Shades of Hue

Shades of Hue

Diversity. It's a word defined and answered daily in everyday life. Webster's defines the word as "the fact or quality of being diverse: difference." What does that really mean? As a young man my father would on occasion mention, "we as a people, meaning the Black race were like a flowerbed that had many colors." He often spoke about how the different shades helped some, and hindered others in our race. Sometimes our conversations would touch on the quality of African-American hair, which was either coarse or straight, and just as important as an individual's hue. However, as I matured, I begin to understand the difference afforded those that were a lighter shade of hue.

The skin tone of my ethnic group whether its very light or very dark still causes a stir in our community. It's a perception that the lighter skin tones have an easier time assimilating with the broader so-called main stream of society. I believe this to be a true statement. Meaning that he or she can pass for or identify with those that have European features. Its an advantage we think that works when seeking employment; engaging in politics; and even when choosing a significant other or a life partner. Personally, it has never been a problem with me because I enjoy seeing the diversity. For example, I can walk down the street in any major city in this country, and I'll see black people that are high yellow, red-bone, blue-black, and brown skinned. These are just a few names that we use among ourselves. However, the list has grown because people consider themselves multiethnic. For instance, Tiger Woods invented a word for his ancestral mix, which he calls "Cablinasian." The word is a representation of his heritage, which is Caucasian, black, Indian, and Asian. A lot of ebony people were upset with him that day but I believe that it took great courage for him to say he was a product of many ethnic heritages. The point I am trying to make is that in the 21ST Century we as black people are still defining our shades of hue.

Although, I have always been aware that African-Americans show considerable favoritism to those blacks that have a lighter shade of hue we also add flavor to the pot by making sure that they have what we call good hair. We spend millions each year as a Black community, on Extensions, Weave-on, Relaxer's, Micro braids, and Texturizers. I could go on, but I am sure you get the picture. It never used to be this way for example, I remember my sister using a hot-iron straightening comb, which rested on the gas stove to straighten her hair, or as it was called "unrolling the kitchen." That was the closest they ever got to style. The technique was a little prehistoric but effective. Now, it's a whole new era. Gone are the days when nappy hair was unattractive and not considered pretty. In today's society, the products I mention above have considerable influence on our youth more so than the older generation. I am afraid that it may determine our ethnic look for many years to come. I say this because younger black women have added extensions, and weaves to get a more acceptable European look. Also I have noticed that darker skinned women prefer corn-rolls or braids, and women that are fair skinned or red bones always seem to have straight hair. The diversity of hairstyles is quite broad. Nevertheless, it appears that all shades of ebony women are applying these techniques to enhance their outward features. But I do not believe that Nubian women have totally deserted the natural look in favor of a more cosmopolitan style. The black male however, has altered the natural look.

It appeared that we were mired in the prehistoric era with just the Afro or natural hairstyle. But there