The Color Complex the Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans the Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans

by Midge Wilson, Kathy Russell, Ronald Hall, et al.

Book Overview

A courageous, humane, and provocative examination??of how differences in color and features among??African Americans have played and continue to play a??role in their professional lives,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385471610
• ISBN13: 9780385471619
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book Uncovering a Quiet, Secretive Issue in Our Community

Excellent read! Very well-written and well documented. This book was clearly and thoroughly written and researched, unlike what one of the reviewers below said, which was very incorrect. The very first chapter of the book details the origins of the color complex from the 16th to the 18th centuries and after that has still gone on to exist till this very day. It mentions how this whole color conscious thing started because of whites better treatment of those that that were racially mixed, called mulattos, than those who were pure Black, and illustrations of this such as the dark-skinned blacks being made to work in the hot and boiling sun in the fields while the mulattos, were black mixed with white, got the easier chores inside the house like merely cooking and cleaning. Because of this, mulattos developed the "superior complex" to the dark-skinned ones, similar to that of whites' view over Blacks. This book was well researched and documented, indeed. This is the same thing that exists today. You see it all around you, but no one talks about it. No one talks about it because they all know it is true, but just like the authors of the books said, there are many Blacks angry of our "dirty laundry being aired". I am glad that they decided to write about this issue because it is the truth, whether people don't want to hear it or accept it. THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH. It just happens that there are many of us that are in denial and don't want to own up to what they know deep inside is the truth. But like my mom said, "The truth doth offend much", as the old saying goes, as evidenced by the anger, resentment, and disapproval of bringing this subject to light. Everything was good from the beginning to the end. These are things that I have seen growing up as a dark-skinned person, which I know numerous other dark-skinned individuals can attest to, with the light-skinned ones being treated better than everyone else simply because of the fair complexion and the long hair. Now, no black man (and many times women too) is going to admit it, but they know that light-skinned women with long hair is what they prefer just because it is closer to white. No book has to document this. It is a fact known simply by observation because you learn so much just from observation. And, though, whites are the perpetrators, it is our OWN BLACK PEOPLE that carry this type of unfair and biased treatment toward dark-skinned people. The book ended with examples of celebrities like Michael Jackson and unknown individuals in high-profile occupations who have passed and tried to pass as white just for acceptance in society, approval, and survival. It did mention that even though people might criticize Jackson, "if given the opportunity and money then they would so the same thing"-a statement that made a good point. Even the same men that were the so-called "civil rights leaders" criticizing those for bleaching the skin and straightening the hair were posed with a good question by Mad

Wow....

This book was excellent and clearly showed just how absurd racism can make people. It was disturbing* as a black person myself* to read about how people used to negate each other that badly. It changed my perception of a lot of things. I recommend this book to EVERYONE. It pointed out so many things that I didn't twice about and I wish I could have found it sooner.

As a medium complexion woman, this book opened my eyes

I picked this book up, just for the sake of reading. I could NOT put this book down. As a graduate student who works full-time I don't have a lot of time to read for pleasure, but I read this book in 3 days! I was amazed about the depths of this issue, although I consider myself to be pretty in tune with Black issues I was shocked to read some of the things people say and believe b/c of skin tones. Or let me rephrase that the things people STILL say and beleive about complexion. There were some extremely gut wrenching candid points made. For example, I was not aware that people in today's "modern" times were still "white-washing" their families or that people still engaged in "passing". The whole section on the importance of complexion and dating was wonderful. This book is very straight forward, easy to read, and candid. I Learned that being a medium complexion gal, I often missed these extreme but common occurances expereinced by the two extremes. There was also, a tease of information about other races love-hate relationship with skin tone (mainly Asian and Latinos). Beautiful place to start to get your mind thinking. *************************** I think every person regardless of race should read this book, especially those in the helping professions (i.e. teachers, social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, ect.). It provides candid insight to a problem that many even Black Americans don't see.

Our "Dirty Laundry" is Stinkin' up the House!

I first read "The Color Complex" as a college student in 1996. As a dark-skinned Black male, this book brought to light the lion's share of all of the ostracism, ridicule, and occasional bullying that I experienced as a child. It also made me realize that a large segment of the Black community still does not want to acknowledge (let alone deal with) the fact that Black intra-racial color discrimination is still alive and well. Never under-estimate the power of denial.It is very hypocritical that many Black "leaders (?)" prefer to always point the finger at White America for all of its sins, yet refuse to challenge us as Black folks to take a good, hard look at ourselves and how we treat each other. Bravo to the authors for "airing our dirty laundry" in a way that forces much needed and long overdue Black American community introspection. This book will make some uncomfortable, but that's the point! Just like "Losing the Race" by John McWhorter, this books represents a much-needed wake-up call for Black Americans.

Color Complex

EXCELLENT! This is a book that one cannot put down. The issue of color discrimmination is rampant within the communities of color be it black, hispanic, etc. Although I cannot say if I have suffered intraracial color bias, I know it exists. When I look at Ebony Magazine, Jet, etc. I feel that these publications have a fetish for light skinned people! I know of light skinned blacks that absolutley will not marry or get involved with anyone dark skinned or one that does not have "european" features. i have worked with African Americans that only allowed their daughters to date white boys! For fear of having children with dark skin and "bad" hair. This book tells the truth about the role of skin tone ,hair texture and self hatred in the black community.