Tyrone Greene Megan Keaton ENG 111-06 01 July 2013 Research Essay Racism or discrimination is a common finding in the

black community today more so against the black community as it was back in the early 1900's. Even though it is now 2013 question still rise why racial issues between blacks is still a huge concern. Pardon me for I myself just so happen to be a light-skinned African American and I have received my far share of hatred and ignorance thrown my way for such. Even though today racism against the black community is rare, and we are finding more of the racism leaning towards us. Foreigners do not understand or acknowledge the contrast, but other races have grasped the concept. As I write this paper and share my views I will not be bias, but instead present you with well researched information the in most appropriate manner. I will be both exploring and explaining why skin color and racism still occurs in the black community and ways we can equally coexist with one another. Ignorance is one of the biggest identified problems in the black community. It has been common that what people do not know can be harmful to their actions and the things they do and say. "And though, I could see that we didnt share the exact same complexion, I knew I wasnt too far off. Apparently, other people didnt see it that way.." (Wells 1) Commonly, in our community, even though we are all the same race and ethnicity we are still looked at different

within each other based off the color of our skin and whether it's a different shade darker or lighter. Although we fought for our rights to be equal in society there are some that aren't satisfied and are very ungrateful for those who paved the way for African Americans to have the freedoms we enjoy today. If African Americans took the time out and researched our history and educate themselves or paid close attention in history class they would know that this ignorant behaivor is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Studying well within our heritage and culture to get the background and education is needed so we can think outside of our race so that they won't be as ignorant and there is no further confusion down the road. Lack of knowledge has caused the black community to lose their since of self-worth. "Its a well known fact that lighter skin slaves were favored over darker skin slaves. Not to say that they were any less a slave than their darker peers , but one must agree that working in the fields and living in poor conditions as a dark slave, was clearly embedding a message in black culture that still exists today." (Perry 1) Racism and discrimination is rare against the black community now a days, however it's more commonly found within the black community. Often they forget where they came from and their lack of knowledge has caused them to have hatred to someone of the same race but one person may be as they call it "light-skinned" and the other being "darkskinned". The whole light skin vs dark skin thing is very immature but widely used by minorities. By simply watching documentaries on the culture they can educate themselves and peers or family. Developing an open-mind can cease the lack of knowledge and ignorance amoungst the black community all in one. Family beliefs also can be an embed majority of the problem of racism amongst the black community as a whole. "My mothers beauty, which is both [internal and external], was all the more alluring because of her coffee bean brown skin. My father, who is significantly lighter,

praised her for it.." (Wells 1) Black is beautiful and whether light skin or dark skin, doesn't make anyone in the black community more precious or acceptable than the other. Most families find the complexion difference to be humorous and often make jokes about it with one another. Other families take it quite seriously and discriminate and have hatred to the other color. It is said that light skin people walk around like they can't be told anything and dark skin people are mean and jealous of those with lighter skin. This is only a rumor and varies from experiences. Social Media can play a negative roll in how the black community is perceived as well. "Yesterday a Facebook status that [read]: Y do pple automatically assume all light skinned chicks r stuck up?? Im judged on my skin complexion everyday. MAN I LOVE TO PROVE THM WRNG! I am not light skinned, so I can in no way imagine how it feels to be judged all of the time because of my skin color. I guess I am a safe brown?" (Black Girl Thinking 1) The author of this article posted a post from his Facebook page to show the post he had read from a light skin African American girl. She was saying how she was tired of being judged based off of her skin complexion. And the writer was glad to be brown skin because he felt that it didn't happen to him as often and couldn't picture himself in her shoes. The black community should reach out to one another and converse amongst each other before judging others based on what they have heard or seen on television. They should to others of different color to verbally see and hear what they are feeling. I myself am a twenty two year old African American man that has yet to run into any issues with me being a light skin person of color. The only thing I receive are a few comical jokes from the back in the slavery days saying that I would be a house slave. Do I feel that dark skin people discriminate and hate on light skin people? My opinion would be yes and to be honest I don't blame them because some of us light skin people can be arrogant out of ignorance and immaturity. Black people need to realize that eveyone are the same. There are people that are

black and white and we are all equal no matter what the color our skin is. Black people should come together more and realize that we make ourselves look crazy hating on each other and try to help each other and teach each other our heritage and culture. I believe if we took the time to get to know one another and talk to people instead of judging them it would eliminate alot of the controversial perception that is portrayed.