Hello Gems!!!
It has been a couple of weeks since I posted and a little more than that since I had a rant but….here it goes.
Did you know that I was not light skinned or skin, or skint (smh). Apparently a few women whom deemed me unqualified to speak out for people, my people, because I am brown skinned and therefore I am somehow in a category that places me in a realm of privileged.
Now, I do not necessarily refute this but being an entrepreneur I have not had to endure this in the working world. A young lady posted about light skinned people basically carrying their privilege around with heads touted in the air proudly. I made the mistake of commenting on her post stating that we need to stop allowing the divide within our race and stand together. I gave an example of my cousin and the trauma she went through and ultimately spilling my own beans out of frustration and bewilderment as to how they just did not get it. Well, let me tell you, these ladies had a field day demeaning my complexion (or my thoughts of it) as well as my character, views, intelligence, etc. I looked on in amazement that the fact that I was speaking in unity and NOT dark skinned was an issue. I HONESTLY do not know how what I was saying was taken so far out of context in a matter of minutes. Now, I LOVE my extra dose of melanin people, their complexion is so very beautiful to me but these particular ladies attitude… straight horrible. I never one time demeaned anyone or their views, I was even agreeing with them but please do not get it twisted, I am still black. I was raised to not speak to people in a manner I did not want to be spoken to. This conversation had my heart beating so fast and my palms sweaty. Why do we scream out BLACK LIVES MATTER yet continue the divide within our own race? No. One. Else. Does. This. Not like we do. but we want equality and justice but we continue to rob, kill, and destroy one another. We cannot even respect ourselves to stand united. What are we going to do with equality? Yes I am aware it exists but don’t blame me for it. I did not Write a memo to God stating I will only go to earth if you make me…..smh.
So, I open up the dialogue for advice and conversation. I am posting the conversation below. But first this:
“You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves and the light skin slaves against the dark skin slaves” -Willie Lynch
post on facebook: ‘Okay so I’m still mad, how does a person deal with opression everyday and then still fix their mouth to say someone else’s opression doesn’t exist because it’s one form they don’t experience? I’m calling out all light skin people, do fucking better. If I catch you I will come for you, with all of the fury I have stored in this short fluffy body I swear!’ (I left the typos intentionally as to not tamper with her words)
My (along with everyone else’s reply. ( I will try to remove names because I do not want anyone confronting these ladies because they are still my sisters)
Me:
👀 the biggest problem, in my opinion, is how WE as black women choose to seperate our struggles! We are all black no matter what the complexion. We all have issues that we shouldn’t have to go through but intead of supportinng one another we try to demean one another in attempts to exemplify how our light skin isssues are bigger than our dark skin issues and vice versa. I watched as my dark skin cousin was constantly told that she was pretty for a dark skin girl girl. Meanwhile I was being rejected because I was so called light skin and proceeded to have a nasty attitude by thinking I was better than someone else. I have seen the problems from both spectrums and her problem was not bigger than my problems and my problems were not bigger than her problems, but collectively WE had a problem as black women. There is too much division. Smh it is time out for this, like literally, we are being killed in drones and here we sit sulking and complaining about complexion issues. #PettyMinds
Ebony Murphy-Root Maisha Rush There is no ‘both spectrums’.
And colorism is not the result of ‘low self esteem’ and ‘even still not loving yourself’. I can understand why she stopped talking to you though, if this is how you talked to her. Would you be friends with a white person who told you racism was a result of not loving yourself enough? Can you truly not hear how obtuse that sounds?
❤
😂 Not being dark isn’t automatically light. Seems to happen a lot lately.
Rachel Chance Her problems are bigger than yours, when she is at an increased risk for abuse and discrimination. You’re being ignorant, stubborn, and obtuse.
It isn’t about separating struggles, but acknowledging the nuances of oppression.
Rachel Chance Pointing out colorism isn’t “increasing the divide.” The divide IS colorism. How is confronting the problem the issue to you?
When has pretending problems don’t exist ever been the solution? Dark skinned women are hurting, and they are rightfully angry… and we have people telling them they are the problem. Tuh. We all should be angry.
Chantal Monique Come awn. My mom and sis are darker than me. My mom is black skinned. I know DAMN well/ my light skin was/is a privilege. I’ve suffered from discrimination and oppression- but not like them and not in that area. I KNOW- ignorant folk think I’m “safer”. I saw it. I saw their pain & it’s not my job to compare it to mine. My job it to be their voice. My job is to use my privilege.
I cannot understand why some light skinned folks wanna complain about “I got picked on for being light.”
My FAMILY- picked on me for being light. And SO?? So what?? What the hell?? How does that really hurt me/ besides hurt feels (as a little girl).
I feel like it’s a game of oppression olympics. Some of us have privileges that others do not. Just admit it – do what you can to help & hush about the woes – regarding being “lighter”
*ROLLS EYES*
JustAskMaia 