It seems as though there has always been an issue among African-American woman when it comes to the color of our skin. A color barrier within our race light-skinned sisters vs. dark-skin sisters. This is an issue that is close to my heart. I am dark skinned so I decided to write about it but I wanted more than just my perspective to be seen. This week's guest writer is of the light skinned complexion and a soon to be fellow blogger :-). You are graced with a preview of what to look forward to on her blog as well as what I have to say. I hope you enjoy these two pieces :-)

DARK SKIN

I was born this way, deep and rich in a coco pigmentation of my exterior. I am the result of a sun kissed bliss that is my heritage. Yet here in my environment among peers with similar cultures as mine, a place where I should feel comfortable, I am degraded to being “Pretty for a Dark skin girl.” And THAT is how it all began.
In fact that seems to be a universal phrase towards darker African-American women. It wasn't only the saying itself that troubled me. It’s what it represented. First of the all, the people saying it actually found it to be acceptable. Do you realize when you tell me “You sure are nice looking for someone that’s so black.” It Insinuates that black is the equivalent of Ugly and if you're dark you're more than likely unattractive? It's as if I am some exception to a rule. Black is beautiful. Haven’t you heard? Still as we humans sometimes do, this caused me to ask myself questions in regards to the nature of black beauty. So what is considered beautiful if not I? That’s when I began my self-righteous hell bent negativity towards my light-skinned counter parts.
Ever since High school I would “throw shade” at them. I spoke avidly and got into heated debates of how their beauty is over-rated, how it is easier for them to get jobs or opportunities and how they acted as if they were superior to Dark skin sisters. Quite frankly I walked around pissed at them for years. Because I was fed-up! Every time I turned on the radio it was “Red bone long hair” this and “caramel” that. Even the most prominent pop cultural figures (i.e. Beyoncé, Tyra banks) were all I saw. I felt as though I wasn’t good enough because I wasn’t light-skinned. I wanted my voice to be heard too. I was tired of being pre-judged. I remember once someone said. “You know, you are alright for a dark skin girl. You aren’t ghetto and dirty like the other ones I know.” What the HELL? The ignorance just sickens me.
Ironically I always found myself being best friends with people of a lighter complexion. Not in a compensation type of way either. It would naturally happen. But that didn’t change my feelings about how I was treated as a chocolate sister or the way I felt about “them”. In fact my friends would have to take daily lashings of my underhanded comments. “Your yellow self” or “you know the only reason that happened is because you’re light-skinned”. Daily debates would be me and my best friend vocalizing our view points that we were so sure the other could not possibly understand. Then one day on twitter the light skin dark skin conversation began. I wasn’t a part of it though I was merely a spectator and in that moment it hit me.
What were we all doing? Nothing but throwing hate towards each other when we both were experiencing the same struggle! We were breeding each other’s ignorance. I use to say “You don’t understand my struggle because you are light skinned and what you are dealing with is different, therefore you can’t walk in my shoes,” but I was wrong. When it comes down to it we are all being judged by the color of our skin. Literally, the color, not simply by our race but by how much pigmentation we were born with. It’s sad in all honesty. This is not a modern day problem it’s deeply rooted. Back during times of slavery slave owners would always try to “divide and conquer” physically separating darker and lighter slaves which caused a mental separation to fester. A hundred years later we are still being divided.
It is drilled so deep within our conscious that we don’t even see it. We are so busy fighting to be heard that we don’t realize we are both saying the same thing. I had to stop looking at it as “them” because black is us. Black Is beautiful. That includes the different browns, chocolates, caramels and cappuccino colors that we are. The diversity among is the things that’s destroying us but it should be bringing us together. Instead of focusing on tearing each other apart we need to embrace one another. We do not decide the complexion we are given at birth we have no control over that. Let’s stop focusing our attention on hating one another and try to better ourselves. Accept that which you are. This argument does not need to continue because either way it will be an empty victory. When I look at my best friend now I don’t judge her based on who she is beyond her exterior because I see her based on the character she has spent her life building. Yes she is light skinned. She can’t change that and shouldn’t want to. She was born that way.

