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LightSkin Versus DarkSkin... Again?
SierraStokes WmwmWSim
“I Like A Long Haired Thick Redbone” turned in a large
crowd as everyone gathered to discuss the all too common is
sue that plagues black society. While note taking at the event,
the continuous discussion of “light skin versus dark skin” be
gan to marinate in my mind, causing me to grow concerned
with the state of my people. To think that in the AUC there
are constant panel discussions about skin complexion when
we have so many more prevalent issues is disheartening...
even frightening.
Politics, global warming, the state of Spelman are just a few
topics that seem worthy of discussion, but why are they hard
ly talked about? Having an intelligent panel ponder problems
that will ultimately impact this generation as well as genera
tions to come lives are more important, but for some reason
there seems to be a stand still on dead matters.
This is not to say that colorism should not be addressed, but
how often should it be done? Taking the time to replace the
typical panel discussion with one that will elevate the mind is
the goal. As Spelman women, it is unacceptable that we even
continue to entertain such idiotic talk. The fact that a week
later another panel discussion was held reiterating the same
matter is redundant.
Often times, we have panel discussions without professionals
in the particular field causing the validity of the argument to
be questionable. The Panel discussions turn into screaming
matches between the audience and the crowd and often times
disrespect is being shown to those who volunteer to actually
do the panels.
Being a native of North Carolina, I have been able to visit
great schools, such as Duke University and UNC Chapel hill,
Valentines Day:
“Margaret! Marrrrrrrrrr-ggggarettttttttttt! They wanna sing to
you, come see! Go inside! It’s you!!”
I was mortified. In the midst of my Valentine-less day,
ecstatic Spelman sisters summoned me into Alma Upshaw
Dining Hall to be serenaded by some members of Morehouse
College Glee Club in the most romantic way a woman would
want to be honored: In front of EVERYONE. As the men
crooned the knickers off of a roomful of ladies, I sat there in
confusion wondering why I was the target ot this affection.
I had no Valentine, and the card given to me was from “my
Nigerian prince”. As the story materialized, my heart sank
and I realized this gesture was definitely for a Margaret, but
not Margaret West.
To say the least, I felt alone. Even though I had a great
day, amazing friends and family who love me, I felt reduced
to my relationship/Valentine status. People told me I should
be grateful regardless of who the gift was intended for, but I
couldn’t help but feel as if the whole monstrosity was a fla-
for panel discussions. At these discussions, certi
fied people are invited to speak on relevant matters
and the audience is there to be receptive of what is
being taught. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for
any panel discussions I have covered in the AUC.
The mere thought of an audience member yelling
out while someone is speaking on a panel is utterly
frightening to the host of these events at predomi
nantly white schools, but when it happens in the
AUC it causes laughter and further uproar.
Junior Class President Sheryl Means was another
attendee at the “I Like A Long Haired Thick Red
Bone” panel discussion who expressed concerned
about the event.
When asked her opinion of the overall affair Means
said, “I always have a problem with these AUC
panel discussions, because I feel like there is not a
focus on what is going on and secondly there is no
actual follow up. You talk about it, you talk about
it, you talk about it, but what is solved? People say
they are coming in with an open mind, but are they
really ready to accept that change?”
In addition, selecting panelists who are able to iden-|
tify with the crowd and make sense of the discus
sion at hand is imperative.
“I have a problem with the panelist that was strictly
up there to entertain. Towards the end of the dis- of Lhe Crop. Claiming this title means we should represent
cussion, that is when he [Renaldo Nehemiah] really started to ourselves as the ladies we are, at all times, and the allowance
focus on the issue, but that was only after he was called out by of such behavior on our campus should never be tolerated,
an audience member,” added Means. Furthermore, as educated women it is time to expand our
As Spelman women we like to consider ourselves “The Cream topics of relevancy to national and global issues.
Photo Courtesy oflynndove.wordpress.com
grant reminder of being single.
We all know what Valentine’s Day means at Spelman: An
overloaded mail center full of girls brimming with excitement
and angry sisters glaring at the exchange from parcel to pres
ent. A spectrum of intensified emotions and their displays
sounds like bliss for some and chaos tor others. Dates and
gifts are in a commercial exchange, dinners are had, and love
is expressed. Hours later, flowers are on their way to wilting
and chocolates are gone. The mail center is back to normal,
and romance is stale in the air. So if there is only a twenty-
four hour span where love appears to be on crack, why do
women (single or committed) determine their self-worth by
the measurements of gifts, texts, and I Love Yous? I’ve been
guilty of it myself, as a woman who is confused why I’m
single. But what I’ve done is realize that sometimes, the days
following Valentine’s Day, cupid’s arrow returns to sender.
