Thanks for sharing your perspective on this. I’m not gonna lie, I’m definitely guilty of sharing “light-skinned jokes” with my friends. Whether it’s because of the deeply rooted reasoning, or because my circle specifically doesn’t mind making fun of themselves, it doesn’t matter. As you’ve explained, the behavior is very problematic.

It definitely has me thinking more about why we’re okay making those jokes among ourselves. On a global scale, no matter how many jokes lighter-skinned people face — it doesn’t really match up to the scrutiny and disadvantages plagued by our darker peers. Perhaps it’s been our way of rationalizing this behavior? That us making fun of ourselves is fine? Or maybe the old past time of ‘roasting’ among friends causes us to be a little desensitized to the issue?

On the flip side, there is still a heavily emotional aspect to this that I haven’t taken into account until recently. I have had conversations with lighter/fair-skinned Black people who battle with insecurities, feeling as if they are “not Black enough” and anytime they have a (valid) emotional reaction to something they are accused of “acting light-skinned”.

Thanks again for sharing!