Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Colorism: Is this behavior learned, or regrettably inherited from the previous generation?
I found this paper online called the face of colorism (written by a student at Oakland University) and here is an excerpt:
Colorism; is this behavior learned, or regrettably inherited from the previous generation? I recommend you read Marguerite Wright’s “I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a Race-Conscious World,” according to studies preschoolers cannot comprehend the basis for putting people into different groups by race. “To determine which people being in what racial groups, adults use a complex set of cues, including physical characteristics (skin color, hair color and texture, nose and lip shapes, and the like) and social cues. Preschoolers usually put all light-complexion children (whites, Chinese, and light-complexion blacks) into the “white” group,” (Wright, pg. 15), which poses another question. At what age are children being exposed to this type of behavior? It seems that when the previous information is taken into account, children are being taught to separate the different hues of black peoples into different categories. Growing up terms such as “light, bright, damn near white,” “tar baby,” “you’re cute for being so dark,” and such, are expressions that are synonymous with other terms as of endearment such as “redbone” and “dark chocolate,” but in reality, these expressions are tearing down one dichotomy to uplift another.
It seems that the media images of what warrants black identity is somewhat, if not, completely jaded, and in my opinion is contributing to this problem. Picking up any catalogue, whether it may be the current Sears, JC Penny’s, etc., and you will notice the ‘type’ of black identity, which is being represented. Light-skinned babies with curly hair and green eyes, light-skinned females with long straight hair, or the effervescent light-skinned female with a dark-skinned male with beautiful bi-racial kids seems to take center-stage when it comes to representing the ideal African-American family. The propaganda of black culture does not stop there, in a recent issue of Essence, the light-skinned vs. dark-skinned ratio is practically 4:1. A multitude of skin-cream bleachers, hair strengtheners, and weave products flood the back of the magazine.
Not only do we, as black people, do a good job at exploiting our weaknesses. For example, not only looking at the magazines, which are targeted towards a black audience but also our mainstream media, Black Entertainment Television. Turn on your TV set to this channel and I can almost guarantee you the images of light-skinned people, ads and products geared towards hair-straightening, etc, will overwhelm the average person. What can we do try to alleviate this problem, in my opinion, I think this problem is too deep-rooted, although the EEOC is handling the legal aspect of the problem, the social aspect, which is up to the black community, needs to accept the fact that blacks can come in all shapes, hues, and colors.
I don't know if I agree with his opinion that the problem is too deeply rooted to overcome. I think if we teach our youth to combat these issues TOGETHER instead of enabling these feelings things will change. This is a time to unite and move up in our own communities. If we don't accept ourselves how can we ever see a change in how other people perceive us?
Blogs hate on Michelle and Obama's relationship
Obama photographed with mystery lady at inauguration stirs rumors.
There are a few blogs out there that are already talking about how hard it will be for Barack to be faithful to Michelle b/c of all the groupies that will approach him. They even went as far as saying that the woman photographed with Barack above is one of his potential "Jump-Offs". Obviously Barack is not cut like every other man. Michelle is a great catch and you can see how much their family means to each other, furthermore Barack would never hurt his girls like that so these blogs need to stop! The woman above is Desiree Rogers and she was the planner for the inaugural ball event.
Why do popular African-American blogs tear down black women?
Whitney vs Mariah, Tyra vs Naomi, Beyonce vs JHud, Brandy vs Monica, and now Mary j. Blige vs Beyonce. I find it very hurtful to black women in entertainment when blogs try to play these women against each other. Media Take Out reports that Mary J. Blige is jealous of Beyonce, b/c of her performance at the inauguration and the inaugural ball. I highly doubt these rumors. Many of the black women featured on blogs such as mediatakeout, youngblackandfab and bossip.com get most of their publicity on these blogs yet these blogs and the people that comment on them tear down women of color, why is that?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Women Unity: Tyra started this revolution
This is a very interesting show about how people perceive race.
Ashanti and Her Beautiful Sister
Here is Ashanti and her sister Shia, at the Hip-Hop Summit Action Inaugural Ball. I was at another blog that spoke terribly about Ashanti's little sister. It is amazing how people can put negative words out there like they are not hurting anyone, they are both very beautiful girls no one can deny that.
