About the time 'Blackish' tried to tackle colorism (review)

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[@asiyahmuh]

Blackish spent way too much time talking about how colorism affected light skinned people. Like half the episode focused on Junior and Rainbow and how they felt, when we should've been focused on Diane.

[@brittanytiera3299]

Exactly

[@kevben706]

No the colorism argument is always focused on dark skin people.

[@brittanytiera3299]

Kev Ben as it should be since they get the worst of colorism.

[@sounds_4177]

@@brittanytiera3299 that is not true

[@brittanytiera3299]

Matshepo Modiga yes the hell it is. For example dark skinned women have to hear about their own men’s disdain for them in music and the media meanwhile light skinned women get praised. I’m not saying light skinned women don’t experience horrible experiences due to colorism because I am a light skinned woman who experienced some bs. But it’s nothing compared to the shit my darker skinned sisters go through. I’m tired of y’all denying this when it’s a fact.

[@sharmy9396]

I’m upset they said Junior looked like Raven Symone with a fade when she actually a character on the show 😂😂😂

[@jordanharrington1890]

😂😂😂Ikr

[@nahalymtl9445]

hahaha... did not catch that... but to me, no big deal... the episode was way more powerful than that glitch...

[@TheDevilWearsPrada.0]

Lmfao

[@calibaby6913]

Its a callback to a joke from an episode that was filmed before she was cast but yea its kinda like huh? but shes...okay then.

[@nicolebarnett4452]

that was good writing

[@CameronCourts]

One point that people miss in the "light skinned men are soft" discussion is what that means for dark skinned men and women. Light skinned men are soft compared to who? Dark skinned men? So what are they? Hard? Threatening? Menacing? In a world that views black men as scary, being seen as soft has value. Being seen as Hard or scary can be fatal.

[@theoneme3748]

I remember when social media was rising (posting pictures and being swaggy). Idk if you do remember also, but there was a lot of pictures of light skin boy doing the face (you know, raising eyebrows, licking lips). This spread the belief that light skin boys are soft, acting pretty and such. In roasts, I would see dark skin boy roast light skin boys about how soft they were and to go cry in the corner and such. The boys just took it, seemed like they believed it themselves. Dark skin from what I got, were seen manly and strong, which is why I believe dark skin girls had it hard cause they were associated with those features too. Light skin girl were seen as soft and feminine like the light skin boys. The only difference is that it was beneficial for the girls. But dark skin girl, it wasn't.

[@queenmarie1232]

no

[@CameronCourts]

@@queenmarie1232 I don't know what this means

[@knowdaqueen177]

There is no value in demasculinizing and infantalizing black men of any color. Stereotypes are not good no matter which way you slice it.

[@Lill2895]

@@knowdaqueen177 I think they mean in relation to how they are treated by white people and how they are seen outside of our community because we amplify these stereotypes within our own community (using "WE" to refer to black people including light skinned as well as mixed in general).

[@shadowhunterartemis]

The moments where Rainbow says things like, "I didn't choose to be this way" or "It's not my fault" really reminded me of the typical white reaction to institutional racism and white supremacy. It's super important for white people (and people in general) to be less concerned about their guilt and more concerned about what's actually happening to other individuals.

[@mimilocke5650]

Yep like light skin people like Izzie's World (Creator of Light Skin Tears) being mad at dark skin people talking about colorism and trying to say they experience the same or worst are just like white people telling AA that slavery wasn't bad, there were white slaves and white people face racism too. EXACT SAME. The privilege ESP ones who are embarassed that they fall back on their unearn privilege like to lash out instead of acknowledge that they have such low self-worth that they use their only clutch to "get ahead in life",.

[@mimilocke5650]

@Izzie Storm's World Bitter Light skin who doesn't want her unearned privilege to go away!! GO GET ACTUAL SKILLS AND MERIT!

that is because you are prejudice against light skinned black people

[@kevben706]

Dark skin black are the main ones pushing colorism why should I feel sorry for what you do to yourself.

[@kevben706]

@@mimilocke5650 privilage?

[@ruggiec.ruggleby6511]

We really need to talk about the ways in which dark skinned men project their pain onto women via "preferences" and neglect the need for their daughters who look like them to have any images that show their phenotype as beautiful.

[@MiniM69]

Love Less if you’ve watched any of her other videos, you’d know that wasn’t the case. However, the merits of the argument, even when talking about dating preferences, are still valid. The pathology around colorism is most visible in black (and brown, let’s be real) communities when it comes to dating and relationships. Intraracial prejudice can be as harmful on a day-to-day basis as interracial prejudice (which, for some, may be rarer due to limited exposure to other races)

[@emmanuelmondesir1314]

*Project their pain* Im laughting my ass off. Back in ancient civilisation, darker skin on a women was seen as bad because it meant she was not spending enough time home. Nowadays Darker women are portrayed as bad only because lightskin women are closer to white women thus more ''docile'' to white people, its not pain, its brainwashing.

[@DCamp1271]

Every supposed dark skinned person on the show is actually.....medium brown toned.. I really feel like the show is catering to their white audience. So what about those dark skinned people who are darker than a brown paper bag?? Do we just fade into the night like something out of a white woman's nightmare? "Don't worry, Becky, those people don't really exist. Now, back to sleep." 🤷🏿‍♀️

[@nikibronson133]

They address this in the episode

[@janaemiller1554]

While the show doesn't have really dark skinned people on the cast, this episode did briefly address there is no specific marker for what is light or dark skin with Black people. Everyone has varying perceptions based on their own experience with color and complexion and all of that. But the younger son did ask the dad like "Since when are you dark skinned?' But that would have been another topic in an already limited time frame.

[@DCamp1271]

Thanks for the info, ladies! 🙂

[@walterjohnson1740]

If you watch the episode you would know the little girl on the show address that she is the only one in the family that is really dark skinned

[@AddBowIfGirl]

Danielle Campbell Right? So you’re telling me that Ruby and Lupita Nyongo are _both_ considered dark skinned by the general public or even just by honest black people with working eyes? If Lil Dicky, a white male, can observe and acknowledge that people Chris Brown’s color are light, what is this weird delusion with black people considering Dre and his mom dark? Do people not understand what “dark” means? Orangish is not dark.

[@priscillao1064]

Grownish tried to tackle it too and their attempt was subpar

[@999love20]

Priscilla O i thought it was funny how Zoey was conveniently not a part of any of the colorist commentary on grownish (idk if they didn’t want to mention her Bc even tho she’s brown she’s still noticeably mixed so it would’ve been to confusing Idk). And the twins that complaining about colorism were kinda light skin. Their problem in the school was more based on racism than colorism 😩. Like they even mentioned in their old neighborhood where it was predominantly black they had no trouble getting guys to like them. Which could’ve lowkey been them benefitting from colorism being the “it” girls. So basically grownish shouldn’t tackle issues that they have no business talking about😩 especially with how they ironically contribute to colorism anyway.

[@mynameisblossom2096]

They did a horrible job.

[@hazeld2018]

@@999love20 lol exactly! Thats something nobody talks about usually with colorism. How people get praised within the black community, rejected by white community, and when called out for their colorism... turn around and say white people hate them too!! As if that makes colorism they benefit from imaginary suddenly. Like lol not our fault you only get attention in a community socialized to value light skin black folks 👀

[@AsterSapphire777]

That's putting it very mildly

[@mermaidtingzzz]

Grown-ish... the show where everyone benefits from colorism? SMH. It's always interesting to see how black creators ignore a whole sect of the community.

[@mynameisblossom2096]

Literally everyone on the show is blackish 😭

[@nikibronson133]

@@eshadiva6600 first office no such thing as full black, and you may want to check who's on the cast

[@nikibronson133]

@Peter Connell there's no such thing as pure or full black. You're starting to sound a little bit like those white supremacist who are concerned about purity of their race.

[@mynameisblossom2096]

@@nikibronson133 well we know that. I think what we both meant is that some of the cast on the show don't have two black parents

[@nikibronson133]

@Peter Connell I knew what you meant by pure... that's literally as clear as day. That's why I responded. You just explained what you already stated. There is no such thing as pure black or full black because no one of the African diaspora is 100% African, especially African-Americans. The average African-American is only 65 to 73% African, 20 to 30% European and 1- 5% Native American.

[@nikibronson133]

@@mynameisblossom2096 I understand that, but that doesn't mean they aren't black. They still are black people but I can understand the criticism now but I think people forget that it's white people who do the casting. And only two people in the family are light-skinned. The rest are brown and only one person is dark witch is Diane. The Black-ish name comes from the fact that they aren't what a stereotypical black family is supposed to be and they're all black kids that grew up in an affluent suburb and stay are truly black they're Black-ish because there's a belief that black has to be associated with negative stereotype such as gangs or the hood or the ghetto and such. At least in white people's minds.