LIGHT SKIN

At first, I didn't understand the "difference". As a matter of fact, I didn't even know the "difference" existed. But I found out at an early age. It was abruptly brought to my attention by the infamous quotes I became accustomed to throughout my whole life.
"She didn't deserve that, she only got it because she was light-skinned."
"She’s not cute; she's just light skinned with hair."
Even members of my own family, saying that me and my male counterpart were only awarded valedictorian and salutatorian in kindergarten class because my teacher favored "yellow" kids. Confused, I thought it was because I worked the hardest and actually deserved it.
And it only got worse since then.
The light skinned/dark skinned subject became a major part of my life. I was constantly defending myself and other people of my color that the things that we were given, we deserved, scholastic awards or not, we had to work just as hard as everyone else.
My arguments were always corrupted by the media. With songs blaring lyrics such as "I like a long haired thick red bone," and front covers of magazines always broadcasting people of lighter skin, I was always felt the need to eat my words.\
Even I felt ashamed to proudly claim my skin complexion, whereas my best friends were free to announce that they were "cocoa" and "a beautiful chocolate complexion"
I felt the need to do things to prove that I was capable DESPITE my complexion, instead of owning it.
I realized that I didn't work as hard as everyone else, I worked TWICE as hard so people could look past that, and still got hit with,
"She’s JUST light skin. That’s the ONLY reason."
I started to then think that people of darker complexions were bitter of what the media was doing to them, but were taking it out on everyday people.
I had the attitude of "this wasn't my fault, so why do I get the back lashing for it?"
A friend of mine once said that my idol Lena Horne, was not a true civil rights activist because she "Looked white anyway."
Lena Horne did not use her complexion to her advantage. She would not accept any special treatment that her whole race couldn't use.
A "we are all in this together" attitude that I love.
Sadly this is a struggle that the whole African-Americans are going to continue to face until we learn to realize that are not a race of dark and light, but a race of many different skin complexions working towards one common goal. People need to stop judging someone's credibility by the lightness or darkness of their skin, but of their true character.
We will continue to be enslaved by the notions that slavery has put on us until we learn to put color behind us.

Below is the video clip from the interview where Kid Cudi made these statements.

CULTURAL CONNECT: JAMAL "JAY" DUKES

Jamal "Jay" Dukes is a 2010 Graduate of Claflin University. While attending Claflin he majored in Mass Communications and hosted almost every major event on the campus. He has interned at Radio Stations and lead the Promotion of events throughout the entire state of South Carolina. Dukes recently entered a Contest at Oprah.com where he is auditioning to have his own show. Dukes says his show will be catered to college students and recent Graduates by "highlighting the actions and accomplishments people are doing, whether it's their talents or their service. They are doing great things in our community and in our Society today and nobody is highlighting it." Sounds like something you want to support? VOTE FOR JAMAL DUKES BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW!

http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=17744&promo_id=1

Anticipation. Haters. Expectations.Icon.Over-rated. A Gemic. A Genius. Who knew a five letter, one syllable name can create such a debate by simply being brought into conversation. Drake.

The 23 year old Toranto native is single handedly changing the direction of main stream hip-hop. Making it acceptable and sellable to rap about love and fears, while intertwining melodies to make radio friendly hits. But this is far from the only thing different about this half Jewish, half African-american entertainer. In fact, it’s only the beginning.

Prior to Drakes June 15^th release of his debut album “Thank Me Later” he had already been Signed to Yung Money (Lil’Waynes record label), Nominated for two Grammy’s, and gone on a world tour. You would think this alone would get people to admit his potential greatness but for every fan he gains there seems to be double the haters. “Everything people say about Drake shows me that all you have to do is be loved for people to hate you.” Rapper Talib Kwali said via twitter. Most believe the disapproval of Drake from naysayers stems from his lack of experience in the game. “I don’t like giving someone credit when they haven’t showed me anything. People were acting like Drake was as huge an artist as Jay-z before his album even dropped!” says Kyle Brown, a vocal Hip-Hop fan who doesn’t care for the rapper. Brown also adds, “And he sucks as a live performer.” These viewpoints seem to be a general consensus among fellow peers who disapprove of Drake. “To be considered one of the Best you have to have every element, yes Drake can fill up an entire arena, but he can’t put on a show.” Although there are a number of valid points made about Drakes lack of stage presence and Experience there seem to be more positives to him as an artist than negatives.

