by Janene Ryan

Created on: August 20, 2007

I'm what they call in my hood a redbone; which means I'm a light/fair skinned black woman. Now, for a lot of woman, they have no problem with this term. In fact, they use it to their advantage especially in the south. But me, I despise it!

There is nothing about me red, except, maybe, the tints in my hair. I don't have that pinkness some of the Caucasian persuasion has nor do I have that dull orange, curry looking color some Easterners and/or inebriated Mexicans display. No, I have more of a brightness to my pigmentation.

And like the saying goes, opposites attract. Therefore, I am usually, mostly, ALWAYS attracted to dark skinned men. For me, I like that contrast on my skin that coating of darkness bringing a calmness to my lightness. Like the DVD cover of Jungle Fever the black and "white" hands clasped, bring about a potential power struggle that results in passion I think I went too far with that but I hope you get what I'm getting at the variation.

When I was young, mid 80's, elementary to middle school, light skinned men were considered the more handsome, elite of black men especially those with the fine hair and "pointed features". We're talking the age of Al B. Sure and Christopher Williams. It was these men who were the heartthrobs that determined my and so many young girls' (quarterly) crushes. However, when I got into High School and beyond I, personally, began taking notice of darker skinned men (literally) only finding myself attracted to them and vice versa.

There were several times I've had men tell me their mother forbid them to bring home a woman darker than her whatever shade of "black " she was. And although I was young, I was old enough to be offended. Nevertheless, that never changed my attraction for them. In fact, not until I was "grown" did I realize I had a secretive prejudice against light skinned black men, perhaps holding a self hate for myself.

Fast forward to the early 90's when dark skinned men began to get popular; Men like Wesley Snipes and Omar Epps. Then all of a sudden being "black", damn near purple, was considered sexy. And even with Shamar Moore trying to keep the light skinned black man thriving, that era quickly died out. I thought, finally, my beautiful chocolate men will get their due!

Well, in 2004/5 a singer by the name of John Legend showed up on the scene, and with his uncovering, the talk of bringing light skinned (men) back as a fashion statement became a real topic of discussion. I won't lie, John is a sexy mutha&^%$^*,

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