I was on mindkandys interracial debate, and i ran across this thread created by a white man asking why are women obsessed with wanting blonde hair, he claimed he didn't particularly like blonde hair, but he was asking the women why they were obsessed with lightening their hair. Here is the respnse 1 white woman gave, she was basically saying that in every culture white skin and blonde hair represent the essence of femininity and that dark skin represents masculinity.

here is the link to what she was saying if you want to read it.

http://pub45.ezboard.com/fmindkandysinterracialdebateandrelationsfrm58.show MessageRange?topicID=78.topic&start=21&stop=25

After reading what she wrote, she reiterated a lot of what i had been wondering about all along, eventhough i didn't agree with her conclusion that it's natural for men to want light skin and women to want dark skin, it made me think of my life experiences and the experience man black women go through no matter if they are dark or light, they are still held to the same euro-standard of beauty.

Have you all ever noticed that if a woman is dark skinned, she is ridiculed for it, but if a man is dark skinned he is glamourized? Also, if a woman wears her hair natural, some people will look at her like she is crazy but men wear their hair natural all the time without getting a second glance. most people say it's because of european colonialism and domination, while i agree with this, i would like to know why the double standard when it comes to men and women?


This is crazy to me given our pre-colonial history. During pre-colonial history, whiteness and blonde hair weren't always associated with femininity, As a matter of fact, check out this article, it has many quotes on how during pre-colonial times in many places (china, southeast asia,rome, the philppines) black hair, the darkest eyes and dark skin were preferred on both men AND women.


http://www.colorq.org/Articles/1999/blackwhite.htm

japan was a different story. In japan white skin, black eyes and black hair were preferred for both men AND women. So this idea that dark skin=masculinity and light skin=femininity has been around since the beginning of time is completely false because in some cultures white skin was preferred for both men and women and in others black skin was preferred for both men and women. Now, the worshipping of blonde hair in MOST cultures is VERY recent. Most cultures before colonialism preferred black hair on men and women. All of this didn’t happen until European colonialism was introduced.

Below is an article on japans preference for white skin and the darkest of black hair on both men and women. Keep in mind also in SOME parts of India, light skin was preferred, while in other parts of India darker skin was preferred before colonialism. Also keep in mind that Ibn buttua, the guy mentioned in both of these articles traveled to mali(walata) toward the END of his journey. The article also explains how the obsession with blonde hair got started.

http://www.colorq.org/Articles/2002/colorism.htm


Also, here is another link to the quote from an early European explorer on how the people of the congo preferred dark skin on both the men and the women.

http://www.coribe.org/Pages/ISylvia.html

The wooden mask shown in the link below is evidence that in some african tribes the darkest skin represents the essence of female beauty and moral purity. this is the complete opposite of western culture where whitness represents femininity and purity. read the quote below, then visit the link that this quote comes from. You can also view the masks in the link below.

http://www.montana.edu/cybertour/art/6to12/haugens/


So, the standard of beauty changes according to the people in power.

So i am asking you all, why do you think the double standard all of a sudden when it comes to men and women? This double standard didn't exist before colonialism, so why does it exist today?






peace

Napturaltwistie ... Welcome again! We have rules against adding content that belongs to others without their permission (see my signature below). Please edit your post, removing the words that aren't yours, perhaps you can paraphrase for us, leaving links to the forums where the property can be found.

Of course it is okay to mention the works of others to help make your point, but please do so sparingly as we want to always respect property that belongs to others. Thanks.

:heart:

Destee

Napturaltwistie ... stop posting this same thread in other forums ... you're giving me more work to do because i have to now delete them ... also ... quit posting property that belongs to others without including their permission ... you almost got me want'n ta ban you ... take a moment and read our rules, please.

Destee

I apologize Destee. It won't happen again. Don't worry i will edit everything.

peace

Napturaltwistie ... thanks for the apology, all is well Sister. Your topic is a good one and we'd like to know your thoughts regarding it, not necessarily those of others. If you must include their words, use a sentence or two and link to where we can go and read them in their entirety. Otherwise, you must include their permission for their words to be posted here. Just because someone posts their words on one site, it doesn't mean they want them on every (this) site.

