Ambiguous Black? & Colorism

So unfortunately fellow KZbinr Tarek Ali is getting ate up again on social media after sharing the reason why he stopped dying his hair blonde. He said that people seem like him more when his hair was blonde and referred to himself as "ambiguous Black". I think it's deeper than that and I wanna talk about it.
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[@Jadaistyping]

I feel like a lot of these colorist are scrambling to sound relatable because disrespecting dark skin black women isn’t working anymore. Their feet are being held to the fire and kept there.

[@rockieleftwing]

Boom! Exactly 💯

[@cll27]

Period

[@ASprinkleofAnime]

And im here for it 🙌🏿

[@babygirla5717]

👏🏽👏🏽💯

[@tiffanyhudson6979]

Thissss...they been scrambling ever since they couldn't gaslight folks to stop calling it out

[@hahafunnybro]

I miss the grapevine, i miss Ayesha, i miss the conversations! I miss it real bad! Thank you for bringing those memories back for me!!!

[@coolkidruby3429]

Omg me too! I love those conversations 😅 I used to pretend like I was in it!

[@deej5608]

Yes REST IN PEACE AND REST IN POWER TO QUEEN AYESHA

[@Zoe65-]

@@coolkidruby3429 girl me too!!! Used to take me some hours to get through one video because I really was giving my opinion lol

[@SomethingNewAMBW]

i wish they'd come back 😢

[@naeb9486]

Same 😢

[@natalieshepp641]

GEEZUS. The mental health of our people is in hell!! 🤦‍♀️

[@Scorpiehibiscus]

Girl I gave up a long time ago trying to take us seriously. I hate it here

[@cosmicneuromelanatedgoddess]

Yes it is

[@babygirla5717]

Yep sad reality, but these are the same people wanting non black folks to take them serious and treat them with respect. Like you can’t make this clown sh*t up.

[@deej5608]

Pretty much

[@neptunie5171]

yup, but that's because there's around 300~ years of generational trauma passed down from when our ancestors were enslaved to unpack.

[@Tra_C]

Ambiguously black😂😂😂

[@shabbyLaw]

Sounds so stupid

[@ASprinkleofAnime]

Aint no such thing 😂

[@victoriaolekaibe5173]

What does that mean?😒😒

[@centaviodehernandez]

Ambiguous Is Racially Ambiguous means you are a person that can just look like Different Nationalities

[@AminahMight]

What even is it???

[@Imaabe]

Also as someone on the lighter side of the spectrum, I don't fully know what colorism feels like, but I understand it as a concept. I enter colorism convos to stop the other people who aren't dark skinned from gas-lighting. Just want to let you know that "I don't know" is unacceptable from lighter skinned folks. We see clearly how darker skinned people are treated in society. We were there when the boys bullied and harassed dark skinned girls and called them ugly. We were there when aunts would make comparisons between lighter skinned family members and used nasty descriptors for darker skinned family members. This whole "i DoN'T uNdErStaND" when it comes to colorism is just a form of gas-lighting. We don't know how it feels, but we have the capacity to understand it as a concept. Some light skinned folks, and even brown skinned folks want a taste of having control and power by denying the experience of dsbp. They feel that privilege makes them special. Also, for my dark skinned family, especially my sisters, don't let anyone deny your experiences. They are real and they are valid. Colorism is wrong and personally I support darker skinned people creating their own spaces in order to have equitable representation. Also, I think Affirmative Action should be restructured so that it is only for black people (because why were ww receiving it in the first place?) and it should include a colorism, texturism, featurism (colorism conglomerate) component.

[@Singer_and_Songwriter]

Perfectly said!!!👏🏿💜

[@LaBellaMafia1]

