IC Discussion: Colorism in the black community

desertrain10 wrote: »

Peace_79 wrote: »

@desertrain10

I never said members of my extended family have never benefited form light skinned privilege... it is likely, and I wouldnt be surprised by it in the slightest. If you feel that I am downplaying that possibility, let me dispell that here. I merely said that assuming that every light skinned person in American History has benefited from this privilege is a very bold statement and unlikely.

I have never been a proponent of ignoring or not talking about light skinned privilege, I just don't think it should be in any way used as a justification or rationale for tempered discussion regarding the retaliation of blacks against their own kind. The way in which you have framed your arguments has suggested that you harbor that sentiment.

desertrain10 wrote: »

Peace_79 wrote: »

desertrain10 wrote: »

Peace_79 wrote: »

@desertrain10

My point is that whatever the basis for "mistreatment", it is still wrong, period.

And I am not being defensive, I am just speaking my mind...

Your underlying tone seems to be that whatever mistreatment she or anyone in a similar situaition experienced- "oh well" ... Because the majority of people like her experience "light skinned privilege".

Your down playing it.

Excuse the analogy, but How is that different than a white person down playing racism because it isn't "their truth".

The dismissal and apathy is what I disagree with.



Regarding my wife- no she isn't the fairest of skin, she is somewhere in the middle of the road. That doesn't mean that she couldn't have been treated differently based on her skin tone.



In the instance of the sorority, no I don't have signed affidavits describing the precise behavior she endured and the nature of it... She didn't "fit in" , largely because of the aforementioned reasons - according to her account.

Feel like we're talking in circles

But I never said or implied that the mistreatment of your grandmother or any other light skinned person by darker skinned ppl was right let alone acceptable

And I didn't mean to dismiss the experiences of ur family...or to be condescending

I believe it did happen

And it can really hurt to be shunned or have the core of ur identity questioned by our own people

However, it's also important to note the source of this resentment when addressing what happened to ur family....

1. Ur grandmother still had access and privilege that her peers did not because of the systemic oppression they experienced

2. Most ppl even blks stereotype light skinned ppl, especially women, UP...

3. The way ur wife speaks, for some could represent whiteness, the oppressor... it represents surrender...assimilation

All of which I'm sure at one point in time ur family has benefited from

All of which YOU seem to be downplaying, take into consideration

Otherwise without addressing the aforementioned this convo will just sound like we're reading lines from a tragic mulatto trope

Ok. Let's leave my family out of this... There seems to be a perception that I am soliciting sympathy because of my personal ties to the issue ... I am speaking on the issue itself. They were just meant to be examples to illustrate.

First, thank you for the apology and your willingness to hear a different perspective.



Help me understand.

The only conclusion I can come to is that you are propsing that this mistreatment is in some way justified.
Oj
If we do, in fact, agree that it is wrong... Then when addressing and working towards a solution, the rationale behind the "mistreatment" is moot... Unless we are using that information to help form a viable solution.


What is your purpose in saying;

"All of which I'm sure at one point in time ur family has benefited from"

when referencing the "light skinned privilege" you described?


First off, I would say that is an assumption... Just because trends can be identified within a group of similar individuals (light skinned blacks enjoying light skinned privilege) does not mean that those themes are reflected in the lives of every single one of those individuals.

It increases your chances of recieving that privilege, but it doesn't guarantee it.
However, these indiciduals are, often times, mistreated by their own race because of this perception.


Second, your comment almost comes off that light skinned individuals (or blacks who "act white") should be apologetic or that they should pay penance for the "assimilation" they have participated in. Talking a certain way or being born lightskinned is not a premeditated ploy to game the system or betray their own race...

These are just natural characteristics of people. Why should they be mistreated for it? ... Regardless of the privilege it may or may not afford them...

What is talking or acting "white" mean anyway?
Why does it matter what skin tone I have?
Why is it important which neighborhood I grew up in?

We are all just people.

It's time to stop assigning blame and arguing which shade or type of African American has collectively endured the most opression.

IMO, this just creates more angst and mistreatment for all sides.

4. All I ask of ppl is to have empathy and to challenge the status quo...nothing more or less

I completely agree.

It would appear that we are moving towards the same goal from different sides.

That same empathy and desire that you seek from others regarding the perils of light skinned privilege... I am asking of you regarding the damage that we are doing to ourselves by not accepting millions of or own kind because of the resentment stemming from the belief that they too closely resemble the "oppressor".

We can recognize the privileges specific members of our race enjoy without blaming them and ostracizing them for it.

Lastly, I'm of the mindset colorism and racial policing is a social problem perpetuated by all facets of soceity thus it calls for more than preaching unity and self love. Though that is a great start

Ajackson17 wrote: »

Khaleesi wrote: »

I don't give 2 ? what ? like @zzombie say. Get the ? out of here with that "you can't be pro black if you are in an interracial relationship" ? .

So I was pro-black when I was with my Haitian ex? I was pro-black when I was with my African ex? I was pro-black with every other black man I dated? But now all of a sudden I am not pro black because I fell in love and married a Mexican? Oh. Ok.

It's crazy because I wasn't even pro-black when I was dating my black exes... I was cooning like a mother ? . It was actually my Mexican husband who educated me and pushed me to wake the ? up and see what's really going on regarding the social injustice that blacks face in the US. He made me watch pro-black movies and suddenly everything he was trying to tell me started making sense the day of the Charleston Shootings.

& you are being a hypocrite @zzombie since you claim to be "pro-black" when you are here trying to knock down our brothers and sisters for choosing to be in an interracial relationship. What about unity? How are we going to build a strong army when you are so hell bent in fighting against blacks for being in interracial relationships?

Who's side are you on?


@damobb2deep He's delusional... Or maybe just ? . After all, he was the one who got his account phished because he was the only ? clicking links when EVERYONE knows that you don't click links on the IC lol.

He is a Garveyite and Garvey didn't trust anyone else to be in our group. Pro-black after the fact is a touchy situation, it's not like you were pro-black and then married a man from another race. Brother Polight touched on this situation and I completely agreed with him on this issue that we all could be put on the cross easily when we was out of touch with consciousness and understanding ourselves.

Now, if you are single and Pro-Black your every effort is to be with someone who is black with your same views. Now, you are in a better position waking up now you have the knowledge and understanding of why you should be with your own(Same thinking, not every black person is good) and support your own. But I wouldn't attack you, cause not everyone like Zombie was privileged to be under pro-black men and come from an ancestry of fighting back and preserving their African heritage and knows what specific tribe they descend from.