Most of the time, we assume that the girl with the biggest
teddy bear and the tallest Edible Arrangements has the great
est love. But honestly, do we acknowledge how many people
have a VALENTINE, and not a BOYFRIEND? Society prods
women into believing that on February 14, if you’re not being
showered with gifts and affection, you’re lonely. More people
are concerned about having someone to share their day with
than having someone to share their life with, making for false
displays of what everyone thinks they should have. When the
right man comes along, love will always be in the air.
Self-love is the most important love. Regardless of our rela
tionship status, we’ve got to understand not to covet someone
else’s blessing because there’s plenty more where they came
from. When a good man recognizes that you don’t do it for
the men because they never notice (courtesy of Drake), he’ll
know he’s pursuing a whole woman to compliment him and
not a half who needs completion. So next Valentine’s day,
don’t look for a Valentine. Pursue healthy love year round
instead of a quick fix for February 14.
oooooooooooooc
NBA: Noosing Black Athletes
Lexi Williams:
For many young African American boys, the sports
industry represents the dream of being acknowledged and
having it all which is a model of social mobility. Black boys
look up to black athletes and strive to be them. The National
Basketball association has especially become an avenue that
has become an inspiration for young black boys because
of the number of blacks that are apart of it. This makes the
dream of becoming a sports superstar even more attainable.
What people don’t know is that the NBA still models a struc
ture where black men are meant to be dominated. The noose
which was used to kill black men is now a symbol that our
progression has still been masked by systems which work to
undermine the acheivements of blacks.
No one seems to be asking questions like why was Allen
Iversion considered such a bad boy? Is the dream of being an
NBA star really everything that it seems? In many ways it is a
false reality being that the chances of becoming a sports pro
fessional are very slim and the repercussions of being a Black
athlete due to white domination through coaches and highly-
focused media attention on mistakes is seldom discussed.
Although there is no question that Black male athletes benefit
economically, many other people also benefit from the com
modification of their talents. The male athlete subtly appears
as the boy, who with training and structure by rules, can be
made into a “proper” man. Since most of the coaches, own
ers, and even fans of the National Basketball association are
mostly white, black men are fastened with the belt of white
standards. This not only forces them to answer and their
white superiors but it also limits them as a result. Since the
NBA consist mostly of black players there is an underlying as
sumption that they have come from bad neighborhoods and
lack father figures which shapes their behavior.
In an article from ABC news called “Why So Many NBA
Players Get in Trouble”, it states “Many of today’s NBA stars
came from urban America, where basketball is seen as an
inexpensive ticket to fame and fortune. In some cities, the
image of streetwise “gangsters” is celebrated and emulated.
And that can carry over into young adulthood” (Redeker).
This shows that there is an idea that black people want to be
gangsters and of course in a white middle class world, where
their NBA players dare to step into, that is unacceptable and
has to be erased. This explains some of the reason Allen Iver
son was labeled as a bad boy. His cornrolls and connection
with his old friends made opposed the alteration which made
him unruly. The need for discipline of these Black players
arises because they need to know how to leave their culture
off of the stadium floors. For this reason coaches take
on the “father roles” and unavoidably reenact the race
script where Black males are subjected to white con
trol. NBA practices constantly show that the Black
boys need the help of white authoritative figures to
transform into better men. Although this is apparent
in the NBA because of the proportions of black players
to white coaches and authority, it is not only the NBA
that faces this problem. A recent Acura advertisement
featuring a black NFL athlete reinforced this same idea
when he was stripped of his uniform and placed in elegant
formal attire as the voice-over concludes “Aggression in its
most elegant form”. Not only is his aggression being tamed,
but a closer look reveals that this make-over is done with
white hands. This commercial symbolizes the message that
the sports industry has been sending out, black athletes have
to be renovated. The term renovation not only signifies that
these males are objects but also that there is a need to repair
their behavioral impotence.
In order to ensure that Black athletes are subjugated, the
law and the media work to makes example of Black ath
letes who do not follow the rules. Although there have been
incidents with athletes from an array of ethnic backgrounds,
there seems to be a highly disproportionate level of Black
athletes in trouble with the law in the media even for many
would consider minor offenses. However, although athletes
may have economic advantages, they still cannot escape their
place in society it seems. Even when Black athletes do things
that seem minor, there are major consequences that they have
to face. When Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons was con
victed of dog fighting not only did he face consequence with
the law but even his career suffered and he was released as
quarterback. Being that he was seen as the leader of his team,
it seems that by punishing him so severely, it was a message
that put Black athletes in their place. Hopefully in due time
black athletes will gain the respect they deserve and help to
make a difference in the community so we can ensure our
black men and boys aren’t reliving the horror of the noose.
Ja