[@moisturizedkev]

I kind of feel like..... I loved Diane's part of the show the most, because she's the only dark skinned person on the show with intensely black features- we don't often discuss featurism & how that plays in. & that's hard to do on network TV when you have actors who will be cast to meet certain beauty aesthetics. There are black folk with certain facial features that will almost never be seen in the mainstream.

[@memoir02]

Yes! Featurism is very important! Full disclosure....as a teen I hated myself because even though I was light skinned like some of the other girls that the guys liked, I had prominent traditional "black" features like a broad nose, thick lips, high cheekbones, average eyes. Plus I had a gap in my teeth and freckles. I did not have those exotic racially ambiguous features (thin nose, average size lips, perfectly straight teeth, bedroom eyes, etc) and it took me until my mid 20s to be more accepting of those features that I have.

[@taishahw1696]

@@memoir02 who told you average eyes were a black feature? Or that "bedroom eyes" were a white feature? I've never heard that, nor seen any evidence if that stereotype. Either way, I'm glad you learned to love yourself.

[@AminahMight]

I don’t like it lol it’s like every time the topic of colorism comes up, the convo ALWAYS gets highjacked by light skinned people, and nothing ever gets accomplished 🙄

[@hillaryoi8946]

Same with the natural hair movement.

[@sweetvictory89]

I agree

[@AminahMight]

Izzie Storm's World no lol NOT what I was saying at all, they do need to talk about bc because they’re usually the main ones that gaslight and deflect when they talk about it. So if that’s how the conversation is gonna go, then absolutely, plz stfu.

[@fruitsarelife148]

The whole Show is for mixed people by mixed people and its an insult that they hijack the label black. No there are real black people out there, who were not represented.

[@AJ-tk7ps]

Agree, colorism includes skin color, hair texture and phenotypes. It is not restricted to dark skin people.

[@toogood2btrubk]

Alot of people were coming at black ish for the 2nd show where yara is in college there are no darkskin people.

[@Hooks2013]

yeah, she doesn't have a 'dark skinned' female friend. I'd like her to have at least one

[@toogood2btrubk]

@@christopherburroughs8744 Thank you the steryotypical light skin mom dark skin dad combo

[@laurenr.9409]

christopher burroughs but at the end of the day.. they’re still black. Y’all just look at the skin tones and think they’re not acceptable in the black community 🤦🏾‍♀️ and then it’s the fact that the show is called blackISH😂 just bc they don’t have a dark skinned person on the show doesn’t mean that the show isn’t black enough. Black comes in many colors..

[@toogood2btrubk]

@@laurenr.9409 No one is debating that nor is no one asking for a whole dark skin cast but representation is important if we all come in diffrent Shades show that maltitude. Also imagine black a show with mixed women who all resembled megan markle would that represent black women? A cast that resembles maltitude of shades light and dark is all im saying.

[@laurenr.9409]

toogood2btrubk Well think of it like this, black women are already at the top, we’re steadily getting praised just for being us, we’re becoming the lead in upcoming projects, this one show is showing diversity in the black community. Why can’t we just let them have that and still enjoy the show? Idk but this just seem like a topic for no reason... black women are already getting represented in so many other ways. Also you can’t leave the men out😂

[@queenleo5578]

I like both shows blackish and grownish but it's not enough dark skinned ppl on either show. it lacks diversity.

[@marcelle215]

But even the characters they play have a white grandparent. The Beautiful thing about being people of color is that we come in all different shades even within the same family. People my disagree, but one might argue that it would be disingenuous to hire kids who had two full black parents....bc Ross (and Ross' character) is biracial herself.

[@queenleo5578]

@@marcelle215 I understand what you're saying. But I wasn't saying have darker kids in the family, just darker skin ppl on the cast in general. they could have darker skin friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbor or something.

[@satiricalsartorial]

@@marcelle215 p

[@meeegghan]

Well Ryan Destiny is officially on the cast of grownish for season 3!

[@birdiewolf3497]

See my issue is when light skin people feel the need to "work through that pain" whenever dark skin people want to talk about their experience. Because you was fine every other day of the week, but when dark skinned people want to talk, suddenly it's been hard for you too. I agree that we really need to stop being mean to each other. And I also feel there might be some inter generational trauma in regards to why black people feel the need to constantly rag on each other (including me. Imma ragger. I rag). Because we were just teasing and now we have folks who were actually really hurt by it, and developed all these complexes.

[@Zikomo7]

Birdie Wolf Very true. There’s something “All Lives Matter-y” about light skinned people having reverse colorism stories now that dark skinned people are talking about colorism

[@RhaegarTargaryen1st]

+Birdie Wolf Are you a fan of Chrissie, too? She made a whole video on how LS/Biracial people only feel the need to address colorism when DS Black people do.

[@Klm49]

And you know what, I "wasn't doing fine every other day of the week" before the colorism conversation started!! Systemic racism that creates hierarchies of color that make my mother and two aunts feel deeply horrible, make me feel horrible too!! Damn it, I'm human too and I hate injustice in whatever form it takes. And light skin Does Not protect one from racism! Where does this idea come from?! Not folks raised in areas without anyone else Black save their family, that's for sure!! As a radical Black Feminist academic, I f-ing hate that almost every dark complexioned Black woman I encounter sees me and expression changes to anger and distrust. I dont hate them, I hate that this country has made them feel this way. Their expression of distrust and animosity is the same face I get from white people, except I know where it comes from with Black women and I am empathetic. I feel the same hatred for a system that says I should be considered better due to shades of melanin!!! I also always make certain not to use my lighter skin as a weapon against them. I understand where the feelings come from, I've seen the differential treatment, and I attempt to dispel any sense that I'm one of the crazy ones who will weaponize light skin. And Kim should know better in this video than to act like abusing anyone is ok!! My grandmama was from Georgia. She was a social worker, nurse, part of the great migration. And she raised 5 girls from deep chocolate to light yellow with two different complexioned husbands. She always said that it's your conduct that matters not the other person's. So whatever issues you have and the experiences of being hurt by some light skinned Black woman, you can't put that on every light skinned Black woman! You put that anger where it's supposed to go. On a racist system that creates cultural capital and associates it with skin color. And you know what, I'll be over here in urban planning waiting to work with you on dismantling the system together!!!

[@v4vindication622]

Klm49 no ever said lighter skinned black people don’t experience racism?? This is exactly what op is talking about lol

[@chanell1491]

“Fine every other day of the week”? I’m sorry but just how I have no idea what’s it like to be in a dark skin woman’s shoes, she has no idea how it feels to be in mine. Why is it we cannot talk about struggles we have with colorism as a people? Why is it when the topic of colorism approaches, the only focus is on dark-skin people and the moment someone light-skin comments struggles of their own(about being light not being black in general), all of a sudden light-skins are trying to take the attention off dark-skins and gain sympathy for being light? The conversation is for all black people. Yes, its understood that dark-skin lacks representation in the media, schools, and even the workplace. A light-skin person with sense doesn’t think they are shamed more than someone dark-skin, but let’s not forget colorism affects us all.

[@ChrisBrooks34]

Erica Campbell and her daughters interaction helps highlight a kind of interpersonal relationship that happens in the black community. Let's say a mixed woman get with a colorist dark man and her children particularly her daughter will likely come out darker than her, well they don't have the same lived experience and she can't relate and so some women will end up gaslighting their children and telling them oh it's not that deep it's in your head and it can actually lead to some kind of psychological torment because basically you're telling a person that their lived experience is kind of invalid because you don't share the same experience. It even relates to hair what does a mixed woman do when her darker-skinned daughter with Type 4 hair says 'Mommy why don't I have good hair like you do'. These are conversations we're not having and you do a disservice to your child truly by trying to shelter them from the hard subjects because then they don't have the tools or the equipment to face these problems head-on and now they don't know what to when confronted outside the home.

[@Jaded42O]

Izzie Storm's World Of course you derailed the entire point of what the original commenter said and hit them with a “What about this..” instead of actually addressing what she said instead of pretending it doesn’t exist and pointing out another problem.

[@puppyprincess2822]

My mom and I are the same color but shes a hair texture hound. She used to always complain that "we blacks have the worse hair". And always talk about grade. And how she have a better/ easier texture as I. As a kid/teen, I thought I needed to be mixed or white to be pretty and have "good hair".

[@nikibronson133]

Mixed isnt a race. Biracial isnt a race. The point of the episode was showing that colorism is affects everyone. That "mixed" woman is a black woman. Also, to the hair thing, black people have all types of hair textures and have been doing all types of black hair since forever so i think black people of different backgrounds will be ok

[@nikibronson133]

@Izzie Storm's World can you name some because thats hella colorist too

[@puppyprincess2822]

@@nikibronson133 Colorism effects everyone, yet, it also have different levels of severity and that was also the point.

[@tcg5427]

The episode still made darker skinned people the villains. I have so much to say but not enough time. I cringed the whole episode

[@kevben706]

So who were suppose to be the villain.

