If they were so hung up on skin color and it was light skin vs dark skin, why was there a dark-skinned girl in the gamma rays? she was darker then the girls on the dark skinned side! did anybody else notice that? Didn't the Gammas choose the girls? Also there was a tall dark skinned Gamma. Gen George with the glasses. How'd he get in?
shareIf you notice not only some light skinned blacks "wantabe", for instance larry fishburne's character felt anyone wanting to "join" something is a "wantabe". so it doesnt' matter what skin tone you are and I think that is the point spike was trying to make, you can still be a "wantabe".
shareDap didn't like the Gammas because he thought they tried to be elitists who were better than dark skin people. The girls didn't like each other because the dark skins felt the light skins tried to look white and thought their skin made them better and the light skins felt the darks skins were jealous because their hair wasn't "good" and they weren't as "pretty". The theme of the movie was skin-tone tension.
shareAnd hair type. I think the dark skinned girls on the light skin side had wavy or long hair.
shareYou're right spatterson2.
Damn!! My posts attract so many nutty B-A-S-T-A-R-D-S!
Yeah, you're prolly talking about Tyra Ferrell. She's darker-skinned with long hair. That's prolly how she got in, lol. She's in a couple of John Singleton joints and she played Wesley's wife in White Man Can't Jump.
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Spike explained in the book that he wanted a "token darkie" for The Gamma Rays.
shareThere were actually a few light skin girls on the 'dark skin girls' side as well. I believe it was about straight hair verses natural. Whether you try to be white by having a relaxer or weave verses being black and proud having dreads, braids, or some other natural hairstyle.
shareSpike is likely trying to point out in casing a "token" dark-skinned Gamma Ray that the color divide extends beyond skin color exactly; the divide also includes factors bundled with skin color like hair texture (the dark-skinned actress has fine, long hair), facial features (wide versus tall noses), and eye color.
shareI agree ... the point is there's value put on the features as a whole, not just skin color although skin color is probably at the top of the list because it is what you would notice first ... I think having someone in the Gamma Rays who is also dark skinned even with other caucasoid features brings in the question of self-loathing ... the other girls are light skinned and so they visually can blend and assimulate easily? into the white culture ... this darker skinned woman sticks out in the group so she doesn't blend or assimilate so easily, however she STILL doesn't desire to be a part of the jiggaboo's either, women who share her skin tone and possibly her struggles as a darker skinned woman ... that's even deeper self-loathing in a movie that already questions black pride in general ...
shareIt is possible that it wasn't just about color but assimilation into " mainstream American Culture".
I REALLY hope what I am about to say doesn't offend anyone. If it does, please accept my apologies ahead of time.
I sorta see a parallel between Blacks in this country and immigrants.
When immigrants come to this country, they have to shed who they are to fit in more easily.
Some can pull it off better and sooner than others because of the way they look and speak.
Meanwhile, others can't or choose not to pull it off because they feel it diminishes who and what they are or because it is impossible for them to deny who they are so they accept themselves and hope for the best from the outside world.
I see that with some Black people and if they can pull it off good for them.
However, what isn't cool is when those able to assimilate try to distance themselves from the others and call themselves something they are not or look down upon those who can't make the transition as smoothly.
I saw that with Esposito's character when he made the comment that he was not African American but American. While it is true that he may have been born in the country, I wonder what box he checked when it came down to the financial aid and other equal opportunity benefits?
I often hear that logic from some Hispanics. There are some that even go so far as to saying they are Spanish, not Mexican, Central or even South American but Spanish.
However when you look at them, it is obvious they are Mexican or Central American because there is so much indigenous blood in them that it is hard to deny what they are.
It is almost satirical and it is sad.
being a light skin sister i was kinda shocked by this black civil-war,i first encountered this when i was in junior high.it was subtle but noticeable then,and i noticed it got more blatant during high school and college.people automatically had negative assumptions of me because of my very fair skin tone,light green eyes,and long wavy black hair..it was kinda frustrating.it still happens to this day.people like to sub-divide dark and light skin blacks.as if we're 2 different races.
shareDo you see yourself as straddling the fence?
You know? not Black enough for some and not white enough for others?
What do you do in that situation?
Do you see yourself as straddling the fence?i don't try to be white enough for people lol...but anybody who knows me theres nothing "inherently" white about me.yeah i'm a self confessed geek who like alt rock but thats it.i mos def have more in common with other black people thats "from around the way" just like me.having said that,i do get the whole "you can't be black" arguments though.but clearly if you look at me you can tell that i'm at least not white.but generally i think people were just being jack a$$es to me because of my skin tone..its sad how blacks try to sub-divide each other. share
You know? not Black enough for some and not white enough for others?
Thanks for being so candid!
I hope my questions weren't too offensive. I am genuinely interested and I know I can be blunt at times with my line of questioning.
Who do you usually catch the most heat from? Is it blacks, whites, or hispanics?
I ask about Hispanics because contrary to belief, while it is true that you have a lot of Spanish and Indigenous blood in the Latino community there is also a sprinkle of African blood especially among the Latinos who first colonized Los Angeles(smidge of trivia, there).
There was a lot of idigenous blood but there was also a mix of African blood especially in the coastal regions because of the ports (that also served as slave posts).
If you go to the coastal regions of Mexico(Veracruz especially), Central America and the Caribean you will see traces of African blood.
Just look at Panama, Cuba and Puerto Rico. There is a huge African population in Panama.
I know that this is just your personal view but maybe someone else may pick up on this and give their view and share their experiences which would be cool!
Once again, thanks for your candor.
Who do you usually catch the most heat from? Is it blacks, whites, or hispanics?
I have to agree with Tish. As an African American/Puerto Rican I get more strife from African Americans than any one else about not being one race enough. The hispanics that I meet are happy that I embrace both of my cultures but most African Americans I meet are the ones to tell me that I have to choose one.
Why do I have choose one? I am both, I will continue to be both throughout my life. Why can I not embrace both?
Just look at Panama, Cuba and Puerto Rico. There is a huge African population in Panama.
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Yeah, that's what I'd never understood. I guess she has light skinned girl qualities. I don't know. Or with Spike Lee, Maybe, he wants his viewers to question some things that are in his films. That's the best part about it. It's a mind thing...
shareI share the same features as this character: that is, slim nose, loosley textured long hair, and dark skin. Based on my eown xperiences, my theory is she was rejected by the *beep* because she chose to keep her hair straighted or processed and ended up being accepted by the Wannabes.
When everyone equates light skin with european hair and facial features, and dark skin with african features, its not easy when you do not fit neatly into either category. In the end, you embrace whoever accepts you.
Good point, Hydeparkcutie.
~ ~Lady of Love~~
Because..."whether you're dark or you're fair, it's ALL ABOUT HAIR."
sharethis may have already been stated but i think they were hung up more on hair not skin. the Gamma rays have mostly light skin and some dark skinned like Tyra Ferrell who was one of the Gamma rays, and some of the other girls had light skin. the song at the beauty shop was about good and bad hair.
Warner Music Group Sucks!