The Segregation of Light and Darker Skinned African Americans
By: Bianca Leigh
Graphic by: Jazmine Martinez
The masters claimed that darker-toned people were meant to be in the fields because they couldn’t be trusted. Light-skinned slaves were sold at higher prices and had better opportunities than dark-skinned slaves. They were taught to read and write, while darker-skinned slaves had to teach themselves. Lighter-skinned slaves were able to join their masters in social events whereas darker-skinned slaves stayed in their wooden shacks with dirt floors. The segregation between dark and light-skinned African Americans is nothing new, but in today’s society, it has become a trend to compare one to the other. However, troubles tend to fall on dark-skinned people more often.
On YouTube, there are numerous videos with various examples of this trend—over four million videos, to be exact. Titled something to the likes of “Light skin vs Dark skin: which is better?” these videos compare one tone to the other, often associating specific personality traits to each one. While there is nothing wrong with having a preference (because most people have at least one), there is a line between mere preferences and blatant discrimination. In one of these videos an interviewee states that he chooses light-skinned women over dark because “all dark skins are ghetto and mean.” One definition of the word mean includes unkind, spiteful or unfair. Another is poor in quality and appearance; shabby. There is no definition that includes the words “dark skin.” Any person regardless of color can be mean and ghetto or any number of things, every person has their own set of traits. The young man seems to have a biased opinion that is based on his past experiences. These types of things have created a divide from within the Black community as well, with darker people resenting lighter people because of the unfair treatment they receive. Many say all light skins are stuck up and believe they are better than everyone else, especially because that is what society has portrayed them as.
While having such a well-known Youtube channel, the power of such words has a heavy influence on societal views.
On Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, a program called Dark Girls touches on this topic by bringing on different types of Black women who have experienced sly comments that suggest one is better looking if they possess lighter skin. A compliment should be given without an insult hidden in the crevasses. One woman recalled a time where an acquaintance of hers “complimented” her by saying “you look nice today, is your skin fairer?” These types of backhanded compliments that are given to people of a darker complexion cause them to feel unattractive bad about themselves and even make them regretful about their skin. These types of things have created a divide from within the Black community as well, with darker people resenting lighter people because of the unfair treatment they receive. Many say all light skins are stuck up and believe they are better than everyone else, especially because that is what society has portrayed them as.
The media only worsens the problem. In television, movies and books, dark skins are portrayed as the bad guys while the light skins are seen as the heroes. Furthermore, many light-skinned actors are given roles over dark-skinned actors, especially if the role is a major one. Colorism has even made its way into animated movies. Back in the year 2018, while promoting the movie “Wreck-it Ralph 2,” Disney was accused of white-washing Princess Tiana. They made her skin lighter than the original character from the 2009 animated film “Princess and the Frog.” People were irked by this and took to Twitter to show their disappointment which resulted in them restoring her skin back to its original color.
Being Black is a beautiful thing, whether you are light or dark. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and complexions, and that is the beauty of who African Americans are. No two people are alike, not even twins. Seeing someone and judging them based off the tone of their skin is as unreasonable as not talking to someone because of the car they drive— it's superficial. In the Black community whether light or dark, we all experience the uncomfortable looks as we walk into a store as if they’re planning to grab merchandise and run. While driving past a cop we'll look over our shoulder to see if we're are about to racially profiled, praying to make it out alive. Many already fail to see the beauty of the African American community from the outside, so there is definitely no need for further division from within the community. Black is Black regardless, no matter what shade. And all shades are beautiful.