I agree and disagree. I am fair skinned and both of my parents are black. My whole fam dark skinned. I completely know what colorism is and dont deny it exists. However, I do not feel that is an excuse to be belittled, abused, physically assaulted, or demeaned etc just because someone is a lighter tone. Light skins have to walk on eggshells, not voice our opinion, agree with everything, dim our gifts many many times not to offend our darker black people, so that is acknowledgement in a form. light skin people did not invent colorism nor are they the main perpetrators. so why is skintone an excuse for someone to think that gives them a pass to do or say whatever to light skins? So we must defend colorism but get no one to defend us when we say we are mistreated and we are black too? A lot is hypocritical and lacks accountability. If you say folks should have a safe place, yes they should. But when light skin blacks try to share their experiences and have a space they get dragged. When a light skin tries to speak on injustice and help the black community oh stfu. Is that not hypocritical? What/who perpetuates a continuum of colorism if it is internal? The complaints most make is racism, why? Colorism is internal, racism is external. Therefore, internal parties within ones own group exhibits colorism, anything else is racism. Light skin blacks are black too and deal with racism. No one is less than or more than to Is because we have family of many shades. just feel the energy within the black community should be directed at the oppressors not other light skin blacks. I see a lot of ls riding hard for their black bros and sis, bein nice, speakin hello, good friend, friendly, and gettin nothin but negativity, rude bias, slander, and no one to speak up for them in return. You can be a ls savior not me. I throw hands now

[@moviegurl7420]

@@LaBellaMafia1honey you said everything I feel. It’s like we are in this pattern that you described .

[@Treize132]

Specifically for FBA Black people who actually built this country and faced the brunt of racial violence and hostility in this country

[@Mloveblacque_always]

Agreed! We have to be quiet and listen. Colorism systematically affects DS Black People.

[@adrianksome1209]

I was so confused when I saw you with the blonde locs I thought you were racially ambiguous

[@Tra_C]

🤣🤣🤣

[@islandgirl8067]

😂😂😂

[@meangirlzzz1234]

Lmaoooooo 😭😭😭😭

[@ebonygoddess007]

You are done 😹😹

[@barbiekaitie6773]

LMAOOO PLS

[@jerri3285]

When I went to an HBCU 30 years ago I was reminded lots of times how dark I am. I came from a large city close family never heard it constantly but when it started smacking me in my face it stung. But only for a few. The last time someone tried to make a joke about my complexion I looked at them and said so you looked at me to see I’m dark. You by instinct looked me up and down so tell me what do you really want. That stunned them into silence. Yes I know everyone doesn’t respond the same but when you hear negativity repeatedly you MUST handle it and keep yourself grounded to keep yourself sane. My babies do not let a fool be your oppressor.

[@abby-a]

That's really sad and disappointing to hear that you had to deal with that at an HBCU. I'm really sorry to hear that

[@jerri3285]

@@abby-a I felt the same way thank you. I kept waiting for the family experience it eventually came but the first year was rough🥴

[@deej5608]

TRUTH and I'm proud of you for doing that. When you're willing to speak up and give them that uncomfortable silence trust me they won't do it again

[@ChelseaSaidTV]

Yep African booty scratcher jokes are done old omgggg

[@food4thought692]

HBCUs are full of colorism, featurism and texturism.

[@tigerlilly9038]

The fact that that young man thought he was ambiguously black because he colored his hair blonde tells me he needs to see a medical therapist and I say that with absolutely no malice or trying to belittle him. He is giving me "The Bluest Eye" Pecola Breedlove delusional and that is not healthy. I do not know him but I pray he is seeing a therapist. I wish him the very best.

[@cookieplush4535]

Lawd have mercy! Yes

[@teejay9533]

I hate to hear it, I’m a black woman. My mom is black Dominican and my dad is black American. I look black and always identified as black. However, I had 3a-b hair texture and my American side fetishized my hair type. As a mom, I constantly have conversations with my children about colorism and texturism. My husband is Jamaican and my kids look like him.

[@tigerlilly9038]

Yep...seen that in my family as well.....

[@LadyLyricz18]

Growing up not only did I notice colorism but featurism and texturism is big in the black community like let’s be completely real a dark skin black woman with 3c hair is not having the same experiences as the dark skin black woman with 4C hair. One was constantly being asked if they were mixed and complimented and the other was bullied relentlessly and called all types of nappy headed.

[@aj2thamaxx742]

I love the way you steered the conversation surrounding colorism and anti-Blackness in the community because I think us as Black folks forget that we don’t always have the proper language to describe what’s going on, that’s the insidious part of micro aggressions. It’s not as “clear” as overt racism and its all contextual information with subtle cues. I hope that we as a people can recognize that we need more cultural competency to better deal with these issues within our community

[@Imadeyoumad288]

Tariq doesn’t even look mixed...

[@rockieleftwing]

🤣 Exactly like what does he see in the mirror!

