So today I had a chat with a brother,
Kamal Imani. Our conversation was conceived over the reissue of his Hip Hop Soul & Poetry song entitled
"For the Love of the Black Woman" and the meaning behind his writing it. He quickly proceed to share his thoughts regarding an issue that for centuries continue to parade in cloak of deep seated hate among women in particular that we often time pretend does not exist.
This my dear sisters, its the issue of
Dark Skin Vs. Light Skin complex and the self hate that it propagates which descends through generations. That is right. No typographical error here.
Brother Kamal Imani's Take:
" In the year 2013 I am somewhat surprised to still see shows such as
Soledad Obrien’s on
CNN where many of our sisters, especially our girls, still manifest self hate. Many dark skinned girls want to be lighter and many light skinned girls are checking the
“White Box” on college applications with the belief that this will give them a better opportunity for success. In light of the on going
"Lightskin VS Darkskin" schism and competition, I still feel a need for songs and poems like
"Ms. Melanin" to be brought in front of our people.
For the Love of the Black Woman (originally titled “Ms. Melanin) was written in response to sisters that I know being teased when they were in middle and high school because they were dark and the inferiority complex and lack of self esteem still remains decades later. I wanted to let them know how beautiful they are. So I wrote a spoken word poem about it and put it to music. You want to hear it? Check it out!"
Click the title below to hear the song:
For the Love of the Black Woman By Kamal Imani
Empress Skortcher's Take:
In my experience and humble opinion, it is not a taboo issue but one I
seldom give much attention to simply because to behave, or think that
the shade of my sisters' skin makes them
more/less beautiful, smart, or better yet MORE/LESS LUCKY is plainly
ignorant.
The
truth is, the outward appearance of either a dark or light skinned
sister whose mind is not at ease with her physical outer and emotional inner
self is not at all beautiful nor does it attract positive energy.
In looking at Jamaica's Prime Minister,
Portia Simpson Miller,
Oprah Winfrey,
United States First Lady, Michell Obama, Tennis Greats,
Venus & Serena Williams, Olympic Sprinter,
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Chairman of the National Family Planning Board and Anti-Aging Physician
Dr. Sandra Knight, the Queen of Soul,
Aretha Franklin, and so many other dark skinned sisters and think magnificent! There is no way that THEIR LUCK GOT THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
With that being said, I truly believe
EVERY
woman light skinned, or dark skinned, Caucasian, Asian, Latin, etc,
has the ability to learn to, and appreciate her inner and outer self,
which over time helps to shape and mold her greatest characteristic
asset (self-confidence) to become her best self.
I hope anyone male & female suffering from this inferiority complex
realize that the self hate that this harbors shines bright on the
outside to those looking in.
Bob Marley said it best, "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!
On the other hand, to those who suffer from this horrible superiority
complex, as one of the greatest president,
Franklin D. Roosevelt once
said, “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself.” What is yours can not
be for anyone else. Free up and live.
Happy International Woman's Day.
-EmpSk
