Breaking Down Colorism, Featurism, & Texturism + Anok Yai vs Racist Zara

In this episode, we break down colorism, featurism and texturism from a South Sudanese perspective. We also discuss the Anok Yai and Zara story and debate on whether or not she was justified in standing up against and calling out the popular retailer.
Panel's IG Handles:
BlueNile - @BlueNileOnly
Sahra - @SoSahra
Christine - @ChristinaLado
Vaida - @VaidaJoe
Amanual - @Amanual_Comedy
Please feel free to engage and challenge the perspectives, but please keep comments respectful.
Thank you so much for watching! Don't forget to like and subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday!
Peace and love to our Sosa Fam :) 🇸🇸❤️
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[@allenmaa7064]

Ya’ll look, as usual for the South Sudanese, immaculate - God’s obvious best work. Much love from a Tanzanian brother. 🇹🇿 So happy South Sudan is part of the EAC.

[@mellowsonics4907]

I think it is paramount that black people, darkskin people especially, to put ourselves first. Everybody else does, and I think there needs to be an understanding that catering to the whims and feelings of non-black people in regard to how THEY mistreat YOU might lend you some intermission (at the end of the day we are all coping), you should know that if this is not a temporary remedy, you are effectively rendering yourself as a second- rate constantly surrendering your sense of importance. It is therefore not conducive to expect or implore black women in the year of our lord and saviour, BIG 2024, to simply thug it out. Ya jama’a, like when will we rest? We are for real talking about healing from war trauma and emotional dysregulation within our community and the ongoing assaults on our people, but we cannot stand up to some eeestupid folks and corporations that would not spit on us if we were on fire? Unserious. The system is already built for that, we do not need to assist it. Remember, we are free. Also, there is no way of wielding respectability politics as your sword and we cannot wait to reach the top to protect your dignity. because now we are putting the expectation that we all will get to the top. What about everyday people? And I don’t mean in a sense that we should always be on guard or feel the need to charge head first when these issues occur, but simply being clear with your boundaries and what treatment you do not accept is enough. ‘It’s the way of the world’ is just not good enough anymore and slightly asinine. I appreciate you Emmanuel so much on the podcast and agree with when you say that masculine and feminine traits respectively are not gender-specific. In recent years, and through the social media apparatus we have become especially insistent with this. But on the the topic of extending empathy to darksin women the incongruity between words (protect black women) and actions (how we show up for black women) becomes apparent. And as the ladies communicated this is in part understood as the masculinisation of black women. Attributing ‘being masculine’ to a black man and to a black woman has different outcomes and implications. The imprisonment and brutalisation of black men is something that we have talked about, are talking about and is generally not disputed amongst ourselves. There is an awareness amongst black women compared to our white, asian, arab etc counterparts that we do not have the luxury of the same reassurance and protection that other women receive, because yes the violations and abuse that black women face are just not regarded, definitely not enough by black men as the lowest threshold. Myself I am a very introverted darksin black girl and generally avoid confrontation, it just doesn’t go with my temperament. I am also a recovering people-pleaser. I might not scream back at you but there will be no instance where I will endure or flirt with the fact that a boundary of mine was never crossed. I am not chasing the validation of others and I do not believe in abandoning my ego, as in my feelings about my importance and abilities. Very long comment omg i never rant online but I so so appreciate the podcast and the conversations you are having✨✨✨🫶

[@GraceManeno-lb9cg]

This is much needed topic. Glad y’all touched based on it . Keep it coming ladies . Much love ❤

[@kadarmuhammad5059]

I’m a dark skinned black man with very strong features. I have the broad nose, thick lips, broad shoulders tall with nappy hair. I KNOW I’m the shit 😎!!!