[@sunnymane]

Well if we are being honest he doesn’t look unambiguously black either. You have to keep in mind Black Americans are 25% non black on average and just based on his appearance it’s obvious he isn’t fully west African

[@vegannn7178]

@@rockieleftwingHe said he struggled with body dysmorphia and this confirms it because he clearly looks and is black

[@kellygreengables3936]

He doesn't look mixed. But it is possible for brown and darker skinned people to be mixed and/or look racially ambiguous. Tariq just isn't one of them.

[@Imaabe]

I’ve been watching those Vice videos and it has been running my blood pressure up. Even the ones that don’t involve black people stress me out.

[@BePatientSeeLove]

Smh vice

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

It’s so dame messy

[@Social_Pugatory]

They knew exactly what they were doing having a colorism conversation when three fourths of the panel could pass a brown paper bag test. They knew to bring the drama for clicks and views

[@reinelena9915]

@@Social_Pugatory What black people consider light skin, is actually considered dark skin, to Indians and Arabs.

[@TheSomethingnew1]

The comments will piss you off even more. I was in there fighting for my life until I had to step away and realize that Vice’s audience really doesn’t have the range to understand.

[@NadrojChronicles]

This was a very thought provoking video. I watched Tarek Ali when he lived in Atlanta because I wanted to see how a younger generation black gay man thought. The content then was more on the black LGBTQ side. Since he moved to L.A., not so much and I haven't really watched since the move. I only saw Tarek as a black gay man w/blond hair, never racially ambiguous. The black gay man on the VICE colorism episode worked my entire nerves throughout the episode. His last statement I read as a snow queen who was bothered that white gay men aren't checking for him, so it was definitely a wrap for me. I too noticed out of around 10 panelists, the VICE colorism episode only had 2 dark skinned black people. Light skin black folks may be bullied as individuals, but colorism by definition is power in business, advertisement, fashion, etc. weaponized against dark skinned black people.

[@QuatMan]

These folks who think they are light skinted and ambiguous though👀👀🤭🤭

[@ShaneCM]

😂😂😂😂😂 chile! A mess

[@erickasanders5848]

Careesha plz 😏

[@Taylorimani]

“Because you really haven’t taught us anything that people haven’t already talked about” HELLO!! It’s definitely giving narcissism and I wish he’d learn to be quiet.

[@yaggayaggaya9918]

I know he's not involved with them anymore, but I feel it's important to mention that VICE was literally co-founded by Gavin McIness, founder of the Proud Boys: aka, a facist, and two of the other co-founders still work on the staff. I don't know their politics though.

[@intoodeepstl314]

He’s CIA

[@sbss924]

And, produced by Bill Maher. Hmmm

[@1hinita]

Tf? Like vice, the yt channel with the good docu series?

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

They're WAY better than they were when that PB bigot was there. I'll just say that.

[@FLOarchive]

You know, his video addressing his colourist views as a child did not even include an "I'm sorry". Just him sitting on a chair talking about himself and his experiences that fueled his harmful actions. It was a redemption "please understand why I did it" speech

[@oneinamillion8417]

And for that…I unsubscribed…immediately

[@islandgirl8067]

Just what the heck is "ambiguously blk" supposed to mean? So am I ambiguously blk when I wear my blonde braid extensions? 😂😂😂

[@themonsterwithin4000]

“Ambiguously black”= The better black, exotic black, unique black etc. You get the message.

[@rucianapollard4057]

​@@themonsterwithin4000 Wow, I don't even have words!!

[@themonsterwithin4000]

@@rucianapollard4057 I mean, am I wrong though?

[@deej5608]

​@@themonsterwithin4000 THAT PART

[@kayserria]

Ambiguous means unclear or not easily describable. Mariah Carey, Mia Rudolph, Wentworth Miller. Just a few people that are black, but they can easily pass for white, or another race.

[@MoneeLeesaGames]

Ambiguous? Really? He definitely wanted to be perceived as ambiguous cuz he’s definitely not even with the bleached hair. I hope he actually does reflect and does better cuz I actually like him and he doesn’t seem like a bad person just ignorant.

[@Rieka.Chanel]

Exactly. Reality is he’s still full of self hate in spite of his self proclaimed growth.

[@loveyb9090]

"I can't sit and just be desirable". That's the reason why in black families they are super hard on girls about school ,especially girls who are darker. They don't do that for men or the kids in the family who they think can be a "model". Also,the average or non desirable person can't be upset or not have everything figured or else. Society is a damn trip

[@loriannrichardson7644]

I hear you, but you experience is not the norm in Black America.

