African-Americans/'Blacks' In The Media

[Dimezanime88]

Why is it that the majority of the people that are apparently supposed to be the representation of African-Americans/'Blacks' on American tv, are usually really light-skin, have curly big brown hair (sometimes straight), and light brown eyes? Is it just me? Its rare from what I've seen to see a girl or a guy of a darker complexion be portrayed as being beautiful, popular, intelligent, and 'calm', or even as a main character. I remember how in one case, the show "My Wife and Kids", replaced the darker older sister with a lighter-skin actress. It was said that her mom pulled her off the show due to concerns about the show's future plot involving her daughter, but I just found it weird (and a coincidence) who it was that was the replacement.

[Mider T]

Dunno, I've always guessed the fairer skin thing. Happens opposite with whites and asians though latinos are the same really.

[narutosimpson]

no it's not just you, it's been that way a long time. I guess you can't really hate on them just for being light skinned though.

Bernie mac show had darker skinned people, and Chapelle and Chris Rock or on the TV and are darker. Chris Tucker. Anything sports related of course. For women, not as many I can think of right now.

There's not a great amount of blacks on tv in general. That's why I stay away from that shit, it distorts the reality.

[Dimezanime88]

no it's not just you, it's been that way a long time. I guess you can't really hate on them just for being light skinned though.

Bernie mac show had darker skinned people, and Chapelle and Chris Rock or on the TV and are darker. Chris Tucker. Anything sports related of course. For women, not as many I can think of right now.

True, but if to understand how dark in complexion I'm talking of, it would have to be someone like Michael Blackson.

Dunno, I've always guessed the fairer skin thing. Happens opposite with whites and asians though latinos are the same really.

The world and its ways just keep on getting confusing. I also wondered why Caucasians liked to tan themselves...

[narutosimpson]

Do you mean like Cheadle from Crash/Hotel Rwanda? Or that guy in Blood Diamond, I don't know blackson

[UtahCrip]

Why is it that the majority of the people that are apparently supposed to be the representation of African-Americans/'Blacks' on American tv, are usually really light-skin, have curly big brown hair (sometimes straight), and light brown eyes? Is it just me? Its rare from what I've seen to see a girl or a guy of a darker complexion be portrayed as being beautiful, popular, intelligent, and 'calm', or even as a main character. I remember how in one case, the show "My Wife and Kids", replaced the darker older sister with a lighter-skin actress. It was said that her mom pulled her off the show due to concerns about the show's future plot involving her daughter, but I just found it weird (and a coincidence) who it was that was the replacement.
well it made more sense if you look at who the parents were suppose to be. plus that new chicc look a whole lot better than the last one.

[Juno]

Why is it that the majority of the people that are apparently supposed to be the representation of African-Americans/'Blacks' on American tv, are usually really light-skin, have curly big brown hair (sometimes straight), and light brown eyes? Is it just me? Its rare from what I've seen to see a girl or a guy of a darker complexion be portrayed as being beautiful, popular, intelligent, and 'calm', or even as a main character. I remember how in one case, the show "My Wife and Kids", replaced the darker older sister with a lighter-skin actress. It was said that her mom pulled her off the show due to concerns about the show's future plot involving her daughter, but I just found it weird (and a coincidence) who it was that was the replacement.

The media will always pick a creamy skinned 'black' girl over a dark skinned black girl, because the former is 'less threatening' to the white masses, which are, as a whole, just as prejudiced as any majority ethnic group towards others, and will remain so as long as they are forcefed white-ified representations of other races.

At least this is better than it has been in the past, when black people were figures of ridicule and evil.

[impersonal]

(...)
At least this is better than it has been in the past, when black people were figures of ridicule and evil.
You mean gangsta rappers- wait, I didn't notice the part about "the past".

As for the distinction between light skin and dark skin, is there any study proving that there is such a misrepresentation? And besides, aren't you pushing the racist way of interpreting things a tad too far ? Sounds like we'll soon have "dark blacks", "medium blacks", "light blacks", "dark whites", "pale whites", etc.

I wonder if pale whites are overrepresented...

[Dimezanime88]

You mean gangsta rappers- wait, I didn't notice the part about "the past".

As for the distinction between light skin and dark skin, is there any study proving that there is such a misrepresentation? And besides, aren't you pushing the racist way of interpreting things a tad too far ? Sounds like we'll soon have "dark blacks", "medium blacks", "light blacks", "dark whites", "pale whites", etc.

I wonder if pale whites are overrepresented...