Michelle Obama inaguration Dress
Designer Isabel Toledo made Obama's outfit for the swearing-in ceremony.
Toledo attended New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design and she's been designing under her name for more than 20 years.
Toledo is married to fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo and you can find her outfits at Barneys New York. She was also the creative director of Anne Klein for some time.
What do U think of Michelle Obama's outfit?
Our First Family is So Beautiful!!!
We Now Have a Black First Family Living in The White House (built on the backs of slaves) One Word....Historic
OMG!! Embarassing: Jay Z and Young Jeezy Perform at Obamas Inauguration ball and They Use "N" Word More Than Once
Jay-Z My President is black Remix LIVE 1-18-09 from pleasedontstare on Vimeo.
Can We Please Cut This Out in 2009.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Naomi Campbell Graces The Cover of Vouge China
Here is Naomi Campbell on the cover of Vouge China still looking great.
Obama family Photo on Life&Style magazine Airbrushed Before and !!!
The photo on the left is the cover of Life&Style magazine and the photo on the left is out of Essence Magazine.
Wow I am shocked, Life&Style has reportedly denied airbrushing the photo. Okay?
As you can see Life&Style magazine has airbrushed Michelle and the girls to their suiting. Come on people it is 2009 and we have a Brilliant President and a beautiful first lady with a good head on her shoulders. Barack is a damn handsome (multi-ethnic) man and the both of them made some beautiful babies. I just wonder what comments our first family have on this incident.
Rihanna, Amerie, and Tierra Marie perform: Lose my Breath
These ladies killed this song! I am so proud to see these women unite (World Music Awards 2008).
Source Magazine Decides to Stop Exploiting Women
Source Magazine has decided that now is the time to make their publication more credible. The magazine has released a statement addressing their readers explaining the changes that they will make.
According to an article in today’s NY Times, Source publisher Londell McMillan states:
I think this is a great start to redirecting our youth from the hip hop life style to a more appreciated swag. I also think that this is a great step for women being exploited“It’s time the Hip-Hop industry stop advertising junk and be more responsible about what we sell to our readers. The Source has been much more selective about what we put in our magazine and created higher standards since we’ve changed ownership. We owe it to our readers and the parents who don’t want their children reading about the latest porn sites and seeing booty ads in the back of the magazine.”
Beyonce sings America The Beautiful @ inauguration concert
Beyonce does a great job! I love Beyonce and I am so glad she has taken part in the inauguration.
Michelle Obama Airbrushed on Popular Magazine Cover to Appeal to White readers
Michelle Obama was recently airbrushed on the magazine cover above. It is very obvious that the publication wanted Michelle to look bi-racial like Barack. I just wonder what comments Michelle would make on the subject and I am also curious to know how she felt when she saw herself on the publication.
Dark Skin In The African American Communities
Recently there has been many stories in the media that are very disrespectful to African American people with dark skin. Here is the shocker, it is not Caucasians that have been so bluntly disrespectful it has been our own people making these outrages comments and airing out the dirty laundry of black communities all over America.First on my list is the horrible comments that a rap artist (not so well known) named YungBerg made, here is an a bit of the conversation that he had with a radio DJ.
I'm kinda racist ... I don't like dark butts .... You know how some women prefer light skin men or dark skin men. It's rare that I do dark butts - that's what I call dark skinned women ... I [don't date women] darker than me. I love the pool test. If you can jump in the pool exactly like you are and you don't come out looking better than you looked before going in the pool - then that's not a good look.Any woman that uses brown gel to set down her baby hair is not poppin'!!!
Next on my list is R&B writer, producer, and singer Neyo, who was recently quoted saying that light skinned babies are better looking than dark skinned babies.
Now Tyra Banks has recently done a show on African American Women who bleach their skin. In case you missed it here is a description of the show that has already aired:
Skin whitening is a billion-dollar worldwide industry, and the "Tyra Show" addresses the drastic measures some women are willing to take to achieve their ideal look. African-American women talk candidly about why they bleach their skin to lighten their complexions. Plus, meet a mom who puts bleach on her three small children every day before they leave for school.