[@loveyb9090]

@@loriannrichardson7644 yes but it's common enough for many

[@yageshabazz3456]

Idk what that other person is on about, but that definitely is the norm in black America. Lighter skin women tend to be raised to focus more on their looks to find a good partner, rather than being self sufficient

[@loveyb9090]

@@yageshabazz3456 bingo !!but ppl try and pretend it's not though.

[@trxphywaifalt]

Then they question why we end up marrying/having kids outside of our race, refusing to go to an HBCU, or having issues w self esteem. Bc we grew up w blacks telling us we aren’t good enough & then gaslighting us into thinking we just imagined all of it. As a dark skinned bw who’s young, from my experience it’s bound to make you lose your sanity.

[@angeljohnson234]

I watched Tarik's channel and I really liked his content. Especially on how to deal with breakups and how to focus on loving yourself. However, when I found out (from your channel) that he was colorist, I unsubscribed.

[@dionysus9876]

Same

[@Anas-rx1he]

So let’s get this right - someone who has produced content that has been super helpful and meaningful to you in your personal life, shown he can be a good person and the first instance you come across something negative / different of him, you abandon and unsubscribe entirely? Crazy mentality to have. People really do turn so easily nowadays, it’s actually scary how disposable they treat others.

[@peteadenuga]

@@Anas-rx1he he was particularly colorist towards black women posting vile tweets. that’s not all, he also shared rapey jokes & was just blatantly crass. so if black women are choosing not to support him anymore it’s very much not in your place to question them.

[@laylaynat1929]

@@Anas-rx1he you’re being negative by commenting this. Let people have their decisions🫶🏽

[@dfurtado18]

similarly, IMO i think it’s kinda anti-black when fellow black folks be saying “i’m serving rich white woman today” regarding their outfits or home decor /aesthetic and whatnot. obv i understand the phrase, but why it gotta be white? in 2023 why is that even the aspiration? 🤔hmmm

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Speaking of RuPaul...

[@cll27]

He said that ???? Chille he always gave he wanted to be lighter 😂

[@tjzofficial1]

I guess I can’t relate to not 100% loving my skin. I am a darker black man & tho none of us choose our color I couldn’t feel more blessed for what I was born in. Colorism IS mental illness because of where it originated. Its so sad that so many descendants were/are so affected by another group forcing them to believe they darkness was inferior. Tarek Ali is white inferiority & white inspiration personified.

[@CocoFranklin]

Great way to critique a person without tearing them down. OVERALL great video. As a dark skinned black woman who use to be undesirable, I FELT SEEN. Thank you for speaking on this topic!

[@legslikewhoa]

I swear it took me minutes to understand the title in the thumbnail, because I was LOOKING for the ambiguous POC! 😂😂😂

[@arroyobradley414]

You are looking amazing, have not watched in a while but you look slimmer, happier and your confidence has always been my favorite about you. Keep up the great work in business and in personal life.

[@farfrompleasant]

Ambiguously black is giving delusional sorry! 🤭

[@briebanks8915]

Omg this is wild cuz I was JUST talking to a coworker about this conversation from Vice and was coming to YT to bring it up and then your video was first on my timeline!

[@noellejns]

I love the question you posed at the end. But also sidenote: your skin and hair look so good! You look beautiful!

[@Social_Pugatory]

The gay black dude on that vice panel bitching and moaning about white gays not wanting him for being not dark enough or light enough?! Basically complaining about not being fetishized but constantly belittling the real colorism the black women on the panel were discussing made my skin crawl. I can’t even tell him to stand up because he’s too far down bad for Yt Cack.

[@tigerlilly9038]

Vice is not a place to discuss Black colorism. I said it. I'll say it again.

[@beautifulyoung23]

@16:04 has me lmaooooo. Love your content and personality.

[@mhenderson0216]

No patience for colorists… Tarek is cancelled period.