It's your words and thoughts we are most interested in :wink:

:heart:

Destee

peace:heart:

I think the reason the double standard exists is because of the way men and women are socialized into society. Before the feminist movements in the 60s,for a long time it wasn't seen as acceptable for a woman to be educated, or as educated as her husband and she SURE wasn't suppose to be the breadwinner in the family.So, women had very few choices then, and they were in the postion where her looks were her only source of power. The better she looked the better her chances were to find a financially stable man. She had no true power, her only power came from men. This is why women have always been more obsessed with their looks than men. Since white was and still is the beauty standard in america, it affects women more than it affects men. There have also been studies ran that show that men choose women based on their looks more often than women choose men based on looks. Women are more likely to go for money while men are more likely to go for looks. This double standard doesn't only exist in the black community. Whites have colonized the entire globe, so every cmminity is affected by this beauty standard. And you will find that in areas that were colonized by whites or that were white dominated, this double standard exists. this double standard exists in asia, latin america and CERTAIN PARTS of africa as well.



peace

What do I think is going on with the issues you raise? As I think about the title of this thread, two words come to my mind:

Racism and Sexism

For people who try to change their looks to adopt the features and characteristics of someone else's standard of beauty?

Self-genocide

Hey, Twistie-that you? Welcome. Can't speak for other Black men, but Eureopean standards for Black women don't apply to me. Maybe when I WAS younger but not now. For all of you out there the first crush I ever had was on a VERY pretty darkskinned girl in the first grade. Yeah, I do like light skinned women. Just like Black women-period. Very vexing but intriguing.

Co-sign with yaphet. I don't have that problem. When I was younger or deaf, dumb and blind. I was only into lightskin sistas but when I came into knowledge of self. I found darkskin sistas catching my attention alot lol.... Light, Brown, Dark....I love black women period. All black women are beautiful.

Oh and as for the natural look, I think all black women should wear their hair natural but hey that's just me. ;)

They say:

Yo booty too big.

Yo hair is too nappy.

Yo lips are too big.

Yo hips are too wide.

Yo hair is too short.

Yo weave is too long.

Yo nose is too big.

Yo skin to dark.

Yo body too muscular.

Yo thighs too thick.

I say:

Thank you for letting me know I'm more beautiful than you can handle.

Deepa...very well and simply stated. Have you also heard them say our heels are too thick and our feet are too flat?

When I think of the 'Janet/Michael Jacksons' of the world who voluntarily get their bodies carved up to look more European, it makes me just shake my head.

Last week I saw an obviously pregnant sister with a 'fresh' perm in her hair and I sadly thought, WHY are you doing this to yourself AND to your unborn child? :(

For some of our sisters, it's an unthinkable concept to NOT perm their hair. When asked why they do it, I hear all kinds of excuses 'to justify' doing it.

True, it's a personal choice we have and to some, one that they see as a form of liberation. Liberating themselves from the naps, the snags and the kink in their hair to what? Don't they realize that everything we do in life is a direct result of a decision that we make? But I ask, how CONSCIOUS are we of those decisions and the impact they have on our daily lives? How conscious are we to know that the decisions we make reveals who we are and how we think?

