The Blacker the berry… the uglier you are

Within many black communities skin shade is a taboo subject. It is considered by some as a gauge for attractiveness.

Fortunately my family was not raised with this ideology. Why, I’m not sure. Both my parents were born in Jamaica and raised by traditional grandparents. So it may be down to growing up in a predominantly white town, very few black families lived in my area when I was a kid. (2 to be exact) Which basically meant anything non white was black. Maybe because there were so few of us, the need to further compartmentalize our race was illogical and unnecessary.

So why do many of the people I speak to about this subject consider lighter black skin more attractive than its darker counterpart?

I asked some friends the above question and was really interested by the conversations that followed.

Both my male friends (one dark skinned one light skinned) thought that girls with a darker complexion were not as attractive as girls with fairer tones. When I asked what makes them more attractive I was told that there refined features and long hair is what make them desirable.

This led me to my next question: Do you think the media, particularly Hollywood’s idea of beauty, has contributed to your preference for lighter skinned girls?

At first neither of them thought this was the case then after around 15 minutes of naming their favorite black actress and singers they realized only a couple of them were dark skinned, Kelly Rowland and Naomi Campbell. Most of the celebrities they desired were fair, with long hair, straight noses and refined features. Women such as: Lauren London, Cassie, Beyonce, Halle Berry, Melissa ford.

This was by no means a controlled experiment or anything. I literally asked these two guys because we were all together and talking. Obviously, not everyone shares these views. People are people regardless of race. However, as a girl with a chocolate complexion it feels very strange to have someone the same shade as me or darker. Tell me they don’t find me as attractive as girls with coffee, caramel or toffee colored skin. It doesn’t matter whether I am good looking or have an amazing personalty.To some,' the blacker the berry the uglier the juice.’

Daily Mail Artical

Yesterday I read an article about race. Please forgive me if i am way behind on this. But in my defence i never usually read the Daily Mail. It was by chance that i was told about this feature so i checked it out online.

I thought this was good article because, it was honestly written and the journalist shared her own experiences in the story. I don't think this was for us to judge, but rather understand how some women of colour value or de-value themselves in today's westernised world.

Ugandan born journalist Yasmin-Alibhai-brown writes about the effects of western globalization. And how the epitome of beauty, glamour and class, is a "white, woman. "
To most people of colour, we understand that the westernized 'ideal' is Caucasian, as from a young age we are heavily exposed to such imagery. However, in recent times it seems that more and more ethnic minorities are actually believing this. Now, when we have more opportunities than ever,we sabotage our own progress with self hatred.

I suppose the one thing that all of the accounts mentioned in the article had in common was. The desire to fit in and be completely accepted.This i can sort of understand.
If i was in a room with 50 women wearing orange and i was in pink, I may want to fit in by wearing orange also. But Isn't that general human nature?

What does upset me is the fact that the media encourage the division between ethnic minorities.

Within the Asian communities fairer skin is considered attractive, this is then reinforced with the models they use in advertising campaigns or actresses they cast in films. Yasmin makes a humorous point when she advises that many of the models featured in the magazine Asian Bride are actually Eastern European. Hilarious!

She also mentions that celebrities of mixed race are envied by many "ambitious black Britons"(NOT ME!) And honey skin is OK, which is why stars such as Beyonce, Halle Berry,Rhianna are all considered as an acceptable shade of brown.

When I speak to my great uncles and aunt about life and growing up in the West Indies in the
1950's and 60's. They often say how racism and discrimination was abundant, and how most jobs were based on your looks and complexion rather than your skills or qualifications.

Nearly 50 years on and the same stigma is attached to dark skin. Whats interesting is that since i have been living in London i have experienced much more prejudice from ethnic minorities than any other. And i have also experienced much more covert discrimination from white people than i ever had in my life. And i was born and bred in a small predominantly white town! Whats that all about? Isn't London supposed to a tolerant melting pot or creeds and colours?.. Whatevs!

I write about this because it truly baffles me. I understand that people have many differences and that we all criticise from time to time. However to place yourself above somebody purely based on their country of origin and the tone of the skin is preposterous. To oppress or hold peopleand nations back from progress, development and financial Independence can only be described as in-humane.

What do you think about the article? Check it out

Bleach,Nip,Tuck: The White Beauty Myth

Last week i watched a programme about plastic surgery and race. I was shocked and a little bit embarrassed at the self hatred the people highlighted in the show had towards themselves.

