Dark skin women are not a badge of shame
She is dipped in chocolate and bronzed in elegance
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For a while now we have heard many unsettling comments from some black men. Shameful utterances about beautiful, dark skin women that are repulsive and unsettling. Surprisingly, most of these men are usually of the same or darker shades than the black women they deem unattractive.
This truly baffles me! I often wonder where they get the moral authority to utter such belittling words with so much confidence.
Their words almost instantly invalidate the fight for justice and equality that black people have so much fought for. So painful and destructive are what they say about dark skin women that it makes you ask, why speak before think? Such utterances have made us a subject of mockery. Other people ridicule us because of the dark skin vs light skin in fighting within the community.
One day an event occurred online where a black man said something denigrating about dark skin women.
Later, a colleague of mine said to me, “After all that has happened to you black people, instead of coming together….. Men, women and children, you divide yourselves based on shades now? What then was the point of all the blood your forefathers and mothers shed, to secure your freedom and equality if you are only going to undermine it?
For a while I stood mute because of the depth of the question. A drop of tear almost fell from my left eye as I reminisced what our people went through.
I took a deep breath as I looked up to the sky so that the drop of tear wouldn’t fall. Once I had gathered myself I looked him in the eyes and placed my right hand on his shoulder. I said to him, “A fool has to say something, a wise person has something to say!’’
I continued, “These men who say such hurtful words about dark skin women are obviously the former. But men of dignity who stand up against their rhetoric are the later….and just like an empty vessel makes the most noise, they too are most hollow. Moreover, they do not represent the visions and aspirations of our forefathers and mothers. Only those who strive for equality and unity do!”
The conversation went on for a while and we ended up discussing a lot of issues that day. It made me realize how profound a gap there was of black men speaking words of wisdom about black women.
Words that can build instead of destroying, words capable of rejuvenating instead of causing injury, words that bring joy and not tears. So I started searching and digging through various sources. Luckily, I stumbled upon some amazing and inspiring quotes that restored my hope in us.
Here are some powerful quotes from black men that honor black women
“Dipped in chocolate, bronzed in elegance, enameled with grace, toasted with beauty. My lord, she’s a black woman.” Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
“But what of black women?… I most sincerely doubt if any other race of women could have brought its fineness up through so devilish a fire.” W.E.B Du Bois
“I am convinced that the Black man will only reach his full potential when he learns to draw upon the strengths and insights of the Black woman.” Manning Marable
“Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression” Nelson Mandela
“The Black skin is not a badge of shame but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.” Marcus Garvey
Last but not least, we as black men should encourage one another to speak wisely about dark skin women. Our priority should be coming together to fight any rhetoric aimed at black women.
If we can halt any disparaging notions about black women and stop propagating colorism, we can become what those who came before us envisioned. Unity is strength so let us come together.
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