Can anyone think of any situation in life where this is not true?

what's up yaphet, and terrorist, this is norrita from mindkandys interracial debate and political palace.

yaphet, i,m not saying all black men go for eurostandards of beauty, but many studies have been ran that confirm that most of them do.but for you,terroristand XXPANTHAXX, i say more power to you and others like you for being able to keep a strong mind and weed through the day to day brainwashing.

p.s., one question. what do you think made you 2 stop buying into the eurostandards of beauty as you got older?

peace

[QUOTE]Originally posted by NNQueen
Deepa...very well and simply stated. Have you also heard them say our heels are too thick and our feet are too flat?
[/QUOTE

LOL!!!! Queen are you for real...lol..? I never heard the "heels are too thick comment". What type of nonsense is that, it's so stupid its funny to me.....

beautiful poem deepa:toast:


NNQUEEN, i agree with you when you say the problem is a result of racism being intertwined with sexism.


here is the most common excuse black women use for perming their hair. It's too much to manage.

in my experience, i find that my natural hair gives me just as much trouble as it did when it was permed for some reason.I'm also able to do way more with natural hair than i could do with it when it was permed.I think the problem a lot of black women are having is that their moms slap the perm on their hair at age 6. all these girls have known their whole lives is peremed hair, so they don't know anything about how to care for their natural hair. That's what happened to me at first until i just decided to tough it out and learn how to take care of my hair in its natural state.It took me about 8 months to figure out how to care for my hair. When you learn what's needed to take care of it you find out it's not so unmanagable in the first place, you just weren't use to it. a lot of black women are also afraid that going natural will break their hair out or take too much time.

peace

One main problem is the reinforcement of these ideals by our own people. True, we are influenced by the way whites and the media portray us and set standards by their own ideas of beauty for the rest of us. However, the most damaging effects come from your friends, family, community and entertainment where we are encouraged at a young age to conform or face the consequences.

One of our biggest influences is what will attract a mate.

naptural...I like that name :) . . .

I agree with what you wrote, but I'm curious as to HOW in the world could a sister think that wearing one's hair truly natural (without help from chemicals, extensions, etc.) could be more harmful to the hair (increase breakage) than a PERM???

I've seen women with perms and straightening presses raise their heads off of their pillow and leave hair still in curlers and enough breakage to scare a person. Never have I witnessed NOR experienced that with a 'real' natural hairstyle.

And to me a natural is not wearing braids with extensions or having curl relaxers put in your hair to twist or curl the hair. I do see a difference.

Does anyone else?

"However, the most damaging effects come from your friends, family, community and entertainment where we are encouraged at a young age to conform or face the consequences".

good point


"I'm curious as to HOW in the world could a sister think that wearing one's hair truly natural (without help from chemicals, extensions, etc.) could be more harmful to the hair (increase breakage) than a PERM????

they think the hair will be harder to comb through when it's natural, so they think if they comb through it, they will break their hair out.


"I've seen women with perms and straightening presses raise their heads off of their pillow and leave hair still in curlers and enough breakage to scare a person. Never have I witnessed NOR experienced that with a 'real' natural hairstyle"

you're right, i've noticed this too. My hair shed a lot less now, than when it was permed.


"And to me a natural is not wearing braids with extensions or having curl relaxers put in your hair to twist or curl the hair. I do see a difference.

Does anyone else?"

I do. many of these women who wear their hair natural with the extensions like the natural look, they just don't know how to care for their own hair in it's natural state, so they find it easier to get extensions.plus, if you wear extensions, you can always take them out and have the permed look when you want to, then put them back in if you want the natural look. I prefer to wear my own real hair natural,but i do like to wear the braided extensions sometimes.But if i want the straight look, i just use a blow dryer or a hot comb.I will never perm my hair again, because when you perm it, it can never go back to it's natural state unless you grow the perm out of your hair(which takes a long time)

peace

[i]

p.s., one question. what do you think made you 2 stop buying into the eurostandards of beauty as you got older? peace [/B]

Norrita, wussup Sis...

Well, like I stated, when I came into knowledge of self, it made me appreciate myself. You see, It wasn't only the euro standard of beauty I accepted when it came to women. it also apply to myself. I would put all these chemicals in my hair to make it soft. Texturise it, S-curl it, you name... I was rejecting self. Untill I read the autobiography of Malcolm X and started watching video tapes of his speeches. That was my foundation of consciousness. I than began to realise that I've been brainwash to hate myself, my black skin, my nappy hair, my black features, my women etc etc....I than began to appreciate who I am and where I've came from. Than lets just say the more knowledge I discovered about my people especially the black woman, I realise that the Euro-standard of beauty is a total joke. Because of what I know I actually have to keep my self from feeling Superior to other races sometimes.

