APrayer4Hair
Well-Known Member
In the words of the great Paul Mooney " everybody wanna be a n$&@a, but don't nobody wanna be a n$&)a". Basically a lot of people "choose" to be, "act", or identify with being black when its convenient for them.
Ignorant arsed yt'ber
- Thread starter southerncitygirl
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koolkittychick
Well-Known Member
Ugh. It's sad to say, but there is an element of truth to that. As a Haitian on the lighter spectrum, I was raised with a lot of the BS she apparently had drummed into her head. I just had the benefit of having a little more common sense and being raised in the U.S., where I was reminded EVERY DAY by the white kids I went to school with that I was Black, no matter what my mom was trying to tell me (she refused to call herself Black for most of my childhood, insisting on the term "claire" -- lightskinned -- Haitian).
Unfortunately in the Caribbean and Latin America, light-skinned blacks went through a similar history that light-skinned blacks went through in the U.S., but much worse. In the islands and especially Latin America, you could literally "escape" your blackness through money, power or class, and so those societies had to come up with some interesting ideas about race and ethnicity in order to support that social system. Hence, you have quite a few people coming to this country and getting their feelings hurt over the "one drop" mentality that exists here, because it does not exist where they come from or it works in reverse, like in the Dominican Republic (which shares the same island as Haiti, by the way). Over there, you can have the darkest skin and kinkiest hair, but if you can claim any ancestry in your background that is remotely Spanish/Indian/White, then you claim that and nothing else.
Enyo
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately in the Caribbean and Latin America, light-skinned blacks went through a similar history that light-skinned blacks went through in the U.S., but much worse. In the islands and especially Latin America, you could literally "escape" your blackness through money, power or class, and so those societies had to come up with some interesting ideas about race and ethnicity in order to support that social system. Hence, you have quite a few people coming to this country and getting their feelings hurt over the "one drop" mentality that exists here, because it does not exist where they come from or it works in reverse, like in the Dominican Republic (which shares the same island as Haiti, by the way). Over there, you can have the darkest skin and kinkiest hair, but if you can claim any ancestry in your background that is remotely Spanish/Indian/White, then you claim that and nothing else.
Reading an Isabel Allende book a few months ago (started a thread about it) taught me about that. I had a vague idea about how race and complexion were seen in Saint Domingue, but the book really blew my mind because it addresses exactly what you said here. It was amazing to see it spelled out in detail.
Qualitee
New Member
danysedai
Well-Known Member
Can you tell me which book?
Unfortunately, in any black community around the wordl that kind of ignorant mentality is prevalent. My sister recently blew out and flat ironed her natural hair and it went to APL to waist and her colleagues couldn't wrap their minds about it as she is a dark skinned black Cuban so she's not supposed to have long hair, and she is not a "mulata", she's "negra". In my case where they would call me "mulata" because of my skin tone, they also derogatorily call me "jaba'" because I don't have that "good" hair.
btwLucie, it always surprises me when other people can spot their people (as I cannot tell who's cuban or not unless I hear them speak or move or walk), she could blend in in Cuba quite easily.
Everyone stays thinking they are an authority on who is Haitian and who is not. Some would surprise you. Im very good at identifying my own, but I have been fooled a few times. If you want to learn a little bit about Haiti and colors and how french influence has greatly affected Haitians' issues with color. Read "The Black Count".
With many Haitians color is not just about pretty or sexual attractiveness. Lighter means richer and better social standing. Sadly if you look at Haitian society in Haiti it is partly true. In the colonization days there were laws that greatly affected the relationships between blacks and mulattos. To this day I have a great dislike for France for how it phucked up Haiti. Some of that stuff runs deep. Look at who is in power in Haiti and tell he if I'm lying.,
With many Haitians color is not just about pretty or sexual attractiveness. Lighter means richer and better social standing. Sadly if you look at Haitian society in Haiti it is partly true. In the colonization days there were laws that greatly affected the relationships between blacks and mulattos. To this day I have a great dislike for France for how it phucked up Haiti. Some of that stuff runs deep. Look at who is in power in Haiti and tell he if I'm lying.,
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I watched the video and I'm wondering if I watched the right one because I really don't see why everyone is all up in arms about the things she's saying. Sounds to me that she's just saying that Haiti is an island full of mixed races and ethnicities and we don't all just have just one look. That explains the versatility of our hair. It's genetics. Doesn't sound that outrageous and ignorant to me.
koolkittychick
Well-Known Member
This sadly is also very true. And most likely the reason why this YTber has been told "You don't look Haitian." I had that happen to me once, where an idiot said that to me and I put him in his place by replying, "What does a Haitian look like?" He turned red and just stammered before hopping off on the one foot he had left after he put the other one in his mouth!
