News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday October 5th 2024

Something I Said

Dark girls deserve better

By DWIGHT HOBBES

Black was only so beautiful when the phrase hit in the 60s. Sure, we were at the tumultuous crest of a movement to throw off society”™s shackles and, in the process, bolster self-esteem. Superficiality, though, runs deep. While we were exultant, reveling in social revolt, it didn”™t displace an entrenched ideal. It didn”™t cure a psychological infection. Folk with African features were no more attractive than they had been since the advent of that age old ditty, “If you”™re white, just right. Yellow is mellow. Brown can stick around. If y”™ black, get back.” However, times have changed, this has stayed the same.

Hence, “Dark Girls”, a documentary the Association of Black Psychologists credits with providing,“an opportunity to take a soul-searching look at the effects of racism affect on the self-image of black women. Among several salient aspects tackled in the film, the powerful impact of America”™s insidious media is given a good, insightful look-see. Ironically, candid comment comes from, all sources, white hip-hop journalist, Soren Baker, who observes, “I”™ve always found it hypocritical that rappers [claim to have] black pride, then”¦have [predominantly] light-skinned women or women who aren”™t black in their videos, especially as the love interest.”

CJ Walker, the first black millionaire, made and sold hair straightener, predating such idiocy as is noted in the film. Including skin-bleaching (remember, Michael Jackson?), a multi-billion dollar business in which people ascribe to the faith that being lighter brings a better life. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, they actually have a point. Worse than grown women who play head-games with themselves, desperate to look white as possible, it”™s heartbreaking to watch, for instance, the open scene in which an innocent child states, “I don”™t want to be called black.” The also film reports on a new version of the 1940s experiment by Kenneth and Mamie Clark, in which children clearly exhibited self-hatred, favoring light hued dolls over dark ones.

Noted actor-director Bill Duke, who, with D. Channsin Berry, produced and directed “Dark Girls,” was asked, ”˜Why are you airing our dirty laundry?”™ His reply: “It”™s stinkin”™ up the house.” Like Chris Rock”™s documentary, “Good Hair,” another no punches pulled examination of black folks”™ folly; “Dark Girls” holds a mirror up for the color-struck among us to see for themselves exactly what they are: self-deluded phonies whose dedication to white supremacy poisons the minds and hearts of girls growing into women. FYI: “Dark Girls” 2 dropped in March, expanding the scope to an international perspective.

Anok Yai, ranked the world”™s most beautiful woman and the richest model, is, yes, white-girl pretty. She”™s also black as the ace of spades. There may be hope yet.

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One Response to “Something I Said”

  1. Kelechi Jaavaid says:

    Dwight gives a clear conception of the effects of inner culture issues, and reasons why white supremacy affects they The was some black people see themselves in the greater scope of society.

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