Natural hair.

Another topic we discussed on the voice chat during Sister Ademidemeji's Basics of Yoruba Religion and Culture Chat.

Our hair is coiled and coarse for a reason. It is made to withstand the environment as well as act as a conductor. When our hair isn't processed, we are operating without the chemicals (which do seep through the scalp by the way) that damage one of our energy centers, the crown of our head.

Notice how free you feel when you decide not to chemically process your hair or lie in constant worry about its straightness or lack thereof. Our hair, when processed, becomes a serious part of our day, it can hinder us from moving forward with something just because it isn't politically correct.

Going "natural" can also signify a return to knowledge of self (though not always with locs becoming a trend rather than a statement for those who wear it as a way of life). Our creativity is shown through how we are handling natural hair, some of the same styles can be attained through natural hair methods as with processed ones, a good example, braids.

I don't dare look down on someone who processes their hair as a person. For I once was trapped in that mindset, wanting to be acceptable and viewed as beautiful according to the ideas set up by people who don't look like me and reinforced by those who do. Its part of a peer pressure that is hard to resist, especially when it has become part of your psyche. I look down upon the chemical processing act and the reasons why we do it. I look up for a time of awareness and enlightenment when black people, especially black women, nourish themselves with self love rather than superficialness.

Getting into Black history and observing older men in my neighborhood(who told me horror stories of white women and never be alone with 'em if you can help it). That was it for me. Yeah, never was comfortable with white women in the first place-like light skinned women like most Black men but always will go for a good looking dark sista also. Edit-So it is you norritta, thunk that you were Twistie for sure! Welcome anyway, norritta.

"Welcome anyway, norritta."

thanks yaphet:)

I think the black woman suffers more than the black man when it comes to white standards of beauty because; a black man can always be 'Tall, dark and handsome'. But a black woman will never be 'Blonde-haired and blue-eyed'. Unless we're Lil' Kim.

It's the duty of black women to help eachother feel comfortable with the way we look, because there's little we can do to fit those white standards of beauty, not that we should. I was always more comfortable with the way I looked more than my white friends because where I live (England) I didn't have many standards of beauty of my own people to live up to. They were always jealous of the skinny blonde girls, where as I just had to learn to accept what I saw in the mirror.

Sure, I always wanted (and still do) to lose a little bit of weight, but whatever I did, I would never be fair-skinned and blonde so all my efforts would be wasted. It made me enjoy my teenage years a lot more, that's for sure.

Africans, who seek a true mind, have to dig deeper into their selves as it applies to attraction.

I’m definitely HAPPY WITH NAPPY.

But I cannot judge the mindset of a Black woman by her hair or her lack of make-up, etc. As you see today natural hair and Dreads don’t necessarily reflect an African-centered mind. If we so happen to first come to our pure natural being through an outward manifestation, we should move pass this quickly.

Quote:

"For, if one awakes, it does them no good to lie in bed all day"


PEACE AND LOVE,

ASHE

I beleive that all sisters are beutifull. The sisters regardles of what they feel ,should keep their hair natural. Sisters are the key in our struggle, first teachers of the child.

Deepa...very well and simply stated. Have you also heard them say our heels are too thick and our feet are too flat?

When I think of the 'Janet/Michael Jacksons' of the world who voluntarily get their bodies carved up to look more European, it makes me just shake my head.

Last week I saw an obviously pregnant sister with a 'fresh' perm in her hair and I sadly thought, WHY are you doing this to yourself AND to your unborn child? :(

For some of our sisters, it's an unthinkable concept to NOT perm their hair. When asked why they do it, I hear all kinds of excuses 'to justify' doing it.

