If you want to know some of the most over argued topics I've ever heard, Skin Color within the Black Race is somewhere on my top 20 (natural/relaxed hair & working/stay-at-home moms are tied for #1) list. Boy, Massa did a number on us on the Ol' Plantation. It is 2012 and it is still can be a heated topic. It is unnerving for news or talk shows to have this topic on their schedule. But like a bad train wreck I watch them anyway. Maybe it the “Kum Bah Yah” in me to see if there is a different outcome
I'm not one who is color struck. I kind of wince at people teasing others about their skin tone. I don't believe "Two "light skins" can't be friends". I don't have mostly "dark skinned" friends so I'll be the cute "light skinned" friend. The first time I heard I was "light-skinned" was kindergarten on the black top and a "dark skinned" girl was rubbing my arm saying "Ooh you so light". I snatched my arm back. I thought it was weird that she was rubbing on me. Umm, can we say creepy? When I did, I hurt feeling and she then said "She think she's better than caused she light". I had no clue what she was talking about. As I got older I wondered where did she get that from. One day it clicked, like racism, it was taught to her at an early age. I feel sorry for people who grew up with Skin Tone issues.
I didn't always grow up in a family that talked about skin tones like that. It's was latere I've learned which older relatives have/had skin color issues. I don't know why because if you stretch just my mother's side of my family without in-laws and we look like a Gorgeous African-American Rainbow.
I try not to even jokingly tease people about their skin color. An ex-boyfriend turned best friend (who happens to be "dark skinned") learned the hard way. He called me a "house n-word" as a joke. I didn't take it as a joke and called him a "field n-word" as mean as I could. He learned then how I felt about those kinds of insults. I Don't like anyone being teased about their skin tone. It's Gross!!!
And before you say OutSpoken you're "light skinned" you don't understand how hard it is to "Dark Skinned" This is all easy for you to say. Well hurt "dark-skinned" people how many people “lighter” than you have you took your hurt feelings out on. Yeah, you guys have hurt other people in the name of skin tone also. I know because I was tease because others teased somebody else "dark skinned". Not going to call names. Not even tell y'all how I know this particular lady (girl back then) because she's kind of a popular person in some circles in my area of the country. But because she had to hear she was "Cute for a Dark Girl" or "That Black girl can... (almost slipped) she made it a point to refer to the color of my stockings (cafe au lait or nude) or me turning red or getting darker on the sun any chance she got. And other things that I will not talk about. Kinda screwed up and still hurtful to harp on. I never teased her about her skin color back (I didn't know how) (trust me I got her back one day and I went out with a BANG and she never bullied me again ). When my niece was born people was standing around raving and she said "But she so bright". By then I knew HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE. That's her cross to bear. Again I feel sorry for people who grew up with Skin Tone issues. But the "dark skinned" don't have the monopoly of being teased because skin tones. It's just more visible.
It's an issue I wish would die. There can't be a funeral quick enough for it. Trust me I will not mourn for it either. I'll wear my Fuchsia Suit with the gold buttons and my Gold Pumps and Holy Ghost dance on that day because I will be to glad to put it to rest. Might as well be fierce on that Happy Day.
I'm not one who is color struck. I kind of wince at people teasing others about their skin tone. I don't believe "Two "light skins" can't be friends". I don't have mostly "dark skinned" friends so I'll be the cute "light skinned" friend. The first time I heard I was "light-skinned" was kindergarten on the black top and a "dark skinned" girl was rubbing my arm saying "Ooh you so light". I snatched my arm back. I thought it was weird that she was rubbing on me. Umm, can we say creepy? When I did, I hurt feeling and she then said "She think she's better than caused she light". I had no clue what she was talking about. As I got older I wondered where did she get that from. One day it clicked, like racism, it was taught to her at an early age. I feel sorry for people who grew up with Skin Tone issues.
I didn't always grow up in a family that talked about skin tones like that. It's was latere I've learned which older relatives have/had skin color issues. I don't know why because if you stretch just my mother's side of my family without in-laws and we look like a Gorgeous African-American Rainbow.
I try not to even jokingly tease people about their skin color. An ex-boyfriend turned best friend (who happens to be "dark skinned") learned the hard way. He called me a "house n-word" as a joke. I didn't take it as a joke and called him a "field n-word" as mean as I could. He learned then how I felt about those kinds of insults. I Don't like anyone being teased about their skin tone. It's Gross!!!
And before you say OutSpoken you're "light skinned" you don't understand how hard it is to "Dark Skinned" This is all easy for you to say. Well hurt "dark-skinned" people how many people “lighter” than you have you took your hurt feelings out on. Yeah, you guys have hurt other people in the name of skin tone also. I know because I was tease because others teased somebody else "dark skinned". Not going to call names. Not even tell y'all how I know this particular lady (girl back then) because she's kind of a popular person in some circles in my area of the country. But because she had to hear she was "Cute for a Dark Girl" or "That Black girl can... (almost slipped) she made it a point to refer to the color of my stockings (cafe au lait or nude) or me turning red or getting darker on the sun any chance she got. And other things that I will not talk about. Kinda screwed up and still hurtful to harp on. I never teased her about her skin color back (I didn't know how) (trust me I got her back one day and I went out with a BANG and she never bullied me again ). When my niece was born people was standing around raving and she said "But she so bright". By then I knew HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE. That's her cross to bear. Again I feel sorry for people who grew up with Skin Tone issues. But the "dark skinned" don't have the monopoly of being teased because skin tones. It's just more visible.
It's an issue I wish would die. There can't be a funeral quick enough for it. Trust me I will not mourn for it either. I'll wear my Fuchsia Suit with the gold buttons and my Gold Pumps and Holy Ghost dance on that day because I will be to glad to put it to rest. Might as well be fierce on that Happy Day.
P.S. Yes I used” ____-Skinned” to make a point.