What racism? I'm just asking why it seems to be that way on tv. Family shows, commercials, movies, and etc. I just rarely see what I had exemplified in my first post. And soon? Where do you live at? 'Cause that isn't anything new. I was just using the the examples of 'light-skin' and 'dark-skin' to be less confusing.

well it made more sense if you look at who the parents were suppose to be. plus that new chicc look a whole lot better than the last one.

And they weren't smart enough to do that in the first place? Junior, when looking at the parents, didn't make sense either. The only one of the children that looked believable was the younger daughter.

And NS, that guy from Blood Diamond is a good example. But remember, I don't mean that they don't get screen-time and/or are ridiculed and shit. I just mean that its rare to see such a person as the center of the entertainment. Hell, even B.E.T doesn't have a host or show around a person of such complexion.

[Red]

You mean gangsta rappers- wait, I didn't notice the part about "the past".

As for the distinction between light skin and dark skin, is there any study proving that there is such a misrepresentation? And besides, aren't you pushing the racist way of interpreting things a tad too far ? Sounds like we'll soon have "dark blacks", "medium blacks", "light blacks", "dark whites", "pale whites", etc.

I wonder if pale whites are overrepresented...
Nothing wrong in a passing observation.

At the topic at hand. It's been like that even off shores. A cousin of mine is dark skinned and an actress and she said the same thing you're saying now. The reason isn't just that the "light creamy" skin isn't as threatening but it's also aesthetically pleasing and considered beautiful.

[Juno]

You mean gangsta rappers- wait, I didn't notice the part about "the past".

Gangster rappers aren't ridiculed and portrayed as evil. They're revered. But that's another problem in itself.

What I meant is that things have certainly improved since the days images like this were normal.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/1900sc_Postcard-Watermelon_04.jpg

Or, you know, these people were alive and well.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/1-segregated/images/kkk-robe-l.jpg

[Zephos]

Original gangsta rap was no different than the Sex Pistols and 70's punk in general.
It was a fiery release with sociological implications.
NWA, Ice Cube's solo career, Death Row records, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, etc etc.

The likes of 50 Cent today are more along the lines of shitty thrill movies like Hostel.

[Nodonn]

I haven't read the topic, but I still gotta reply.
But why the hell are there quotation marks around black?
Are they really not black?
Is the black skincolour made artificially?
Enlighten me about the quotation marks please?

[Biolink]

I can't say for certain.

IMO, I think on a general basis the mass media finds fairer(Carmel or Light) skinned Black women more aesthetically pleasing than a very Dark woman. I don't find it to be much different than how White people don't usually consider the Palest of White person to be the most attractive(Thus a lot of women tan).

[LayZ]

The world and its ways just keep on getting confusing. I also wondered why Caucasians liked to tan themselves...
You're not the only one. Its weird when those rich white people who think they're superior to minorities, are the first to get lip implants and tans. :notrust

The skin complexion and beauty standard goes back to African American self-hatred too. Blacks used to try to bleach their skin and straighten their hair back in the day. People get their views about what beauty is "supposed" to be from society. Its not as bad as it used to be, but there is still is a bias towards lighter skinned people.

[Dimezanime88]

I haven't read the topic, but I still gotta reply.
But why the hell are there quotation marks around black?
Are they really not black?
Is the black skincolour made artificially?
Enlighten me about the quotation marks please?

Oh, you haven't heard? I personally don't like to use that word, so I just result to the word 'African-American'. And lets not get into the debate about every 'Black' person not being 'African-American' (I'm well aware of that). I just see things differently.

But I see Seabear, LayZ, and Biolink know what I mean. I just simply find it unfair that even in our own group, the difference of shade is being judged and presented for the entertainment of others.

[ZeroBlack]

You're not the only one. Its weird when those rich white people who think they're superior to minorities, are the first to get lip implants and tans. :notrust

The skin complexion and beauty standard goes back to African American self-hatred too. Blacks used to try to bleach their skin and straighten their hair back in the day. People get their views about what beauty is "supposed" to be from society. Its not as bad as it used to be, but there is still is a bias towards lighter skinned people.

You hit it on the spot. It's basically about pushing the standard of beauty, the whiter you are the better to the media (female wise). The darker, the uglier, and dumber, for both genders.

[Byakkö]

White people like to watch something similar to themselves, racism is barely over, there's a little left everywhere, if subtle. However, I've been told even by my black friends that they prefer the look of a lighter black person then a darker one.

It's considered more attractive I think.

