"Colorism is real in the black community.."

[2rth2pwr]

Amid furor, DJ cancels party for 'light-skinned' blacks
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/METRO/710120405

DETROIT -- A local DJ and party promoter retreated Thursday from a plan to sponsor a bash that would let "light-skinned" black women into a downtown club for free.
"I didn't mean to offend anyone," he said. "I had planned a party for other shades (of black women). We were going to take a shade of color each week. Next week was going to be a party for 'Sexy Chocolate' and the week after that 'Sexy Caramel.' "

Barnes is African-American and describes himself as "dark skinned." The issue of skin color is an often painful and emotional among African-Americans. The history of slavery and the resulting legacy of intra-racial segregation have sometimes pitted darker-skinned and lighter-skinned blacks against one another.

"Ignorance can't always be an excuse," she said. "Colorism is real in the black community. It's especially very degrading to dark-skinned black women."

The party's discriminating tone harkens to the day of the "brown paper bag test," which compared the complexions of blacks to a brown grocery bag before they could be admitted to social clubs and affairs, said Pearl Jr.
"The way this should be handled is that our light-skinned sisters should refuse to go unless the darker-skinned sisters received the same treatment," wrote one blogger. "We must stand together and not allow ANYONE, especially, a club to divide us."

[Bicoastal]

1. It's always amazing to find out what people think WON'T offend... n/t

[aquart]

2. I have my nylons divided by color. Because they are objects. Things.

If that man didn't see women as objects he could color code in his closet, he wouldn't be able to even imagine doing that. Come to think of it, the blind keep their closets carefully segregated and color-coded because they can't see what's really there.

[melody]

3. Two of my goddaughters are treated differently by relatives for this reason

One is a Latina with light skin, the other takes after their Mestizo side (she is darker).
It's so sad to see this preference-for-European-lightness has translated into minority cultures as well.

[2rth2pwr]

4. This has been going on for a long time

in many, may cultures. I remember when School Daze- The Movie came out, and people were exposed to this by Spike Lee.

"The Brown Paper Bag Test" was used by Blacks against other Blacks.

"The "brown paper bag test" was a ritual once practiced by certain African-American and Creole fraternities and sororities who discriminated against people who were considered "too dark." These groups would not let anyone into the sorority or fraternity whose skin tone was darker than a paper lunch bag, so as to maintain Mulatto and Creole cultural standards. Spike Lee's film School Daze satirizes this practice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorism

[NOLALady]

5. The light skin vs dark skin thing is so loaded

in our community all I can say is "What WAS he thinking?"

But, I have to wonder if he had decided to have his first party for the "Sexy Chocolate" would it have created the same outrage?

[2rth2pwr]

6. And don't forget body size. If it was for the "Big Sexy Chocolate" women

he may have been celebrated.

[AspenRose]

7. It is prevalent in the hispanic communities too

Saw it all the time, growing up in South Texas....

[NorthernSpy]

8. if you google this story, you get ads for skin bleaching cream...

:eyes:


Apparently, sentiment runs solidly against cashing in on caste privilege, with just about everyone agreeing that they wouldn't be caught dead at the "lightskin" party:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3187040667159413096&postID=9079081137655629804