[@sounds_4177]

Why did you cringe??

[@JSSteele1]

I thought it was just me. At the end of the episode when Ruby and Dre apologized it was heartfelt and thought out. Bow and Junior were like, sorry that happened and oh yeah, I guess stuff happens to you too. I watched it twice to see if I was overreacting. I'm not someone that watches the show consistently but I've watched it enough to be able to drop in on any episode and be aware of what's going on. Before this episode I caught a rerun of the episode where Bow and Dre were renewing their wedding vows. Bow's mother is a very fair skinned black woman that chose to marry a white man and puts down anything that is traditionally black. She is just as rude and mean as Ruby. When they are all together Bow revels in her mother's sniping. In real life this would absolutely affect her upbringing and attitudes. She constantly talks about purposely attending a HBCU and trying to connect with her black roots. No one should be the villain, it just felt like the load was more heavily placed on the darker people.

[@JSSteele1]

Also in that same Vow Renewal episode it makes it very obvious that Bow's white father fetishizes black women. He can't stop complimenting or talking about Ruby. He talks about how beautiful her skin is. At one point his wife turns to him and says, "You've already got your black wife." That would also definitely affect how Bow see's herself growing up.

[@LetGo0007]

Thank you! I saw that too.

[@goldenlady3495]

Anthony anderson isnt dark skinned

[@goldenlady3495]

@samantha simon that is incorrect.

[@glossary8463]

He is brown skin

[@jordanharrington1890]

They addressed that on the show too

[@rouskeycarpel8652]

@samantha simon No he's not.Dude's a light brown.He's lighter than Jennifer Lewis who's not even dark skinned.

[@politereminder6284]

Light and dark are relative words

[@zan752000]

The old cast of The Cosby show or Different world would have been more appropriate to that colorism episode.

[@memoir02]

Different World had an episode on colorism

[@memoir02]

Different World had an episode on colorism

[@memoir02]

Different World had an episode on colorism

[@zan752000]

@@memoir02 I am well aware of that, I have seen every episode. I was referring to the differeces in complexions in both cast is more appropriate in tackling the colorism issue.

[@egyptianqueen4007]

Yep!

[@percolating-in-this-dancerie]

I actually don’t really like Grown-ish. I’m almost EXACTLY their target audience (18 and in university), but I find it just out of touch enough to make me uncomfortable. I think the show suffers from the uncanny valley effect. For the most part, it’s get soooo many things right about being in my generation. but things like the dialogue and pacing can get really cringey. I think if ur older or younger than the characters in the show, ur viewing experience would be nice! Objectively, it is a pretty good show.

[@percolating-in-this-dancerie]

Great vid btw! I didn’t even bother watching the episode tho 😂. I’ve seen the way Anthony Anderson handles colourism before and was NOT impressed lmao.

[@ObeyAmmalol]

They need teens/young people writing on the show

[@minakomann7933]

I hate to tell you but I don’t like the show for many of the same reasons you said. I’m older than the college age target audience but I can’t relate to the characters cause I was never any of the kind of student the characters are and then the dialogue is cringe cause it doesn’t sound like anyone who’s a young millennial or gen z. So tbh I think the target audience is college aged and younger and maybe only them.

[@pandoraheartsvd]

I agree I cannot relate to grown-ish as well. To me, all the characters aren't that likeable.

[@selalewis9189]

As an older viewer, I thought that the reason why I didn’t like the show as because I’m not the target demographic. Thank you for your perspective.

[@Bebe-wm1ot]

As a light skinned black person, I feel like my place in the colorism conversation is supporting and defending those who are OPPRESSED by it, and acknowledging my light skin privilege. The "not black enough" gripe is sooo tired and disingenuous. I do watch Blackish regularly, but this particular episode missed the mark.

[@hazeld2018]

The show explained colorism like it was for white people. Colorism to me isnt as complex as people pretend. Lighter skin and anything that makes you look closer to white brings benefits, everyone lives in the heigharchy but doesnt want anyone to talk about it, let alone call anyone out for better treatement. Its a reality in or out of the black comnunity. So many shows have these bad hot takes. Colorism is simple.

[@brittanytiera3299]

So true

[@nikibronson133]

Colorism goes both ways...

[@michalovesanime]

@@nikibronson133 no it doesn't.. Racism doesn't go both ways either, antisemitism doesn't go both ways, ageism doesn't go both way, sexism doesn't go both ways etc...it's a POWER DYNAMIC, a hierarchie where the closer to Western white the more social power etc....stop it

[@nikibronson133]

@@michalovesanime racism very much goes both ways. Its just the belief your race is superior. The New black panther party is labled as a racist organization that was condemned by the original black panthers. Hell that treasure girl is racist towards her own race. Youre thinking of institutional racism. Same with sexism and ageism. Like do you know the definitions of these worsds. And did you even watch the episode? Colorism is also known as shadeism and affects black people pf every skin tone. You can google this its such common knowledge.

[@Peacebewithu34]

@@nikibronson133 treasure is prejudice against her own race. Racism comes with power. Colorism is discrimination against darker skinned people. The more lighter u are, the greater opportunities. That's why the light skinned privilege exist. This started in slavery. I know light skinned people deal with issues that got to do with their skin issues but darker people suffer the most. The victims that suffer colorism the most is darker skinned women.

[@lr8719]

Shoulda had Aunt Viv as a special guest star..

[@kyleejoy1181]

l r 😂🤣😂💯

[@fancybrooks3156]

Which Aunt Viv? (LOL)

[@KL-bg8fi]

@@fancybrooks3156 Right👍🏾

[@jazzyj904]

@@fancybrooks3156 both! Lol . That would've been gold.

[@TheMotherofTacos]

Fancy Brooks There's only one true Aunt Viv

[@PaintMePretty]

Some times I have an issue when light-skin people choose to discuss colorism, because they usually only bring it up when dark skinned people bring up the way they’re treated (which sorta derails the conversation). Being called a honey bun/ Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or oh you acting light skin// “what you too cute to text back?” Isn’t the same as getting negative insults towards your skintone, being called “too” dark, comparisons to animals, and being undesirable. I respect everyone’s experience but the connotation on the comments light-skin ppl get in regards to their skin tone is usually positive/pretty vs with dark skin it’s always negative/mean.

[@tabutnenippi4274]

KEEKS' LIFE not true at all. As a light skin person I too have heard dark skin girls say comments about me saying “oh cause you lightskin your better then me” and test me because of it

[@tabutnenippi4274]

KEEKS' LIFE i see what your saying and if someone said that to you my heart goes out to you

[@PaintMePretty]

maci randall thankfully I haven’t been the victim of those types of comments but I know people who were. I would love for color to just be a non-issue but I guess it’s something that’s not going away, so healthy conversations are great! Have a good day!

[@callme_burbu5976]

I agree.

[@niamhheron5587]

You’re absolutely right. I’m LS and it’s really not that difficult to understand. Same as being skinny. I’m not as oppressed as plus size women are. It doesn’t go both ways

[@starcherry6814]

Yes Harriet, both light and dark skinned enslaved people worked in the house and the fields. It was actually really common to see a dark skinned black woman in the house, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. So that became a stereotype too

[@severajones414]

rember the proud family and the gross sisters!

[@DCamp1271]

I do! 💯

[@RhaegarTargaryen1st]

+severa jones I remember them all. The Masculine, ashy, criminally minded Gross Sisters; Ratchet Dijonay and her 9 brothers and sisters- each one named after a seasoning; Sapphire Suga Mama; Emasculated-Buffoonish Oscar. Every dark-skinned character had negative traits and all the light-skinned characters were positive. Didn't realize it at the time since I was a kid, but now...

[@andreab323]

Don't forget about Penny dark skin friend ( I think she's named Deshenay) with blond hair. She was portrayed as extremely ratchet and poor (she shared one room with all her siblings).

[@alexn.2901]

The first time I've heard of this show. I LEGIT THOUGHT that Penny and her mom were non-blacks.

[@eleateebass5543]

@@alexn.2901 wow! Really?! How interesting

[@lindiwengwevela524]

I know you're not a fan of the explaining (and I get you on that), but some of us are Black viewers from other countries and we don't understand African-Americanisms. So it helps.

[@seroquelz]

Colorism isn't an American thing? Plenty of non white ppl around the world are affected by Colorism. Look at the skin bleaching ads you see all over Africa and Asia. The explanation want even for Blacks and POC, it was for white ppl and that's why it was annoying.

