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Serenasailor
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Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 06:12 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I was in black voices and I noticed something interesting. Someone said that they noticed whenever Oprah had a light-skinned guest such as Halle Berry, Alicia Keyes and Beyonce she would always comment on how beautiful they were. But when she had on a darker-skinned guest she would always praise them for there acting ability.

Also Oprah gives alot of opportunities to light-skinned actresses. She included Halle Berry, in two made for T.V movies such as " Their Eyes were Watching God". Which was nominated for several Emmy's and a Golden Globe. She also helped promote the bi-racial beauty Alicia Keyes by playing her on her show several times. She also is trying to do the Lena Horne Story starring Alicia Keyes. I have yet to see her promote a dark-skinned persons career yet.

Oprah on many occasions has said how she always felt self-conscience growing up regarding her skin color. She tells the story of how she had to sleep out side when she was a little girl, because the woman that her mother was rooming with was extremely prejudice against dark-skinned ppl.

I personally feel like this. If Oprah is Colorstruck that should not supersede all of the positive things that she has done for the African American community. How do you feel?
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Tonya
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Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 06:40 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

If you're colorstruck you're not doing ANYTHING positive for the AA community - it's that deep - bottom line. Personally, I feel that cursing our ancestors is worse than cursing God; but that's someting else and I try not to get my personal feelings involved.

As far as Oprah's concerned, I see her as a victim, like all of us, but more so to a greater degree. Still, I'd like to see her get more involved.

Tonya
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Cynique
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Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 08:23 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

We are all products of our experience and we all deal with it in different ways. Oprah is not perfect. She's flawed like everyone else. And she is certainly blind to the shortcomings of those she likes. She idolizes dark-skinned actor, Sydney Poiter who has been criticized by many of his peers, most notably Harry Belafonte, for not using his celebrity to advance civil rights causes. During the struggle, a detached Poiter never stepped up but remained on the sidelines, apparently beholden to the status quo. I wonder if it occurs to Oprah that ol fair-skinned blue-eyed Steadman would probably never have given her a second look if she was wasn't who she was. The most extraordinary thing about this woman is how far she has come to be so ordinary.
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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 02:00 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Cyn --

"I wonder if it occurs to Oprah that ol fair-skinned blue-eyed Steadman would probably never have given her a second look if she was wasn't who she was."

Good approach.
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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 02:02 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

The colorstike itself usually comes from the darker side of the equation.
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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:00 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

*I wonder if it occurs to Oprah that ol fair-skinned blue-eyed Steadman would probably never have given her a second look if she was wasn't who she was.*

I hear ya Cynnique. I'd also add that the same could be said for the scores of rich and/or successful black men who virtually always end up with decent looking light/non-black women; especially since those kind of women (particularly white according to statistics) rarely date or marry black men (no matter how handsome) unless they're black men with success/money.

Tonya

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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:25 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

The colorstike itself usually comes from the darker side of the equation.

That's so not true. I constantly get light, mixed, white, Asian, Hispanic, and brown men breathing down my neck. Part of it (I know) is due to my color. (Yet I can't get a jet-black man to save my life :-( ) And, believe or not, medium to light women are way more obsessed with their color -- females know these things. Color consciousness goes both ways.

BTW, don't forget the paper bag & ruler test nor the blue vein, Jack & Jill, and Boule "societies."
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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 03:52 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tonya --

"The colorstike itself usually comes from the darker side of the equation."

Like it or not, it's true. The negativity and adversity that is poured on the colorism fire is almost exclusively an issue that is constantly despised by those who are dark(er) in skin complexion. Regardless of the balance of their phenotype, when it comes to color, they are the ones who take issue with it.

Case in point: A simplification...example

You're at a social gathering. People are mingling about. You look to the right, and see a large group of dark(er) skinned "black" men and women laughing it up and joking over cocktails, h’ourderves, etc. Basically, no one would infer anything regarding that group.

Now, you look to the left, and you see a group of light(er) skinned "black" men and women doing the same thing.

In the back of your mind, which group would be singled out for colorism by association?

And...this ain't rocket science.

===

"medium to light women are way more obsessed with their color"

They don't bother others because of their skin tone, and don't have a need or a reason to do so. They are not obsessed with their skin color, and don't view their color or other features negatively. In other words, they don't explicitly rely on the division of color to make a point, or to live their everyday lives. However, they are virtually always stared down by the throngs of dark(er) skinned sisters whose envy routinely translates into rage, indignance and more. It's the light(er) skinned sisters who simply want to be left alone.

