Janet Hubert-Whitten. Jazz Raycole. JoMarie Payton…all dark skinned women who’ve been replaced on popular African-American television shows by women with a lighter skin tone.
This week, The Panther decided to investigate the shift in society toward favoring women of lighter skin.
We acknowledge that women such as Hattie McDaniels, Loretta Divine, Alfre Woodard and Cicely Tyson paved the way. Yet we question why women with darker skin seem to be dying out of the film and video industries. It seemed to happen around the time when natural, became nappy and perms became a requirement to advance in the industry. What we question, is why is nappy bad and what defines “good hair?” Why aren’t women of all colors equally appreciated in our culture today?
From our investigations, we’ve discovered that not only is lighter skin in this season, but faux as well. Perfectly sculpted bodies with made-up faces, wearing fake hair, lips, breasts, eyes, and other assets rule movies, videos and even the catalogs.
We, at The Panther, question whether this arises from a basic human need to be desired and feel included. It is the same desire that makes young college women switch from the basketball shorts and T-shirts of their high school days, to imitating the girls wearing stiletto pumps and rocking the runway look in the media.
The brown paper bag complex still exists. The idea that closer to white is right is evident in our culture today. Are blacks judging only one standard of beauty? And if so whose standard is it? This standard is clearly not the same for African-American males. Lighter skinned men have been declining in the industry ever since men like Wesley Snipes and Taye Diggs became popular. The truth of the matter is that color has become a fad. Like FUBU, here today, gone tomorrow.
What it really boils down to is the question of the difference between light and dark. Are people toward the lighter end of the color spectrum favored? And if they are, is this just within our own community, or society as a whole?
We return full circle to the age-old dilemma. Does society reflect culture? Or does culture reflect society? Whichever formula it is, we conform to what we see projected on silver screens or blaring from loud speakers.
While initially split on the subject, here at The Panther we agree on one point. Just because the media or society paints a certain picture, doesn’t mean that it has to become your personal reality. Do what feels best. Do what feels most comfortable. Do what is most original. Do you.