[@davichigbue1835]

The warning came too lateeee, I watched the VICE vid and my mental just ↘️ afterwards because little devil's advocate was given way too much time to speak over others about their experiences. Colorism in effect and he couldn't even see it chile

[@Orangesorbae]

I Stumbled on your page and I am so happy I did. I am a supporter, and I will continue to watch. You really made me sit and reconsider what I find desirable and why I find certain things desirable. I also realized my privilege as a light skin Black gay male within our community and outside that scope. Now I never consider myself light skin, because as many black people can relate to, We tend to get darker in the summer time, so my privilege varies during the seasons literally. But to be honest I did not want to face the fact that I received certain privileges because I am lighter skin in the winter and darker in the summer. I can definitely feel the effect, how people view me from winter to summer time. It's crazy, it's like when I had curly hair, and now I have locs. I could not go 1 day w out receiving a compliment from a white or black person to the point I expected it! IT fed my EGO ! but now that I have locs, I don't receive many compliments at all I find that very telling, but I Digress ... How people Preceive me is completely different now. especially white people and I do desire that approve to a certain extent. By saying I am brownskin, I am always be in the middle. I can relate and fight the "good fights" with my fellw brother but still receive some of the privileges of a fair skin blk person and that is my own internal struggle I cope with and realized while watching your channel! Keep up the amazing thought provoking work that many of us don't want to speak about let alone sit and think about. Thank you King 🔥🔥🔥

[@jenndaniel5608]

Never heard the word but yea ' ambiguously black ' may be a thing these days lol.😁😀 Them IG baddies that look 'ambigious' after putting on lace fronts doing a bunch of shit to their face Ari ,alexis and jayda with the eye surgery etc.bunch of them suddenly look like 'exoticals'

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

I first heard it years ago, but it's used to refer to people who you can't tell are black/partly black or not. Like Rashida Jones. But now that doesn't even apply because more folks are no longer believing that biracial = black.

[@thedolllovett]

when they call it "exotic" i cringe so hard

[@CLC616]

People who think, Shut up and be desirable--they listen to you for different reasons. They are listening to your content more than the content of desirable people--so your content carries more weight. The downside is that stuff sticks to you more, especially when people hear envy and resentment.

[@kmarcol1]

He ain't even that light-skinned

[@chaneldiva8484]

He's not light skin at all he is brown skin

[@dinahnicole3519]

Auntie here trying to learn: forgive my real ignorance on this person being disgusted. From the thumbnail he looks black to me. I’m here to support Justin per usual! Y’all let me know what I’m missing 😃

[@ab.6031]

The guy that used to bleach his hair thinks since he dyes his hair that he is ambiguously black. 😂. He doesn’t understand the definition of ambiguously black because he can bleach his hair all day and he still looks black. In other words it’s just self hate. I hope this somewhat helps

[@noahzero9380]

“Ambiguously black” lmao yes, in your mind 😂😂😂 so funny

[@JaeDuh]

Thank you for the last part or your video.

[@taylermarie7445]

I honestly wanted them to have Dark Skin Indians as well! I’m a black women and I’ve seen Indian women darker than black folks who talk about colorism and it was upsetting fr

[@theflowers999]

Yes, south Asian communities are colorist AF! If you see who’s at the bottom of their caste system it’s hella dark skinned folks

[@Jay-pj5tg]

This is an awesome video with great energy! Even talking about upsetting things, you make the audience feel comfortable and not want to click away regardless if they disagree or dont understand.

[@AeonEsq88]

I could not get through Tarik’s video because he was talking in circles. I stopped the video 5 minutes in.

[@ThinkingOutLoud597]

Both the "desirable" & "undesirable" are dismissed as they both are unheard & and not seen beyond their presumed desirability. "Shut up & be desirable" means that the desired individual is not wanted beyond their looks. Their intelligence, thoughts & depth are irrelevant. Thus, they are in a sense fetishized & dismissed otherwise. The "undesirable" person is dismissed also. They, too, are not seen and are left with the ramifications and internal struggles of feeling unwanted & unheard. It may be considered the two sides opposite sides of the "desirability" coin.

[@jazmineb922]

I was waiting for this !

[@morganinthecity1215]

Was waiting on this one 🤣

[@twenty4.20five]

I hate to be ghetto, but can I please know the name of the song you play in your intro ? I cannot stop dancing to it and Siri don’t recognize it! 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@hannahi9355]

It's amazing how a person can look so beautiful and be so successful on the outside but have so much trauma on the inside. It makes me sad when I see people like this. It just goes to show you never know what a person's internal struggles are. Tarek really is gorgeous and super classy. It really shocks me sometimes when he says he doesn't feel that way. We just never know what people are going through in their everyday life.

