He did. Disappointed me too because I really liked him.

Well, I do know this and it’s based on experience: while they may be considered “pretty”, a number of light-skinned Blacks in our area seem to age faster. Even the ones in my family.

The brown paper bag test supposedly originated in New Orleans well after reconstruction–there weren’t really brown paper bags during slavery so I think you have some bad information there–it was a test used within the black community (usually in concentrated areas of more affluent educated areas like like NO, DC and NYC) to exclude darker black people. Howard University (the Harvard of HBCU’s at the time) was said to have unofficial admissions standards like this one.

It had to do with the idea of established norms of beauty, but also there was greater access in segregated America if you were lighter so it was a survival technique of lighter skinned families to only marry other light skinned people. The bag test was a way to keep people while in bars, social clubs like fraternities and sororities from dating outside of their “approved” skin color. Spike Lee talks a lot about this in his films like School Daze and Do The Right Thing. Also, watch The Inkwell, it’s another good portrayal of colorisim and its relation to classisim.

I also question how much murdering of biracial children happened–it certainly occurred–but slaves were the greatest currency in the world so people weren’t just killing them off for no reason. We also now see that the average African-American is 25-30% european–that didn’t stem from killing off all of those bi-racial babies, clearly the majority survived to establish the existing black race in America.

Shocking your mother grew up in the segregated south and missed much of this. You did see in a lot of areas that were self sustaining with a 100% black community (usually in the north, wealthier black enclaves like DC) that they were sometimes isolated from the horrors of Jim crow and the civil rights era. Churches and schools didn’t want to have their children terrorized so they didn’t discuss the issues in great detail and did not want them marching in the streets, TV was less prevalent so it was easy to do–very easy to do if you did not have to send your children into a store owned by white people who subjugated them, but to a store run by other black people.

It’s a fascinating, sad yet empowering segment of American history that is not taught well. The new African-American History Museum in Washington is amazing. You should put it on your list of things to see and do if you haven’t.

You know, I was pretty sure I responded to you but I don’t see it anywhere. Anyway, to answer your question, she grew up in northeast Louisiana during the 50s and 60s. There is definitely disdain between darker and lighter Black people. With darker Black people towards the lighter ones, it’s because they (again) were more acceptable to white people and deemed passable in some instances but were still “lowly coloreds”. With light-skinned people, they consider themselves superior but they were also mistreated by both darker Black people and white people, the former because they were considered less than a lighter-skinned person and the latter because they were still a color. I learned stuff in in history but it’s amazing that in my later years I’m learning history stuff through Tumblr. I was unaware of the paper bag test, a test in which slave owners would hold up paper bags next to a Black person’s face. If you were darker, you were put to hard labor. If you were lighter then you were worked inside of the house. I also had no idea that the masters’ wives were also prone to kill any biracial child sired by their husbands. I knew those children were hidden away for fear that other white people would kill them but I never thought about the fact that the wives were killing them too. The more I learn the more upset I get. I knew America had a dark history but it gets darker and darker the more I learn. Still proud to be an American. Always will but I am one who does not excuse the wrongs of anyone, not even those close to me.

I didn’t know that history until I went to college and one of my good girlfriends who is biracial discussed it with me. I guess it makes sense in the idea that societies idealization of white beauty is the norm and biracial people tend to have more white features. The fact that not only white people tend to find the “Halle Berry” look more attractive but also black people. Old off the book policies like the brown paper bag rule or the comb tests at HBCU’s and historically black fraternities and sororities…it’s all so complicated.

I thought the same thing.

I get what you’re saying but that still wouldn’t mean anything. Quentin Gainz has a biracial nephew and he is very much on the “White is Right” train. It’s sickening.

Well, Whimsy, I’m glad that you’re at your senses like when you explained to me to not be offended by everyone who uses the term mulatto because different countries have different viewpoints of specific terms. I hope Clark has some redemption but he may very well be on the road Ian Levine is on. Ian is very adamant in that he is not attracted to Blacks. Funny enough is that, like Clark, he got fucked by Austin. Memory serves me right, Connor Kline said the same thing and even used “Come on, guys, I did a scene with Austin so I’m not racist”. Don’t get me started on the “I have Black friends/a Black friend” excuse.

That’s where he’s from? Makes sense. He’s from the “Shoot first, ask questions later” state. The state where bigoted white folks were going to Blacks’ houses, taking their babies and throwing them to crocodiles and alligators for entertainment.

Doesn’t that get you? That fucking a biracial Black person and fucking a “regular” one aren’t the same thing? My mom and I talked about this just today and she said something that I’ve always thought (she should know since she grew up in the 50s and 60s): this is house slave mentality. Most white people find light-skinned Black people (this includes biracial ones like Halle Berry) more attractive because it’s “socially acceptable”. Meanwhile, some light-skinned people think their shit doesn’t stink and that they’re more attractive than darker-skinned ones.

Okay but that is racist. I’m sorry but this half-assing where people say “I’m not attracted to [insert group] people” and say it’s not racist can stick it. It’s not racist in all cases but it’s definitely bigotry regardless of how many shades of color you paint it. If you don’t prefer to date Black people then that’s a preference or at least that’s how I feel. If you aren’t attracted to a Black person in anyway shape or form then, yes, you are racist. I’m friends with a girl who has not and is unsure of dating a Black man but she says that she finds Idris Elba attractive. Now I can’t say what that means but I do keep a close eye on what she says just in case. I shouldn’t be but I am disappointed in Clark because I was kind of liking him and hated that I didn’t give him a chance during his stay with Corbin Fisher but now it seems I’m going to have to put him on the same spectrum that I have put Collin Simpson and Ian Levine. As far as they’re concerned, they’re doing me a favor.

Why everybody here likes to overthink things?

It’s an easy one to power through. 10, 30 min episodes. I nocked it out in like two week nights.

Cut it away from the mainland and let it sink

Exactly!

Since people aren’t food items you get sick of after eating them too often, and they aren’t something you should “fancy” or fetishize, I’d say eyebrows were raised by your comment. Generally most people who are bigoted get snippy when the idea is brought up that they might be bigoted. Given the flippant tone of your response, again, eyebrows were raised.

People who aren’t racists or bigoted know they aren’t, and don’t feel the need to prove they aren’t when someone says they are. Just something to consider.

Ah. That’s already on a long list of shows I have to get to one day. And I agree, Austin is definitely Tracee.

It’s from the first ep. of ‘Dear White People’ on Netflix…it’s a hilarious statement and so true.

Austin is certainly more Tracee Ellis Ross, IMO.

I used have a fancy for black skin when I was a teenager, but I’m over it (for quite a while somehow). So am I racist now? Or litrally Hitler?

Sure, but If you’re not attracted to certain people because of their race, then yes, that involves bigotry. Dismissing an entire group of people based on nothing but preconceived notions about their looks, personality or whatever is bigoted. I’m not sure why people don’t understand that, or at least can’t have the balls to admit it.