Random Thought...

During my freshman year at Howard University my roommate and I attended a forum (I think that's the word I want to use) sponsored by the campus organization F.R.E.S.H. which stands for "Females Representing Every Side of Hip-Hop". The topic was about the color complex and stereotypes in the black community. We were asked to state some of the stereotypes that come along with being a certain complexion and we discussed the portrayal of different complexions in Hollywood. I bet you all are wondering why I thought about that meeting. Well, it came to mind after reading some of the comments on this site as well as on other sites. It made me wonder, does popularity always come down to complexion?? I always hear things like "Rihanna only got a deal because she has light-skin" or "India.Arie doesn't get as much recognition as Alicia Keys because India is dark" or "Beyonce got more attention in Destiny's Child because she is light" or... well you get the point. I've never thought like that, but then again I'm a little naive. I have noticed that there aren't too many "melanin-rich" women getting Oscar worthy roles and that is definitely something that needs to be changed. Angela Bassett deserves an Oscar just as much as Halle Berry, if not more. But the fact that we need Hollywood to give better film roles to more women in all shades of brown doesn't mean that our lighter sisters aren't talented as well. Don't get me wrong I am not the "Mos Def" type, I'm really not that deep, lol. But, is popularity and success always an issue of dark vs. light???

All Shades of Beauty