[@gabrieljones9300]

Love the transparency on your part 👏🏾

[@Therealissa98]

Well said. And I love how you ended the video

[@lauren2108]

very sad especially towards the end of the video …. smh

[@flylady7695]

Mental health check in

[@Imaabe]

I wanted to post this question here so that it doesn't get lost in the thread below: What is the cost benefit analysis of holding on to your privilege? What do you really gain? You would rather be hired over a dsbp but still get paid sub par wages vs. working with dsbp for us all to get reparations that include colorism. Are the individual benefits really worth forgoing systemic benefits that actually elevate you tangibly? For example, is it worth denying colorism just to be put on a pedestal in the black community, and be desired by a black man, for him to make you a baby mama anyway? Or is it better to fight for collective change so that everyone including you has access to systemic resources in a sustainable way? Is your privilege really giving what it's supposed to gave? Is it worth it at this point in 2023? Yeah you got a role in a movie over a dsbw but your daughter that you had with a black man is now feeling some type of way because she doesn't see herself represented in media because people like you are hogging up all the promotion. Was it worth it? Yeah you got less time on your prison sentence but you are still going to prison to be a modern day slave. Why not work with dsbp and abolish prison period so that neither of you have to be slaves, even if that means acknowledging your privilege and abolishing colorism too? Is your privilege really priviliging in 2023? If not, let it go and fight for systemic change so that everyone can have peace, including you.

[@deej5608]

As someone who worked as a community organizer I've learned that yes people would rather be the one on a pedestal then have the uprising and justice for all. It's sick and disgusting but but the Dark Side of human nature is that people don't feel better about themselves and their placing unless they can look down and see someone else's under them. That's why we haven't had enough Rising yet that truly stand the test of time and made real real real change

[@Imaabe]

@@deej5608 I also did community work and I realize that people have all of these ideas, but are too lazy or afraid to put them into action. I agree with you that they want to hold on to privilege as well. I had to leave organizations when I realized that all they wanted was a glorified book club and no systemic action. Protesting isn’t enough. Lol

[@samuellavon4846]

Ambiguously black??? What does that even mean, like I know what it means but to hear a black person use that is laughable!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ShaneCM]

😂😂😂😂 the very idea is hilarious!

[@samuellavon4846]

@@ShaneCM I laugh everytime I think of this. It lives in my head rent free 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheMeanGirlz]

@@samuellavon4846 it doesn’t mean you witcho black azz.

[@mykaylawyrick445]

Yeah, I saw that panel. Was disturbed the panel lacked dark skin black people, dark asian people as well who deal with colorism. It was a mess, and that guy with the hat blew me the entire video.

[@samonej.7335]

The ending Justin. Powerful.

[@myopinion6748]

As my grandmom used to say to the undesirables, “outta sight outta mind, you better not talk or waste my time. If you talk to me you must be lying so get to the back and start jiving, because if you don’t then you will be crying”

[@TheFashManChannel]

I didn’t know ambiguously black was an end goal for people. As a person who has had every hair color under the Sun, I don’t think bleached- platinum blonde hair has ever made me more racially ambiguous. I think I just looked like a black man with light hair. 🤔

[@Naiya77_7]

I love having my hair blonde currently or any other color under the rainbow because it ACCENTUATES my pretty dark skin this shit is so disgusting to me man

[@user-xn1cy4gj8n]

We will be free from this mindset amongst my people that been programmed in us may we be free mentally ❤️❤️

[@TheRenegadeStarr]

I chose to not watch his video addressing the situation and I subbed from him for the tone deaf response so I didn’t know about this till now I’ve never dyed my hair and if I ever do doggonit imma call myself ambiguously black 😂.

[@Iggles88]

It also seems like he (Tarek) has some sort of dysmorphia because he is a dark brown man who thinks he looks like the actor Tyriq Withers - He seems confused and in denial about what he actually looks like, which he has admitted that he has more healing to do. This is such a deep issue. I like the way you broke it down, Justin

[@sweetbabyjesus910]

I think people forget that colorism is division. It exist but like Malcolm said "who taught you to hate yourself?" I'm light-skinned with siblings who are dark-skinned. When I see them I see, one unit. If someone try to treat me better than my sister because my skin complexion is lighter then we fighting because she's my sister and I'm not gonna let anyone mistreat her. That's how I look at all of us. I'm not doing the light vs dark thing because black is black. Colorism got us going at each other

[@YoVi_]

Ok, I’m a sucker for punishment. Where’s the vice episode? 😂

[@AiNEDuE20]

I went to HS with the guy from the vice video 😩😂

[@BooksandLooksTV]

He literally looks like he could be my brother and I'm black af 😭

[@ennasheher]

5:50 does anyone know which podcaster he talked about? I couldn’t find him

[@shreesexrenae]

Tarek after watching this video: idk what been chewing on me but I know I been ate up!

