Marshawn Lynch is the running back for the Seattle Seahawks. He is infamous for not speaking to the media and wearing Afrocentric jewelry. In an interview with XXL, Marshawn Lynch was asked to list his 10 hottest women. He listed well known women but then he went on to say,
(Questioner): Okay, got them. Any bonuses?
(Lynch): Anything with curly hair, fair skin, pretty-ass teeth and a sexy-ass personality, that’s probably number one. She ain’t got to have no name behind her but she’s somewhere out there.(Questioner): So you’re looking for a lady with good teeth and you said light-skinned or did I hear that wrong?
(Lynch): Yeah, you made it up, I said fair-skinned. That’s like on a summer day she’s gonna be a little bit more brown, and then when it’s cold outside, she probably be a little bit on her way to being light-skinned but not light-skinned.
Read the rest of the interview here.
Forget the Seahawks. He is on team light skin! I mean fair skinned even though they are the same. Let’s add him to the long list of Black male celebrities that have openly stated their internalized racism for light skin and Eurocentric features. The odd thing is he doesn’t have light skin or curly hair himself. You would think someone who talks about “real Africans” would love all of Blackness. You know, which is mostly dark skin and tightly curled hair. But he doesn’t. He’s just here for fair-skinned girls.
Read: Black men in the entertainment industry who hate Black women but love Black women’s money (PT1)
Honestly, Black colorism isn’t new. It’s been this way since White men started raping enslaved and colonized Black women. Their light-skinned offspring were sent to suffer in the big plantation house where they were beaten by angry slave mistresses, and just like their Black sisters in the fields, mixed women were raped. The offspring of the enslaved and colonized soon adapted the slave master’s mentality and White supremacy. They used paper bag tests and skin color discrimination at historically Black organizations.
Read: We are all Black, but you as a light skinned person are benefiting from colorism
Today the Black White supremacist mindset and colorism is all over Black media. All we have to do is look at the over-representation of women with eurocentric features on TV, movies and in ads. Eurocentric features have always been the standard of beauty in the Black community. It is why we have products that offer to “brighten” Black skin (skin bleach) and get rid of our problematic “unruly” hair. It’s why Black people trash dark skin on social media, lines in songs and by comedians in their tired jokes for White audiences.
Read: Black men in the entertainment industry who hate Black women but love Black women’s money (PT2)
What is funny is that I’ve never seen Black women or Black women celebrities say anything like this. Have you? In fact, when Black women date out, many still express their love for Black men. How many times have we heard Black women celebrities almost apologize and try to justify their nonBlack spouses only to be called bed-wenches while Black men celebrities unapologetically their exclusively for a lighter and Whiter hue a “preference?”
Read: Black women must avoid hoteps at all costs and my tips on how to spot them
I believe many of these proBlack men aren’t proBlack people at all. They are pro straight Black men who only want to emulate White supremacy. Even when they claim they aren’t looking for White validation but their actions and “preferences” say other wise. They want to be a part of and mimic White supremacy so bad they believe that sleeping with light skin and curly hair will get them an honorary White man golden ticket. They want White people to know they are Black but don’t like Black, Black people. They want Black women to Black but not too Black. They want Black women to be natural but not too kinky. They want to maintain the color caste system where Black women are oppressed, light skinned women are objectified and dark skinned Black women brunt of discrimination are to be humiliated and abused.
So how can one be antiracist but be a colorist? These Black men do not benefit from racism so they want to end it. The unspoken truth is that Black men, as reflected in our media, are the primary promoters and beneficiaries of colorism. There is no incentive to end colorism.
People love who they love and most of the time skin color has nothing to do with it. But why does it seem like this “preference” is primarily for Eurocentric features? If it was just a preference why feel compelled to say it? Because it is really colorism and internalized racism. As we can see the color caste system is still acceptable 150 years after salary ended. So much for real Africans!
Read: Eleven ways you can end colorism
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Classic example of how many of them, like you stated, simply want to replace White patriarchy with Black patriarchy. They are for their own interests as straight BM, that is it, point blank period.
