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Met some great people at Angela Simmon's Launch Party

 http://angelaiam.com/ #Beaubomeshells #angelaiam #henribendal

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a Kalakuta Queen (one of Fela’s 27 dancers/wives)

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Day 12 of White History Month: The Imposition of Colorism and Colonial Beauty Standards on People of Color

This is a long post adapted from a longer essay which references a lot of studies so you might notice there’s no works cited, but if you really want it, send me an ask.

Related to racism and colonialism, colorism is the discrimination against darker skin and preference for lighter skin among people of color. Colorism was created by European colonial standards. It was engineered by white people and white people continue to harm people of color with colorism in the media, workplace, and in their own minds.

White people tend to be unaware of the nature of colorism because of the popularity of tanning. Within mainstream white American culture, tanning has become a trend, leading many white people to be ignorant of how prized fair skin is. A preference for tanned (white) skin among white people does not negate colorism. Tanned skin is a trend and is also tied to class and status (time for leisure) while in the past, tanned skin was linked to working outdoors. When white people are aware of colorism, they often try to portray it as a tragic phenomenon among people of color and not one that is the result of whiteness, racism, and colonialism.

Many people of color are also unaware of the true nature of colorism, as well; some believe it to simply be a harmless “feud” between lighter and darker skinned people of color. This is not the case. While many light-skinned and white passing people of color may feel a disconnect from their racial identity due to their skin color, this does not negate the privilege they have. Colorism is directly related to  colonialism, showing tangible effects on people of color. Communities of color are divided by skin color and given privilege based on their proximity to whiteness.

Historically

Racist colonial logic emerging from slavery associated Blackness with savagery and ugliness, as opposed to whiteness which was associated with civilization and beauty. From this logic emerged features associated with whiteness – light eyes, straight/long hair, narrow nose, and thin lips – being considered good, while features associated with Blackness – dark eyes, kinky/short hair, wider nose, and full lips – being considered bad. 

Historically, during slavery, light-skinned Black people were treated less violently by overseers, were more likely to be given household duties instead of more difficult work, had better living conditions, and had more possibilities for education and eventual manumission (Rockquemore and Brunsma). After slavery, lighter-skinned Black people had more opportunities for prestige and success. 

Hypodescent - the “one-drop” rule - meant that anyone with Black ancestry would be considered Black, no matter what their appearance was. Light-skinned Black people were encouraged to think highly of themselves and were literally “valued” at higher prices during slavery. Those classified as “Mulatto” were more likely to be freed; mixed Black people (classified using the antiquated term “mulatto”) made up 10-15% of the total Black population, but 37% of all free Black people. 

Freed Black people during slavery and those were well established after slavery tended to be light-skinned. Paper bag tests were used in Black communities to establish admission to social events, fraternities/sororities, and more, shutting out darker-skinned Black Americans from networking opportunities. Noting that lighter skinned Black people were more likely to successful, sociologist E.B. Reuter (1918) noted that even some “white blood” would “improve” Black people (rather than the obvious fact that lighter skinned Black people were treated better).

White colonizers created caste systems and categorizations deriving from this racist logic, and from it emerged the categories of quadroons, Mestizos, and Mullatoes. In the Southwest United States, Mexicans were more likely to receive United States citizenship if they had lighter skin or passed for white. Colonizers in Africa, the Americas, and Asia treated lighter skinned people with more “European” features better than those with medium or dark skin and indigenous features.

People often try to absolve white people of responsibility for colorism that existed in Asian societies before European colonial contact, but it was not racially-based. The concept of race itself is a European and Western construction. Lighter skin was a class marker just as in European societies - darker skin was linked to laboring in the sun rather than proximity to whiteness. Even when lighter skin color was preferred, indigenous hair and eye color and facial features were previously the standard of beauty.

Effects Today (behind the cut)

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Our Girl Sonjia William styling with her braids. Check out her blog at http://www.hauteandlow.blogspot.com/ and get her pieces on http://www.etsy.com/people/sonjiawilliams

Everyone loves a comeback, right! Box braids have reappeared and lots of beauties are sporting them with a fresh modern twist. We grabbed a few photos of Project Runway alum Sonjia Willams from her Instagram rocking box braids in uber cute GOOD Hair styles.

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Love the Curls, Sista Curls Products would maintain and enhance. http://www.sistas-curlcollection.com/

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There is NO Amber Alert and the police believe the children are endangered. PLEASE SHARE. Do not let an image fool you, some kidnappers are described as “quiet and nice”. The last thing we want to do is not share a story because of what the media is saying and they end up in a bad situation. The survival time for a missing child is 48 hours. The twins were taken SUNDAY. Their time is up. You all know that if they were a different color, they would be national news by now. That will not happen with this case if no one cares enough to SHARE! Please pass this story along even if you THINK they will be back home before we know it. Thanks for your help.

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numberwonmovement:

writtenbybene:

Word.

dreamhampton1:

Black Barbie. by JILcreations.

I thought these were cool

b;a

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Love the play with color. Brown Girls could do funky colors too

my new hairr~ i will spam you sorry <3333. facebook wont let me upload!

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Love seeing color, especially bright hues like yellow !

A TRUE LEO LIONESS (Taken with instagram)

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What style would you like to see Beau Bombshell, Janelle Monae with next? 

Twists

Blow Out

Dreads

Stay with the Same

Let Beau Know what you think.

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Official Beau Bombshell, Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes always have amazing hair !

Found this on Facebook. Boy that’s a lotta hair. Love it!!!!

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Should More guys pull a Chris Brown? Yes Honey! or NO Thank you!

Briane Hatcher, Dorian Cobb & Kadeem Fisher by Shannon Sinclaire for Guapo Magazine

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BeauExchange is gaining knowledge with this one. Keep your edges Right. No need to pull a Naomi Campbell. SAVE THE EDGES!!!

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Why stick to just blonde or brunette hair dye. Play with colors and get creative.

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Official BeauBombshell Amara La Negra our Latin Lover. Check out her music http://youtu.be/sMJEzFPtw64 

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Black is Beautiful! Official Beau Bombshells Originals

Miss Black America Pageant, 1972. They say a photo is worth 1,000 words… what is this one saying to you?

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Beau