Tameka Raymond’s Article Surrounding Issues Within The Black Community: “Pretty For A Dark Skin Girl”

MGV Says: I saw this on Huffington Post two days ago, and I decided not to post it, because I don’t feel it’s genuine, and so my fellow blogger Cotten Kandi decided to post it. My first instinct was to delete it, and then I said no because it’s news worthy. The reason I think this article is not genuine is because she attributes all the hate she recieved to her skin color. I am a dark skinned woman, and I’m proud to be brown and I know there are ignorant people who make dumb comments about color, however that’s not the case with Miss Tameka Foster. The reasons listed in the past for people not liking her is that she was chasing Usher when he was in another relationship; she was much older, a divorcess with three kids, she was pregnant before the nuptials were taken, and last, but not least Usher’s mother didn’t like her.  Not to mention the articles that came out in the National Enquirer about her fraudulent past. All those things add up, and instead of showing her true side, she blames it on her skin color, as if we are all that simple minded.

The reason bloggers don’t like her is because she spits beautiful quotes on twitter, but sends harassing e-mails about old pictures, leave comments under fake names, and plant stories. ( I have the proof!) So sorry I don’t feel sorry for her, and I don’t think her skin color is the issue here. There are many dark skin women that we love and whose beauty we admire at MrsGrapevine.com: Nia Long, Naomi Campbell, Meagan Good, Vanessa Williams  of the Soul Food series, Gabrielle Union, Taral Hicks, Kelly Rowland, Malinda Williams, Chrisette Michelle, Jazmine, Jill Scott and the list goes on and on…

Often dark-skinned women are considered mean, domineering and standoffish and it was these very labels that followed Michelle Obama during the campaign for her husband’s presidency and which she has had to work tirelessly to combat. I was appalled when I heard a Black woman refer to Michelle Obama as unattractive. The conversation turned into why President Obama picked her as his mate. No one in the witch-hunt made reference to the possibility that Michelle Obama was smart, funny, caring, a good person, highly accomplished or brilliant. Nor did they mention that she previously was President Obama’s supervisor. If she were fair skinned, petite with long straight or wavy hair, would the same opinions be linked to her? I seriously doubt it. It is believed that for the dark skinned, dreams are less obtainable.

In fact, I have read similar comments about myself that I am “dark, aggressive, bossy and bitchy.” It has been stated that my husband should have been with a “younger, more beautiful” woman. Astoundingly, the majority of the remarks come from African-American women and are mimicked by others. Sadly enough, I don’t know nor have I met 99% of those making these assertions. Funny, how we can judge another without having personally seen, interacted with or experienced a person’s character……….

Reading magazines, social media sites, watching our music videos, and television shows feed our appetites for all things ‘beauty”. Rarely, however do I see depictions of grace and elegance in the form of dark complexioned women. I Googled one of the more ethnic models, Alek Wek and I was saddened by the tone of what the bloggers wrote in reference to her complexion, features and hair texture. Ms. Wek’s escape from Sudan, her journey, philanthropy, and groundbreaking success as a supermodel in America is not only beautiful, but it displays her tenacity and character. African-Americans seemed to have lost their eye for character.

Later she writes about her near death experience in Brazil while undergoing a cosmetic procedure.

I too have fallen prey, while on vacation in Brazil I decided to undergo tummy lipo-surgery. After having an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, I went into cardiac arrest before the procedure ever began. I nearly lost my life over something as superficial as having a flatter mid-section and trying to adapt to society’s traditional definition of beauty. As I nursed my psychological wounds, I began to realize that trying to live up to the prototypes of external beauty paled in comparison to the fact that I have undergone labor, subsequently being blessed to raise five handsome, smart, healthy, intuitive, and happy children. I emerged from my ordeal realizing that my body is an amazing vessel that has given birth to life and that being healthy is what’s important and nothing more.

Read Entire Article HERE….

There are so many truths in this article and so many sensitive topics she touched on. I honestly respect her honesty and need to want to share her experience with people. This definitely makes me look at Tameka in a different light. There is obviously more to this woman than we know. Thanks Tameka for being brave enough to go.

visit: cottenkandi.com

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