===

Makes one wonder, what would happen if the light(er) half and the dark(er) half didn't see or hear from each other for a year. Would there be peace in the pulpit? Your guess is as good as mine.

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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 04:28 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

NELS:

However, they are virtually always stared down by the throngs of dark(er) skinned sisters whose envy routinely translates into rage,

KOLA:

It's not "envy" that translates to rage.

It's the INJUSTICE that comes with "appropriated whiteness" and the fact that most of these lightskinned women (up until recently) were in denial about colorism, the fact that they benefitted from it and that they claim blackness--while usually not representing it.

Black men like yourself, men who loathe black women and wish they were all "light", enable these yellow women to cling to their smugness and believe darker women "jealous"--because you can't imagine why a darker woman wouldn't want to be "light".

Black people are BLACK...despite what the SLAVE MASTER taught Americans. And naturally, there's always the undercurrent of that fact causing a separation--no matter how people try to overcome it.

The answer to this problem is that blacks...should become blacker. Then you would have a shot at unity.








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Roxie
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 04:34 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

It's obvious Steadman is with her because she is wealthy. The usual rule: "they can be light and poor, light and rich, dark and rich, but they can't be dark AND poor." His parents seem to not care either way and somehow value light skin over wealth.

You know what? Screw them! If Oprah had any sense she'd stop wasting time with him and dump his ass! he's dead weight!

Yeah, she's colorstruck. -_-'
[*sigh*]
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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 04:46 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Kola --

"Black men like yourself, men who loathe black women and wish they were all "light", enable these yellow women to cling to their smugness and believe darker women "jealous"--because you can't imagine why a darker woman wouldn't want to be "light"."

Have fun being black(er), while the rest of the world passes you by. Sulk in your own inebriation of injustice, but leave the others be.

"loathe" black women? Stop making things up Kola. If you're going to joust, at least get your facts straight. No one owes you anything. Not even a single tawdry apology.

Hmmmm. Exactly what is the breakdown of the skin color of this board's participant's? Better yet, does it really matter? No one cares but you. Instead of blaming others, you should be glad that your daddy had a twinkle in his eye during his drunken stupor of deranged and colorized obfuscation. Oh, so to grace us with the confusion of your diatribes.
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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:11 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Nels: when I was coming up, most dark-skinned women did not bleach their skin. It was the medium and light-skinned ones who did. I can recall black people taking baths with clorox bleach and using Ambi skin soaps & creams religiously, but I don't recall any of them being dark-skinned. That's what I call being obsessed with one's skin. I don't know what you call being obsessed, but I have a feeling that you are misinformed.
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Serenasailor
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:13 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Nels it seems to me that you have a "thing" for light-skinned women. Is it because you are a light-skinned black man or because you are COLORSTRUCK?
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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:35 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

You're at a social gathering. People are mingling about. You look to the right, and see a large group of dark(er) skinned "black" men and women laughing it up and joking over cocktails, h’ourderves, etc. Basically, no one would infer anything regarding that group.Now, you look to the left, and you see a group of light(er) skinned "black" men and women doing the same thing. In the back of your mind, which group would be singled out for colorism by association?

Honestly Nels, I wouldn't care. In fact, I'd be chilling with the dark-skinned folks and wouldn't pay the other group any mind. But if you were to flip that scenario by asking me which group would I want representing me in American venues such as arts, entertainment, politics and so on... I'd tell you in a minute that I'd piss a bitch if I could not get the group that best represents me.... I hope that answers your question.

Tonya
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Metasmith
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:45 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Never thought about it before. But my girl once said she had to play her "light-skinned card". I was like, what's that? She said "come on, you know you've played the light skinned card before." My reply "I've played the tittie card before, but not the light skinned card." To which she retorted "well what color are your titties?"

Aha. Aha.

Seriously, I think I have a color complex. I decribe myself as light-brown skinned, or caramel. But I've been told I'm a lot lighter than I think I am. I never thought of myself as light. But I've been informed to the contrary. But to quote the Jungle Brothers "Black is black is black is black!"

