Black male singers no matter what complexion are celebrated, admired and revered as handsome by black women from Chris Brown and Ginuwine light skinned to Trey Songz and Lloyd brown skin to Idris Elba and Singer Javier dark skin. Why? Most black women find it difficult to find a man period and so, having fetishes is out of the question. Besides, media has successfully iconized black skin in all shades.
On the other hand, because there is a 100-1 ration of availability of black men to each women due to so many incarcerations, unemployed, homeless and many of our black men gay or transgender and therefore, off the market, black women may weigh their options with less scrutiny. However, it was shocking to find out how many black men will not date a dark skinned woman and still stuck on stereotypes portrayed in movies as far back a Spike Lee’s School Daze movie, objectifying light skin sorority sisters against dark skinned sisters.
This documentary by Bill Duke’s, entitled DARK GIRL, conjures up Tameka Raymond’s article on Huffington Post , “She’s Pretty for a Dark Skinned Girl.” While the term has been said millions of times by so many warped minded individuals, an author who claimed to have created the cliche statement accused the ex wife of Usher of infringement which was instead of bringing light to the situation in America, divided authors and celebrities with wider audiences instead of creating a monumental conversation on a broader level.
Now Bill Duke gets to continue the conversation and I will say, the Dark Girl documentary is going to blow the roof off of a new form of racism that is no longer black vs white, but black vs brown vs light skin. Just when we though racism went out the door, it is going to hit cinema at full force and have people asking where are the dark skinned women in HIP HOP, MUSIC, MEDIA and HOLLYWOOD. I really hadn’t noticed until now and am very concerned on this topic now that Mo’Nique’s Show is being cancelled on BET. She is a dark skinned and beautiful role model on television. Also, I never have seen a dark skinned woman host BET’s 106 & Park. Amanda was brown with Native American features. And- where are the black journalists on tv. None are dark skinned.
The only show that embraces black women is THE VIEW with Whoopie and Sherrie Shepard. I think I love Barbara Walters. She is the only media icon who crossed the barriers and took a chance and has the number one day time show. I know there has been drama on the show before, but I always liked the image of the view from variation in ages, complexions and background of hosts. In fct, I wonder what she would say about this documentary and one man saying he would never date a dark skinned woman. Remember, he is just one person and not all men feel this way.