Let me just say that this is a pressing issue in our community and I did some research to see what people really think. There are so many people hurt by these comments. I found that people started boycotting YungBerg and if you go on youtube you will find many of upset people. I saw mostly lighter toned women really angry at YungBerg, what he didn't realize is that he attacked all women of color with these statements. I also came across some young chocolate brothers from D.C. (which is where YungBerg is from) they wanted people to know that in D.C. that darker men have a disadvantage as well and that the term "Dark Butts" refer to men as well in their community. They went on to say that they felt hurt that the women there only go for brown skin or lighter complected guys. They also talk about white women and how chocolate skin is more appreciated among asians, latinas and white women. Funny that some chocolate women have the same experiences.
As far as Neyo goes, I think he is just as ignorant as YungBerg, both of these men have openly apologized, YungBerg goes a little further apologizing to his mother and grandmother b/c they are both dark complected.
Tyra show on skin bleaching really struck a nerve with people black and white. White people can't believe that we would bleach our skin, they find black skin very exotic. Many white people also go through the same issues as far as being too white, they were very candid on tyras blog about white people who risk skin cancer to get a great tan.
I would really love to see people like Gabrielle Union, Kelly Rowland, Lauren London, Latoya Luckett, Serena Williams, Naomi, Mary J. Blige, Keisha Cole and other brown to dark brown people that have a standing celebrity status speak out on this issue. I would also like to hear from the men with the same status, a lot of black actors and musicians have brown to dark brown skinned daughters that will face the same issues.
Here is a young man speaking his mind on YungBerg
Miss USA Crystal Stuart Breast Cancer Scare
With world famous beauty, a crown on her head and a 1994 Junior Olympic silver medal under her belt, it would seem that Miss USA Crystle Stewart has led quite the charmed life.
But according to FOXnews.com the 27-year-old Texan has been victim to a terrifying breast cancer scare.
At the Oxygen/"America's Next Top Model" launch party in New York Monday, she told FOXNews.com that just five years ago, she was forced to have a lump removed from her breast.
Click here to see photos of Crystle Stewart.
Here is some of the article:
“When I was 21, I gave myself a self-breast-examination and I found a lump. I went to the doctor, and had to get an ultrasound. Later, my doctor had me go get a biopsy and fortunately it was benign,” she said.
Stewart had the lump removed, but said the experience stayed with her ever since.
“It was so terrifying. And now I know what it’s like to have that fear of having cancer, and that is something I will never forget. I was 21 when I found it, it was the last thing I ever thought would happen to me.”
From then on, Stewart made a point to work to raise awareness for women suffering from breast cancer, and even made it her platform for Miss USA.
“I want to encourage women—regardless of age—to make sure that they check their breasts every day. Especially young African American women, where the risk is higher than any other ethnicity – so many black women die because their cancer is diagnosed to late."
Still, the reigning crown-holder has a lot to be proud of these days, and is enjoying the last months of her title.
“It’s been such a great ride. And I’m so proud to represent my country,” she said.
Well I am glad that she is ok, I am also glad that she uses this experience to make women of color more aware of breast cancer, and inspire women of color to get routine check ups.
Black and White Caribbean People disappearing
January 19, 2009. United African Goddess just got wind of an article out of a UK newspaper. According to the report, interracial relationships are on the rise in the U.K. So much so that the report suggests that Black folk, and in particular Caribbean Black folk, are in danger of disappearing altogether.
Here�s a piece of the report:
One in 10 children in the UK belongs to a mixed-race family, according to a new report.
The study predicts that if current trends continue, some ethnic minorities may disappear as people from mixed race backgrounds become increasingly common.
And the article continues:
It shows some ethnic groups are much more likely to have mixed-race relationships.
Figures show 48 per cent of Black Caribbean men and 34 per cent of Black Caribbean women are in mixed-race relationships.
This is in contrast to people from Pakistani backgrounds, where 8 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women are in mixed relationships.
The report states: 'Those who define themselves as singularly Caribbean are likely to decline over time, as increasingly complex heritages emerge among those with some element of Caribbean descent.'
I have nothing against interracial relationships, I am in one myself but I wonder what other blacks think about this. This could become a issue in America.
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