[@karishajohnson6537]

I like your content Justin and I like Tarek's. Anti-blackness is a multi-layered issue that doesn't start and end with colorism. I know that's your focus and understandable because that's where it starts for you. But for Tarek who most likely doesn't experience colorism (not the same way you do at least), that doesn't seem to be where his dealing with anti-blackness starts. It seemed to me that Tarek was talking about featurism and texturism. He has slimmer facial features which tend to be associated with non-black people and like so many Black people he changed the texture of his hair via hair dye to minimize his Blackness. Being honest about the micro-ways we minimize our Blackness, especially as man is a step forward. Yes it sounds ridiculous to say 'racially ambiguous' as a Black person, but we don't know his day-to-day experiences to say those he encountered may perceived him as not Black or not as Black. You're comparing your life to his and I don't think that's fair because we know desirability doesn't work both ways. We know that people perceived as attractive get access to spaces easier than those who are not. (NO SHADE cuz I think it's coming across that way) The people I have seen criticizing Tarek on Twitter are dark skinned so of course to THEM it sounds bizarre to hear Tarek say such a thing. Because to even think you're racially ambiguous you have to be lighter skinned FIRST, which for them it would not apply. But I know they're seeing it from THEIR level of understanding and experience as dark skinned people. I think we should be careful to not project OUR experiences on to others and imply how we think they should behave based on our ideas about them. People don't change overnight. Dark(er) skinned people say repeatedly how light(er) skinned Blacks do not experience colorism. TRUE! Okay then meet them where anti-blackness starts for THEM so we all can understand. I think you and Tarek should talk offline and IF IF IF you both have an agreement, some kind of understanding, talk about the many facets of anti-blackness (colorism, featurism, and texturism) because you both are at every different ends of the spectrum and personal journey. And it would be great if we have both of y'all in the same room.

[@MrChalaki]

Ambiguous Black never in my black ass life would I have thought I would hear that 😂. Tariq needs to stop the madness!

[@Boyhead1973]

5:40 - 5:43 -- you said it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@onyx081]

I don't think I've ever seen a truly reformed colorist. I don't feel like they ever really change. They just learn how to hide it better

[@TheMeanGirlz]

Yeah we do..whit, cho, black, azz. 🙄

[@TheMeanGirlz]

It’s fine bleaching your skin always help. Although don’t have kids. Wouldn’t want that darkskinsickness disease being spread around. We need to clean the race.

[@TheMeanGirlz]

Which means killing off the dark skins.

[@whenyouwishuponastar6643]

Thank you for calling out vice for being bad content. It seems like everyone there just wants to go viral for their hot take. The grapevine had intelligent conversations.

[@13579hee]

I'm really not liking people's takes on that boy addressing himself as being ambiguous looking with dyed hair. I really think there's a very anti black thing that black folks do of reminding black people that they are still visibly black when they change or alter some form of their physical appearance.... it is almost as if we are reminding them that they are still black in a way that positions Blackness as a pejorative. But I think he was right; I do think that there was is a sense of racial ambiguity that people are chasing in this community when they alter their physical appearance and hair is a big part of that. There's a reason why so many blacks believe for blind hair....it is because close proximity to visible racial non-blackness is the standard of beauty with most Black people. here is definitely an existing aesthetic among queer Black men where they change the color of their hair in a way that requires bleaching the hair & that bleaching of the hair loosens the curl pattern and then they accentuate that loose in the curls/wave by wearing their hair in a certain type of way and working to maintain that loosened curl or wave....... and with that comes some semblance of racial ambiguity. People are definitely going to ask a black person with a loser curl pattern if they're mixed. I'm a black person with a slightly loser curl pattern and black folks have been asking me ever since I was a child if I were of mixed race in some way..... and along with their questions about me being of mixed race ancestry come the compliments about my looser curl pattern. That's what he was getting at. People can try as hard as they want to get around that but I'm sorry he is right, a sense of ambiguity comes along when a black person changes their hair in a way that loosens the curl pattern..... thats the reason why the gays havent made dyed hair in its natural texture a thing.