The sad part of it all is that every race prefers “Eurocentric” features. It is because we all have been brainwashed by media to believe that a small nose, straight hair and lighter skin is best. It’s not just us. Hispanics dye their hair blonde and the lighter skinned ones get more tv time and are revered as beautiful as well. The same thing with Asians, I’ve heard the Jewish woman on the show “Kosher Soul” refer to herself as a white woman, but how could Jews who were persecuted and killed by whites along with every other race even want to identify themselves as white?! It goes deeper than just us, it’s all ppl of color being brainwashed into thinking that white is the only right.
Wow, you are so right that it’s International. I’m going to do some research into the attitudes of International men when it comes to darkskin women and do they trash darkskin women they way the African American man does on a regular basis. BM always acusing BW of being brain washed - check out what this woman from India says her name is Nandita Das look her up on Youtube. Indian women have the same issues as AA darkskin women in the US. BM are proud of their little mix race children too. Holding them up as a trophy on their shoulders pushing a stroller etc. while stashing away the little darkskin children not to be seen. Rashida Strober, “The Darkskin is Beautiful Campaign”. She catches a lot of heat from AAs that this is all in her head with hateful comments like; look in the mirror, Oh you just jealous etc. Me personally I am the complexion of this Lynch character - brownskin and I can clearly see how darkskin women are discriminated against.
I agree, my husband and I said the same because Rihanna, Sanai Lathan, they’re considered brown to me. But everyone considers themselves “light now” it’s nuts. But yes, to the other lady, I’ve noticed it for a while, it unfortunately is worldwide and spreads across several cultures, it’s really sad what one group of ppl have been able to do to several groups of ppl…. If all ppl of color woke up and united they’d be out numbered but that’s why they continue to separate and delete us because they know that fact also.
Wow very good. It’s called divide and conquer.
I could be wrong but it seems to me like ‘his’ definition of a fair skinned sister is a woman that is actually ‘darker’ than that of what would be considered a ‘traditonal’ light-skinned, red bone, high yellow woman. In the midwest we would refer to these sisters as light-brown or …Caramel. Judging from your lovely profile pic, and a few of the women that he had on his list (Sanaa Lathan, Dej Loaf, Netta Brielle) he could easily be describing you. Honestly it could be more construed that conductor of the interview was hating on darker skin women moreso than Marshawn was, in my opinion.
God damn, the brother can’t have a preference? So I guess all brown and light skin woman woulda been pissed if he said he wanted a dark skin sister? Come on man damn.
Thank you Aubrey, he can have a preference…it’s the same when they say they don’t wont a short man…should all short men get their panties in a ruff? Bottom line is the black women has issues with her look, and if you’re black and your not on board with whatever look they decide to do with themselves that day, than your a race traitor. Fine I like pretty light skin women. Fuck it sue me.
so let me get this straight because i am light skinned or fair skinned but i am still black so if a Black man makes any type of money he not supposed to like me because he will be self hating the fact that this is a post is self hating we as black people are all different shades from fair skinned to dark skinned and everything in between who the hell said he cant have a preference this post is some pure nigga shit talk about the master’s pones the moment you allowed this shit to come out of your mouth Proves Willie Lynch is alive and well black is black stupid the fact that he still wants one of us shows he does not hate his people i am light skinned and prefer not to date light skin men for a reason as well as i would not date a dark skin man for a reason because i have dated these types and find them not to be my type but as i got older i saw all men are the same in one way or another because light and dark skin feel like they are superior to one another and this right here proves it i only date people who know that black is black this foolishness needs to stop we are at war right now being killed off because we are black and you sons of bitches have this to post GROW UP GET A LIFE AND LEARN SOMETHING MORE THEN YOUR HOUSE HOLD idiots
Why does this topic always get dark skin men and light skin women in a frenzy and the only argument is individual preference?. This issue is much larger than any ones individual preference. This is a International problem affecting dark skin women around the globe. Now, if your really interested then you will step back and do some deep political thinking and analysis as to the root cause of this devisive issue.
no one is going to love you, like you, respect you until you love, like and respect yourself. anyone looking for anyone else to make them feel better about their God-given skin color is a fool, plain and simple. marshawn lynch has every right in the world to prefer light-skinned women. and the right to speak on it. “free speech” last time I checked. as free as the speech on this blog. I would posit that there are plenty of men who like dark-skinned women, but most dark-skinned women will never know this. they’re too blinded by self-hatred and low self-esteem to notice when someone actually finds them attractive. if you’re one of these women and you’re missing out on the love, then you have only yourself to blame.
