A Hidden Prejudice Among Black Women: Skintone
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Do you think that tone of your skin defines how you are treated by other black women?
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If so, why is this a problem in the african american community?
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What can be done to change this prejudice?
My comment:
I do believe that skin tone does play a part in how you are treated by other black women. I will share this experience with you:
I was at my local Walmart. I was standing in line to check out. The cashier was a dark skinned lady and the customer in front of me was a dark skinned lady aswell. The cashier spoke to the lady and asked if she found everything ok. They continued to talk, laugh and smile at one another. During their conversing, the cashier glanced back at me, and gave me a dry look. I was not graced with a smile as I had given her nor like the smile she was giving the lady before me. As the lady paid for her items and grabbed her bag, the cashier smiled at her one last time and said to her ” have a great evening”. As, I approached the cashier, she began to scan my items; she didn’t smile at me nor did she ask if I found everything okay. I then smiled at her and said “hello, how are you?”. Did I get a warm hello or a smile? No, I did not. What I got was lady scanning my items, never looking up and with a frown on her face.
Many times before, I had experienced this. I began to survey who were displaying this type of behavior towards me. Sadly to say, it was always from a darker skinned lady. So, I have always wondered if this was a problem for all women. Not just for the lighter skintone women, but for the darker skinned women aswell.
Now, this has posed questions number two and three above. Share your opinion, experiences and most of all how do we as women change this hidden prejudice.