[Dimezanime88]

White people like to watch something similar to themselves, racism is barely over, there's a little left everywhere, if subtle. However, I've been told even by my black friends that they prefer the look of a lighter black person then a darker one.

It's considered more attractive I think.

See, they're being brainwashed.

[impersonal]

Gangster rappers aren't ridiculed and portrayed as evil. They're revered. But that's another problem in itself.


My point was that they're portraying themselves as ridicule and evil.


Nothing wrong in a passing observation.

It reveals a way of thinking.


What racism? I'm just asking why it seems to be that way on tv.
I didn't intend to call you a racist, I was just thinking that the (very american !) way of seeing everyone as a member of a racial community before anything else is going a bit too far when people start seeing discrimination between "black blacks" and "brown blacks".

I mean, so far we don't have affirmative action programs for brunettes (because "men prefer blondes"), but at this rate it's going to happen pretty soon.

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

There are shows that I watch that have pretty dark skins so I have to disagree with you!

[Nesha]

There are shows that I watch that have pretty dark skins so I have to disagree with you!

Those shows must be very few and far in-between.

Light-skinned people not only get adored by the media, but in RL they tend to get treated better than brown-skinned and dark-skinned Black, too. They are believed the be the more "attractive" group of Blacks.

[LayZ]

I didn't intend to call you a racist, I was just thinking that the (very american !) way of seeing everyone as a member of a racial community before anything else is going a bit too far when people start seeing discrimination between "black blacks" and "brown blacks".
I understand what you're getting at, but it seems like you think this a new idea or something. This idea has been our society for decades. Its just that people rarely talk about it. Which I think was the OP's purpose for this thread.

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

Those shows must be very few and far in-between.

Light-skinned people not only get adored by the media, but in RL they tend to get treated better than brown-skinned and dark-skinned Black, too. They are believed the be the more "attractive" group of Blacks.

Well it might be true that there are more light-skinned than the rest and it might be also true that some in the end find them more attractive but still there is good enough amount of dark skinned people that don't make this on a scale that can be raised as a discrimination.

[impersonal]

I understand what you're getting at, but it seems like you think this a new idea or something. This idea has been our society for decades. Its just that people rarely talk about it. Which I think was the OP's purpose for this thread.

okay. This just seems very absurd from my European perspective. I was aware that the USA had a much more racial view of people, but I didn't understand it was that much.

[Dimezanime88]

okay. This just seems very absurd from my European perspective. I was aware that the USA had a much more racial view of people, but I didn't understand it was that much.

Oh yea. Its sad isn't it?

Well it might be true that there are more light-skinned than the rest and it might be also true that some in the end find them more attractive but still there is good enough amount of dark skinned people that don't make this on a scale that can be raised as a discrimination.

Good enough, maybe, but its not balanced out.

[Nesha]

Well it might be true that there are more light-skinned than the rest and it might be also true that some in the end find them more attractive but still there is good enough amount of dark skinned people that don't make this on a scale that can be raised as a discrimination.

It's discrimination.

I've been discriminated against just because I'm not light-skinned. Light-skinned people tend to have (this is stereotypically speaking of course) better features. Long hair, light eyes, clear skin, pert noses, small chins, and petite builds. People favor them, (more Black people than anything) because they're Black but they look more...European.

It's like the OP stated, light-skinned Black are precieved as the more "attractive" group of the race. It isn't fair, but it's the truth. More guys I know in the RL perfer light-skinned women over dark-skinned women because they say they have better features and they aren't ugly like dark-skinned women. That's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

Dark-skinned men are actually adored by the media and in RL. They're not really discriminated against. And most women I know in the RL perfer dark-skinned men over light-skinned men. Again, that's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

[|)/-\\/\/|\|]

It's discrimination.

I've been discriminated against just because I'm not light-skinned. Light-skinned people tend to have (this is stereotypically speaking of course) better features. Long hair, light eyes, clear skin, pert noses, small chins, and petite builds. People favor them, (more Black people than anything) because they're Black but they look more...European.

It's like the OP stated, light-skinned Black are precieved as the more "attractive" group of the race. It isn't fair, but it's the truth. More guys I know in the RL perfer light-skinned women over dark-skinned women because they say they have better features and they aren't ugly like dark-skinned women. That's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

Dark-skinned men are actually adored by the media and in RL. They're not really discriminated against. And most women I know in the RL perfer dark-skinned men over light-skinned men. Again, that's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

Well I didn't know that this was also happening in real life, you know better than me there. I just hope its not there is not much discrimination and just like some people favoring blond/colored eyes and others not ...