Meta Smith
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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:49 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

NELS,

Your assertions that all "dark" women UNFAIRLY pick on and are simply "envious" of all "light" women...

proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that you have a prejudice against black women.










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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 06:53 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Nels: when I was coming up, most dark-skinned women did not bleach their skin. It was the medium and light-skinned ones who did.




Tonya, did you read the part in Marita Golden's book where she was in Nigeria and her "lighskinned" Nigerian niece was BLEACHING her skin and obsessed with getting even lighter?

Or noticed the fact that women of INDIA and ASIAN women purchase more skin bleaching products than African women?

Of course---NELS isn't about notice that fact.



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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 07:04 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Exactly Kola.
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Cynique
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 07:33 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

When I was growin up, dark-skinned women represented the biggest market for bleaching cream and the ones who appeared in the "before" and "after" ads. And you have no idea in the current era who is buying what, kooka boofa. You think you know everything but all you know is what you want to believe.
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Renata
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 07:35 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I really didn't know that Stedman's parents don't approve of Oprah.

AT HIS AGE, he still has to kow tow to his parents?

Hellz yeah, she should dump his ass.
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Tonya
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 08:18 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Other good examples, as I stated before, are groups like the Jack & Jill and Boule clubs which were notorious for performing paper bag and ruler tests until recently (late 1990s). They say that they now put less emphasis on hair and skin (which I think is a public relations ploy) but still, if whippin' out a bag and a ruler is not an obsession with skin color (and "good hair") then I don't know what is.
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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 08:59 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

No, actually, CYNIQUE---there's a study that came out very recently that showed that the women of INDIA are the #1 purchases of "skin bleaching" creams...NADINOLA and AMBI.....and that women of ASIA were #2.

Africa was #3, followed very closely by AMERICA at #4...and then the West Indies and South America tied at #5, followed by Central America at #6 and the Phillipines at #7.




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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:00 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

The terrible, terrible cast systems of INDIA would explain the women and children over there desperate to bleach their skin---they often whip and kill people for being "too dark".

And their hatred for black people is legendary.









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Renata
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:01 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I'm not familiar with the "ruler test". What exactly is that?
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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:19 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"Real" light(er)-skinned people have no reason to bleach their skin. Thus, any reduction of that assessment would be rendered moot by hostile retorts of the "injustice(d)" segment of the "black" population.

And Serenasailor, no one here (cares) what color you are. It's what's (not) in your head that counts (and is evident) right now. Whether I'm light or dark or in-between is for you to figure out. Frankly, your response(s) illustrate exactly what I attempted to convey with some civility, and that is...only one side really makes the noise on this whole issue.

Tonya --

"but I have a feeling that you are misinformed."

Quite the contrary.

"I'd tell you in a minute that I'd piss a bitch if I could not get the group that best represents me.... I hope that answers your question."

Point well noted.

Kola --

"proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that you have a prejudice against black women.
"

"Or noticed the fact that women of INDIA and ASIAN women purchase more skin bleaching products than African women?"

My original post was in reference to the black American woman. Don't get lost on a foreign tangent. If you want to debate Indian and Asian cultural weaknesses, then I suggest you stomp on one of their boards, or asses that is.

"Of course---NELS isn't about notice that fact. "

As you know, I am not one to not notice the facts, nor do I self-destruct when others overlook the prevailing evidence within a social norm.

=====

What is interesting here (in this thread) is that (post) my reply, the responders in general are proving my point.

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Kola_boof
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:23 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

No, we're not proving your point, Nels.

We've taken the SURFACE crap that you posted and added some depth to it.

You accused us of "envy" rather than being outraged at "injustice".

Were Malcolm X and MLK simply "envious" of men with lighter skin and more privileages????





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Nels
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Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 09:37 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Kola --

"We've taken the SURFACE crap that you posted and added some depth to it.
"

I really appreciate that. I'll just highlight your life's history and create some more (SURFACE crap) for you to ingest. Problem is, I'll have to figure out which hemisphere of your brain to spread it on. Or maybe I should just lather it over the olfactory region. Thanks a bunch --- like hell.
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Metasmith
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:37 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Renata, the ruler test is like the paper bag test. Are you lighter than the ruler or bag? Sick huh?

But are you guys sure that Jack & Jill did these things till the 90s. I was never in that club (my parents were tres middle class, boo hoo hoo...NOT!). But I did go to the parties (cuz it was always fun watching the pretty boys get their butts kicked afterward and well, there was free pizza and good DJs like Lil Louis and Pharris Thomas and Frankie Knuckles).