[@abstractalbatross6291]

@@seroquelz They might be referring to things like the "brown paper bag test." While I'm sure the concept is present elsewhere, the name for it could be different

[@aliciamomat7963]

@@seroquelz she meant we Africans dont understand the fact that black men dont like dating dark skinned women, the fact that they think dark means ugly , those issues we really dont understand them. Yes some people in Africa do bleach but our men dont choose us based on the tone of our skin but they choose us based on our characters, behaviour, family backgrounds, education etc

[@brieoliver]

It was difficult to tackle because the whole cast is light skin lol. Or at least a light brown. Diane being the ONLY chocolate one was always going to make colorism an uphill battle. She's a child. I don't expect children to know how to navigate that well. And Ruby's story was alright about the creole culture. But girl you lighter than a paper bag yourself so what's really going on? They tried. I'll give them that. Especially as it relates to how colorism affects boys and Junior being called "soft" for most of the series. But I'll give it a C+. It lacks punch when the casting is colorist.

[@nikibronson133]

Who cast is light skin??? Are you blind? Have you ever seen a paer bag??

[@brieoliver]

@@nikibronson133 Ummm....are you? Besides Diane, who exactly is dark skin on this show???? Not Ruby. Not pops. Not Dre. Not Zoey. Damn sure not Rainhow. And Junior is the palest of the bunch. That's the whole cast right there. Even the baby Devonte is played by biracial twins.

[@nikibronson133]

@@brieoliver i never said they were dark i was saying they arent all light. Thats very clear. Rainbow and Junior are the only light ones (and not wven that light when you look at trult light people like Thurgood Marshall and Cab Calloway). Everyone else is brown, about the average shade of black people and Diane is the only dark one. Also, you do realize biracial isnt a race...right.

[@brieoliver]

@@nikibronson133 And I never said they were all light. I said they range from light skin to a light brown at best so whats your issue??? My point was, it was difficult for them to tackle colorism being that the casting of this show was colorist itself. One dark skin girl on a show called blackish is pitiful. And where the fuck did I say biracial was a race??? Im not only talking about race hun.....

[@nikibronson133]

@@brieoliver also white people cast the show, not black people so youre hating on black people for an issue they had no control over. Get to the root of the problem...white peoples eurocentrism

[@alexcarter278]

It's strange I seen Diane as the smart one rather than just mean .

[@unigenius]

She WAS the smart one. Like, smart beyond her years. But, as she ages, her intelligence fades and she becomes a typical, teenaged girl. Now she just uses her intelligence to make threatening and demeaning comments to her own family. But, outside of the house, she's a bit of a huge loser instead of being the ruler of some schoolyard mafia like she should be.

[@justlil872]

Yeshua loves yall and wants you guys to come to know him in spirit and truth for yourselves before it's too late 🙏💕

[@BubburTee]

Even in Grownish the topic of colourism came up in an episode where one of the male characters (Aaron) was called out for being pro-black and claiming to only date "Queens" but only "when they're Egyptian not Nubian" he had the same typical light-skin curly hair exotic "" preference"". They really only brushed on surface though, never going any deeper as always. Link to the clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5i1p4eBbtpsqNE

[@marcelle215]

how deep do expect a 22 minutes sitcom to get?

[@mandymills1031]

Momostic funny how the original Egyptians WERE black. Not this mixed shit that they are now.

[@34missgreen]

I loved this video. One aspect of colorism that I feel gets swept under the wrong is the hasty lumping of light-skinned Black people (with two black parents etc.) and biracial Black people. Colorism is based on skin tone, but I also know that having two Black parents vs one non-Black parent results in different experience, upbringing, and socialization. It's very dangerous to not to delve deeper into it. On both sides. This is also on the other end of the color spectrum as well. Texturism and size of features also throw wrenches in this conversation.

[@TwiFiveGirls101]

Thank you for this comment. So MANY times people think I'm biracial just because of my pale or light brown skin. But I have the kinkest hair, wide nose, etc. And both my parents are fully black, all my grandparents are fully black, and all great-grandparents are fully black. And yes I've met 6 out of 8 of my great-grandparents. Still after telling that to people I get funny looks and people don't believe me. My African in-laws call me white woman.

[@nikibronson133]

@@TwiFiveGirls101 so are you African or African-American because no African-American is fully black. No one of the African diaspora is 100% African. There's no such thing as fully black for any one of the African diaspora, moreover that's a new term that only exists online that I usually see from people who don't know what they're talkin about, not saying that this is you but most of the times that comes from very ignorant people.

[@ashleyj2765]

Yess!

[@Hooks2013]

@@TwiFiveGirls101 thank you!!!

[@daluko2837]

the difference is almost negligible

[@jazzyj904]

Light Skinned people often talk about how they're teased and how others are jealous. Is not the same thing. Teasing and oppression are not at all the same thing. Light-skinned people don't have all of the same struggles.

[@Klm49]

How can I move to this magical world of wealth, health, and privilege tied to light skin? (Is it ok there if I also have Black, Bantu phenotypic features?) Because currently, I'm still getting followed and harassed at Macy's like I stole something, i cannot get promoted in this abusive deaprtment at my law firm (where they only hire one black woman at a time for maximum isolation), and white people still keep calling me the N word! I am ready to move! Sigh. And I agree on dark skinned women having things rougher overall by the way, I've witnessed it often first hand. I just don't believe my silence and acceptance of abuse is the price to be paid to rectify that wrong.

[@patrecehodge8210]

I don't understand how I don't have the same struggles. I'm a proud light skinned 19 y/o woman who is not bi-racial. When I apply to a job, the interviewer will notice that I'm not white. When I date my date will notice that I'm not white. Yes, I believe I receive a very SMALL percentage of privilege but at the end of the day, it's not like I'm free. Growing up (sorry not sorry for the typical bullying story) I was TRAUMATIZED by the black girls in my class. What did I do? I'm introverted af because that how my mom raised me. She is light skinned and she was bullied mercilessly by her cousins and aunts for her light complexion. I'm assuming now she shielded us because she was over having to constantly defend her being. Sound familiar? I am in the same fight as you and I will always be a comrade. I'm just asking for solidarity and respect.

[@alext3480]

@@patrecehodge8210 you can't say you are in the same fight as us but in the same breath say how much "we" were bullying you...its disgusting and you even proved my point

[@pettycat8562]

We don't have ALL of the same struggles, but we still have struggles. I always see in colorism discussions dark skin people perpetuating the idea that light skin people don't suffer from racism AT ALL. And although I understand where it comes from, it's just down right delusional and embarrassingly fucked up especially when it comes from Americans, IN AMERICA.

[@mercedeshampton9308]

Girl everyone has their own struggle light or dark people need to realize that because trust me I wish I was privileged and had mad money and wealth and lived like Kim k but no ma’am I am not. I had to work very hard for everything just like everyone else.

[@Flowers4848]

One of the reasons a of lot light skinned blacks were in the house rather than in the fields was because they were off springs of the slave master.

[@vanitysmirror]

Exactly so many people seem to miss that.

[@shojogrl]

And they also got the privileges of being half-white. A room in the BIG HOUSE, a soft bed, nice clothes, education, etc. While the slaves in the field DID NOT have the same privileges!!!!

[@pandoraheartsvd]

I have noticed that the dark skin people in blackish have the worst personalities. Like the younger daughter is always mean and evil and the father's colleague from his job is a deadbeat dad/crazy conspirator.

[@themelexperience7628]

Ruby apologizing to Rainbow and Rainbow not apologizing to Ruby... colorism. Why ruby gotta apologize to Rainbow about hurting her feelings,...yet she called Ruby a literal monster

[@brieoliver]

Because Ruby HAS been a literal monster to Rainbow. Since season 1, episode 1, Ruby has attacked Rainbow from all sides. With how she parents her kids, the type of wife she is, how she looks, how she acts, working, not working. Its constant. Rainbow didnt call her a monster out of no where. There's literally 100 episodes available to justify it. Ruby should have apologized and frequently. Its not colorism that ticked Rainbow off. It was Ruby herself.

[@queenleo5578]

Ruby has been mean to rainbow since the beginning.

[@themelexperience7628]

Like I get that Ruby can be an asshole and Rainbow responded out of pent up anger sure, but it’s not fair that Ruby has to apologize for an emotional outburst that hurt Rainbows feelings when Rainbow triggered her. That’s all I’m saying

[@brieoliver]

@@themelexperience7628 How did Rainbow trigger her? Ruby was going in at Rainbow long before it ever got to the point of calling her a monster. That's the point. Ruby and Dre constantly couch their insults in "jokes". Ruby especially has been nasty to Rainbow for years. I dont see what Rainbow had to apologize for given the core of the issue: Ruby has been a monster to her for 20 years. Now sis got triggered by the term. But it didn't make her any less mean and vindictive.

[@themelexperience7628]

Briana Oliver did I take up for Ruby’s past actions? Of course not, ruby can be unbeatable if I was in Bows position. All I’m saying is that Bows burst of emotion when she THOUGHT Ruby was suggesting she couldn’t handle her daughter was understandable yes, but so was Ruby’s. Monster is her trigger to painful memories, Bow of course didn’t know that but after Ruby explains her behavior apologizes (as she should) Bow doesn’t apologize for being as equally emotional toward Ruby. I feel like Bow got coddled and I don’t think that’s fair.