[impersonal]

It's discrimination.

(...)

It's like the OP stated, light-skinned Black are precieved as the more "attractive" group of the race. It isn't fair, but it's the truth. More guys I know in the RL perfer light-skinned women over dark-skinned women because they say they have better features and they aren't ugly like dark-skinned women. That's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.


Attractive people are perceived as the more charming group of humanity. They occupy all the key roles - they are actors, businessmen, politicians. They control the ugly people and they don't let them reach the same places. They don't mate with them for fear of mixing their beautiful blood with their ugly blood.

There's a worldwide conspiracy led by racist beautiful people. I know this because I'm handsome, but I can't stand this injustice. Help me fight the power.

[/sarcasm]

My point: if people find light-skinned people more attractive, you can't do anything about it. It's the same as complaining that tall people are more attractive than smaller ones.

[Nesha]

Yeah, my statment "That's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be" kinda covers that.

[Soulbadguy]

Reminds me of a video i once saw.... (http://current.com/items/76353822_color_struck)

[Dimezanime88]

I can't do anything about it, but I might as well point it out and have people be aware that its still happening. "Black is beautiful", yea, but the media makes it seem as if its not all 'Blacks'.

Reminds me of a video i once saw.... (http://current.com/items/76353822_color_struck)

Holy shit dude! That Indian commercial ad was just fucked up! Same shit over here, just more subtle.

[Nesha]

Reminds me of a video i once saw.... (http://current.com/items/76353822_color_struck)

A very informative video.

:quite

[Nae'blis]

I see it tons too, I'm not sure why but natural black appearance apparently isn't very pleasing to see to the majority of viewers. *shrugs*

[Hoshikage]

Maybe it is how things are but I hope they are slowly changing.:)

[64palms]

What's up with the hypermasculine representation of black men in media?
It's silly is what it is.

[Nodonn]

Reminds me of a video i once saw.... (http://current.com/items/76353822_color_struck)

Colorism: discrimination based on skin tone, where lighter skin tones are preferred and darker ones are considered less desirable

:facepalm

That was one biased definition.

[CrazyMoronX]

Having black people on TV just isn't enough; they have to be certain skin-tone black people. That's racist.

[64palms]

okay. This just seems very absurd from my European perspective. I was aware that the USA had a much more racial view of people, but I didn't understand it wasthat much.
I'm from the US, and I think they're full of shit.
Original gangsta rap was no different than the Sex Pistols and 70's punk in general.
It was a fiery release with sociological implications.
NWA, Ice Cube's solo career, Death Row records, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, etc etc.

London Calling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqO1b-5RsAs)
Boyz In The Hood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMlPVpXtkJY)
Right, I can totally see the resemblance.:zaru

[Dimezanime88]

I'm from the US, and I think they're full of shit.

What's full of shit? That what I'm discussing isn't happening in the American media and advertisements?

[64palms]

There are plenty of very dark skinned people in American media. Probably moreso than light skinned black people in American media.

[fghj]

So when television will show the non racist Dark Black People what's gonna be next? Their lips too small? Their hairstyle too white?

[Zephos]

London Calling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqO1b-5RsAs)
Boyz In The Hood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMlPVpXtkJY)
Right, I can totally see the resemblance.:zaru

How about now.

hiQoq-wqZxg
ro08bILEvqc

Or now.

JH-7kc4Qm2Y
dXZzL5ZoYK4

Gee, angry lower class people exposing revolutionary and nihilistic violence on songs? I don't see the connection at all!

[Aokiji]

It's discrimination.

I've been discriminated against just because I'm not light-skinned. Light-skinned people tend to have (this is stereotypically speaking of course) better features. Long hair, light eyes, clear skin, pert noses, small chins, and petite builds. People favor them, (more Black people than anything) because they're Black but they look more...European.

It's like the OP stated, light-skinned Black are precieved as the more "attractive" group of the race. It isn't fair, but it's the truth. More guys I know in the RL perfer light-skinned women over dark-skinned women because they say they have better features and they aren't ugly like dark-skinned women. That's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

Dark-skinned men are actually adored by the media and in RL. They're not really discriminated against. And most women I know in the RL perfer dark-skinned men over light-skinned men. Again, that's just how it is, and that's how it'll always be.

People adore tall men.

It's discrimination.

[Jetstorm]

Mmm I have seen what the OP has been talking about often enough. Granted things have gotten better but there is still a ways to go.