What's on Your Minds Wednesdays

Now it's your turn to share! I want to hear what's on your minds!

A Message to Parents

Growing up in a world where being light would have been alright, was not easy since I wasn't light! I noticed some differences in the way I was treated as oppossed to my lighter-skinned sister. I vowed when I was younger never to show any differernces toward my children in case their shades were totally different, like ours are.

Well, I ended up marrying someone outside my race, and have biracial children. I still make it a point to show the same love toward my children even though they are very different. My suggestion to anyone in a situation where one child is darker than another, especially if they are girls like in my situation, is too never make a reference about skin tone in a negative way. Always point out the beauty in all shades of color and always let them know that African American is African American, from the darkest to the lightest. Take time to spend with each child (which should be done anyway, whether they look different or not), and always create special moments with each of them separately and together.

Bleaching Is for Clothes

My new article, "Bleaching Is for Clothes" will appear in the summer issue of Monarch Magazine, available in bookstores Monday! The article talks about the prevalence of skin bleaching in not only the African American community, but also in other non-white racial groups as well. The article also discusses corporate responsibility as well as our own individual responsibilities to rectify the situation.

Open Forum Wednesdays

Open Forum Wednesday is back! What is on your mind? Whether you've been on the receiving end of discrimination because of your beautiful dark skin, you've discriminated against someone because of their skin color, or if you were unaware that "color-struckness" was even an issue, I want to hear your story. Please share. Communication is the only way to stop this cycle.

Open Forum Wednesdays

Open Forum Wednesdays are back! Please share your experiences and thoughts. I realize this is a personal issue, but we will never get the opportunity to heal without communication.

Blackie

My oh my, how many times have I heard that word “Blackie”?  Along with tar baby, purple, ashy, Ms. Night, grease monkey and any other negative words someone could conjure up about my skin tone to try and cut me down. The words came from my own family, and other associates from the black community, which really hurt. It was a tough pill to swallow because I and many other dark-skinned children weren’t shown any value from most adults in my community, simply because our skin was dark. This attitude trickled down to their children, and one could then understand why the children acted that way. Just like African Americans always complain about the white man teaching their children racism toward us, we do a pretty good job ourselves of causing division in our own community by making such stark differences in light or dark skin. Each time I think of that fact, even as I’m writing this, I continue to be puzzled. How in the world could we allow ourselves to be bamboozled, to the point that we carry this nonsense on for hundreds of years? In my opinion, it is one of the primary reasons our community has not come together like so many other races have. We will sell each other out in a minute, to get ahead in this country. What do you think?

 

Monday Madness Has Me Considering Tanning Beds

I'm referring to today as "Monday Madness," because of all the rain we are getting here in the Midwest. I remember how I used to hide from the sun—now I bask in it. Last week I mentioned I was on a cruise, but failed to mention the super dark tan I got while I was there. Well, now I am starting to peel and would not mind going to a tanning bed to regain that luscious deep bronze look I had. Would anyone of you go to a tanning salon, or have any of you ever been?

Open Forum Wednesdays

It's back! It's Open Forum Wednesday! Time to tell me what's on your mind. The only way we can unite and put an end to this issue once and for all is through communication...so let's get started today!

Open Forum Wednesdays

It's Open Forum Wednesday! Time to speak your mind!!

Open Forum Wednesdays

Yes, it's that time again! Tell me what's on your mind. How has this all-too-common issue impacted your life? Were you on both sides of the issue...a reformed color-struck person? What made you see the light?

Open Forum Wednesdays

Tell me what's on your mind... What are your experiences? How has this issue impacted your life? Were you ever on the other end of the issue...being color struck yourself?

Does Light = Nice?

I was watching a comedian on HBO, and he made a statement I was a little confused by. He was saying a lot of raunchy stuff, then after saying it stated, "I bet the audience is thinking he's suppose to be nice; he's light skinned." Things got relatively quiet after he made the comment, a few chuckled, but most seemed baffled, like I was. Sometimes, I think this problem is bigger than I even thought, because of stupid statements like that. The comedian probably actually thinks he may appear a little less threatening because he has lighter skin. Can someone, anyone, shed some light on his comment?

Open Forum

Today is an open forum. I would like to hear from you. Tell me some of your stories about the dark-skin, light-skin issue. I would like to hear from people who have had hurtful things said to them about their skin color. Then, on the flip side, I would like to hear from the people who may have said some hurtful things and why.

Brown Paper Bag Rule

Back in the early 1900s, the first black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., had a rule that if a potential candidate was darker than a brown paper bag, she would not be considered for the sorority. About a year ago, I overheard a member of this sorority make a statement about another member. She stated, "She was surprised she was able to get in, being she was EXTREMELY dark." I was taken back, but made no comment because the girl who made the statement is a close friend of the family. I pose the question, does this underlying inside racism still exist in the world of sororities and fraternities?