[@stsbk]

If I had a dollar for every time a black person felt entitled to comment on my body (as a slim black male). I didn’t understand that it was projection until I was a grown up. I agree, we need to be nicer to one another. Imagine if I went up to a black woman and asked her how much she weighs...very problematic behavior. Excellent video.

[@angelicaa3597]

As a European white woman, I want to thank you. You have given me so much food for thought. I can only partially understand the struggle black americans (and especially black american women) go through... Since well, I'm not american. But you've made some really excellent and well articulated points about the way skin color affects the way we perceive people. I have especially appreciated the way you distinguished between "simple" rudeness or meaness and real, actual oppresion. You are right, racism and colorism (and discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, if I may add) are NOT bidirectional. There is a clear, DISTINCT difference between just being mean to another human being (which is still aweful) and instead perpetrating a structural system of oppresion. Thank you again. I will really try to be a better ally and to check my privilege. Sorry for any grammar mistakes as English is not my native language.

[@imanicartwright4463]

Light skin people do have more priviledge and "wiggle room" than dark skin people, to say that all black people face the same kind of oppression is both hurtful and untrue. I kind of got the vibe from Bow and jr in the first kitchen scene that they were saying the oppression was equal to dark skin people. I personally don't find jokes about light skin people to be harmful unless it is done with the intent to silence and remove them from the conversation. I also feel like Diane is written with the idea that she is the smart child, she is the driven child, which until you pointed it out I didn't realize that even in the context of the family she, like many dark skin girls, have to be twice as everything to get the same kind of attention as her other siblings. I also find it interesting that when dark skin men sing about their feelings or love via ballads no one questions their masculinity but the same doesn't apply to light skin men. I was also wondering what your take on terry Crews saying that black women supported him when he stepped forward about his harassment in Hollywood while black men largely attacked and ignored him.

[@candygirl20048]

Diane started out as the "smart one." Then she became the smart, conniving, evil, and vindictive one. That's always bugged me. And having her as the "darkest" one doesn't help the cause either.

[@kevben706]

That us also a problem you dont speak for light skin people.we do find a problem with these so called light skin jokes.And the thing about their not jokes its back in handed bulshit.

[@kevben706]

@Tanzania Roberts who are the main ones making dark skin jokes.

[@imanicartwright4463]

I am light skinned, so I can say how I feel about them, also I never said I spoke for everyone. That's why I used an "I statement ". I also said very early that dark skin and light skin people don't face the same kind of oppression. I also never said that the jokes were equally as oppressive, only that when having a conversation like this and someone uses those jokes to silence and remove someone's voices is inappropriate. I also never said there weren't issues in diane was written,just that I now see those problems and can be critical of characters and storylines in media that I personally enjoy.

[@bubbles4897]

SugarfreeCandy yeah I saw that. I remember watching an ep where her mom wanted her to be a doctor and when she went to the hospital she thought it was cool to see “blood” and all the gruesome stuff I just rolled my eyes. Why is it that the older girl gets to be portrayed as girly and carefree while she’s the weird one whose always into some disturbing shit?

[@franslam7398]

I just want to say that the _light skin men are effeminate_ thing is not "how the WORLD sees them", it's a distinctly *American* rhetoric. I've only ever heard that idea come out of the black community in the STATES but it is absolutely not a world view so it's wrong to cast the net of perception that far out to the rest of the world. It's a bit like how Americans think the world adopts the 1-drop rule when that too is a distinctly American classification and is not shared by everyone outside your shores. I think to an extent many ppl in America have tunnel vision and think their perceptions are everyone's perceptions, I'd just like to say that is absolutely not the case.

[@mosimarasesemola9446]

True. But in South Africa, most poignantly through social media bullying, we are seeing a lot of instances of light skinned men taking heat.

[@musembimusembi8214]

It is a world view coz even African countries

[@tiramiiisu]

airport security in the dominican republic tried to take me (and not my sister) away from my dad because they thought he kidnapped me. this was all solely because im much lighter than both my dad and my sister, also keep in mind my father and i look identical to one another. it was terrifying because they were REALLY trying to get me away from him even though I was CRYING for my dad (i was about 6 or 7 at the time). Mind you they didn’t care about my sisters safety, just mine since i looked “out of place” next to them. Shit is a shame.

[@nayahri]

...And that's an example of why I'll never set foot in the DR.

[@latrinity2412]

Light skin shouldn't make jokes about dark skins and vice versa. NO ONE SHLD MAKE FUN OF ANYONE!

[@RhaegarTargaryen1st]

Jennifer Lewis really doesn't work in this instance because she passes the paper bag test, too. It's ironic that the show's colorist casting has impeded their ability to properly tell a meaningful colorist story.

[@brieoliver]

Thank you! I said the same thing. I appreciate their use of history there but I was so confused with Ruby's story because she is lighter than a paper bag. She might be darker than a lily white creole individual which should be discussed. But they should have left it at "darkest in her family" cause she's not dark in terms of black people as a whole lol.

[@IshtarNike]

I was thinking the exact same thing. No one on the show is really *that* dark.

[@nikibronson133]

Have you ever held a paper bag? She does not in any way past the paper bag test. She's even had interviews where she literally was given the paper bag test when she was younger and she wouldn't pass it and how that made her feel horrible. Like I'm astonished by the amount of Idiocracy in these comments

[@queenleo5578]

she not that dark but she definitely not passing the paper bag test

[@brieoliver]

@@soraya.e5482 Too bad they weren't "inclusive" with dark skin individuals.

[@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254]

"You're gorgeous for a dark-skinned girl"/"You have a pretty face, why not lose weight?": Just call someone pretty and call it a day! Ugggh people are so entitled to comment on strangers' physical beings!

[@mekialovedat]

5:38 One of my white friends loves the show and was like, "You have to watch it with me." So I sat down for a season binge. I would not ever watch it myself because they do a lot of that explaining.

[@minakomann7933]

Personally I felt like a lot of Rainbow and Junior’s statements were intentionally ironic because tbh I couldn’t fathom how anyone light skinned black couldn’t see the parallel with what white people say all the time. I enjoyed the episode and thought it was fine as a conversation starter, and I love Diane’s character (including the jokes about her being evil since that was me tbh and I was never as dark as she is when I was younger), but I do see that it’s a problem that she’s like the only dark girl on the show and gets so much of this kind of story. Like it would be perfectly fine if we had Black Panther levels of representation cause then it would be Diane the character’s quirks but right now Issa problem.

[@thehoneyeffect]

Jenifer Lewis isnt dark skinned, id say that she was midtoned to light skinned. I wish that americans would call Mixed Race people Mixed Race instead of using the 'code word' Light skinned. When people dont acknowledge mixed raceness it just acts to erase light skinned black people and midtoned black people. Being Mixed Race and being a light skinned black person is not the same lived experience. ~This one drop rule thing has really warped how many americans see race, in the rest of the world they acknowledge Mixed Raceness and dont attempt to be colourblind about it.

[@user-ry2xd2yu6c]

Agreed. Biracial/Mixed raced people should be called biracial/mixed race. How can you diminish 50 or so percent of their lineage that ultimately shaped their upbringing.

[@drewhaynes1874]

Light skinned people are not all mixed race. They are still black regardless lets not try to separate them from the black race My mom is light skinned and whe comes from two dark skinned parents

[@thatonegirlelaine]

Jennifer Lewis is not light skinned, and she sure would not pass that paper bag test.

[@TheDivineMsM245]

Hmm, how about you stay outta of our America racial politics that you obviously know little about from your comment and worry about how you label people where ever it is you’re from.

[@amelianannette972]

"If you're ever in doubt, stay away from what you hear white folks say" and that's the tea 🤣

[@Love1nOther]

Colorism that is most glaring intraracially. I think most white folks only notice skin tone (consciously) when it is stark. Most of the time white people discriminating on skin tones of black folk is unconscious and black is black for them. I only think about skin tone when I am with black people. Also since white folks have more power and they subconsciously prefer black folks that look closer to them, light skinned people ( green eyed, or lose haired, etc) are systematically privileged, so I don’t recognize colorism toward light skinned folks. As a caramel girl that was called white by darker girls, this was not colorism, it was kids being mean and telling jokes. It did not get in the way of my education, employment, or relationships... it probably helped me. So I don’t mind jokes from the family about “ light skinned tears” imho

[@passiveagressive4983]

Dre constantly points out his wife’s ‘light skinned’ bi racial heritage with such petulance - yet the fool married her 😂😂😂😂😂

[@alybello2404]

My father is a colorist with a "preference" for white women, and growing up I knew clearly I would be having some conversations because even tho I'm what I call pasty brown, my white mother still sighed and said she wished I got her light eyes and freckles. And I know that dark black women are incredibly disrespected by everyone constantly, but when a black man calls me a lightskin and he says it like the only descriptor that matters I want to vomit at the thought of being his trophy to parade in front of his colorist friends, and when a white kid in highschool told me there was no way I could be black because I'm so pretty to him I cried in a bathroom stall after the teacher told *me* to go for a walk. I find myself having to explain that the fetishization thrusted onto me since childhood from white and black people is also damaging even if not as bad as a darker woman experience.

