Colorism in African American Culture: If You’re Black, Get Back!

Aug 08, 2011 9 Comments by Tiff J

No rap lyric has incited Black women to chorus the way the beginning of Lil Wayne’s verse in Every Girl In The World, in which he expresses his desire for “a long-haired, thick Redbone, who opens up her legs to filet mignon” has.

Hair and skin-color continue to haunt my sistren. Deeply rooted issues of Colorism are extensively blogged and written about by mostly Black female bloggers and writers, who take rappers to task for preferring racially ambiguous looking, seemingly non-Black women to frolic with on and off the sets of their videos.

Recently controversial novelist, Kola Boof sounded off at Wale via Twitter, in a long, sometimes expletive-filled tirade about his video Pretty Girls not featuring enough Black women… that eventually culminated in a feud of sorts. Kola berated Wale (whose parents are Nigerian)- accusing him of prompting young Black women in Nigeria to want to bleach their skin in order to compete: “Wale is doing more than just dig light women. He [sic] selling AFRICAN CHILDREN on skin bleaching … making them feel BLACK is ugly…”

Additionally, Actor/Singer Tyrese also felt the backlash of frustrated darker-skinned women, confused as to why his video was seemingly devoid of obviously Black women. “So I’m getting tweets … why aren’t any “Black Women” in your video. [Sic] I had a 2 days audition. I welcomed ALL women and went with the BEST” he tweeted.

When framed within the context of entertainers and their sex lives, Colorism is undeniable. I acknowledge that it thrives within this realm and influences the aesthetic of many Black men, however, I’m a bit flummoxed as to why Black women continue to look to entertainers and athletes to validate their worth and personal brand of beauty. I understand wanting to see more honest and diverse examples of Black beauty in music videos; But when do we stop holding rappers responsible for how we essentially should view ourselves? When do we stop allowing Lil Wayne’s preference for a “long-haired, thick Redbone” to bother us and realize that when Black men (many of whom are also darker-complexioned) punctuate their preferences with disdain for dark women, it’s their deep-seated issues… and has nothing to do with us? When some Black men reach the pinnacle of financial success, they get to dictate who keeps their mattress warm and comfy… and for some, darker skin just doesn’t suffice.

As frustrating as their self-loathing is, that’s just the way it is. Quite frankly, when I look in the mirror, I’m not wondering whether heavily tattooed rappers with platinum dental work and several children by several different women, think I’m too dark to be considered attractive. Black men who look down on women for having darker complexions… have soul searching to do. Black women who agonize over and doubt themselves on account of a troubled individual’s superficiality… have soul searching to do..

My hope is that Black women with darker complexions move away from seeking acceptance in empty, cold places and hold themselves in high regard.

Actor and film director Bill Duke eloquently explores the issue in this 9-minute trailer for his documentary, Dark Girls …

Recommended Reading: Don’t Play in the Sun by Marita Golden

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Guest Blogger, Race Matters, Women

Tiff J

About the author

Tiff "Coffey" J is a Writer, Blogger, coffee enthusiast, and wine + spirits wrangler... In short; a woman who loves to write & drink potent stuff... and not here to put you at ease. Much of her work and more information about her creds can be found at www.coffeerhetoric.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Coffey0072

http://twitter.com/Ankhesen Ankhesen Mié

But when do we stop holding rappers responsible for how we essentially should view ourselves? When do we stop allowing Lil Wayne’s preference for a “long-haired, thick Redbone” to bother us and realize that when Black men (many of whom are also darker-complexioned) punctuate their preferences with disdain for dark women, it’s their deep-seated issues… and has nothing to do with us?

Damn good questions.
http://twitter.com/Ankhesen Ankhesen Mié

But when do we stop holding rappers responsible for how we essentially should view ourselves? When do we stop allowing Lil Wayne’s preference for a “long-haired, thick Redbone” to bother us and realize that when Black men (many of whom are also darker-complexioned) punctuate their preferences with disdain for dark women, it’s their deep-seated issues… and has nothing to do with us?

Damn good questions.
Uglyblackjohn

IDK… IMOHO the women thought to be the most beautiful are those who approach the mean of all ‘races’.
The type of woman seems to be what matters to most men (thick and juicy, tall and lean, et.)
Bey, J-Lo, Kim K, Coco,… are almost interchangeable.
The same could be said of Halle, Angelina, and Salma. Even Asian women thought to be the most beautiful are those who look the least Asian.

I don’t see any beauty in Naomi Campbell but Roshumba is stunning.
Tyra? Nope. But Beverly Johnson or Shakara Ledard? Yes and yes.