I feel like you’re being hard on hard on Marshawn. I’m fair skinned…golden brown in the summer…slightly lighter in the cold months…but brown none the less. Not light yellow or red boned. He didn’t say he wanted light skinned. We are of the African Diaspora and come to this world in many varying hues of black n brown…melinated.
I completely understand and agree with your point on colorism and how that shit was manifested. I just don’t think Marshawn shld be hung for his preference for fair skin black women. I guess bc I’m a fair skinned melinated conscious women. Besides I bet he wldnt turn down a Gabrielle Union if she was his perfect fit. Sometimes we need to chill and stop with the battles against one another.
Colorism is equivalent to racism. It’s the discrimination and belief a certain skin tone is inferior. Whites have always viewed darker skin as inferior and repulsive due to racist beliefs. Colorism is no different. We have no problem referring to white men as overtly racist when they discriminate against dark skin and black features, but we defend black men’s blatant discrimination and intra-racism against dark skin women as a preference.
Colorism debates always brings out the privileged one’s doing their best to defend their privileged position, which are dark skin men and light skin women. They sound awfully familiar to white people. Just like white people love being worshiped and receiving special treatment so do dark skin men and light skin women. When we bring up white supremacy, racism, and white privilege, white people react the same way a lot of you are reacting, which is very telling.
This type of pattern is not seen amongst black women. Black women both shades have shown to prefer darker skin, meaning we do not value whiteness. I’ve yet to see an overwhelming amount of black women pedestal place lighter skin/fairer skin and euro beauty standards, at least not on black men, meaning we overall value blackness. Black men are the total opposite, they only value blackness through black men.
Black men only see black men as the symbol of blackness, which allows them to easily discriminate against black women with intra-racism and colorism.
Again I do not see this type of blatant discrimination from black women, this is proof that black men have internalized racism and anti-blackness towards black women. We’re afraid to discuss it because it means we actually have to see black in a negative light, when traditionally we’ve been painting them as the anti-thesis to white men.
They harbor the same beliefs as white men do which racialized hierarchy through black patriarchy. The fact that the black community defends colorism is pretty damn disgusting. Then we get mad when dark skin black girls like Azealia Banks date inter-racially.
And so called “preferences” don’t exist in a vacuum so cut that shit out. Sitting here telling dark skin women off when they express their disdain for colorism is not going to put a band-aid on a damn thing, and goes against all the black pride, pro-black bullshit. Dismissing dark skin women is not cool. You’re just going to continue to hurt an already hurt group until they abandon ship completely.
Lady A: Like it or not, people do have preferences. And it’s their right to have them. And those preferences are frankly none of your business (or shouldn’t be, anyway). Why anyone would care so much about who someone else wants to be with is beyond me. You may want to believe that some black men’s preferences for light-skinned women are entirely due to colorism but that’s just your belief. There’s a great book by Dr. Wayne Dyer, “You’ll See It When You Believe It”. That’s what’s happening to you, Lady A. The colorism you say you see in others is simply a result of your skewed belief system. A belief system born of your own internalized racism, self-hatred, and your own revulsion to the tone of your skin. Part of a synopsis of his book states, “Dyer describes the blessings he and others have gained from getting rid of anger, fears and the desire for revenge: impediments to the good life.” Note the part about the desire for revenge. Dismissing the views of others is a small act of revenge on your part, and one that no-doubt gives you a little bit of satisfaction. You’re astute enough to realize that this probably rankles some folks, but I think you’re also astute enough to realize that this is a small win in a much larger war. And the war isn’t really with black men who desire lighter-skinned women, yours is a war with yourself. You still have to look in the mirror each day and decide if you’re going to like who you are. Right now you don’t, but you can learn to. When I was in my 20’s I thought the way you did. It was only through soul-searching, deep-thinking, validating other viewpoints, and above all, being honest with myself that I could see the fallacy of such thinking and how self-destructive it is.