True, it's a personal choice we have and to some, one that they see as a form of liberation. Liberating themselves from the naps, the snags and the kink in their hair to what? Don't they realize that everything we do in life is a direct result of a decision that we make? But I ask, how CONSCIOUS are we of those decisions and the impact they have on our daily lives? How conscious are we to know that the decisions we make reveals who we are and how we think?

Can anyone think of any situation in life where this is not true?


NN Queen,
I think it is absolutely ridiculous to compare black women's perming of the hair to wanting to appear more European. I have permed my hair for as long as I can remember. It was not my choice; my mother always took care of my hair. However, once I reached an age where I could make decisions about my hair, clothing etc., I was always free to do whatever I wanted with my hair. I have decided to continue to perm my hair because it works for me. I have had braids from a couple of times, which I liked as well. Recently, I have contemplated letting my hair go natural. My point is that the choice to perm hair is a choice that black women have just like they have the choice to wear their hair natural or with braids whatever. Historically perming hair was not a choice but a necessity. Today it is a choice that has nothing to do with trying to look European. Black women have fought to have braided and natural hairstyles accepted in corporate America with much success. Perming hair is a decision based on style just as braided or natural hair.

NN Queen, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to compare black women's perming of the hair to wanting to appear more European. I have permed my hair for as long as I can remember. It was not my choice; my mother always took care of my hair. However, once I reached an age where I could make decisions about my hair, clothing etc., I was always free to do whatever I wanted with my hair. I have decided to continue to perm my hair because it works for me. I have had braids from a couple of times, which I liked as well. Recently, I have contemplated letting my hair go natural. My point is that the choice to perm hair is a choice that black women have just like they have the choice to wear their hair natural or with braids whatever. Historically perming hair was not a choice but a necessity. Today it is a choice that has nothing to do with trying to look European. Black women have fought to have braided and natural hairstyles accepted in corporate America with much success. Perming hair is a decision based on style just as braided or natural hair.

Hey paris3000! :wave: It's okay that you think that my opinion is ridiculous. That just happens to be the way that I think but I can be convinced to think otherwise if the points made are compelling enough.

I never knew that perming hair was never a choice but a necessity for Black women. Why do you think that is and when was this our way of thinking because I've never permed my hair and I'm an old woman.

Yes, I know that we have choices about our hair but hasn't that always been the case though since Madam C. J. Walker invented the straightening process and made it an option for Black women? To me, that's when Black women started to look at and think about herself differently.

Hmmm...you say that perming hair is a decision based on style just as braided or natural hair. That may be...for some....but in my humble opinion, and this is not meant to be a negative, but most conscious Black women's hair is a political statement moreso than just for purposes of style. Basking in the beauty of our natural hair when most of us decide to throw away the straightening combs and to stop perming, can give a sister a sense of freedom that is hard to describe if you've never done it for reasons other than style. Styles come and go but my sense of self always remains and when a sister's roots get 'nappy' I always wonder why they rush to get them straightened.

That's why I definitely applaud those sisters who have fought hard and won their right to wear their hair natural in corporate America. It's politics and freedom from oppression. Now don't get me wrong--I'm not mad at sisters who decide to perm because you're right, it's their choice and sisters are beautiful no matter what. But I just view nappy as my personal preference because it is freeing. So, I respectfully beg to differ with you sister on that point.

Thank you for sharing your point of view though. Welcome to our community and I look forward to reading you in the future!

Peace :spinstar:

Our hair is actually healthier in its natural state. Permed hair needs a lot of nourishment and conditioning. Our hair is very fragile in this state. If a sister chooses to wear straight hair sometimes, she can hot comb it (only when it is clean).

Sisters have many options when it comes to hairstyles.

Hairstyles do not have anything to do with what's in someone's heart.

NNQueen, I agree with you about not understanding the need to carve up your body in order to look more European.

Peace and welcome Sister paris3000,

It’s true you have the right to perm your hair and when you do, you’re probably still as beautiful as ever, but this fact doesn’t change the “true” history of hair, in the African American community.