Also – Most of the women shown in the video would be a bit too heavy for my tastes.
Skin tone wouldn’t even come up as weight would be the first thing I’d look at.
http://primaldata.blogspot.com/ PRIMALDATA

So the question is when are we gonna look in the mirror and say WHOEVER I LOVE & IN TURN LOVES ME IS GOOD ENOUGH? Because that is the truth, it doesn’t matter whether black men love chocolate women, cinnamon women, caramel women or french vanilla women if the reason why we are really having this discussion isn’t what ALL men want but that 1 guy that you really wanted wants. Seriously if you are more than 12 years older than lil wayne complaining about his lyrics you already have a problem. Because he SHOULDN’T be in your dating pool, thus instead of stressing him you should walk with the regality of who you are and let him wonder if he missed out not picking a more chocolate woman.

This is getting tired and played, until we are willing to face the real problem OUR one not wanting us, we’re gonna have this bullshit. Because seriously as many chocolate women I see with men on their arm it can’t really be that NOBODY wants a chocolate woman, just like I may not have been popular in every club that didn’t mean I never got a phone number. I may not have gotten the number of every lovely woman I asked, but I did get some, quality over quantity.

It’s funny how when the shoe is on the other foot it is so painful, if you got a lick in remember that next time you throw out a crispy critter(and I have been called my fair share, and I realized that if I gave a lick I may get a lick and I quit crying and made sure I swung harder). Love who loves you and ignore those who don’t because you keep chasing your detractors you make it seem like they are right. Seriously if you don’t love you it doesn’t matter what Lil Wayne says, or Wale says because in actuality you are applying hurt that resides in your own mind to their words and actions. It’s pretty easy, I mean isn’t the whole mantra of those who don’t want to admit they made a misstatement or fucked up that “if it don’t apply, don’t reply?” If he wants a light skin chick, let him have her that’s ONE man, the sooner you realize that is ONE man not every the sooner you notice those men who like you.

The sooner I accepted that: of those women who did not like me, they represented themselves and not every woman on the planet the sooner I started finding women who liked me, and what do you know I wasn’t settling I actually was finding beautiful women I liked. The sooner you stop worrying about who doesn’t want you, the sooner you have time for those who do PERIOD. Every body has a right to like who they want to and if that isn’t you that’s their right, now if they do something because they don’t like you and it’s illegal nail their ass to the wall. But if they just mouth off “sticks and stones” let them run their mouth, grab a stick and whack their ass and when they run pick up a rock and stone their ass so they will leave you alone.

http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/2ISENSHHKAW7COWCMFZ2ZCDJR4 Coffey

The fact that people in our community CONTINUE to make it an issue is and that women are constantly seeking validation from rappers and athletes who don’t value them based on their complexion is “tired and played”
The whole point of the article was to take women to task for not being in some rapper’s video and to move on from someone who doesn’t desire them and to stop seeking validation from rappers and athletes, deal w/ their preferences and to love themselves. Thanks for commenting.

http://www.tracyreneejones.com Tracy Renee Jones

“light skinned, thick, red-bone” alert….*sigh* I really don’t get the whole color thing. I mean, I get it, I don’t understand it. Men who reject women based on their complexion got more issues than just their preference for surface level beauty.
Trust me, women like me get the privilege of dating these guys and it should be of no surprise to you that they’re asshole…yep, even to us light skinned thick chicks…so next time a man disses you because you aren’t ‘right’ realize that his ass is wrong in so many different ways he’s just saving you the trouble.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XYC54CZJ7TUENGQBUJYJSLNXIA Kerry

Man I am tired of this conversation. Isn’t this really a question of how people feel about themselves? And if the people that you are around are demeaning you, are you not around the wrong people? Many of the women in this video are not even what I would consider dark skinned. Another thing – How much of this is regional? The prettiest girls I knew when I grew up (in Georgia) were dark skinned. They were the prom queens and homecoming queens at my high school. But my wife (who is dark) had a totally different experience in Texas. And I’m not saying that we didn’t have color bias among the black folk in Georgia – but I don’t think that it branded us as much as it did in other regions – at least not in my demographic. At some point, we all have to realize that if someone else is ignorant – it’s their problem, not mine.

Coffey

“At some point, we all have to realize that if someone else is ignorant – it’s their problem, not mine” I believe this was the whole point of my article if you processed it correctly. Thanks for commenting.

http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/2ISENSHHKAW7COWCMFZ2ZCDJR4 Coffey

The fact that people in our community CONTINUE to make it an issue and that women are constantly seeking validation from rappers and athletes who don’t value them based on their complexion is “tired and played”
The whole point of the article was to take women to task for obsessing over *not* being in some rapper’s video and to move on from those who don’t desire them based on their skin color and to stop seeking validation from rappers and athletes, and to love themselves.

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