when-did-i-become-a-gh0st:

Seeing a lot of light skinned vs. dark skinned privilege on my other dashboard made me want to vent about what I think about it. I don’t agree that light skinned people have it worse. That’s just me, and because I am not light skinned, maybe I’m biased. Sure, it’s not their fault that they are light skinned or that some white people and Europeans have managed to make it seem like “Light is Right”. It is not their fault that during slavery, they were treated as better than the dark skinned slaves by working in the house and having cute little pet names. It is not their fault that they have to deal with some dark skinned people having nothing to do with them, and some white people having nothing to do with them because they are still considered “black”. But, I do believe, and will still believe that they do have privilege. Dark skinned women seem to be the lowest of the low on the social attractiveness scale. Some people think “Hey, it’s tough to be black, don’t wanna be them!” But to be a dark skinned black woman? It’s a little bruising to our self esteem sometimes. Dark skinned people, not just black people, will always be viewed as mean, tough, aggressive, ugly, nasty, poor, stupid, and sexually promiscuous. All around the world, people seem to overlook that there are dark skinned Asians and Latin@s. It’s sad to see some people bluntly deny that a dark skinned person is anything other than “African” or whatever. (By the way, what the fuck is wrong with being African? I cannot express that enough.) As a dark skinned black woman, I seem to be a triple threat. I’m a woman, I’m black, and I’m dark. I will always be “pretty for a black girl/dark skinned girl”. I will always be cute, or pretty, never beautiful. I will always be thought of as stupid or ugly. I will always be thought of as “ghetto”. I will be persuaded to “not stay out in the sun” because I’ll get BLACKER. I’ll be BURNT. I’ll look like COAL. I cannot let these stereotypes and harsh words get to me even though it’s hard for dark skinned ladies and men because we are just pawns. As a dark skinned woman, I am a sexually promiscuous pawn. A dark skinned man is “tall, dark, and handsome” someone exotic and a “challenge” someone rare and unusual. We will never be taken seriously. We will only be used and pushed to lighten ourselves. And if we don’t do it ourselves, someone else will. If we’re on the front of a magazine, you best believe I’ll be 5 shades lighter. Light skinned people have the privilege (in the black community) of being more attractive, and being seen as less of a threat to white people. They have the privilege of seeming more “civilized” than us dark skinned people. Now, I know light skinned people have it tough too. Light skinned people get snarky remarks from fellow dark skinned brothers and sisters because they seem to be jealous of their privilege. Light skinned people get the “You think you cute” *eye roll* *hair flip and lip smack* and in some harsher situations, a shove or beat down. It’s tough, no doubt. It’s hard for light skinned people because sometimes they have an identity crisis. Whether their mixed race or just “plain ol’ black” they’re trying to appeal to a side that will accept them. White people don’t want them because they’re not white enough. You may have that silky light skin but they don’t want you if you have a cute broad button nose, and thick lips. And then dark skinned blacks don’t want you because you’re too light, or not black enough. It’s tough. I can see that, I don’t exactly know, but I see it. But light skinned people do have privilege. Who’s going to get the modeling job? Light skinned Casey or dark skinned Lisa? Who’s going to be taken home to their mother Casey or Lisa? Who’s going to most likely get the part in the music video? Casey or Lisa? Who’s going to be called pretty for a dark skinned girl and who is going to be more likely to be married because they want to keep their kids lighter? Casey or Lisa? There are struggled between light skinned people and dark skinned people. We as black people have been brainwashed into thinking “Light is always right” and “Black to get back” We can’t even blame white people (well we can) for all of it anymore. Within the black community, AND the Latin@ and South Asian communities, dark=bad, light=good. We have been programed to think this way and we aren’t raising enough awareness for people to realize that they are both beautiful tones and that both colors of the spectrum deserve respect.

that’s my two cents.