Colorlines; Shades of Brown

In Soledad OBrien's Latest installment of "Who is Black in AMERICA", the issues of color in the "black" community are discussed. The ways black people are defined by themselves and others was called into question. How one views self and how the world views you take on two different roles. she then asks her audience to define blackness. The terms black and African American can not be attributed to every person of color. In my opinion, to be black is to be a person of color while one who is African American is one who's parents and grandparents have been born and raised in AMERICA.

Yet issues among African Americans arise when people tend to get shade specific as if the brown paper bag test is still being applied. Both in social networking and in day to day conversation, people of color compare and contrast those of darker skin complexion to those of a lighter shade. To be lighter, makes one better and those who are darker. These are just a few of the slave masters tricks still at play. Shade divisions and contentions exist only to separate and divide the black community.

In the words of a very conscious friend of mine Jacob Maxey "most if not all people of color are still under some for of mental slavery. we tend to set our self back by falling into beliefs that have kept us lockdown still to this day." To be of any form of color is to be subject of being called or assumed black. This however should not be viewed as a derogatory term. The world is more populated with more people of color than white and this should be awe inspiring, to be of such a vast and beautiful people. So whether you are very light with just a hint of African or African American, or dark like the evening sky with a twinkle in your eye, believe in the beauty of you and your people.