Seriously though, you will find that there is a class division along color lines among Haitians, even in the communities that emigrate here. Basically, the lighter skinned you are, the more likely your family is or was middle class and higher in Haiti. And to this day being light-skinned is still valued among Haitians, so those who are tend to associate and date not too far from their color range, unless it's to go lighter.
One of my exes was a premed student on full scholarship to Howard, but all my mother cared about was that he was dark-skinned, and so she disapproved of him. I stopped bringing my SOs around to her after that; I couldn't deal with the nonsense.
Enyo
Well-Known Member
This sadly is also very true. And most likely the reason why this YTber has been told "You don't look Haitian." I had that happen to me once, where an idiot said that to me and I put him in his place by replying, "What does a Haitian look like?" He turned red and just stammered before hopping off on the one foot he had left after he put the other one in his mouth!
Seriously though, you will find that there is a class division along color lines among Haitians, even in the communities that emigrate here. Basically, the lighter skinned you are, the more likely your family is or was middle class and higher in Haiti. And to this day being light-skinned is still valued among Haitians, so those who are tend to associate and date not too far from their color range, unless it's to go lighter.
One of my exes was a premed student on full scholarship to Howard, but all my mother cared about was that he was dark-skinned, and so she disapproved of him. I stopped bringing my SOs around to her after that; I couldn't deal with the nonsense.
koolkittychick A few years back I had a very odd us vs them conversation with a old schoolmate. Even though her mother is black and her father is mulatto ( she looks more mulatto). It left me feeling
erplexed. True to the form she comes from generations of money and married amongst her own and living here now. Even with US influence, if you look at her circle till this day you can see how deep the color issues run. They all have this look to them. If the women pick a dark complexion black man, you bet your dollars he has money.
Lucie
Dancin' on sunshine!
Can you tell me which book?
Unfortunately, in any black community around the wordl that kind of ignorant mentality is prevalent. My sister recently blew out and flat ironed her natural hair and it went to APL to waist and her colleagues couldn't wrap their minds about it as she is a dark skinned black Cuban so she's not supposed to have long hair, and she is not a "mulata", she's "negra". In my case where they would call me "mulata" because of my skin tone, they also derogatorily call me "jaba'" because I don't have that "good" hair.
btwLucie, it always surprises me when other people can spot their people (as I cannot tell who's cuban or not unless I hear them speak or move or walk), she could blend in in Cuba quite easily.
danysedai, I have an eye for it. It doesn't matter how white or how black I can tell. I am very rarely wrong. Now if the person is from another culture I am stumped. As a child growing up, my family spent most of their time with other relatives, or friends that are Haitian. So I can tell by the nose, cheeks, gait, name, laugh, eyebrows, diction, et cetera.
Enyo suggested a book Island Beneath the Sea and I am 100 pages in and it is a rough read. The blatant colorism, racism and prejudice in Saint Domingue (what Haiti was called prior to our Independence) is painful to read, though I know not much has changed. The only difference is that it is not as openly discussed.
Awe that sucks that she's haitian and she talking like this. I'm not surprised however. There are a lot of people stuck on skin color and hair type even. I'm so glad I was not raised in that kind of environment.
Is she identifying as light skinned? I usually don't speak on those kinds of classifications but I don't see it. She just looks black to me - like a black girl with haitian origins.
As for telling who is haitian or not, I'm sure it is possible to walk right by people who are haitian and not even know it. I find this easy to happen especially with the younger haitian crowd from Brooklyn who are much more Americanized. Esp when they are with their friends. They dress and carry themselves in a way that is contrary to what I personally associate with being from Haiti or being raised by Haitian parents. I can't explain it but I know it when I see it. And mezanmi when they are loud? I'm like can't be.
Is she identifying as light skinned? I usually don't speak on those kinds of classifications but I don't see it. She just looks black to me - like a black girl with haitian origins.
As for telling who is haitian or not, I'm sure it is possible to walk right by people who are haitian and not even know it. I find this easy to happen especially with the younger haitian crowd from Brooklyn who are much more Americanized. Esp when they are with their friends. They dress and carry themselves in a way that is contrary to what I personally associate with being from Haiti or being raised by Haitian parents. I can't explain it but I know it when I see it. And mezanmi when they are loud? I'm like can't be.