[@Uninvisibl]

I think we can acknowledge that darker people experience more racism without having to say lighter people aren't a part of the same community.

[@Jayelala]

Here's a new perspective...Diane seems to be the smartest, most quick witted of all the Johnson children. The characters are largely based on both of the creators' (Kenya Barris and Anthony Anderson) lives. Anthony's real life mom is very similar in character to Ruby who is not dark skin but surely darker than a mixed Tracee Ellis Ross. I'm confused as to how the how believable the show would be with more Diane's when she's a product of two fairly non-dark parents. Skin tone is relative, and so are opinions, especially of self as they relate to those espoused by society. While Diane is a sass and borderline terrorist, she's also wise, pragmatic, and level headed. All qualities that are admirable. Ruby is similar. She might be loud and obnoxious sometimes, but she's THE matriarch even to the exclusion of Rainbow's mother. She provides much needed context and is the keeper of the culture. Black people need to stop with the selective outrage. They tried to tackle a huge issue and I'd like to say that the job was solid.

[@Chulips22]

I really enjoyed how you dissected this episode and related it back to real world context, as with your other videos. Something that really caught my attention earlier in the video was how you explained a homegrown colourism that begins within the home especially when expressed as favouritism for lighter family members over others. It kind of hit me because I don't think I experienced something like this. I was raised in the United States, but both sides of my family are Nigerian or West African in origin. Any insecurities I've felt about my hair and my skin was more of an outside influence. These preferences for fairer skin exist all across the diaspora, including Africa, but these insecurities were never reinforced by my mothers, aunts, or grandmothers. It's really given me something to think about. Thank you again for the thoughtful video. I slowly making my way through more of them, and enjoying every minute of it.

[@GirlsLoveYourCurls]

I read that light skinned slaves worked in the house and were treated better, because they were usually the children of slave masters. Would it have been too much to ask that they be more specific in explaining that colorism (as well as slavery and colonialism) is a direct result of a belief in white supremacy. So long as white is believed to be the "gold standard", the closer to white you are the more privilege you receive. Probably a little too much for their main audience....

[@Ebabie]

maeve conner I’m calling out stupidity. If someone was physically beaten as a child and their siblings was sexually assaulted/sexually abused what gives the child who was physically beaten the right to say the child that’ was sexually assaulted or sexually abused was treated better just because they wasn’t in the room when the sexual abuse or assault occurred. Or sense the parents look at the child in a sexual way the parents might show more attention to the child so that child had it better than they did smh. Sexually abused isn’t always obvious to detect it still hurts the victim physically, emotionally, and mentally. Y’all sound stupid and pathetic abuse is abuse and the biggest narcissist want to use narcissistic terms to gain pity. That gaslighting word don’t hold weight anymore because ppl like you used it too much to look like a victim.

[@GMAMEC]

Yep, my Great-great granduncle was the splitting image of the slave master. When he was born, the slave master’s mother was very fond of her grandson. For this reason, he was treated differently. I remember my grandmother stating that the family considered him to be a “good slave master”.

[@mercedeshampton9308]

Ok but they were being raped and abused not all the owners were super sweet and accepting of the lighter skinned slaves. Even in house. I’m sure some of those women wished they were outside. Abused by the masters wives as well.

[@GirlsLoveYourCurls]

@@mercedeshampton9308 I’m not sure what your point is. The outside slaves were being raped, which is how the house slaves came to be. They just had to remain outside.

[@mercedeshampton9308]

@@GirlsLoveYourCurls my point is that all black people were being hurt. Some more than others yes but I wish that this whole separation within the black community stopped. It’s lame that black women are hating on black women. I don’t like it.

[@Caramelboii91]

It’s interesting Yara wasn’t present on either show when it was discussing colorism 🤔

[@aaliyahgriffin781]

PrinceR3dd91 hmmm

[@kikigam7113]

I dont think shed even try to relate I heard she blocked someone for asking why there wasnt a dark skinned girl character on Grownish

[@mundaneamazing]

She has been full "Denise-d". She didn't even come home for Christmas.

[@DarksideBallerina]

Look, I'm light skinned and I'm fully aware there is a degree of privilege with that. I can handle a joke or two from someone who's darker. It's not that serious. I don't think dark skinned girls who are angry are even mad at me persay. They're mad at the system that devalues them. This episode focused a lot on the voices of light skinned people and didn't give dark skinned people a platform. I wasn't a huge fan of this episode. I still like Blackish though.

[@inspire1443]

It's problematic to attempt to reduce anyone's experience or pain. While light skinned people benefit from certain privileges, they also endure certain pain such as their blackness constantly being questioned, and I just don't see the benefit of simply laughing or shrugging off. As black people especially, we should all be striving to SEE each other, and not participate in oppression olympics. Sure, this young woman here is a dark skinned woman, but she is a dark skinned woman who went to Harvard. So should we reduce her experience as a dark skinned woman in comparison to a dark skinned woman who wasn't raised with such privilege? Should we question her right to speak on the topic at all? If so, why? Where does it end?

[@Contessa_Savannah]

Opression Olympics! I love it.

[@jasminedelighted7744]

The thing is this if dark skinned black ppl want to have a real conversation they have to stop looking at light skinned ppl like white ppl. Lbvs it's not the same. We start by not passing this mess down because I honestly never saw how big a deal complexion was until I got about 23 lbvvs. No one in my family made a difference in me and my darker or lighter family members. It wasnt until I got outside of family did I start to see black ppls ignorance when it came to complexion. I always just saw everyone as beautiful and that's honestly because everyone in my family is and that's no cap.

[@mercedeshampton9308]

Say it louder girl yes!

[@CoilyTwizzler]

I haven't finished this review yet BUT ehh I'm not feeling the tone this episode took. Colorism is like racism; it does NOT go both ways. Dark skinned people joking light skinned people isn't the same as systemically being oppressed and dehumanized for your shade. ALSO...Anthony Anderson is not "dark skinned".. he's brown. Lol so again, that missed the mark for me. It's like they tried but missed the mark in a lot of ways. Also, I don't like how it seems the narrative started from the perspective of a little dark skinned girl and then it became about light skinned people crying over light skinned jokes..like..come on now. This just felt like it was targeting people who don't fully have a grasp on the depth of the issue.

[@kevben706]

Making so called jokes about light people is oppresses.Dark skin people need to stop making these back handed so called jokes at our expense

[@TBrown-sx2dg]

Joking is bullying and it’s not ok.

[@Ebabie]

Do you hear yourself? You’re basically saying yeah dark skin people make disrespectful jokes towards light skin ppl... but it’s not as bad as the jokes are told towards dark skin... bullying is bullying y’all sound crazy.

[@knowdaqueen177]

You’re saying colorism goes both ways as if it’s light skinned people oppressing dark skinned people and it’s not. I learned that my skin color was “better” and got treated differently because of it by DARK SKINNED people. Every colorist experience I had whether good (because y’all swear that colorism is such a good thing for light skinned people) or bad. Not to demonize dark skinned people because they are the victims but understand that we are victims too with different yet valid experiences.

[@severajones414]

for harriet, has great teeth.

[@brittanytiera3299]

You are my new fav KZbinr

[@999love20]

I feel like the problem with Grownish’s explanation of colorism was that they didn’t know how to address zoey’s desirability. Because on one hand they had the twins complaining about how none of the black guys in school liked black girls Bc guys didn’t give them attention. Yet every episode of grownish has been about Zoey and her being in and out of different relationships and being pushed as the most attractive woman on the show. It was pretty ironic and showed how the writers did a poor job with the plot of the episode and how to address it as an issue. Bc it’s like yea Zoey isnt light skin and is more brown and even darker than the twins but at the same time they see she’s very clearly mixed and doesn’t appear as the “average” black girl. And I feel like they didn’t want to take the desirability away from Zoey and give her the perspective of a brownskin mixed girl either, especially with the way they already wrote her storylines to be the complete opposite of the twins complaints. So they didn’t know how to have her address it and just put her in a different storyline in that episode completely. Which was of very poor choice to me. And not only that but they had the twins talking about colorism when they’re light skin and in a predominantly white school. The problems they were complaining about was problems that come from racism not colorism. Bc they even expressed in their old predominantly black schools they were heavily desired, which could’ve (ironically) been a result of colorism and then benefitting from it. Also diggy’s character I believe even said he wasn’t dating black girls not Bc he didn’t like them but because the school’s majority was white and it was an opportunity to date different from his usual. Which was not a result of colorism Bc there barely were any variety of black girls to date in the first place so he just went with the majority. And if it was to be a social issue that would be racism if anything. And right after it was addressed he ended up being in a relationship with one of the twins anyway so the whole argument of colorism literally was unnecessary and underrepresented the whole episode. Smh grownish really is a whole disappointment. They were marketed as being so “woke” yet fails once it’s actually time to talk about real issues in the black community and just gloss over it or give a very luke warm portrayal of the actual problem. (Ik this was a blackish video but I just had to get it off my chest + blackish did a better job of addressing it than grownish Bc they weren’t as oblivious to the obvious color differences in the dynamic of the show as grownish constantly is in my opinion)

[@ydwanabll]

yeh the acting and the story arcs of the characters isn't great on grown-ish, at best the show is just "cute" and that's being generous. They try to address broad issues without developing the characters and creating a cohesive story lines. The messaging seems very forced to the point where I think it may be intended.

