Someone googled “is oprah winfrey medium complexioned” six times and some how ended up on this blog. Um…I don’t get it. Somebody fill me in, is there some kind of controversy over Oprah’s skin color that I haven’t heard about? Did she describe herself as medium complexed? God forbid she say that she’s dark skinned, huh? SMH, skin color is still a very polarizing concept…well, maybe it’s better said that it’s a polarizing reality in the Black community (Indian community, Latino community, West Indian community, etc).
I’m sure this is just a random occurance, but as an African American woman, I would not be surprised about a color controversy. Look at the Sammy Sosa situation. Clearly the man has used some sort of skin lightening treatment. When you look at an older picture of his previously chocolate brown skin…why would you even have to wonder? I believe the claim that Sosa’s lightened skin in this photo is the result of a skin rejuvenation process and the bright TV lights at the awards show he was attending with his wife.
Sosa is from the Dominican Republic. I’ve seen it noted several times that many Dominican women (and many people around the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and yes, here in the US) Dominican women straighten their hair, which some experts say is a direct result of a historical learned rejection of all things black. This rejection, seen in many diasporan cultures, has also manifested in the use of skin lightening creams.
This is not an isolated incident of self hate. Sosa is just dark skinned person dealing with issues of self hate that are rooted in the concept that the closer your skin tone is to white, the more beautiful/handsome you are. He’s just assimilating to the value system he’s been taught to respect. That racist system of thought devalues dark skin, period. It is not celebrated. It is not desirable. Therefore, I say the correct response is education and understanding, not ridicule.
When I saw this story on ABC News I was a bit…underwhelmed. Um…if you are racist, you know that you are. You might not care. Your racist nature may not figure into your day to day life. However, when you encounter a person against whom you hold bias simply because of their race…you will inherently think, act, and be racist. If you aren’t racist…you won’t.
Tell someone that he’s sexist, ageist or racist nowadays and it’s easy to get a red-faced defensive reaction. In modern times, men and women of all backgrounds would rather believe themselves to be benevolent egalitarians.
Yet, while few want to be known as a bigot, millions of people seem to wonder, “am I?” — and going to the Project Implicit Web site to find out. www.implicit.harvard.edu
Started as a research tool at Yale in 1995, Project Implicit now has 11 million tests completed, and 20,000 new tests taken each week by Web surfers curious about their possible unconscious biases.
Participants are instructed to assign a class of attributes — such as smart, lazy or failure — to a single group of people — such as women, Christians, or Americans — with one or two keystrokes as fast as they can. The point is to measure the first reaction, not the self-edited one.
- ABC News Online
Guess who know’s for sure is you’re a racist? Just you, and you alone. No matter what you say out of your mouth, in public, or how you are other wise “PC”. Between you and your God (or non-deity of choice)…you know the truth.
That’s why people don’t like the “race card”. No one who is racist and is not comfortable with being publicly outed as a hate monger is going to be happy about getting the race care pulled on them. There are a lot of proud, card carrying racists who have no problem letting you know who they hate. On the other side, those who are not racists do not want to be labeled either. Think of any negative label that you don’t identify yourself with and then think of how offended you would by someone giving you that label publicly. Not cute, huh.
Sigh, all things considered it’s not cut and dry. Do I think that some people are indoctrinated and taught to hate? Yes. Do I think you can call whole classes and groups of people racists based on history and institutionalized racism? Honestly…I’m on the fence about that sometimes. Fox News doesn’t help. Opps…did I just imply some racism. My bad. I’ve had good teachers.
I was so proud to strut out of the theatre rocking my long, natural locs after seeing Chris Rock’s “Good Hair”. No perm over here, homey!
I’ve seen some reviews from sistas on blogs and all over the net… all largely positive. I was enlightened by the information on how the chemicals in relaxer really work (that chicken example cured me from ever wanting the “creamy crack on my head AGAIN!!!) and the info on where weave really comes from. It made me wonder if some of the women I know (who are very picky and won’t even eat the potato salad at a picnic if they don’t know who made it) will be weary of wearing hair that might have had “bugs” in it.
Things I loved about it:
Derek J – A tiny man in tall heels
The scene where the white guy gets botox. Hilarious!
The reactions to Chris selling black hair – I wonder if someone is going to have some angry customers at their weave shop after that??
The fact that they didn’t show the hair being washed and chemical treated in India – Um…did they wash and treat it? I mean he showed Dudley Product’s whole set up…just wondering.
Black men talking about how they can’t touch their woman’s hair.
Exposing how bad relaxer really is for the skin and hair.
Raven Simone – That is a REAL chick, right there! Someone who you could just hang out with. I love her!
Nia Long needs her own TV show. She is so funny and real. Loved her comments.
It’s a shame how early some little girls are taught that their hair is “bad”.
Where are women getting thousands of dollars to spend on weave?!?! I never knew it cost so much for good quality “fake” natural hair.
Like many of the reviewers who’ve commented on the movie, I thought there was a lot of information missing regarding the source of self hatred when it comes to beauty in the black community and assimilation to euro standards (Sharpton did break it down, though. Nicely!). However, the movie is a winner without that information. Rock is a commedian, not an activist. I loved the movie and encourage others to see it.
Did you see the movie? What are your thoughts on “Good Hair”?
Update: One of my black young female co-workers and a white older female co-worker were talking about the movie a few mins ago. The younger one said “My boyfriend told me yesterday, “You’re wearing those people’s oppression on your head!”, referring to her weave. Toooo Funny! Although, he does kinda have a point.
I love it when stuff like this happens and is covered by mainstream media channels. I saw this story on CNN a few mins ago. Harry Connick, Jr…I’m going to have to throw you some dollars on iTunes real soon. Your stock has gone up son.
Newsweek: Asked to appear on the Australian variety hourHey Hey It’s Saturday as a guest judge, Harry Connick Jr. sputters in disbelief when a Jackson 5 impersonation group entirely in blackface appears onstage. He first gives the group a 0 scorecard for the performance while the audience boos; later, at about 4:40 into the clip, Connick launches into an impassioned race-relations lecture explaining why blackface is a bad thing. “If I knew that was going to be a part of the show, I definitely wouldn’t have done it,” Connick declares on live TV. The host appears genuinely surprised.
Jackson Jive, huh? Who says “jive” anymore? I don’t know any black people who use that term anymore. It’s amazing that some white people (most of them writers in Hollywood, it seems) still think we use that slang. OH, and…um…how about you use BROWN face paint instead of JET BLACK!!!! I mean…if you used actual flesh tones you might have gotten a pass. Just saying.
It just makes me laugh when people post comments on Republican related articles on this blog in an effort to “educate” us about the Republican party’s connection to Abraham Lincoln. Newsflash: I’m aware.
There is a lot that has not changed from 1800s America, but the nature of the Republican party is not one of those things. The Republican party of the late 1800s is not the party of today. That could be painted as a bad thing, that could be painted as a good thing…it depends on who has the paint brush in hand.
In 2009, Republicans cannot claim the glory of Lincoln’s legacy by association any more than present day Democrats can claim the glory of Kennedy or Roosevelt presidencies. All we are really talking about here is political associations during a specific era. Political associations are flexible and subject to change.
Having a great last name doesn’t make you great. Being part of a wonderful family doesn’t mean you won’t one day shoot your friend in the face by accident. Being a great dad doesn’t mean you won’t cheat on your wife with an intern. Bottom line, it’s goodness by association. As to say, Republicans are good because of Lincoln’s association with the party. Republicans are neither all bad or all good…but that can be said of any person, place, or political party.
Note: When I hear of Democrats saying racist things on social media sites or via email I will be sure to post them…don’t you worry. Equal opportunity exposure, honey.
The content of the emails that Republican Gary Frago was passing around are the most racist so far that have been noted by major media outlets. The Republicans just need to learn that you don’t forward racist emails, and you don’t respond to or post racist comments on Facebook and Twitter. It’s that simple. Nothing is private anymore. Note to the party: You don’t need anymore help looking insensitive. You’re party’s participation in the Sotomayor hearings was quite enough, at least for this week.
Here is the scoop from Wonkette (Who’s liberal use of the n-word at one point gave me pause. Just because you’re talking about someone else using the word doesn’t mean you should. I’m talking about: “Niggers are just a naturally funny subject, to everyone.” Um…really?)
The latest batch of foul, blatant racism comes from “City Councilman Gary Frago,” in some place near Merced, California. And he’s not sorry, either! “I’m not the only one that does it,” Frago told the Merced Sun-Star. Yeah, we’ve noticed.
Some compared Obama to O.J. Simpson while others suggested that “nigger rigs” should now be called “presidential solutions.”
Perhaps the most overboard e-mail was sent on Jan. 15. It read: “Breaking News Playboy just offered Sarah Palin $1 million to pose nude in the January issue. Michelle Obama got the same offer from National Geographic.”
The newspaper tracked down the person who sent the emails to Keep reading →
From time to time I get angry comments about the name of this blog. Most of it stems from the use of “negro” in the title. I wonder if other blogs such as Field Negro encounter the scathing hate that has at times been directed at this site from people who are uncomfortable with our usage of the term (and likely haven’t read the postings on the site). There a LOT of blogs that have “negro” as part of the name. Google “blog” and “negro” and you’ll see.
I writing this post, I actually googled “blog” and “nigger”. OH my! I can just imagine the comments those blogs must get. Especially one named (and I’m not kidding) “Look At This Nigger“. Wow, that sounds like something you would hear over and over at a hood barbershop during a basketball game…but I digress. Mighty bold!
There are 2 main reasons I chose the name “Hello, Negro”. Well, 2 and a possible…as they say in spades.
The Possible: It sounds like “Hello Kitty”. Familiarity breeds contempt, huh? However, it’s meant to be a greeting. I.E Hello, Bob. See…there is a comma there people. Most people over look that. Thus, you could say that I’m calling everyone who visits this blog a negro. Some may love that, some may have a serious problem with that.
Reason 1: It’s controversial. Blogs thrive on drama (Why do you think gossip blogs are so popular?). Drama breeds conversation. I knew some people were going to have a problem with the name when I chose it. If you bought into the drama, thank you for validating what I already know about sensitivity to racial issues in America. I get that. You don’t have to write me an 8 paragraph comment trying to enlighten me. Really, I get that the word is hated by many black folk. BUT, it’s not the n-word…not even close. Let’s not forget my “African-Americans”, there was a time in America when we were damn proud to be Negroes. Many African American leaders, such as MARTIN LUTHER KING referred to themselves as what…Negro. As the kids say…Haters, Get off me!!
Reason 2: This blog is dedicated to giving you small, digestible wake up calls. This is expressed by the “hello” part of the name. Hello…there is still racism in America. Hello…here is a bit of news for you to consider. Hello there! What do you think about this or that subject. You get what I’m saying? Hello? :)
So, that is about as good as I can explain it…at midnight on a friday. LOL. It just amazes me how people just look on the surface sometimes and don’t consider how face value can be deceiving. Read the blog before you judge it. And if you don’t like it, that is Ok too. Freedom of expression is the right of all.
I’m sure this is just a random occurance, but as an African American woman, I would not be surprised about a color controversy. Look at the Sammy Sosa situation. Clearly the man has used some sort of skin lightening treatment. When you look at an older picture of his previously chocolate brown skin…why would you even have to wonder? I believe the claim that Sosa’s lightened skin in this photo is the result of a skin rejuvenation process and the bright TV lights at the awards show he was attending with his wife.