[@norths9142]

Yeah as a girl that shit is opposite thank the lightskin memes of how they feminize men who are light and masculanize darkskin women

[@afree3884]

@17:30 As a child, my favorite fruit was apples since they were the only fruit I used to eat. Then, my mom offered me a grape, and I initially thought that grapes were just like apples! just smaller! It wasn't until I was introduced to oranges, pears, tangerines, and more that I realized grapes are actually quite different from apples and, in fact, the least similar. South Sudanese individuals do not possess Eurocentric features; rather, they have distinct South Sudanese features. Similarly, East Africans do not exhibit Eurocentric features damnit! Lol they are African, emphasizing their Afrocentric features. Many West and southern Africans, including myself, have flat noses and slanted eyes. Does this mean we are now Asia-centric?

[@for-crystals-electives]

I love this analogy!

[@jmanhope1745]

The origin of all human traits are rooted in the genetic pool of The Continent.

[@jasminscarbrough2596]

I honestly find Sudanese skin color exotic. I kinda envy it sometimes. It’s like to be exotic you have to be super light or really dark. Brown skin seems regular. But I love my skin color

[@norths9142]

Bro ☠️☠️☠️ Exotic

[@jasminscarbrough2596]

@@norths9142 if you don’t that’s on you… for me when they are actually beautiful like anok yai at the met gala( she got other pics that I don’t find flattering) that shit leave me in awe . For you it doesn’t. Different strokes for different folks

[@jasminscarbrough2596]

@@tutaxoxo your skin color is beautiful but I truly meant like really dark. Like when you’re really really dark and make it look good… it truly leaves me in awe. I won’t lie I’ve seen like only 7 people pull it off. Including my brother but he’s American and not Sudanese. Another was this girl I went to high school with. She was really dark with hazel eyes. It was breath taking. Literally everybody wanted her.But anok yai met gala look is a perfect example. She bodied that look that day

[@arianalovelace1133]

Exotic means someone from an exotic tropical country woman with long black wavy natural hair and a brown tan I’m half African and half English and I don’t class myself as exotic - exotic more it’s like Latin American Brazil/Caribbean/thailand etc

[@jasminscarbrough2596]

@@arianalovelace1133 the literal definition of exotic means something from another country or something that is unique. Skin like that is unique and it’s foreign so for me it’s exotic. I said what I said🤷🏾‍♀️

[@colormecrazy9327]

All I seen is beauty black skin and clicked on the video

[@ladiesofsosa]

You have beautiful skin too 🤎

[@rahabumugeta6022]

Tanzanian here 🇹🇿👋🏿 I really enjoyed this conversation!

[@KitKhattt]

I’m South Sudanese (Nuer) and have been told by white and black people I have Eurocentric features without them saying it outright . I’ll never forget when this AA women asked me which one of my parents is black or this white guy asking if I was Venezuelan 😂

[@Magic.isnt.real.]

Yea someone thought I could be white person who had melanin injections...😑

[@Cypher_ngor]

I’m watching it while at work , amazing episode! Blue Nile we need your appearance more , Viada your Afro is beautiful wouldn’t trade it for anything. And Amanual you definitely need to cut down on cuss words bruh , you did dropped gems on this episode tho kudos 👏❤

[@Tefera-hf8fw]

And he is not African American but African Immigrant from SS and her 'Afro' is a wig not her hair

[@yourstruly3349]

Omg y’all look like some of the Egyptians on the walls.

[@n.t.1724]

1:13:00 - I completely agree that when someone makes you uncomfortable, you have the floor to make them uncomfortable back! I don't think resigning yourself to 'eating shit' is the move; it's giving, 'if-not-now,when?' Because maybe there's never gonna be a 'right' time to stand up for yourself so you should do it when the unfortunate instance of having to stand up for yourself, presents itself. I don't think it's ok to tell young people or anyone that they 'really can't speak back right now', I like that Christine said said no, ' you have the RIGHT to correct someone when theyre making you feel uncomfortable'. That IS revolutionary and I'm happy you said this! It's so over to think you're doing 'too much' or 'being too dramatic/emotional'. It makes sense to want to defend yourself fiercely when you don't feel listened to/ supported properly.

[@Humble0Sage]

I wonder if they clocked the statement. When your masculinized your less protected.

