Perspectives and Variations

[seraphcelene]

I've never been super aware of colorism. It's a concept that I've only *really* become consciously interested in this past year after seeing the documentary Dark Girls (I highly recommend it). My family contains a spectrum of skin colors from very light to dark, and with the exception of those middle school years when adolescence hits and we all learn to hate ourselves and yearn for something different, I've never been uncomfortable with my skin color. I am the color that I am, and I am black. It is probably the least interesting, least informative, yet most readily identifiable bit of information that you could possibly gather about me. Me being the me that I am, I'm always curious to hear alternate perspectives. I think that difference is amazing and fantastically important. Many voices.

This video was super interesting simply because of the terminology used by the speakers themselves. It really touches on the differences between race and culture and the way the two are conflated in America and shoe-horned into existing in the same place. From the outside looking in, these people look black and are boxed as black; however, from the inside looking out, they are Latino. Understanding that to be so also means that they can be black, as well. But the difference is that from where they sit culture trumps skin color.

"Black and Latino" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I get what you're saying. I'm classified as white. (and I am a very pale girl.) But as far, as I'm concerned, if you want to have an idea of what/who I am, Jewish trumps everything else. It impacts the way I think, act and speak. And I am not all that observant, it's just a very strong cultural identity.

This country is not that good at recognizing cultural differences.

[seraphcelene]

This country is not that good at recognizing cultural differences.

Word.