CNN Video - Study: White and black children biased toward lighter skin

[AzNick]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/13/doll.study/index.html?hpt=C2

This white kid: do you think his parents are Republicans or Democrats?

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Even in "Precious," Clareece 'Precious' Jones desires a light-skinned African American for a

boyfriend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FYahzVU44

[Speck Tater]

2. Facial expressions are read by light and shadow.

Kids respond strongly to facial expressions. Thus...

My half-baked theory: The paler the skin, the easier it is to see the contrast between light and shadow that outlines the facial shapes and forms, and the changes they undergo with different facial expressions. Thus it is easier for the child to read the person's emotions and intentions. The darker the skin, the more likely that emotions or intentions will be misread because of the lack of contrast between light and shadow, making the facial contours less distinct and more prone to misinterpretation.

[AzNick]

3. Ever read The Bluest Eye?

The two little black girls reminded me of Pecola.

[JI7]

7. no

[Speck Tater]

9. I have to admit, your reasoning is compelling.

Not!

[Number23]

11. A post so bad, I had to read it twice to make sure you weren't joking

Are you honestly suggesting that the preference children (and American and Western societies as a whole) have for lighter skin and the endless positive attributes assigned to such is because the "emotions and intentions" of lighter skinned people can be "read" easier?? Really?

REALLY???

[dkf]

4. So why do people tell me to get a tan?

And what about all those bronzers?

[Raineyb]

5. They think this is news?

This should be filed under "duh."

[AzNick]

6. I almost cried when the little black girls pointed at the white character nt

[U4ikLefty]

8. The notion of white supremacy is still very much alive.

...and I'm not talking about the KKK

[Lilyeye]

10. This video was sad the watch.

So many of the children said the dark child was ugly and bad. I was happy to hear at least 3 children say that none of the children were bad.

[FedUpWithIt All]

12. I am heartbroken by those videos.

Very difficult to digest. I am pretty hard to shock anymore. This shocked and really saddened me. I thought we'd come further than this.

Edited to add...i applaud the few children who rejected the premise that skin tone determines value and worth. I also applaud the people who raised such thoughtful, sensitive and mature little ones. I wish we could all learn that it is those qualities, which these children displayed, that are worthy of our reverence.

[johnlucas]

13. Why are you surprised?

This country was founded upon White Supremacy.
It is reinforced culturally to this day.
Dark skin (& nappy hair) is devalued in this country & since this country has a major influence on the world, that mindset is broadcast internationally.

In the Black community there's a big issue with Black men dating/marrying White women (or at least non-Black women). Many Black women are bothered that even men from their own cultural background rank them lower than White women for mating suitability. Sometimes it's not that the Black man values anybody differently, it's just that's the person he fell in love with (could have easily been a Black woman or any other type ethnicity). And sometimes it IS because the Black men fell into the hype seeing the White woman as the ideal. But regardless of the reasons why, many Black women are distrustful when they Black men date White women. Sight alone.

The irony comes in when you recognize that most Black women have had their straightened by a hot comb when they're toddlers or young children. And then when they get older you see these women wear colored contacts & put in artificial straight hair (hair weaves) or dye their hair lighter colors even blonde.
Is it a surprise that some Black men fall into this negative cultural influence when the Black women around them have done the same? Why get a Black women who attempts to look "Whiter" when they can get the genuine article herself?

Many Black people in this country are halfway between being proud of who they are & being ashamed of who they are thanks to this still-existent overriding cultural tone that devalues African aesthetics. It's still taboo to wear overtly Black hairstyles in the workplace in some places.

The only way this will die is to see greater celebration of the African in the mainstream media, in movies, videogames, comic books, magazines.
And even more importantly in your community, neighborhood, & household.

There are Black baby dolls where there weren't any before. Progress has been made but there's much more work to be done. It will get better but even with Obama as President it still doesn't eradicate the cultural reality. And remember...after all his mother was White.
John Lucas

P.S.: Yes, I am Black if you were wondering.

[REP]

14. One tiny tiny almost meaningless quibble:

Black baby dolls have been around for awhile; I had one (a boy named Serafimo) over 40 years ago and my mother and her friends had them as well as kids. Not that this means anything other than some kids have been lucky enough something other than bland blond dolls for awhile, and let's hope it's easier to find dolls of all ethnicities now.

As I said, a tiny, almost meaningless quibble. :-) This anecdote doesn't prove anything other than a few people had some nice dolls.