When you look at the history of hair products in the 20th century (after Madam C. J. Walker invented the straightening process), African American historian J. A. Rodgers noted, that some of the first hair straightening pomades and other products or techniques in America where being marketed toward Eastern European Jews and other “non-Anglo” looking ethnic groups, in the Northeastern United States (I believe mainly N.Y.C.), who had very wooly, frizzy or curly hair (too Negro-like). Because everybody wanted that Nordic/Anglo-American acceptable look and any look that showed, they were closer to Protestant "euro/american" standards of whiteness than the other opposite of the spectrum (us).

Remember the history of race in America was exploited on “looking white”, more so than actual racial purity, because most white Americans had been slightly “tainted” by Amerindian or African genes. So the construct was already in place.

Now African Americans knew, that not only skin color, but hair was one of the most obvious visual markers that made us different, even in comparison to other dark skin people. Most of who never experienced slavery in America. And since it was obvious that whites placed such a high priority on this racial identifier, we focused on this along with other things.

Do you remember when frizzy, wooly and nappy hair was called “bad hair” and straight or curly hair was called, “good hair”? And African Americans embraced, this type of thinking!

If you look at the history of our hair in America, sisters started pressing their hair, along with using bleaching creams and even putting clothes pins on their children noses, so they could become more aquiline-like. All this was happening at the same time. This was not coincidental. Also at the same time our natural hair, dark brown skin and other features were being buffoon-ed and caricaturized by the marketing companies and other media.

In many families, the child with the so-called “good hair” got more attention and was considered beautiful, just because of their hair. The straight haired woman got more dates and whistles. The straight hair guy was always considered cute and handsome. This is an undeniable part of our history.

Also the perm is dangerous and the chemicals are absorbed by the scalp and reach the brain organ, let alone other organs and tissues through blood vessels. And lets not mention perms during pregnancy. The possible harm to a fetus, from perm chemicals is well-known science and can be, probably researched in any prominent medical journal.

Do you know that you have more blood vessels in you scalp than any place else?

Maybe some of the natural hair styled sisters (like Sister NNQueen :bowdown: ), that are posting in this thread can direct you to some web pages and articles that can help explain the science of Black hair.

Peace,

Sun Ship

1)Society/history has a lot to do with some people trying to define beauty synonymous with white.

2)People need to think for themselves.

3)Today a lot of people donot know what it means to be an indiviual.

I too belive all sistas should go natural. It brings out the natural beuty of the afrcan womens facial structure. but hey its your choice. I too was brain washed as a kid, when i was young, i was attracted to al women black or whatever was women lol. But in my teenage years the brain washing set in, i went after light skin, white, latina ect. when i became more conscious , i began looking at dark women first, but all shades of black will do. lol

peace

Greetings and welcome Therious. :wave: Nice to have you join our community and share your views. We hope you enjoy your time with us and we look forward to many more exchanges in the future.

Peace,
Queenie :spinstar:

millions and millions of dollars are
spent daily in the wt media
to keep this wt image up
to suport mind control


remember when wts were
try'n to wear afros

In response to the thread I would like to respond with the following:

I understand the theme and feeling of everyone who posted however, I think that we are missing out on something.

Black Women Created White Women and what we consider White Features are abound in many of our sisters, thus I think it is a womans choice what she wants too look like.

You cannot say a woman is less African because she has quote un quote white features; simply because the white womans features came from the black woman. Black Women are the most unique and versatile individuals on the planet and I think that their beauty should not be confined in one specturm.

I do understand the media leverage of the white woman, but when you look at the data of our nation. 70% White and 30% Minority (Guestimation), you will see why the white female image dominates the media, it is the majority.

I am pretty sure if it was vice versa, white women would have this same thread amongst themselves.

How can you put a woman in one box who creates all women?

Just a thought.