[@ninagrace-lee8323]

I wouldn’t say Zoey is darker than the twins. They’re roughly in the same shade palette to me. Either way, I agree with most of what you said. None of the people in the show are dark skinned. And considering how Zoey’s desirability elevated (to the point of absurdity) in comparison to the other characters? They can’t really tackle colorism without unpacking the nature of their own storyline. It lacked any nuance. It’s one of the reasons why I loathe that show, especially now that it’s being compared to A Different World. Brownish could NEVER

[@niamhheron5587]

I feel like such a hater but I can’t watch grownish because of it. Zoey’s experience is so far removed from mine as a black girl among white people...she’s like a prom queen. Can’t relate lol

[@ComfortablyPlump]

@@ydwanabll I could not agree more.

[@stoneghana4171]

The twins are not light skin. Plus they have dreadlocks. The one thing they have going for them is that they’re skinny. Now let’s be clear I think they are beautiful, absolutely gorgeous. They should be getting play but the reality is girls like them, don’t.

[@k.alvarado6237]

Disclaimer: this will be rude. I see some comments from self proclaimed “LS” folks shedding tears and they don’t really qualify as light skin. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think when we talk about light skin privilege.... we are not literally talking about just having light skin. I think we refer to a person who has two self identified “black” parents... that happens to get the light skin privilege package. That includes a combination of: light skin, type 3 or 4A hair, maybe keener features, eyes that are colored. If your literally JUST light skin and all of your other features are Bantu. The privilege you receive is minimal.

[@BlendedBarbieDoll]

K Aaron this is a very good point. Light skin featurism and texturtism are things that get over looked. Just like darker skin silky hair and fine featured individuals are not going to experience all the same as someone with more expected “black” features.

[@callme_burbu5976]

Jouelzy, is an awesome youtuber, who is very light skin with strong "Bantu" features as you mentioned and she talks about this. She says that a better term is "proximity to whiteness" that includes not only skin color but the range of how light the skin is, along with hair texture and features (lips, nose, buttocks). I know I am gonna get attacked for this comment but it is true. A mixed person that looks like Jouelzy (she's not mixed but just an example) versus a mixed person that looks like Vanessa Williams, are going to have a very different experience. Someone else in this comment section mentioned this as well, in a different way, saying there is a hierarchy in being "light skin". I guess part of the problem is that dependent on your nationality and the community you're in; what qualifies as light skin changes.

[@AJ-tk7ps]

If you have light skin then you qualify as light skin. You may not get these privileges people are talking about but you're still light skin. If people are referring to racially ambiguous people, mixed people, biracial or people with certain phenotypes, then they should properly label it as such and talk about the privileges that come with that instead of lumping it altogether and calling it light skin. Cause not everyone who is light skin has these privileges and not everyone who has these privileges has light skin. For ex. someone with dark skin but "silky hair and fine features" you refer to is not light skin, so it's not proper to label them with light skin privilege. Also the only thing that was rude about your comment was the LS shedding tears. We shouldn't undermine what people in our community have to go through even if it not as bad as dark skin people's problems.

[@bubbles4897]

I’m not sure how to feel about this. I’m light skin with black features and I’m not mixed but I feel like I do get light skin privilege. But maybe you’re right I’m not sure

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

A J I’m sorry, but I know dark skinned women with silky hair and fine features have better experiences than the light skinned women with “Bantu” features. That’s a fact that you cannot argue. Features play a big part

[@jessicab331]

When did Jennifer Lewis and Anthony Anderson become “dark skin”?! They’d pass the brown paper bag.... barely (lol) but they’d pass it!

[@richierich7098]

Omg THANK YOU for an unbiased and down to earth conversation on colorism. I’ve watched so so many youtubers try to tackle this issue but all it ever turns into a lightskin girl bashing session. I love how you articulate your opinions and perspectives. As a “lightskin” woc who wishes to understand what I just don’t know, it’s hard to gain that insight and perspective when you’re excluded being apart of the conversation in the first place. And I just don’t think a lot of people realize that.

[@hollycaird2591]

Your channel is so uplifting . I really appreciate your analysis and your voice. Keep up the great work.

[@spod9135]

Wow you've totally missed the point. Being mean to light skinned people is equally oppressive as light skinned people say mean things to dark skinned people. Wow Harriet 'light skinned tears' comment is indicative of the issue!! You should be better than this.

[@glorificusbarryhex]

Rainbow saying stuff that white folks say is appropriate because she's half white.

[@MrPoopatron54]

Great channel. Great commentary. Thanks so much for doing what you're doing.

[@callme_burbu5976]

I completely agree, DS Black people absolutely 100% have it more difficult than LS black people and mixed black people. I acknowledge my privilege because I feel that it is VITAL for us to heal. We need to be honest and stop being disingenuous, we need to listen. However, there is one thing I have to say as an African American + Puerto Rican (Mestizo Mother), I wished I had a Black mother. Knowing that she fetishized my father is nauseating and just plain repulsive. Knowing that I did not come out the way she was expecting me to look was once very traumatizing (I am not phenotypically the definition of mixed, I have 4b-c hair and brown skin. The mixed look is a whole other conversation since not everyone phenotypically presents as mixed but I digress.). I never had the comfort of telling my mom how I felt because she wouldn't listen (still doesn't); and so, I understand that little girl - not because I am darkskin (and I am sure there are aspects to how she feels that I cannot relate to)....but I have a mother that is significantly lighter than me that has gaslighted me my entire life. It is because of this experience that I deeply respect the plight of dark skin black women (yes women over men because we all know the dynamic is different) and acknowledge that if I had it bad they have had it so much worse. Anyway, just my two emotional cents. I take my understanding of colorism to check LS black women and mixed Black people when they are gaslighting, I think it's important to be proactive and even still I feel that I have a lot to learn and unlearn. To me there is way too much evidence of light skin privilege for LS to be around here gaslighting and making themselves the victim, even in my situation I shut up and listen. LS people, despite our plight (because yes it's there), NEED TO LISTEN and advocate for our darker skinned fam. Personally, I think if LS would listen and stop trying to one-up DS people, then maybe they would actually listen to LS ----- the issue is that many LS try to weaponize their experience and victimize themselves rather than talk about it for healing.

[@nahalymtl9445]

so true and so empathetic!

[@kexia5630]

Well said.

[@sashapollard92]

My son is biracial, fair skinned. He already thinks he is white with straight hair. He has hair just like me and I had to tell him that he is like mommy and daddy a mix. He cried tears, that crushed me smh. He is only 4.

[@Nooooooooooooooooooooo7913]

You could literally talk about paint drying and I would watch it, lol I love your perspective on things

[@renepryor6321]

I love your take and perspective on colorism and commend you for clearly articulating your thoughts. I wish I would have learned this earlier in life; it would have saved me a lot of heartache. As a 54 year old dark skinned women I have and continued to experience colorism. Years ago, I stopped using terms like good/bad hair and wasting time with men and people who are caught up. My perspective really shifted when I finally realized that I am beautifully and wonderfully made and it's okay if I don't fit in your box because of my complexion.

[@iiFufi]

My best friend is a huge fan of yours and she quote you a lot when we have our deep convos about life. She has literally been telling me about you since undergrad and i am finally now checking you out! Oh you are dope dope!

[@brittanytiera3299]

I see a lot of people saying that Anthony isn’t dark must not know that a lot of high yellow people consider light brown people darker. Idk why but they do 🤷🏽‍♀️.

[@HighVibe001]

I disagree that light skinned jokes are not oppressive. We are not allowed to clap back with jokes about dark skinned people. Personally, I have received a certain amount of prejudice from dark skinned women. It comes from pain. But to consistently imply that I am less black is painful. And the intention is to be painful. To dismiss a light skinned persons protest of this treatment with an eye roll and tooth sucking chuckle is OFFENSIVE. It’s no better to be objectified for your complexion, then to be rejected for your complexion. Different ends of the same spectrum.

[@HighVibe001]

christopher burroughs I don’t want to clap back. I prefer not to have that kind of exchange is my point. That’s because I don’t hold any resentment towards dark skinned people.

