Entertainment

VIDEO: Light-Skinned Black Women Share The Hurtful Comments They Heard Growing Up

Published

10 years ago

January 16, 2015

(The Huffington Post) – “You think you’re white.” “You’re stuck up.” “You think you’re better than everybody else.”

African-American women with lighter complexions say they often heard backhanded comments like these from members of their own communities while growing up. The documentary “Light Girls,” director Bill Duke’s sequel to “Dark Girls,” showcases some of their stories as it studies the pain, privileges and prejudices that come with being a light-skinned black woman.

When children are confronted with these kinds of hurtful words, spiritual teacher Iyanla Vanzant says it can affect them long into adulthood. “I think the impact that colorism has on young girls — light girls and dark girls — leave scars on the soul that live well into womanhood,” she says.

In the above clip from the documentary, actresses and media personalities open up about the shame they have felt because of their lighter skin. “I was made to feel that something about what I had or looked like was somehow both special and yet disliked, hated,” says actress Cynthia McWilliams. “[It was] something to be embraced and/or fear.”

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Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2024

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Love Life Organization Shows Love

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2024

Oakland Post

Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.

City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team

By Donald Lacy

Special to The Post

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.

It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.

The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.

Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.

The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..

There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.