Manasiac :uzi:

Naturaltwistie started this thread back on 8-11-03 and she wrote:

"Have you all ever noticed that if a woman is dark skinned, she is ridiculed for it, but if a man is dark skinned he is glamourized? Also, if a woman wears her hair natural, some people will look at her like she is crazy but men wear their hair natural all the time without getting a second glance. most people say it's because of european colonialism and domination, while i agree with this, i would like to know why the double standard when it comes to men and women?"

I'd like to extend the question to ask, is there a double standard between men and women when it comes to what's acceptable/unacceptable or is it a figment of our imagination? Are women, including Black women, held to a different standard when it comes to how a society or culture defines beauty or what is cosmetically pleasing to the eye? Are men and women treated differently based on cultural roles based on gender, i.e., it's preferred that men be bigger and more buff or muscular, but women, petite, lean and more curvaceous? Is it a fact or fiction that most men, including Black men, prefer qualities of european features over African features? Is it true that women are more attracted to darker men and men more attracted to lighter skinned women? Are we taking this too seriously or is this just another example of how fickle people can be and how fads are created?

Peace,
Queenie :spinstar:

This is intresting at best. The image of white media has created and proposed that their standard is the only one...and that to be beautiful is for our sisters to try and come as close to it as possible. Total Brainwashing at its best !!! This does not surprise me, for ther majority of successful athletes, actor or musician subconsciously or consciously falls prey to this conditioning. Upon their success, they find themselves a white woman as if she's the standard of them finally making it. If they don't get a white woman, they find a black woman who is as close to white in complexion as possible. This is not to condemn any sister for their complexion, for we all know too well how our condition got this way.

All the same, when we go out of OUR WAY TO CREATE A LOOK THAT FITS THE EUROPEAN PROFILE, THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG. My daughter is light skin and I hate the idea of that because it was beyond my control understanding historically and genetically what has happened. She gets compliments on how beautiful she is...while this doesn't happen with her darker friends. This makes me sick to my heart. Why? Because those who compliment her subcosciously have the european standard of beauty and complexion stamped in their minds.

We have a history that reveals what the african standard of beauty is...and I mean from all over the continent. In order to get an accurate picture of this....our history and culture must be looked at BEFORE THE INTERVENTION OF FORIENERS AND INVADERS CAME TO US. HOW I ASK, DOES THE PARENT,THE TEACHER, THE ORIGINATOR OF ALL WHO EXIST....NOW BECOME VICTIM TO THE CHILD THEY GAVE BIRTH TO BY ALLOWING THE CHILDREN TO DICTATE WHAT IS AND IS NOT ? OUR PLANETARY CHILDREN ARE KILLING US AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE NOW...NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW....BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE THE PARENTS, AND NO CHILD DICTATES TO THE PARENT WHAT WILL AND WILL NOT BE, WHEN THE PARENT KNOWS BETTER.

I personally think that Black Women and Men look healthier and more beautiful with Our Natural Hair. But, it doesn't bother me in the least what someone does with their hair. I think that most Black women who perm, perm because the hair is easier to handle-- Any of you with natural hair knows that it takes a lot of time to do.

It is Our culture that values light-skinned over dark-skinned. I just don't give a **** what others feel...as time goes on, I think less and less about how Others feel about Us period.
Sometimes I just have to laugh!

Just as many dark-skinned brothers go for light-skinned sisters (someone told me that it was because ds brothers hate themselves); I noticed too, and look around- you find alot of light-skinned brothers with dark-skinned sisters... but We still and will probably always have that element of paper-bag heads in Our midsts- I say shun them; We don't need that kind of weak-minedness in Our evolving people!

I wouldn't worry too much about Our dark-skinned sisters... they are doing okay--they get the lightskinned brothers and the White fellas too, it seems...
(Hey, I'm being a little facietous here!)

I ain't worrying about what's on the outside...I just need to know if inside you are Black--which We understand is more than a color.

As a light-skinned sisters with siblings that cross the rainbow in Black, in Our family---Who Cares; and if you really do; Check yourself.