Equality

Disclaimer: I've given myself approximately twenty minutes to type this post & post subsequent link on Twitter before I go home, so if it's filled with spelling mistakes, grammatical horrors, inaccuracies or all around Gibber, you know why.

Quick recap: @blacknerds hosted a debate on Twitter today, that against all odds I found myself sucked into. I was steadfastly trying to ignore it and concentrate on doing dull administrative tasks, but Tweets kept catching my eye. The debate was about light skinned vs dark skinned black people (I'm gonna use the term black as it's inclusive of all those in the African diaspora, whereas African American isn't).

In essence, it seems that some people were arguing that the light skinned people - those who past the notorious paper bag test no doubt- have access to more privileges than dark-skinned people. The lighter you are, the more society favours you.

While I can accept that to a certain extent, and I appreciate that Western perceptions of beauty are very much influenced by this which in turn has a negative impact on how many black people see themsleves, I see no evidence that those of us who are light experience significant advantages on a global or even national level.

To me, this division is internal. While it may have its basis in historical notions of white supremacy and certain elements of it are perpetuated by the media, I don't think there is any evidence to suggest that the benefits of being lighter are significant.

A colleague of mine recently completed a study where she spoke to black Caribbean males & females aged 16-24 about sexual health needs. A lot of the young girls expressed preferences to light skinned guys, with "good hair" so they could have pretty babies. This is disturbing on many levels, but I don't think this suggests that we must see this light vs dark division as anything other than a distraction.

Because let's face it race, as a socially contructed phenomenom, isn't just about colour. And the discrimination faced by black people of all shades isn't just about race: it's about class, gender, sexuality, disability - the works.

So rather than further divide ourselves trying to decontruct, analyse and solve an issue that really isn't an issue, perhaps it's best to focus on what we are trying to achieve: equality for everyone.

Shit. Two minutes over my time.