'Dark Girls': An exploration into the Skin Color biases within African-American culture

 A documentary long overdue, in my opinion.   One that will hopefully shed light and breathe understanding about a problem that simply cannot be denied.   Some people choose not to believe such matters exist or choose to excuse or ignore it passing it off as "preference" and an issue only to those who make it one. I, for one, have my own stories about what it has been to be a "brown" girl in this color-stricken world.  I cannot wait to see this documentary and if just ONE person listens and understands the pain and acknowledges the problem, I couldn't be happier.

Watch preview here:


Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo. film (produced by Bill Duke for Duke Media and D. Channsin Berry for Urban Winter Entertainment, co-produced by Bradinn French and edited by Bradinn French)

Will Black Women Ever Catch a Break?

If we're not being attacked for our "attitudes" or mocked by men and minstrels, we're being labeled for having "lists" or kicked for having kinks in our hair. Let's not even get started on the whole skin tone issue..again.  One more shot has been fired at black women by Psyhcology Today blogger Satoshi Kanazawa.  He posted a blog several days ago titled "A Look at the Hard Truths About Human Nature"which had some claims of scientific evidence that supports why black women are less attractive than women of other races. 

Some excerpts:

What accounts for the markedly lower average level of physical attractiveness among black women? Black women are on average much heavier than nonblack women. The mean body-mass index (BMI) at Wave III is 28.5 among black women and 26.1 among nonblack women. (Black and nonblack men do not differ in BMI: 27.0 vs. 26.9) However, this is not the reason black women are less physically attractive than nonblack women. Black women have lower average level of physical attractiveness net of BMI. Nor can the race difference in intelligence (and the positive association between intelligence and physical attractiveness) account for the race difference in physical attractiveness among women. Black women are still less physically attractive than nonblack women net of BMI and intelligence. Net of intelligence, black men are significantly more physically attractive than nonblack men. [...]
The only thing I can think of that might potentially explain the lower average level of physical attractiveness among black women is testosterone. Africans on average have higher levels of testosterone than other races, and testosterone, being an androgen (male hormone), affects the physical attractiveness of men and women differently. Men with higher levels of testosterone have more masculine features and are therefore more physically attractive. In contrast, women with higher levels of testosterone also have more masculine features and are therefore less physically attractive. The race difference in the level of testosterone can therefore potentially explain why black women are less physically attractive than women of other races, while (net of intelligence) black men are more physically attractive than men of other races.

There are undoubtedly those who don't feel this is even an issue or it is for only those who make it one, but it's clear this affects some people even if it's not you or anyone you know. I don't know which is worse, people who actually continue to perpetuate this non-sense or those who choose not to acknowledge it.  My question is, how can we stop these ideologies from being perpetuated? Or can we?

What's in a Name?

Who do you envision when you hear a name like Tanisha.... What about Becky? Lamar? Julio? Ryan? 

There have been reported cases of job-seekers being discriminated against based on their names.  Do you feel that someone with a more 'white' sounding name is more likely to be considered for a job over someone whose name sounds 'Asian' or  'Black'? Did this or would this come in to play when naming your child and what do you think  YOUR name says about you?

9Y.7M.20D...Death Befalls bin Laden

Nine years, seven months and 20 days. My initial reaction after receiving the breaking-news in the midst of an awesome birthday celebration: Bullshit and propaganda..but HEY let's take a shot anyway!

On this 2nd day of May 2011, a day that will be forever branded on the hearts, minds and souls of millions; as dusk seeps in and the reports have unfolded, I find myself still feeling some type of way about the death of Osama bin Laden...

As one CNN article reported, Bob Gibson, a retired New York police officer, said the news of bin Laden's death gave him a sense of "closure." "I never thought this night would come, that we would capture or kill bin Laden," he said. "And thank the Lord he has been eliminated."  For those who share his sentiments and celebrate Osama's killing as justice for their loved ones who sacrificed and lost their lives, I am happy. Happy for their peace and solace but something about thanking God for a man's execution does not sit well with me; enemy or not. 

As various Internet sites continue to swirl with news updates, photos, jokes and the usual gamut of public opinion, I admittedly fear what's to come. While I do feel proud to see this happen under President Obama's regime, part of me hopes that those thinking that this earns him a "get re-elected free" card don't make the same mistake many Americans do with their 'Idol' favorites and assume they're safe only to see them voted off early much to the shock and dismay of bewildered viewers. 

"Our country kept its commitment to see that justice is done," Obama declared. "We're reminded that we're fortunate to have Americans who have dedicated their lives to protecting ours...As commander-in-chief, I could not be prouder."


My Question is this: How do you feel Osama's capture & death will affect Obama in terms of the criticism he receives and his potential re-election? Will the ridicule stop with this? What does this mean to you and what do you predict for the US now?

The QOTD on Facebook yielded comments such as:

"Murder is terrible....nothing should be celebrated here....y'all are harmed more by the american politicans who been raping y'all of your money and getting rich off of "war" vs this "person" they can Bin Laden #brainwashed"

"America makes you believe what they want you to believe. They want you to believe that you are "safe" or "safer" now the Saddam and Osama are dead. Why is the world safer? Saddam didn't have weapons and who can honestly prove the the actions of 9/11 were all Al Qaeda/Osama Bin Laden's doing? I believe 9/11 is a conspiracy but it is what it is, just my beliefs. War will always happen because man is corrupt. Man will always want power, money and control. People are never truly safe, America just wants you to believe that."

"I am familiar with our past associations with Osama. That's not the point. And there was a reason why he was blamed. And there is a reason why we went after Hussein first. The fact of the matter is this. You can't convince common folk that those conspiracy theories are true. All they know is what they are told. They were told that Osama did it. They want revenge. And it's easier to chase a man around for 10 years than it is to convict and prove every single person involved with the US was guilty. On top of that, if that is done, this country would collapse or become taken over by some ruthless leader. So let me ask you this, was 911 not terrible? What would you have proposed we did if we could prove the US was without a doubt involved? Do you not think they would want their head too? We can't prove that the US did it. They was able to prove that Osama was involved. Did Osama ever say who helped him do it? All this time he knew he was a target and not once did he name names. I'm asking. And if Osama was crazy enough to let the US place full blame on him without ratting someone out,then he died for his foolishness. " 

So where do you stand?