I had quite a few friends in J&J. I can think of a few "darkies" who were in. A bunch actually. They all had "good" (rolls eyes) hair though. And money. Hmmmm. I'm from Chicago, could that have been it? Just curious.

And who the hell is lighter than a paper bag or ruler? OK, my mother is I guess, but I mean really, who is? I'm pretty light or so I've been told. I fail both tests. With PRIDE!
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:56 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Nels:

My original post was in reference to the black American woman. Don't get lost on a foreign tangent. If you want to debate Indian and Asian cultural weaknesses, then I suggest you stomp on one of their boards, or asses that is.

Tonya:

Don't quote me on this, Nels, because it's been awhile since I've read Marita Golden's book. I'm almost certain, though, that within her research, or during her observation, she found that medium to lighter skinned African-American women are the most notorious skin bleachers among AA women. From my experience I find that claim to be most credible.

Also, it appears that you're confused as to why lighter skinned folks bleach since they're already light. Well, for women, the cultural beauty standard is white, not light-skinned, high yellow, or olive. Some women who feel the need to meet the cultural standard do what they believe is necessary. Despite them wanting to, however, many of them can't meet it no matter what they do; thus, darker skinned women are less likely to bleach. Quite frankly it wouldn't make a lot of difference to go from jet black to coal black; Deep fudge to chocolate.... A half of shade doesn't make a difference when you're dark. But women who are lighter feel they have a much better chance to meet the standard or come close.
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 12:12 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Actually, the ruler test was done to determine whether a person's hair was straight enough. If one's hair was straighter than the ruler he/she passed, if not, he/she flunked. As for Jack & Jill I think their ruler/bag test was visual (not physical) during the late 90s and yes, it was practiced (visually) until the late 90s. I also read that clubs like Jack & Jill (particularly the adult ones) actually pulled out the bag during this time.

Tonya
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 12:24 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

And Malcolm X's daughter grew up as a member of the Jack & Jill club.
I don't know if it was because of her color (I have no idea what complexion she is) or beacuse of her status as Malcolm X's daughter. (They did make room for "the right kind of people" regardless of color.)
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Cynique
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 01:48 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tonya says:
" Well, for women, the cultural beauty standard is white, not light-skinned, high yellow, or olive."
Cynique responds:
I question that statement. If we're going to be posting our opinions as fact, let me say that in black America, golden brown women are not bleaching their skin. And neither are amber colored ones. They are not trying to turn white or is white the standard that black women aspire to reach. The only women preoccupied with their skin color are the darker ones and this is because they feel that it causes them to be rejected and it certainly causes them to have a biased view of what lighter women are doing to their skin.
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 04:15 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Cynnique:

I question that statement.

Tonya:

Why? Because you're ass_uming that by culture I meant black culture, as opposed to the larger culture - American culture?

Cynnique:

...in black America, golden brown women are not bleaching their skin.

Tonya:

I supported my claim with what I BELIEVE to be documented research/observation. I also left room for error.

Cynnique:

They are not trying to turn white or is white the standard that black women aspire to reach.

Tonya:

There's too much evidence that suggests the opposite. And too much has been written about it, so I won't even debate this one with you.

Cynnique:

The only women preoccupied with their skin color are the darker ones and this is because they feel that it causes them to be rejected and it certainly causes them to have a biased view of what lighter women are doing to their skin.

Tonya:

As you implied, you have the right to your opinion.
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 04:20 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

By the way..

The cultural (American) beauty standard is white/European --

In case you didn't know that....
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 04:51 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Let me rephrase..

Cynnique:

{A}They are not trying to turn white.. {B} or is white the standard that black women aspire to reach.

Tonya:

{A}There's too much evidence that suggests the opposite.. {B}too much has been written about it.. so I won't even debate this one with you.
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Kola_boof
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:12 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Cynique is wrong here.

Light skinned women RIGHT NOW are being passed up in droves for latina, Asian and biracial women.

Many light skinned women have a better shot at looking Bi-racial

than a black girl.

And you're right Tonya. As Marita Golden's book and other new books are pointing out----it's often our lightskinned sisters who are doing the most bleaching, because the it's MORE REALISTIC that they can benefit from it.