As a woman of color myself i completely understand that this world is dominated by the powers that be (white people). Minorities do face discrimination, all the time whether it be overt or covert.For most of we learn to deal with it. However, i do not think changing your ethnic features to look more European will automatically make your life better. And anyone who truly believes this is a fool!

The programmes focused on three people. The first was a young Asian man with dreams of becoming a top model. He wanted to create more definition on his jaw for a chiseled, structured look, and rhinoplasty to get rid of his "typically" Asian nose. He believed this would make him look more European and raise his chances of becoming a well known model. His ultimate goal to get back at the racist thugs who attacked him more than a decade ago.And he planned to do this with his success.

There was also a Asian mother who desperately wanted lighter skin to match her children, and husbands fair complexions. This truly was heartbreaking to watch as the perpetrators who racially abused her were also Asian. She was called names like "ugly" and "black" to her face. And her children were also teased because of her darker skin tone. She used lightening creams constantly and even travelled to London in search of a professional opinion.

The worst of the self haters was East London born glamour girl Jet. A black girl who lived in a high class area in Essex. She felt that her ethnic features, her nose in particular. Made her look "poor" and " unattractive".

I didn't know whether to jump in the TV, slap the girl or hug her! She was very pretty who really didn't need surgery of any kind. What she needed was to read a few books, open up her circle of friends, who were clearly all white and probably from Essex.

By the end of the programme i felt sorry for Jet. She thought that a more European nose would make her look classy. And although her nose did still look like her nose post operation. I knew she would probably never understand that class comes from within and radiates, regardless of,
attractiveness or race.


If you missed the show catch up here

The Event:How racist are you?

Over the past few weeks channel 4 has broadcast a series of controversial documentaries on race.

One programme in particular, called How racist are you? Demonstrated the effect of discrimination and racism through a controlled experiment. Presented by Channel 4 News reader,Krisnan Guru Murphy and monitored by two behavioural psychologist's the experiment took place in a London warehouse.

The woman who pioneered this social exercise was a primary school teacher called Jane Elliot. In the 1960's she taught eight year olds in the heart of Americas mid west.
This decade may have been known to many as a time of peace, love and harmony. However it was also the civil rights movement and a time of racial unrest.
She couldn't understand the point or need for racism and wanted to show her pupils how illogical and cruel it was. By using something as arbitrary as eye colour she divided her class into two groups:brown and blue eyes. With the brown eyed students in charge and the blue eyed ones under their control. The effects were amazing.

The channel 4 show was a reenactment of the same experiment and the things that followed were remarkable. Not in the sense that she set out and did what she intended to with the mixed group of 30 volunteers. But the unexpected reactions and attitudes toward it.

Everyone should see this show. Please check it out

Beijing 2008 a success


The Opening ceremony surpassed the expectations of the world especially the West.Not only was the scale of the performance gigantic the singing and dancing showed a nation that were in unison, A china united.

There was a little controversy over the firework sequence which looked like footprints walking through the city of Beijing.The Chinese had reportedly begun work on the sequence a year earlier and came under much criticism for trying to deceive the public.
This may have been sensationalised by the Western press further, especially the U.S and U.K.
China categorically raised the bar on the quality of the games and what is expected from a host nation.

Political complaints seemed to be silenced or made to seem that way throughout the two week sporting celebration. And China surprisingly welcomed journalist and the media to Beijing with uncharacteristic warmth and charm.

The opening and closing ceremonies were a visual spectacle to say the least. The past was celebrated aswell as the future and the appearance of former and current athletes were used to symbolise this.

The only problem is, with the Success of Olympics still fresh in our minds, what will Britain do for 2012?

Competing is not an option as we don’t have the budget or the scale to recreate Beijing 2008.

Should the Chinese politics remain separate from the Olympics ?

The Olympics games are the worlds’ biggest sporting event. The dedication and discipline it takes an athlete to become an Olympic qualifier is admirable. They have been physically and mentally preparing themselves for this moment, Beijing 2008. A few weeks of competitive sport at it’s highest level. The games are a global media feast you have huge sponsors, athletes, TV personalities not to mention the host nations hospitality along with opening and closing ceremonies.

Is it really fair to boycott the games?

It’s a grand attempt to pressure china into reviewing its involvement with Sudan. This campaign affects more than China, all the negative press surrounding China will raise awareness on the issues taking place in Dafur. However by boycotting the games it’s the Olympic committees and athletes that suffer the most.