[@abdiqanihashi484]

Yall have beautiful skin 😍 its like fine silk

[@donnabradford208]

All are beautiful, but what's more beautiful is self-love and to love the skin God bless you to be in.

[@jmanhope1745]

Beautiful/necessary discussion. Can we imagine life challenges along with the challenge of "the container" we are in? The tables have been turned against us towards confusion! We can not satisfy everyone but must emphasize satisfying ourselves. All human traits arise from The Continent's gene pool. We must begin to build our own and not rely on others for validation. We should work towards fulfilling our need for food, clothing and shelter before pursuing ancillary stuff! The Creator did not make mistakes in our creation! The father/mother of mankind should not emulate their progeny when it comes to physical acceptability. When should we cease using the misnomer of black, red, white, yellow people? Who started this misnomer? WHY? Are all peoples' skin tones between very dark brown and very light brown? There are various skin tones on The Continent, even without miscegenation. Hair length and hair texture does not determine gender, neither does skin pigmentation! Skin bleaching and hair relaxers can be carcinogenic!

[@Tefera-hf8fw]

so sad to see the girls with fake hair except one

[@Kabeyavictoria]

Original KUSHITES right here ❤❤❤❤ yessss

[@KushQueen9]

I love the beauty standard in South Sudan and that is all that matters to me. Richly melanated skin is everything for us, and i love it. Whenever I'm back home, everyone always says I am so glad you didn't bleach. For me, the love and appreciation for my skin has been positively reinforced within the South Sudanese community and within my family. I have never been told to change my complexion and that's where it all begins. I have heard friends telling me that their own family members were encouraging them to bleach and using harmful products on their skin...so I'm grateful i did not experience none of that. In terms of featurism, well SS tend to have symmetrical features and that is always attractive and that has nothing to do with europeans, that is attractive to the human eye.

[@anagawa1]

You are all so stunning!!! Beautiful beautiful!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ladiesofsosa]

Thank you so much!!

[@AlatOnDemand]

This is a necessary topic within the black community especially the South Sudanese community. Thank you all for expanding this topic because this issue often gets ignored and we’re just labled “angry blk girls” etc. Btw I also made a video addressing too if you would like to check it out!

[@ladiesofsosa]

Whats the name of your video? We will check it out!

[@AlatOnDemand]

@@ladiesofsosa the first episode on my channel called “you’re not ugly, you’re just darkskinned” :) 💞

[@kay7732]

Chile, the latter half of this convo with the man saying to “eat shit” 😑 was triggering.

[@Belihoney]

Girlie in the green looks like Anok Yai and I couldn’t believe someone that beautiful existed in this earth and to see TWO women who look like that is blowing my mind

[@AngelaEdwards-nd7tu]

All Africans don't look alike just like all European don't look alike

[@isaywhatiwanttosay2025-4eva]

Facts! There are scientific studies to back this as well! ❤​@@nyadhal532

[@athiei2266]

I'm Jieng, and the beauty standard was and still is to the more rural areas- smooth and uniform colored skin, little to no acne, facial harmony, "nice teeth", along with height of course.

[@carrington2949]

That sounds perfect. Biologically all that indicates perfect health which is what evolution indicates as being a good partner.

[@KushQueen9]

All of this!!

[@zaichadanca1471]

This is contradicting. Everyone on the panels can agree that dark skin is celebrated, but some people bleach for fashion and that is weird. But all Black people should accept that having a narrow nose and tall features is fashion.

