Skin Color

By: Zeina Jabali

In The Color Complex, the authors introduce the complexities of interracial marriage among the African American community by pointing out the color preferences that both black males and females find attractive in their partners. The authors argue that although people may believe that the time for judgments based on color have passed, in reality, these judgments remain intact. Interracial marriages, however, are becoming more “normal” where in 1972 39% of whites thought such an act was unacceptable, but in 1991 that figure dropped to 7% (Russell, Wilson, and Hall). The authors explain the rise in Black women marrying White men by pointing out that there is a decrease in eligible black men which could be attributed to their high unemployment rate and criminal behavior. They also note that Black men choose White women for many reasons including the fact that Blacks were forbidden from having relationships with white women making them more desirable; this can be described as the forbidden fruit conundrum. Another theory holds that after women travelled to the south for the Civil Rights Movement, Black men wanted to “affirm their manhood”, and so, sought to pursue these northerners. This history is used to explain why Black men are attracted to lighter skinned females who are “light but not quite”.

The complexity involved with interracial relationships lies in the reactions of society and the impact it may have on one of the partners. For example, if a Black man only dated light skinned females then society would think he had a color complex; but if he exclusively dated dark skinned women then society would perceive him as less of a man because he “could not do any better” (Russell, Wilson, and Hall). When a light skinned man dates a darker woman he would be accused of wanting to go back to his roots. Society places heavy judgment on interracial relationships making it difficult for people to take part in them. Another factor that contributes to their complexity is the psychological affect dating a light skinned woman may have on a darker skinned man or the impact such a relationship may have on the psyche of the woman. For instance, in Calvin Herntons Sex and Racism in America, the speaker’s wife frequently refers to him as a “Black Bastard”, resenting his darker color. What occurs more often, however, is that the husband becomes envious of his wife’s skin color causing him to feel inferior leading him to believe that he must affirm his dominance. This results in domestic and sexual abuse. One light skinned woman said that her husband beat her during sex and called her a “half-breed bitch” (Russell, Wilson, and Hall).

I would never have guessed that African American society thought this way. Reading this chapter was a complete shock to me! The closest I have ever come to understanding such a culture was when we were reading Invisible Man in High School and I noted that the author made sure to bestow the man who was leading the African revolution through violence with extremely dark skin, and the man who was working with the Whites through peace had extremely light skin. I also noted that white women in the novel were extremely drawn to the Black men and had “Jungle Fever”. I can, however, understand how some people may want to keep their gene pool as is and marry someone similar to them.

The author of Yearning for Lightness discusses three major attributions to the “white is right” ideology of the Global South. First is the correlation between skin lightening and global capital; here the author attributes the mushrooming of the yearning for lightness to the Internet. The Internet has allowed for “all of the players in the global lightening market [to] meet. Large multinationals, small local firms, individual entrepreneurs, skin doctors, direct sales merchants, and even eBay sellers use the Internet to disseminate the ideal of light skin and to advertise and sell their products” (Glenn 283). Secondly, Glenn discusses different regions around the world and the reasons for their desire to be “white”, which often is due to the upper class or government –as is in colonialism- having fair skin. In Japan exists the Mikiko Ashikari, in Philippines exists an admiration towards Americans and Spaniards- who also admire white skin, and so on and so forth. The lower class looks to the upper class for guidance and trend setting, so when majority of the upper class has whiter skin, the lower class will follow suit. Lastly, Glenn discuses the multinational Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical firms and their targeting strategies. She identifies the three largest corporations in the skin lighting industry as L’Oreal, Shiseido, and Unilever, but the company I am most familiar with is called Fair and Lovely; a subsidiary of Unilever. The commercials for this brand promise consumers to have “natural radiant fairness in just 6 weeks” and tell them to “unveil perfect skin”. The most immediate way these corporations have been promoting a “white is right” ideology in India is by sponsoring the Famina Miss India pageant where the winners are usually the lightest skinned of the lot. Also, commercials that express the benefits of beauty achieved from being fair are widespread and effective because they paint dark skin in a very unflattering light only to contrast that experience with the benefits that come with fairness, which is, of coarse, only achieved through the use of Fair and Lovely.

Growing up in a country that is home to many from Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Philippines I have witnessed first hand just how important it is to be fair. My housekeepers, who are all from the Philippines, often speak of white skin and the beauty associated with such a feature, and many Indian housekeepers almost always agree with them. The beauty of white skin is also a phenomenon that exists among the Arab World. Kuwaitis value fair skin because it conveys a family’s progression away from Kuwait’s pearl diving and nomadic past to a new westernized and globalized economy. My sisters friends often comment on her skin color calling her “Casper”, after the ghost, she does not mind being called this because she understands their desire to be that white and because they are her friends and it is a little bit funny. Also, I have seen hundreds of Far East Asians carrying umbrellas in sunny weather or wearing large hats. The idea of fair skin perceived as beautiful is not at all new to me so I can understand the idea behind it, I, however, prefer it when my skin is tan and I think everyone looks better with a tan, so if I had a darker skin color all the time I would not mind as much. I guess you could say I prefer everybody in their natural state because they are generally more beautiful that way.