I've recently got into a very nasty argument about this to the point I was ran out of a community. I would like to discuss/rant about it
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i would in that in most cultures the fairer you are the better your status in other peoples eyes. i know asians that get darker than me after being out in the sun and they have hell to pay when they go home.
i remember when i was about 5 i got into a fight with my older brother concerning a painting he did of us. im several shades lighter than he is and naturally thought the smaller, lighter toned boy was me and the darker older boy was him. he stopped for a minute and then began a rant on how he was the lighter one and we bickered for about 10 minutes about it. it was an odd moment where there was an acknowledgment that lighter is better. our parents never taught us that so we must have picked it up from others.
Right. I wish that American society would get passed this, as "advanced" as we are.
I think that children do naturally pick up on it. This story sounds similar to the "doll test," but when I was about 7 or so, my dad took me to buy a Barbie. I naturally reached for the white one with the pink dress, and my dad asked, "Why don't you pick this one?" and pointed to the black one in the purple dress. I didn't know why I didn't want to have it. Purple is my favorite color, too. Dad insisted that I get it, so he bought it for me. I have no idea how I picked that up.
Anyway, it's unfortunate what society dictates. Though, living in Miami, I've found that in the fair vs. tan debate, tan conquers. I know girls who tan for hours and risk their health to get to my dark complexion. But tan doesn't mean black and the are obviously two different things.
I just find Alek Wek's skin so beautiful... I wish other people would too
I find it interesting that you say "Being a mulatto, you certainly don't fit into the white community" because I have rarely felt that I didn't fit in there. I have never felt comfortable in a group of black people. That may stem from spending much of my early school years being told that I "think I am white" or that I "talk white" by black kids.
I was just talking to my new esthetician (she is mixed) today about how neither of us have ever had a black friend.
I grew up in a white community too, but it was largely racist. But I said that because it seems as though if you have an ounce of black in you, then you're black. That's how society sees you, as a whole.
I really don't, or I've never, fit into any groups, nor do I care to. I don't want to be boxed in. I have a wide arrangement of friends, picked up in college.
I think multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious, interclass, bisexual, any type of puralistic identity people have a hard time fitting into any ONE group. It is mostly because we can never completely understand or be understood by any single dimensional identity group. Trying to fit in can often be a waste of time, even with other bi-racial people because we all have different experiences and our experiences are often very effected by our experience of class, sexuality, and gender
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More on privilegeneverguessedJuly 15 2009, 23:49:23 UTC
And, not only do I benefit from my skin color on a day to day basis but also regarding up-bringing etc. I know that having a white adult representative parent through my child encouraged teachers, and other influential people in my life to give me preference. I know that this preference has been a building block in my world view and self confidence, I also know that it has informed my ability to connect with other white authority figures more comfortably in many cases than those who don't have white parents, or preference within a mostly white group of authorities (be they teachers, coach's, babysitters, etc, etc) and down the line, simply being light skinned and having a white mother has given me a lot of benefits that I might take for granted
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Re: More on privilegetalking_appleJuly 16 2009, 00:33:04 UTC
I've always been used to being the victim of racism (because I grew up in a racist town), so I never thought of myself as the perpetrator. But I understand where it's coming from now. I guess I don't fully understand my privilege yet.
I also found people of color supportive of me too, which was why I was taken aback by the community in which I posted. I wasn't expecting to be attacked. I guess I just need to realize that "fine line" that you were talking about.
Haha, I would love to have "talking_apple TV!" The sad thing is, I'm majoring in journalism, so I know all too well what the media thinks "beauty" is.
Yeah, I'm really happy you posted, too. You've enlightened me on some things.
It's understandable why some black people are emotional about this. I never thought that I could use my lighter skin against them. I never want to, so I understand why they feel threatened. It's hard to stand the backlash of their emotions, but I understand where they come from. They have a right to be angry.
It's unfair that American society has this "spectrum of color." I've received backlash from both white and black folks because of it, for different reasons. You're right -- racial ambiguity does mean more privilege.
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i remember when i was about 5 i got into a fight with my older brother concerning a painting he did of us. im several shades lighter than he is and naturally thought the smaller, lighter toned boy was me and the darker older boy was him. he stopped for a minute and then began a rant on how he was the lighter one and we bickered for about 10 minutes about it. it was an odd moment where there was an acknowledgment that lighter is better. our parents never taught us that so we must have picked it up from others.
Reply
I think that children do naturally pick up on it. This story sounds similar to the "doll test," but when I was about 7 or so, my dad took me to buy a Barbie. I naturally reached for the white one with the pink dress, and my dad asked, "Why don't you pick this one?" and pointed to the black one in the purple dress. I didn't know why I didn't want to have it. Purple is my favorite color, too. Dad insisted that I get it, so he bought it for me. I have no idea how I picked that up.
Reply
Anyway, it's unfortunate what society dictates. Though, living in Miami, I've found that in the fair vs. tan debate, tan conquers. I know girls who tan for hours and risk their health to get to my dark complexion. But tan doesn't mean black and the are obviously two different things.
I just find Alek Wek's skin so beautiful... I wish other people would too
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I was just talking to my new esthetician (she is mixed) today about how neither of us have ever had a black friend.
Reply
I really don't, or I've never, fit into any groups, nor do I care to. I don't want to be boxed in. I have a wide arrangement of friends, picked up in college.
Reply
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I also found people of color supportive of me too, which was why I was taken aback by the community in which I posted. I wasn't expecting to be attacked. I guess I just need to realize that "fine line" that you were talking about.
Haha, I would love to have "talking_apple TV!" The sad thing is, I'm majoring in journalism, so I know all too well what the media thinks "beauty" is.
Reply
It's understandable why some black people are emotional about this. I never thought that I could use my lighter skin against them. I never want to, so I understand why they feel threatened. It's hard to stand the backlash of their emotions, but I understand where they come from. They have a right to be angry.
It's unfair that American society has this "spectrum of color." I've received backlash from both white and black folks because of it, for different reasons. You're right -- racial ambiguity does mean more privilege.
Reply
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