[@nyankiirngor4966]

Great episode 👏

[@rapmilk]

Great conversation!! I love his points but I do feel like Amanual is always SO close to getting it. Any Talent on set / model is not starting a job assuming they will be bullied or called names. You are not thinking you are about to be teased like in high school. You are an adult in a professional environment expecting professionalism and respect. Respect that should be a given. "sometimes you just have to take it / eat it" just seems like backwards advice to keep black people as quiet as possible, and to continue to take it. We already blame ourselves when we are discriminated against, so that is a huge sign that the system is working just as intended. ugh To Amanual's point- I understand that his experience was full of "worse insults". And I am so sorry that was his experience. I'm assuming he healed from it, but It seems like he retreats to comedy / laughing it off when that is some hurtful stuff to hear as a kid! :( He deserved kind words at that time, and so does this Model. So now, I implore you to take a step back and put yourself in HER shoes. Those around her took advantage of the fact that she was alone- (couldn't understand the language). She was isolated, and they chose to exploit that fact by making fun of her amongst themselves, thinking they wouldn't get caught. This is CRUEL no matter what, no matter how you spin it. Especially in a professional environment. I feel like it also becomes a shaming game, like how in the same breath can we then say "I would make sure my kid doesn't just take that / they would fight them!!" and then pivot to "but when someone calls you a black cockroach make sure to be polite when you call them out" ?? So basically you are saying she should fight and not let no one talk to her like that, but also she should be sweet while doing it?? a bit of conflicting info here. like this is racism guys!! no need to be gentle to racists!! they did not extend the same sympathy! AGAIN, We already blame ourselves when we are discriminated against. I just wish we would refocus that energy to having more empathy to black people as a whole (our own people!!) If one of MY OWN people is called some racist disgusting thing, firstly I will BELIEVE THEM, then I'm going to say "Girl i am so sorry that happened to you, and you are right to call it out!". This promotes healing instead of blaming. We need to be gentle with our own. But I think this is a really interesting convo over all!! ok thanks for reading my brain dump

[@gracef7948]

Oh my! You guys are so pretty!

[@abena8339]

Love this conversation but i do think people want to be judged off their best looking people. Thats what yt people typically do. Theyll promote women like Margot Robbie to represent them. Sophia Vargara to represent latinas, etc... Edit: the end when Emmanuel said “that’s why you create your own environments” The men of your community are supposed to create those safe environments for the women.

[@afree3884]

@17:26 Sahra, the conversation on featurism can be frustrating because it primarily revolves around perception. Human perception is inherently limited.

[@ladiesofsosa]

Completely understandable!

[@Tefera-hf8fw]

If only you all could ditch the fake fare and be yourselves

[@betrayedbaeuchiha175]

This is why I dont take this conversation seriously. Yall out here talking about texturism and yet wearing Indian and ming- su hair. Smh

[@56bc]

Oh brother get this guy out of here. Do WHITE WOMEN literally not pay hundreds of dollars every few months to get extensions?

[@Tefera-hf8fw]

You should talk about slavery in Sudan' history to understand colourism and all the isms dont avoid it.

[@missachol24]

It only affected the south sudanese that lived in the north. Though of us who live in the south and our village were not affected my colorism and that majority of us.

[@norths9142]

Hmm interesting colorism has always existed in Africa from lighter skin people slaughtering darker skinned people believing they were cursed to the war in which darkskin people slaughtered lightskins

[@norths9142]

We're all black though

[@norths9142]

You tryna ration away featurism and eurocentric beauty standards

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

Screw this nonsense!

[@Jennyxx-ie5jw]

Can we talk about the darkskin bullys?? The darkskin girls that pick on the pretty girls and lightskin girls

[@real8551]

That's not a conversation thst platforms ever address because they are scared of backlash. The current wave is to only appreciate or compliment dark skin. So basically it's OK to bully and disrespect fairer complexion. So basically they do to lighter skin black folks exactly what they accuse white folks of. Sad

[@theblackgods4699]

​@@real8551or what lightskin people did for literally centuries . Where do you think all this comes from

[@TheLilly]

No, we're not going to talk about that. To every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Darkskin people are just reacting to the colorist nonsense projected on them. They're not the aggressors. They didn't start this so no we're not gonna talk about that. Read the room 🙄

[@Slow-Rolling]

They’ll never admit this 😂

[@KushQueen9]

South Sudanese can't relate to that. Must have been an issue within your own community 🤷🏿‍♀️