[@Orangesorbae]

What's his friends podcast? I couldn't understand. I wanna support

[@enricotay7585]

I like your Chanel cause your the only gay black man I know that talk about colorism cause I been dealing with colorism

[@gtg488w]

A lot of black people do this. Even lately, I noticed within a few minutes of talking to some people at work they let me know how they’re Jamaican or from Trinidad, like it’s that important. And even re name themselves nicknames that have the country in it. But the thing is, they’re not from there. I’m first Gen American from both sides, I would never claim my parents’ countries like that, or make that my whole personality. They’re American born and maybe have one parent or grandparent from there - if that. Maybe I’m wrong but it’s giving me “ambiguously black” energy.

[@1ashleyrenee]

I think maybe you’re wrong 😊

[@doll.ov.poetrii4682]

I don't think you get it. The ambiguous black notion plays into certain features, hair textures, and skin colors. There are certain physical traits that are typical to black people that derive from indigenous negroid west African phenotypes. MOST black people worldwide derive from this phenotype because that's the prime area that was colonized and traded in the transatlantic slave trade. The diaspora consists of THAT prime phenotype because that's the areas the MAJORITY of our ancestry traces back to in the diaspora. That's a wide nose, afro textured hair, high cheekbones, deep brown eyes and hair and skin, wider hip bones, full set lips, etc. Is the TYPICAL phenotype of MOST black people in the diaspora. When "black" people have green eyes, light skin, 3c honey blonde hair, low cheekbones, and very thin lips, but two black parents or at least one biracial parent, THAT is considered an ambiguous black person. Those are not TYPICAL features of your AVERAGE black person which almost always descended from a NATIVE black west African phenotype. That's what it means to be ambiguously black. Biracials and mixed race people are not included in this because their non black parent is more likely to NATURALLY possess thin lips, light colored looser textured hair, light eye colors, low cheek bones, light/white skin, etc.

[@zoe122080]

Who raised these folks??

[@barbiekaitie6773]

Tarek gets more delusional day by day

[@lauren2108]

😅

[@PWaves]

i knew this was coming lmao

[@xnsound]

This video is so accurate

[@ladystarfish531]

That was very deep..thanks

[@tym9080]

I feel like Tarek should watch this and come up with a response and or explanation video. I watched his video and honestly it was beautifully put. He was 12, gay and fat during that time and his outlet was twitter. What he said was not right. But he mentioned he struggled to find himself and his blackness. Something he said he still struggles with though his actions. He mentioned the ambiguous black comment when he had blonde hair. He noticed the attention he was getting while having lighter hair. He eventually stopped and even had to outlearn that when his hair started to become damaged and he hated his natural hair. He recognizes his privilege as a lighter skin bm, and even noticed his anti-black sentiments and acknowledged its something he’s out learning and correcting everyday.

[@savannaaak]

I think everyone in the comments should take a listen to Tarek’s podcast on this situation in its entirety.

[@TaylorKingLive]

I'm confused. What does ambiguously black mean?

[@raaid22]

How long does he have to apologize. Where is the grace to allow people to grow. I don't watch Tarek, he isn't for me. But I give him kudos for being open and vulnerable. He didn't have to talk about his hair. Some people love being hateful

[@Jstmaree_]

8:56 I think the closest description for this would be a false sense of martyrdom.

[@thegworlsarefighting]

He’s projecting his self hate

[@Therealadrianallens]

Spoke a lot of facts 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@sfabien007]

All valid points!!!

[@mikedriven]

What made you dye your hair that color?

[@SoniaMia7]

I knew you we coming 😂

[@gemini365ayear]

Ambiguously Black by Bigen

[@taylork7530]

9:33 For the wrestling fans in the comment section, just about the only person I’ve ever seen do this genuinely: Jay Briscoe RIP.

[@TheTrackhurdler45]

Tarek is not light skinned and he absolutely has the language

[@Kathydestiny22]

Deep and so true!!!

[@sungaze342]

Chris brown bleaches is hair all the time AND he keeps it RELAXED I’m not fooled I seen his real texture when he came out and have prove of his 4c hair type but people forget and slow and forgot I guess but it can pass ONLY BECAUSE he’s “light skin “ so it looks likes it can be on him TRUST me I KNOW I’m light skin myself

[@riarealness]

Ambiguously black? Chile that makes no sense. Let me keep my mouth shut on this one because if he thinks that his blonde hair… Lawd I can’t believe people believe this way.