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Although I'm one of the "light skinned" sistahs... I would like to attempt to try & respond to your question...
Yes, I do believe Black is still beautiful!!! I believe that all shades worn by women of color are very tantilizing & beautiful to say the least...
However, one comment that you typed I found very peculiar. Your statement about the conversation you had with the person behind the make-up counter at the mall ... sounded a bit "out there"... or maybe it was that which I considered to be 'out there' after reading the answer/response that you posted from what was stated by the person behind the make-up counter...
Your question was: "What were the ladies mostly buying"
Make-Up Counter Clerk said: "Foundation"
Your response was: "to make there skin lighter?"
Make-Up Counter Clerk said: "Yes"
I, myself, use foundation from time to time, and have several sisters, aunts, nieces, and friends who do the same, however, my own personal reasoning for wearing foundation is to help to
even my already light - skin tone, especially when I might be trying to cover up a blemish or two ...
... and in many cases those who are purchasing a 'lighter than their own skin color' as a foundation would look like truly painted clowns....?
(why ever would they do this
In some cases I've had friends who for the first time had purchased/used foundation that did not match their skin tone/type & it would give them either an "ash" color, or a too "orange" look. Again, in those instances they really looked foolish, and needed a friend to point that out to them, because possibly the person at the make-up counter did not know what they were selling at all... In other instances those who had purchased the wrong foundation sometimes had too oily or too dry of a face after applying the make-up ~ hence, the make-up did not serve them well at all.
My point is that I've not known anyone that deliberately would purchase make-up/cover-up foundation to "lighten themselves up from their natural color"??? Maybe that person at the counter should return to cosmetology school if he/she is selling the wrong products to people just to make a sell.
One point though... I have heard of stars (such as Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Lil' Kim, Stephanie Mills, & several others who have had their skinned lightened (not by cosmetic foundations) but by some form of
cosmetic surgery.... this of course would most likely be as expensive as getting a "boob-job"???
I don't totally agree with your overall question because I too have seen countless advertisements that come across my television with various shades of Black women.... all glowing in their natural skin tones (with a variety of shades). This is also true in magazine ads too. Now I'm not saying that it may not exist, because that would be 'naive' of me, however I have not totally noticed that which you are mentioning unless you are referring to a specific industry such as "music"??
Much love...
N2