Does anyone remember the High Yellow Motown Executive Suzanne Depasse when she was simply high yellow?

(Here she's being kissed by close
friend Diana Ross)



But in later years

---she works hard at appearing nearly WHITE.






Not even High yellow is ENOUGH anymore Cynique.

And we all know that Diana Ross was no "darkie" and yet she's HIGH YELLOW now.





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Kola_boof
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:17 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I have been saying ALL ALONG...that "colorism" is root-activated by RACISM.

And it is affecting.... Light Skinned women... NOW
just as well as dark women.

WHITENESS is the "status symbol"--the Goal.

NBA players no longer look for REDBONES and High Yallers...

...they look PAST them to Latina, White, Asian, Bi-racial.

Look at P. Lewis/Schakspir and his recent list of "Dream fantasy women"-----3 out of 14 were black women.

Being a LIGHT black woman is no longer a Prize,
because ....now they can have a REAL white woman.

And just like his daddy married a
VERY LIGHT skinned woman but professed
to be so Afrocentric....

notice how the SON didn't give a shit
that his choices can't produce a Michael
Jordan or a Denzel.

It's all about the STATUS of Europe.

And Light skinned women are becoming the
new victims...right along with the traditional
outcast...the authentic black woman.







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Metasmith
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:17 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

OK, now I'm confused. How can someone's hair be straighter than a ruler? Isn't a ruler a perfectly straight line? Asians & Whites couldn't pass that test. Clarify for me cuz I can't visualize.

But the J&J bag test, I think that's isolated. I just know too many dark people in J&J. And I know some not so rich dark ones that were in too. Not ruling it out though. I just know that J&J has chapters everywhere, and not all chapters are the same. I did hear that the kids had to sit in a chair to be critiqued.

I read their goals on their website (which features quite a mixtures of brownies and tawnies) which SOUND good. But lots or organizations have hidden agendas.

Oddly enough, I wouldn't mind my son being in J&J because I live in Conneaut Ohio, and I just don't know where he'd even be exposed to any black children. Plus I'm such a LIONESS when it comes to my child that I'd shred any heifer that tried to make him feel bad. My desperation for ebony companionship is showing, huh?

I just got here, but let me just tell you that this town is WHITE! I've only seen one black person the whole two weeks I've been here, aside from my fiance. People stare. And they ooh and ahh over my child in that "isn't he a cute lil pickaninny way". He's my child though, at five years old he will tell someone "I don't know you. And my mom will kill pedophiles". No lie.

I saw an Indian/Pakistani woman at the gas station. She was very happy to see me, called me beautfiul and practically begged me to come back and see her. Now y'all know it's bad! She was just happy to see ANYBODY brown! It's so white, I had to drive to the next town to find chicken wings! Seriously, three stores and not a single wing!

I'm sorry, my ADD struck again. This is about Oprah, right? But can someone explain the ruler test a little better? Thanks.
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Cynique
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:30 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

How about this survey, or this research, Tonya. Look around you. Observe all the black women you see. Are they all light? Or do you see a variation on all shades of brown and yellow. Most of them are going about their lives trying to move up on the jobs, deciding whether to break up with their boyfriend, trying to pay their car note, hoping their kids stay out of trouble, resisting the temptation to buy some Jimmy Choo shoes. Lightening their skin is not a priority in their lives. They gotta pay to get their nails done. Consider the source of the studies made. Statistics can be manipulated. Life as it is portrayed in print and in visuals is just a snapshot. Look at the whole panorama. And I'm tired of this subject.
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Metasmith
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 05:42 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

OK, I did some research & now understand the ruler test. If someone pulled out a bag and a ruler I'd tie the bag around their head, and beat them with the ruler until their lifeless body lay at my feet.

And for all the people who think "light skinned women this or that..." We're all different. Just like dark skinned women. I've never bleached. I tan! I've been a blonde, a brunette, a redhead, and wanted pink hair. I've been braided, faded, pressed and fried. I don't think dark women hate me either and I don't hate them. I just want to look good, and my standard of what looks good changes as my body changes, and as I notice fine lines. I want to look young!

I think more black people are obsessed with green than light or dark. Money has become our standard of beauty. And that sucks.
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Moonsigns
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:20 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Damn right Oprah is colorstruck! All she sees is GREEN, GREEN, and more GREEN!