Drake is emotionally connected and speaks of heart-break, the need to be successful, and how important it is for him to stay humble during it all. He switches from crooning about finding love, to celebrating with the people that helped him get where is, and promising never to forget them. Then he will go and appear on a Hip-Hop icon’s track and spits a verse with lyrics that almost sound like a cockier alter-ego of himself. What other rapper can do that? That is only the musical aspect. “ Drake has versatility and the determination to be better. He’s never satisfied by being so loved by the public and making millions. It’s about a legacy and history for him.” Up-and-coming rapper Khid P said passionately. When asked about the Drake haters he spoke with that same passion “Honestly it’s bull sh** to me! Saying he’s the best is surely premature but it’s not farfetched. People are often scared of the things that are unfamiliar in places they think they know well- his music is not for everyone.”

His debut album was not So Far Gone from the mixtape that first got everyone’s attention. It was a more mastered and updated version of the type of music he’d been making. Fans didn’t seem to be disappointed. The internet began flooding with personal opinions about the CD and quotes from it were seen everywhere. Others who were unsure about the rapper before the album dropped had a few concerns. “I must admit I like the album, I never said he couldn’t rap, but I don’t think there should have been so many features.” Brown pointed out. Eight artists total appeared with a verse or a hook here and there on consecutive tracks. This however didn’t take away from the album or Drake having the spotlight, but the question was why? How come he didn’t become lost among voices that we’ve already been paying attention to? What made us as consumers want to listen to what he had to say?

A week after Drakes album dropped. MTV showed a documentary, Drake: Better than Good Enough, that allowed you to see the artist in an even more personal light. The documentary followed him during the period right before the album released, while he was on tour, and in the studio. He spoke candidly and during a interview within an empty arena about his fears, dealing with the pressure that his name is beginning to bring, his hungriness to do better, and knowing that at any moment, the fame he recently acquired could still be taken away. All things he spoke about on his album. All things mentioned in his music.

People aren’t intrigued with Drake because of his flashiness or his punch lines. They don’t love him for a good club banger or a song referring to sexual innuendo. The reason people are so intrigued with Drake and so respecting of him is the fact that his music is him. Its simplicity is what makes it complex, just like us as human beings can sometimes be. The songs put together with his amazing story telling mechanisms are the memoirs of his life, real events and people. “I want them to know that I’m serious about what I’m saying, My verses mean a lot to me, they’re not just some sh** I’m rapping, I’m dead a** serious about all the sh** I’m saying.” It’s as if the more and more you listen to his music the better you get to know him and understand him.

Among the rappers we’ve already noticed Drake reveals himself with complete openness which causes us to pay attention almost as if the honesty is unexpected from a rapper. This is the same reason he doesn’t become lost during the features on his album he’s telling us things we haven’t heard before and in a way the average person wouldn’t be able to. His album debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts and sold almost half-a-million in the first week. All in all despite the questions Drake’s future is promising. This is something his haters and fans can agree on. “I think he’ll be a seasoned vet in charge of everything that moves in Hip-Hop. I really believe he has “IT” Jay-z says it, Wayne says it, and everybody knows it. The only thing he lacks is experience.” Khid P says matter-of-factly. Time will only tell. Until then questions will continue to rise about Drake but no matter what your opinion on him he said it best himself. “Call me over-rated, or created or too jaded, because anyway you put it. B**** I made it.”

Visit http://www.youtube.com/v/SBzU8g0JsLk&hl=en_US&fs=1& to see a clip from Drake's documentary. VISIT MTV.COM TO SEE THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENTARY

Oh the complexities of love! If the human race shares nothing else, not family, not ambitions, not fears, then they will always share one thing. Love. And the need for it. Lately it seems as though I’ve witnessed love around me and on a personal level with all of the possible complications! We go from Choosing between two lovers, allowing yourself to be loved, unintentionally hurting the ones we love, dealing with the demands of love, and putting yourself above someone else’s hopes of loving you. Confusing I know. But isn’t it always that way? Doesn’t it always seem like no matter how green the grass is in that moment that someway somehow the weeds seem to pop right back up and you have to constantly keep cutting them down! I mean what is the point really? That’s the rhetorical question we always ask ourselves. But it’s a good question when you think about. What IS the point? It would seem so obvious to give one of those “Love is the greatest feelings and blah blah blah” answers but I like to think a little deeper than that. I think that the point is. We know everyone needs or wants love rather they admit it or not. As humans we want to be able to give somebody something so fundamental and powerful because if you have nothing you can always give love in abundance, and it’s free! Monetarily anyway. Because if we cannot answer one other question in life and its mysteries. We know people need love. It’s natural for us to want it ourselves “If you Give You Shall receive” so when love isn’t returned and hearts are broken you feel as though we are not given what is owed to you, what you think is yours. But in reality the only love we have control over completely is the love for ourselves. We decide that. It’s the foundation that we build our love for other people upon and if we know the true love for ourselves from within then it will be easy for us to see the difference between what’s true love and falsified love, who we love the most and who we love being with the most. It makes things a lot easier trust me, because if you don’t listen to your intuition you’re bound to fail in the game of love. Even though all of this is so that one moment when you feel overcome with emotion of joy that someone else can put in your heart and the feeling that you and another person are internally connected seem worth it. Despite all of the drama, arguments, confusion, tears, frustration, and heartbreaks, those moments’ simple moments are worth. I mean, they are worth it right? Just something to think about…..

Its amazing how this thing started with a simple question. In my Introduction to Mass Communications class a year ago my professor was describing blogs and asked did any of us have one. Naturally for some reason I felt the inclination to answer the question with a yes. Id thought of the idea of having one before but it was never a solid initiative. Out of the entire class of my fellow Mass Comm. Majors, one person raised their hand. Nicole, sitting in the left corner of the room she spoke casually as if someone had asked Does anyone have a pencil I could borrow? Yes I have a blog, Ive had it for about a year now. Its more so my personal thoughts mixed in with fashion etc. and that was it. That was all that was said yet it sparked an unshakable curiosity in me to look more into this. When I got home I clicked on her Facebook page and sure enough there was a link to her Blog:

www.niksogoldienox.blogspot.com . I became inspired and intrigued, personal thoughts with a mix of poetry and eye catching images with the perspective of an individual are things I appreciate. Her blog was full of them. Random words, moments, and internal thoughts that was relatable to readers. That was when I decided. I made my mind up that I would create a blog. Procrastination got the better of me and this blog of mine continued to sound more like an idea than something I was going to make happen.

Then I started tweeting, after joining twitter I realized 140 characters just wasnt enough for me to get my thoughts and points across. I have a mind that is forever wondering about something, wanting to speak about something, and is always evolving from the discovery of a new epiphany. I needed a way to share my interest, my thoughts, and a way for everyone else to relate or at least get them thinking. To introduce them to things that generated even a moment of my attention. So I got my ideas together and I started telling everyone about my blog. I spoke more avidly to those that I know have a shared interest in writing as me and I began to feel that people where anticipating it. I was getting excited and it turned into something more.
I reached out to friends who are equally as ambitious as me to help with the blog. Then it turned into a full blow website! Something like a mini magazine to me. It is my dream to be the editor of my own magazine one day. Then my friends began telling me how they wanted to start their own blogs or how they wanted to enhance the ones they already currently had. Reading a quote that is posted in my room, I had an epiphany.

This wave of events was all a part of our nature as humans, our fears, and our dreams. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us, I could have started the blog long a year ago when I first had the urge to yet I sat on my potential knowing good and well what I was capable of. We are all meant to shine, and as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated in our fears, our presence automatically liberates others."- Mariam Williamson

Nicoles blog had liberated me. Giving me the courage I needed to step out and do my own, just as I doing for others now. Its almost like a chain reaction like we as humans need to see others doing things they love to give ourselves permission to do the things that inspire us. It started with ONE simple question in class. Do any of you have a blog? so for that. I thank you Nicole. I dont think you realize what that one moment did for me. It was the beginning of all of this. And hopefully as I live my life day by day the things I do and say that seem so simple, as well as the things I work toward with vigor, will inspire someone else to achieve a dream, reach a goal, or have a realization. I have a blog now but Ive got the feeling this is all going to be so much more.