You have some nerve. You come off exactly like those racist whites who deny racism and white privilege. This is what privileged groups do who benefit from oppressive structures. They shift blame and shame the victim to protect their disgusting privileges. It’s absolutely vile and primitive. You’re not going to shame and victim blame dark skin women (people) for speaking out about colorism just so you can continue to reap the benefits of it. That’s disgusting. You mimic the exact behavior of privileged whites who try and preach the “we’re all human” lectures when we address racism. And I am almost positive you are always in discussions about racism shouting amen like a church member when we address racism and white privilege, without any issue, because the attention is not on you and your ilk. But you’re sitting up here trying to silence, shame and victim blame dark skin women so you can protect the structure of colorism which you and your admirers benefit from because you like the treatment you receive from it.
Of course you’d defend colorism because the ball rolls in your favor as a light skin woman. I broke down it down clean as a bell, and in typical fashion you CHOSE to be dismissive about it. Hey if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it right? The same with whites, who tell black people to get it over slavery. You don’t tell people to accept discrimination. No ma’am. See your reaction is the same as all the others. With most privileged groups, showing them their privilege incites guilt, when someone is guilty it makes them uncomfortable meaning they have to stand in the spotlight and fess up. Someone mentioned how the black community is always giving high fives and shouting you better preach when we address how society discriminates against black people regarding our features and our skin. But as soon as we bring up colorism which is a branch of racism we play Hellen Keller. We don’t want to see nothing, we don’t want to hear nothing, we don’t know nothing. You need to take your butt back to your 20’s when you were more aware, because I sure wouldn’t be up here bragging about progressing backwards with my mentality. I would have kept that to myself.
I’m sick of privileged people always trying to tone police someone in the most violent, mental abusive way so they can protect their privilege. It’s absolutely disgusting and is the exact tone in the black community. You all behave like the very white racists you hate. I’m not going to sacrifice my life, my protection and my humanity for the sake of some fake ass solidarity that isn’t genuine, from the likes of people like you.
If you really cared about dark skin women, and the entire black community we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You can’t continue to treat black women, especially dark skin black women like foster children and expect them to remain loyal. That’s not how it works. This seems like the only time we excuse blatant racialized discrimination, otherwise you and the rest of the black community are calling it “Racism”.
Colorism is a problem, end of story. Nothing more to say here, keep protecting that privilege boo.
Lady A: your diatribe only confirms what I said. You’re bitter. But it will never be anyone’s fault but your own. Your thought process is so addled by your anger that you’ve mistakenly imagined me as a light-skinned woman. Which I’m not. I just disagree with you. Simple as that. Unlike you, I’m actually able to empathize with the experiences of all black women, no matter what their shade. I don’t think dark-skinned women have cornered the market on suffering. As long as there are humans, there will be pain and suffering. It will just manifest in different ways for different people. Unfortunately some dark-skinned women, including yourself, find empowerment through a “woe is me” stance. This is not unlike a child using negative behavior to get attention. And it’s fake empowerment. Trying to gain sympathy for your pain (real or otherwise) by blaming other people for causing it never works. The only way out of it is to do the work. On yourself. You’ll have to find the real cause of such anger and bitterness. Most people, whether through therapy, prayer, meditation, etc., come to realize that the things they’re missing out on (love, attention, respect), aren’t the result of what someone else has done or said to them. It all springs from a lack of self-worth. If you were six years old, I might understand where you’re coming from. I’d comfort you like I would any child. But it baffles me when this “no-one-likes-me-because-I’m-dark” rhetoric comes from an adult. So while I appreciate your invitation to bring be back to my 20’s, into the misery I lived in, and where you’re still obviously wallowing, I will politely decline. I’ve become enlightened (no pun intended).
I’m sick of privileged people always trying to tone police someone in the most violent, mental abusive way so they can protect their priviledge.
Me:This or using trivial incidences of “both actual and alleged “reverse priviledge” to dismiss any questioning of “normal priviledge which upholds the status quo in actuality/by default from not challenging said “normal priviledges.”
I’m not going to sacrifice my life, my protection, and my humanity for the sake of some fake ass solidarity that isn’t genuine, from the likes of people like you.
Me:If fake solidarity mean sanctioning dysfunction for the sake of non-existant faux unity what is the point? Seriously.
You took the words out of my mouth. I have wondered this on other topics.