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Moonsigns
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:22 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Seriously--I don't think she's colorstruck.
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Tonya
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 08:31 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Cynnique, that might be the people around you but, sadly, that isn't the people around me. My girlfriends put just as much emphasis on their beauty as they do their education, jobs, relationships, and so on....
And, no, they won't come straight out and tell you that they're bleaching -- in fact they'll swear up & down that they're not -- but when you look at some of the ingredients in a lot of the products they use, bleaches like hydroquinone are clearly listed. For example, a few years ago I had a blemish that was taking forever to go away, even though I was using cocoa butter. A female I knew - whose skin was clearly damaged; from what, at the time of the conversation, I didn't know - told me of a product that would take my blemish away quicker. I was skeptical cuz, like I said, her skin looked damaged; so I asked her repeatedly if there was ANY bleach in the product. She said, "no," that it was a fade cream and it was safe. I knew that fade creams had to contain bleach but I checked the product anyway and the woman at the make-up counter confirmed what I believed. She said that some of the ingredients were specifically for lightening the skin. Apparently, some women think that using fade creams is not the same as bleaching.

So yes, Cynnique, I do know a lot of women who bleach. They just won't admit it or they don't consider it bleaching.

***I just know that J&J has chapters everywhere, and not all chapters are the same.***

You're absolutely, Metasmith. In the book "My kind of people" it sates that not all of the chapters are like that. And as I sated before, the J&J bag test was visual until recently, not physical.


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Cynique
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:13 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

OK, Tonya. Looks like you really have your work cut out for you if you want to turn this practice around.
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Nels
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Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:42 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tonya --

"Also, it appears that you're confused as to why lighter skinned folks bleach since they're already light. Well, for women, the cultural beauty standard is white, not light-skinned, high yellow, or olive."

The reference was to (pervasive) behavior. Obviously, 100% of light(er) skinned women aren't going to abstain from skin bleaching. And...those who do bleach are (absolutely) disturbed lunatics for doing so.

Also, "white" is not 'THE' standard. The entire aggregate phenotype is. Accordingly, you can have an extremely dark woman with keen features, and others will follow the trend in terms of the look of precision. In this particular case, straight hair is "not" a requirement. Albeit, there are many "black" American women who look like a dark(er)-skinned version of say a Charlize Theron less the blue eyes. Abstractly, it's how the product is packaged and presented that sells the message.

Unfortunately, for many 'traditional' looking black women (for lack of a better term), this particular highly sought after dark-keen phenotype association does not allow for overly prominent "Negroid" features or a purple-black skin tone for that matter. In essence, we'd be talking about a "black" American woman who might look like an East Indian woman, etc. And therein lies the rub for many.

Me confused? Hardly.
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Tonya
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 12:48 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

*************'traditional' looking black women**************

What a coincidence, Nels!.. I was thinking about making that term a part of my vocab since "authentic" and "bona fide" are so offensive to some. Funny isn't it? how we're still trying to define ourselves...?

Cynnique, I hear you. And listen guys.. I'm in no way saying that all light-skinned or even most light-skinned women bleach. That's absurd.
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Nels
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 01:30 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tonya --

"What a coincidence"

Interesting indeed.
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Kola_boof
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 04:02 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tonya: Funny isn't it? how we're still trying to define ourselves...?


Kola: Which is a sure sign...that "we're" no longer who we once were.

A lot of these people are no longer BLACK PEOPLE.

Bottom line. They want the "title"---but want to be white, mixed or some other homily like Rosario Dawson and Vin Diesel.

Like white folks, these "colored breeds" have no respect for the authentic black race. It's a DUMPING ground, because that's how the white man raised them.

That's not our race.




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Nels
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:09 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Kola --

You're going to be "black" for a long time, so get used to it and stop complaining.
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Serenasailor
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 05:04 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Ole Nappy-Haired Negroid featured Dawson, and bad movie, no acting Vin Diesel. Wow!! I would have never thought Rolleyes.
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Tonya
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:24 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Kola, Gotchu...
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Nels
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Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 11:37 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Serenasailor --

"Ole Nappy-Haired Negroid featured Dawson, and bad movie, no acting Vin Diesel. Wow!! I would have never thought Rolleyes."

Buckwheat could have done better than that.
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Serenasailor
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Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 06:19 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Well Nels, why would you respond to me than?

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