tone it doesn’t mean hate the next light-skinned woman or judge us all the same. In most cases we're not the problem. It’s the people who hold the control over whatever situation your involved in that should be held accountable. That’s where the real change should begin.

If you're in the Atlanta area you can check out Bill Duke's play at The Fabulous Fox Saturday November 19, 2011.