We can blame the older people in the blk community I was born in lousianna and raised in texas I heard people say this plenty of times my mom told me dont bring nothing home dark to her now isn’t that some of the most ignorant things that a blk person could say period I will address this and to who ever gets mad if the shoe fit wear it.some light skin people know they have certain privileges over the darker skin blacks but refuse to see it they choose to oppress their own color of people cause they hold mo water up to the white privileged people so hey why dont we take our privileges over to black community so we can be about something all u are to other white people is another nigger u are used as pawns for white people cause u pose mo threat to them.this is also goes for our black leaders of today naacp and the rest of them if I was on deathrow for a crime I rather get the needle then be save by a pawn of the white man whp get recognition for saving me.some light skinned and mixed people are confused at times and so is dark skinned women and men they fuel the fire with this deranged crap they put out I hear women all the time I want a mixed baby are a light skinned baby with good hair now who speak like that does it matter how your child look all babies are beautiful regardless they smell good they never ask to come here to be around ignorant people some people need to wake up and stop thinking they are better cause there skin is lighter cause white people can care less if slavery was back in full swing your asses will be sold back into slavery light skinned are not. and some black people from the island will say they dont deal with american blacks why cause they people wasnt slaves really keep thinking that u think if a light skinned islander is in america hey u look black and trust me if a white cop fear u u will get that issue kust like the rest of our confused blk men.cause to white people are all still black to them no matter where u from I have children and I be damned if I let them have that mind set.I want them to be awakened this is a cruel world.and u cant follow a blk leader,a pulpit church pimp,rappers actors are of any kind cause clearly all these people are blind it will be more like the blind leading the blind. but I will not give up on blk people cause the ones that are awakened and the ones who are slowly awakening I wish u the best cause u will have people who are snoozing telling you you are wrong to wake up cause they chose to stay asleep you cant save everyone only u and the smart amount of people who understand what you are saying are doing.it is wrong to tell someone their opinions are not right well if u feel that way I want apologize for what I say are my opinions everyone is entitled but if that person who is telling me the way I view things is wrong and they are asleep and blind I will not exchange anymore words with u I will just excuse my self and back away cause people who have this state of mentality is clearly dangerous if u know what im talking about take a look back to some blk leaders who tried to wake some backwoods negros up even to uplift them but only end up getting killed in the process so yes u cant save every black person are awake them either especially the ones who keep light skinned and other issues in the blk community alive u will have to save and protect yourself and your children from this mentality are u will end up dead are a bitter and broken heart.dealing with people who are asleep is clearly dangerous but by the time they wake up it will be to late.excuse my mishaps on my words but I have been burning up for quite sometime with these step and fetch negros.
I’m a young black woman from South Africa-the Zulu tribe. While I’m of a medium brown hue, I’m not oblivious to the stigma attached to black dark skin in this country- and evidently,it is an international issue. We may pretend as if this problem doesn’t exist or that we’re blowing it out of proportion,but you guys, colourism is real and it adversely affects those people it targets. Perhaps people of lighter hues aren’t convinced of this because such hostilities have never been directed at them- and mind you,I’m talking black on black racism-lets just forget the white man for a while. How many times have we heard horrible things being said about people of a darker hue as opposed to people of a lighter hue based merely on the tone of their skin?….
Although my country achieved democracy over 20 years ago, the shackles of our colonial past are still pretty evident in the way that we think; dark skin is just not valued as highly as light skin is. You have no idea how black men in this country, especially the younger generation, are so fascinated with what they term “yellow-bones”. Quite honestly though,I do no blame them,I mean,how can I when the world at large,the media included, esteems light skin above dark skin?..its just an ongoing nasty cycle and it won’t end until we,as a black nation,decide to transform the way we think- regardless of what the white supremacists might think. We’ll at least be free as a people in this regard.
That being said,I have nothing against people having preferences,its allowed. I too have a preference,a preference for dark men,and I wouldn’t want to be crucified for it. Let’s just be mindful of what informs our preferences though- for our own sakes.
Lynch): Yeah, you made it up, I said fair-skinned. That’s like on a summer day she’s gonna be a little bit more brown, and then when it’s cold outside, she probably be a little bit on her way to being light-skinned but not light-skinned.
Apparently people here have a hard time reading to comprehend…smh…if I love ALL black women but prefer the milk chocolate ones, do I hate light skinned ones? The absurdity of that questions parallels with the absurdity of this article in reference to colorism. They asked if he had a preference, and he gave his preference. That is all.