[@hopeh1095]

Colorism definitely needs to be addressed in the Black community. In today’s society we just sweep it under the rug and create more offensive encounters with one another. If any black woman/ man decides to speak on their experience in the black community they are ridiculed by their own culture it’s sad. Dark skin and light skin women/ men have dealt with some kind of hurt from each other. Colorism is definitely a major issue with the black women in particular. Today I experienced a colorist moment like we really gotta start loving ourselves or the circle of feeling inferior will continue.

[@Klm49]

Amen!!!

[@t.zachry843]

Dark skin jokes towards Dre and Ruby... Um

[@mvbinwonderland]

your hair looks so good, kim 💗

[@sweetbabigirl59]

Nah I hated being bullied for being light skinned. It was fucked. And I’m still hurt by the comments to this day. You can be hurt but so can other people.

[@quentinbell3035]

I’ve came across a lot of black women saying they don’t want a light skinned man but in contrast the dark skinned men say that want a light skinned woman. So basically we’re not checking for one another? I hate that this is so relevant in our community

[@gilda5101]

I love your commentary. I agree with what you said about how light-skinned people don't have to shoulder the consequences of colorism. Yea we had people make fun of us too but we can't deny the privileges we are privy to that work in our favor.

[@Mariah203]

I don't watch the show nor have I seen this episode, but judging by the clips, I think the convos would have been more impactful if all the characters weren't damn near the same complexion (besides the little girl). The convo between Rainbow and the son and the grandmother and father about "light skin jokes" and "dark skin jokes" was weird because none of them are actually dark skin and they are all within a shade or two or each other, especially Rainbow, Jennifer and Anthony. I don't think in the real world anyone would consider Anthony Anderson or Jennifer Lewis dark skin. But, actually I think you touched on that in the begininning when u mentioned that the show has its own colorism issues.

[@lexc.9658]

I just wanna express my appreciation for the kid who plays Diane on the show - she’s so crazy talented and she’s gonna rule the world someday!!

[@journeythrough3087]

I noted when Diane called out Dre and Ruby for not being really dark skinned and he was saying he wasn't dark dark, which is an issue itself that wasn't explored much, how we are taught that being dark or deep complexion is so negative ("I'm dark but I'm not daaaark"). Also, I noticed that on several shows that happen to have a DS BM character he is portrayed as homosexual. There's something to that, portraying the what's considered pure blackness from skin tone to features as homosexual. It's not balanced with BM hetero characters in lead roles on these shows.

[@chonk_fox89]

I haven't watched in a while (and haven't seen this episode), but I did watch it every night for a while, and enjoyed it. I'm deffinetly one of the 'white audience' members they mention and I find it very helpful. I didn't know what colourism was but I figured it out from the context of your talk!

[@RayRay06122]

I love your critics. I feel when I hear the criticism of others there is a lack of understanding of context. Some people make judgments based of their immediate line of sight rather than examining all angles.

[@TheDivineMsM245]

Hmm, I am not sure I like the term light skinned tears as though being lighter skinned some how negates racism and racist treatment of black folks....light skin in that case is not a protection....I do however agree that there are levels to how colorism plays out especially in the Americas. AND I think people who are lighter skinned show acknowledge their own privilege in proximity to whiteness.....a lighter skinned persons struggle is not the same as a darker skinned persons BUT all struggle as black folks is valid and should be acknowledged. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@laniyapeterson8229]

Can we please Remember colorism goes both ways, just because light skin struggles do not always equate to dark skin struggles, doesn’t mean u have to diminish their struggle. Not every darkskin has struggled, for instance this woman in the video is a smart articulate black woman she does not have the same struggles as a “ratchet” or uncouth black women doesnt mean her struggle should be diminished right?

[@Ebabie]

Laniya Peterson good point. I feel a ratchet woman would probably understand colorism goes both ways before this youtuber would. So ultimately who’s really the educated one.

[@comejourneywithme7076]

Great video! Definitely a lot of relevant talking points!

[@SmileyRN06]

What I don’t understand is how dark women’s complaint is that their devalued, always perceived as rude with an attitude or don’t have same opportunities. But every video I watch the commentator says something devalue, rude or negative things about light skinned people. So wouldn’t you think that in order to change the narrative you have to start with yourself? I do agree with some points, but it’s hard to get through some of these videos because eventually the person becomes a hypocrite when they talk offensively.

[@friedhotwings]

Y'all listen, dark skin people definitely DO get the brunt force of colorism. What I don't like, is dark skin people trying to dismiss the black experience from light skin people entirely!! We (light skins) DEFINITELY experience colorism, and the reason why we jump at the chance to discuss colorism with dark skinned people is because sometimes dark skins act like light skin people don't experience it at all. Which is not true. I'm light skin, yet I'm the only black person in my profrssioanl workplace. I'm the ONLY black Licensed addiction Counselor in the entire state of North Dakota! Out of almost 350 counselors. I experience racism and colorism everyday in the workplace. Both of my parents are black and trust me when I say all 7 of the children in my family are different shades. From Luptia Nyongo to Mariah Carey! Both of my parents are light skin. I've talked to so many white people who legitimately never even THOUGHT about different shades of black. It's an issue that WE perpetuate, and we will continue to perpetuate if we continuously deny the experiences of our brothers and sisters.

[@msmiyani]

You prob wouldn't have gotten the job if your were dark

[@Amberrechelle]

I feel guilty; however, I hate talking about colorism. I’ve tried to engage in the conversation, but after several attempts I find myself overwhelmed and irritated. I’ve realized that as a descendent of mixed race people and a mixed race mother, I hate when people assume that all light skin people are mixed . In addition, I’m also frustrated how we as black people are only considering dark skin people are real black people . I loved listening to this video, but after this I refuse to participate in colorism conversations until I can unpack the inner struggles I have with talking about colorism . Whhheeew child I don wooo myself out !!!

[@sup8437]

I wish the blackish world wasn't so ableist. One specific instance I can think of is where they used the term "wheelchair jimmy" to insult drake and make him seem lesser. They also frequently use terms against psychotics and I really want to support this show because its important, but it regularly goes after my demographic and I can't stand it.

[@beckygarcia4416]

Just found your channel, new subscriber. Learned a lot.

[@celestialnightshade6658]

Colorism goes back thousands of years actually. Look at the ancient Egyptians, Indians (India), China, Middle East, etc.

[@sabinetaylor2275]

This a very complex issue and a broad brush should not be used to paint all light skin women as high jacking a conversation to make it about their pain.Women from the African Diaspora come in all different shades and do need to have a seat at the table to discuss their view points. Outside of that .........assumptions will be made and the tension will current to rise.

[@minayang5475]

Love the video!! I think it’d be interesting to see a video about how power has such a huge play into why light skin jokes are different than dark skin jokes. There’s oppression involved. But it’s probably gonna be a super long and complex video involving history etc.

[@TXejas19]

Black families WILL NOT talk about colorism. I've said something ignorant myself and heard others do it repeatedly!!! I know its real

[@tinaclark2214]

I do think it is oppressive to talk about light- skinned because you making them feel less than. I will say your dismissive behavior (eye rolling, side eye) proves their point on not being taking serious about their feelings. I am a dark-skinned women and I do see the argument on both sides.

[@TBrown-sx2dg]

Tina Clark I agree, I’m a brown skinned woman and I see legitimate concerns on both sides. I think you have to acknowledge and be open to both sides to make progress.

[@Klm49]

Amen!! So many of these comments have been wearing on my spirit because I hate injustice in any form and work so hard from a position of dismantling all oppressive white supremacist structures. I don't want any privilege attached to my complexion or hair. And I agree on dark skinned women having things rougher overall by the way, I've witnessed it often first hand. I just don't believe my silence and acceptance of abuse is the price to be paid to rectify that wrong. And yours are the comments that will let me sleep at last! So Thank you!

[@alext3480]

nope not at all. light skin people ALWAYS have their feelings validated when speaking about colorism. you are proving her point now, plus the fact that light skin women are coming together to talk about how dark skin women are mean to them is pathetic, let dark skin women do that type of shit and we would get called so many names. you are a dark skin black women and doesnt even understand is sad

[@queenanacaona8531]

As a Latina so light skinned people think I'm Italian or like 1 10th Cherokee or something... I think your light skinned jokes are hilarious

[@ronkea5218]

I wanna watch this episode so bad but live in the uk . They’re still not showing season 5 ep 1 here yet and can’t find it online 😒

[@silvershadow7655]

I'm in the UK, i found/watched it online easily - GOOGLE!!

[@kmilfort]

I have to disagree with the “it’s obvious they don’t have two Black parents.” I have a couple of very light skinned friends who have two Black parents, so guess who never makes assumptions (anymore). The characterization of the dark skinned women and girls is spot on though and problematic... and almost invisible unless we have these chats. Thank you Kimberly!