Sunday, May 17, 2009
do.WE.really.want.these.stories.told?
I remember what it was like being the "dark but pretty" girl on the block, being told I was "pretty for a dark skinned girl" because all that it took to be pretty in the minds of many young Black people back then (and even now) was light skin. I'm surprised by non Black people who seem so shocked to know that within our community lies another type of racism, a racism that seperates light skinned Blacks from darker skinned Blacks. Last night while listening to the car radio, I heard two songs being played where "redboned" (light skinned) women were mentioned as being the woman of choice. One of the songs was by R.Kelly and the other was by Lil' Wayne, same thing in the song "Same Girl" by Usher. I'm sure there are many songs where a "redboned" woman is mentioned and this isn't an attack on light skinned women because I am darker. I know there is a considerable amount of racism and negativity that lighter women deal with as well.
When I saw this trailer, all I could think about was what the onlookers would think. Precious appears to have a deep seated hatred toward herself which may be attributed to her mothers abuse however, we know that a lot of the issues we deal with in the Black community are generational and have been passed down from one generation to the next. Poverty, racism and ignorance beget the types of results that we see here in this video. However, I have a feeling that many will perceive this to be the normal, stereotypical Black woman of today. I sincerely hope there is a message behind this that is much greater and deeper than skin color.
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7 people in a black girls thoughts:
I read the book in elementary or highschool. Im sure the book is way more hardcore than the movie will ever be.
The other issue is that these movies are also international. I find that internationally there are people forming opinions about AA's because of these kind of movies. Also, because of the fact that there are not an equal amount of the other side i.e. movies that show families where abuse, hatred, etc. are not issues; these images are defining for a lot of people who and what AA's are about. I once had a debate with a kid at a gas station in Tel Aviv about whether not gangster rappers were real. He was adament that they were even though he had never been to America. I tried to tell him that I grew up in America and most of them were not. Yet, the image had been so engrained on him because every time he looked at western media the images he saw were always of this variety.
This is my first time seeing this preview. First thing: Is that Mariah? Thought it was Tiny at first.
But, honey, I am darker than you and it is still said to me "You are pretty to be so dark". I have been called "African", like its an insult. "Blacky", "Burnt", etc. I grew up in a household where I was taught to believe that Black was beautiful but everywhere I looked was images of white people and light-skinned Black people. For a while, I was jealous of light-skinned girls as child before I fully came to understand what my parents meant about self-hatred. It runs deep in the Black community and it is not due to the abuse we inflict on ourselves but the many years and continued years of oppression under a group that despises our color. I was amazed to hear my bf's mother tell me that she was happy to see that he brought home such a dark-skinned girl. She stated that dark-skinned people like me are rare.
This character is more than just dark-skinned, she is also severely obese, her hair is thick, etc. And the people who she is talking to about her problems are both light-skinned women. I also agree in terms of do we really need another movie like this? Many people assume from watching movies such as this one that they know what life is like for Black people in America and it is much more than that. I did not grow up in an abusive household even though we were not well off. I did not get pregnant as a teenager, went to college, and grew up in the "ghetto". There are many stories like mines and a lot of Black films are one-sided.
@Raet...I've never read the book, I guess that is something I will have to take a look at.
@Ehav Ever...thank you for the input. It's always a plus knowing how things are outside of the country and very unfortunate that this is the overall worldview of who we are.
@Geeky Black Girl...thanks for that comment...I can relate totally. I was thinking the same thing: how the "good" or nice characters look very different from the character, maybe it was written like that in the book for some reason? However, it is very symbolic yet subtle cues like this which confuse the minds of young people.
just want to let you know it's in nearly every culture that this happens. it's sad to say the least...because there is so much beauty in us all.
Hey girl...I too know about this. Coming from one that should have it easy, however I too experience racism within the black community. The last two posts on my blog talks about it. I wasn't dark enough sometimes. Not many brown skinned girls wanted to have me in their clique. So I was forced to be with those who resembled me better. Not out of choice but out of acceptance. All sides of the fence deals with this issue and its truly sad.
let me inside your thoughts