My Response to BCB's: Is The Face of Black Feminism Light Skinned and Biracial?

NOT MY PHOTO CREDIT: Teen Vogue, Ebony, Porter Magazine

The best thing about college and even going to a PWI is -- the late night conversations with my fellow Black friend and roommate. All year we talked about things like this. We've both wondered when girls like Zendaya and Amandla were going to publicly acknowledge that they have color privilege? I love that Beyond Classically Beautiful finally chose to speak out about this. A lot of times as darker skinned African American women we are seen as 'angry' when speaking out against the injustices we see as Black women. I understand that both young women are great actresses' and just like the article states in the Huffington Post they are reminded about their Blackness in Hollywood regardless of privilege. They both do speak out and use their social media platforms to share how they feel about being a Black woman. A lot of people would say that we as a group should be happy that their voices are being heard, but why? Are their voices really being heard or are they just receiving privilege for the way the look? I love both of them and I am a fan of both young women. Still what about the young women like my roommate and I, who share posts about the daily injustices that face Black women/girls? 

There are many Black women that have been fighting for the same thing for a while. In Hollywood there aren't many darker skinned Black women that take on a lot of lead roles. In Hollywood there is still colorism and racial prejudice among stars. Mainly, Black women like Coleman or Stenberg get privilege for their skin color. I personally feel like since the world knows this then why are we still putting women of lighter skin tones on a pedestal and ignoring darker skinned women? Zendaya has faced challenges and she loves being biracial and I can respect that because that is who she is, Last year in 2015 people of twitter even came at her and her identity, but she chose to educate them on who she was and how her family educated her on both sides. Amandla talks about being a "feminist since birth" and how she at first tried to run away from her Blackness to now she has decided to accept it. Colorism is a real issue and we need to include it into our discussions on how to build up Black Women, because we aren't just facing dehumanizing problems from people outside our race.

No I am not trying to pit women against each other, but what I am saying is that we should acknowledge ALL skin colors. Huffington Post Black Voices even talks about darker skinned Black women that have started the Black Lives Matter movement but rarely get recognition. Dark is associated with ugly, and masculine. Lighter skin is associated with femininity and beauty. So it's hard being a Black woman or even Afro Latina. Hispanic women also face this issue of colorism. In her video, "Dear Latinas, Let's Check Our Privilege", Kat Lazo explains colorism and privilege in the Hispanic community specifically Latinas. She uses herself as a prime example of someone who actually benefits from Light skin privilege or colorism. She says that because of her lighter skin people often assume she is white. I love the real life examples she uses about her friend and her both dating an African American guy, but her teacher tells her "she can do better". There is power when a woman of lighter skin complexion speaks out against colorism, because she is also paving the way for darker skinned women. This will ultimately help them be accepted by society.


So when they ask the question, "Is The Face of Black Feminism Light Skinned and Biracial?", my response can only be yes. I know that those two girls have worked hard at what they do, but there are other women as well. Other Black women with a different shade of Black. I agree with the thought of why can't all of us of different shades participate in this movement? There are so many other stars facing the same injustices, some may have been worse. There is Keke Palmer, China Anne McClaine, Cymphonique Miller, Lupita N'yongo, and many more young Black women. If we show more Black women of different shades then the world will be more accepting, but as long as young Black men glorify lighter skinned women, and the media then so will society. Here is also a video link that I think goes eve deeper to explain this issue: Colorism Philogynoir. I still think the important thing to remember is that we are all one under God. God created us all equal and all out of His image. In Psalms 139 (my favorite scripture) God talks about knitting us together in our mother's wombs. So many times we get so caught up in talking about the intersectionality between Race, Gender, Sexual orientation, and other worldly things that we forget about Religion and more specifically Christianity. Have we really fallen off with God? In the 60's and even during slavery we called out to Him and God brought us out of our misery. We forget that it does not matter about the world's perception of us, but what matters is how God, our creator views us. We can rise up again and for equality but I think they only that can be done is through God Himself. Thank you and share how you have dealt with issues like colorism no matter what Race or ethnic background you have come from! And if you have not dealt with colorism issues comment on how you feel about this (please no negative language!) and do not forget to subscribe and become a follower on FancyMouse Mag!

PSALMS 139