Kinky4Agirl
Well-Known Member
Here is the difference... Ok.. All hair grows at the same rate. But pure african or african american hair breaks more often because our hair is dry. That's all... that's it. Nothing else. So while it seems that our hair is shorter and doesn't grow, that's not the case. It just breaks more easily and often times does just that. Got it? Good!
Kinky4Agirl
Well-Known Member
Maybe one of us should tell the youtuber this information. She doesn't know and she doesn't know that she doesn't know... lol
4EverDetermined
Active Member
Omg. Me,her and her younger sister started nursing school together and had a couple classes together, smh. I think the reason she thinks that way is her and her younger sister have different hair textures. Her sister has 4B neck-shoulder length hair and I remember her saying it was breaking..I think Rubi's hair was MBL. She should research before trying to educate but genes determine hair texture, not length. Some textures are just less prone to breakage.
ronie
Well-Known Member
Sad thing is she looks like one of my classmates from Saint Francois D'Assise. If that's her, i am not at all surprised. Yes she would be considered light skinned. These girls would only hang out with their own. If there was one black girl (darker complexion), in the group it was for 2 reasons: she was smart, and they were using her to tutor them, or do their homework; 2 her family was powerful and whealthy.
To these days, as Tamrin mentioned i have some of those classmates with the same attitude right here in the US. I have some on my facebook page, and it is sad to see that the behavior is still there. One of them, saw a picture of me and my husband and said: Your husband had a good complexion (bel couleur), you will have beautiful kids. WTF? Mind you i never considered my husband to be lightskinned, my husband is american and would laugh if someone called him light skinned. When my daughter was born, she was very light, like any new borns, and she came to visit her. She went: look , her ears are light, that's gonna be her true complexion. Thankgod for your husband. That was it for me. We are not enemies, but i stopped talking to her. Too dang stupid. I could go on and on with more craziness about our lighter complexion haitians, but that would need a forum on its own.
To these days, as Tamrin mentioned i have some of those classmates with the same attitude right here in the US. I have some on my facebook page, and it is sad to see that the behavior is still there. One of them, saw a picture of me and my husband and said: Your husband had a good complexion (bel couleur), you will have beautiful kids. WTF? Mind you i never considered my husband to be lightskinned, my husband is american and would laugh if someone called him light skinned. When my daughter was born, she was very light, like any new borns, and she came to visit her. She went: look , her ears are light, that's gonna be her true complexion. Thankgod for your husband. That was it for me. We are not enemies, but i stopped talking to her. Too dang stupid. I could go on and on with more craziness about our lighter complexion haitians, but that would need a forum on its own.
Kinky4Agirl
Well-Known Member
Dove56
Well-Known Member
Not true. All hair doesn't grow the same rate. One of my cousins and my maternal grandmother both have hair that grows over an inch a month. The average rate is 1/2 inch a month but that varies from person to person. The length hair will grow is genetic as well and it's predetermined just like height.
sweetvi
Well-Known Member
True story:. I was born and raised in USA but vacationed in Haiti for a long length of time. Anyways I never experienced racism from my own until I dated a Mulatto. He introduced me to his sister who loved me right away and his best friend who happened to be his first cousin. She just looked at me and stared! Not a hello or a smile...nothing. She was very standoffs and phony to me. I later found out that she told him I didn’t belong to his caliber and I wasn’t a good fit for him. Meaning I wasn't light enough. Lol. We later broke up for other reasons and he spent a year begging me back. I guess her assumption was wrong.
Second story:. I dated another mulatto but his features could of passed as white. Anyways he tried so hard to seduce me and sleep with me. However I resisted and dissed his pride and ego. Long story short, he cursed me out so bad online. Saying his family will never approve of me because I was a dirty blackazz and I was too dark to be part of his family. Lol. However the other day he requested to be my friend on Facebook... I immediately blocked him.
THE END!
Second story:. I dated another mulatto but his features could of passed as white. Anyways he tried so hard to seduce me and sleep with me. However I resisted and dissed his pride and ego. Long story short, he cursed me out so bad online. Saying his family will never approve of me because I was a dirty blackazz and I was too dark to be part of his family. Lol. However the other day he requested to be my friend on Facebook... I immediately blocked him.
THE END!
SoopremeBeing
Well-Known Member
I am sorry, but there are plenty of women on this board alone that trump her so-called theory. Yeah genetics may affect the texture of your hair, but it all comes down to maintenance and if you are keeping your hair moisturized the way it needs to be(I know that some do not need as much moisture as others).
ronie
Well-Known Member
Lol dang shame.
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