Ms Yellow Bone: How Colourism Strikes Again
“Yellow Bone is what he want.”
Colourism is a pervasive tool that has been used since the age of colonialism, in order to pit dark and light skinned black people against each other and historically it was a divider which separated the house negroes from the field negroes (with those of lighter complexion working in the house and those darker working the cotton fields). As well as many other tropes, stereotypes and propaganda which was used through the context of the media, the education system and even in the language that we use to cause our thinking about the colour of our skin to be warped.
When Jim Crow Law was introduced the brown paper bag test was a huge phenomenon. Up to the 1950’s in America — Mexican Americans were also required under the law to pass the test.
Not to mention the deep scars of countries like England’s history of genocide, brainwashing and denegration of places where people of colour resided, still persists to this day. Many are aware of how affected places such as; Asia, the Caribbean and Africa are by issues such as skin bleaching and cosmetic surgery. And how things like hair and beauty are often eurocentric in nature; posited as the ultimate pinnacle of beauty (they’ve even done ‘tests’ to prove it). Though many of us have overcome and embraced our own beauty over these ideals — there are many who hate the skin they are in because they have been taught to feel that way and as assured as some of us are — there are still ways in which things like colourism can subconsciously get to us.
So within context — Ms Leigh knew exactly what she was doing when she made that pathetic excuse for a ‘song,’ and her answer to all the backlash regarding how it perpetuates colourism was revealing. Her retort that she should be allowed to make a song celebrating her ‘light skin baddies’ and that everyone is mad for no reason shows she doesn’t respect or care about black women’s feelings. Even more interesting…Dani is not even black -her parents are of Latin/European heritage — not Afro Latinx. So why would she care? Further to that it was most probable (allegedly) a direct shot at her boyfriend ‘Da Baby’s ex ‘Meme,’ whom it seems he was going back and forth between Dani and her respectively. Meme being a brown skinned woman and the song stating that this isn’t what he wants because a yellow bone is preferable is one likely motivation behind the song.
The problematic reactions that suggest ‘a song is a song’ and that dark skinned black women can have songs made about them, is totally ignorant and tone deaf.
Within the context of our history as black people — specifically black women (as dark skinned black men are often seen as sexually and physically desirable and their issues with colourism are far more related to stereotypes, involving racial violence and sexual fetishism) dark skinned black womens’ fight is different. It’s one that is rooted in myths about aggression, promiscuity, the mammy archetype and being told dark skin is not good enough or pretty enough.
Therein lies the reason WHY songs, slogans, movements, books etc have been so needed and so critical in uplifting black women but specifically dark skinned black women. Phrases like ‘Black Girl Magic,’ songs like ‘Brown Skin Girl’, have been so important for so many to see themselves reflected in a way that empowers and reaffirms.
However, another example of how the narrative can so quickly be rewritten is with Enny’s song ‘Peng Black Girls,’ and the clear hypocrisy of the remix with Jorja Smith (who is biracial) taking off and being reframed as a Jorja Smith song featuring Enny and showcases her face increasingly in the promo. Now, business is business and certainly their record company’s probably thought a more famous face would give the song traction — however the lyrics to the song show why there needs to be more focus on the black women who often get silenced because they don’t fit the mould of what the industry or media thinks is relatable or beautiful to the masses.
So colourism strikes again. And for those of you who are unsure or don’t have the context necessary to navigate issues like colourism here are some useful books and resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_negro
https://ideas.bkconnection.com/25th-anniversary/four-destructive-stereotypes-about-black-women
Stolen Women: Reclaiming Our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives by Dr Gail Elizabeth Wyatt
Whiter: Asian American Women on Skin Color and Colorism
Frantz Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth
