There are many reasons that try to explain the attraction between black males and white females. One of the reasons may be that black males feel a sense of dominance when dating white females because they have captured the "ultimate prize" of white society. Another reason may be the old opposites attract scenario. And, other reasons may be that since white women were off limits to black men for so long that when they did become available some black men took full advantage of it or that black men felt it was owed to them for the many years that white men had taken advantage of black women. Whatever the reasons are, and there probably are many, it has caused a severe rift among the black male and female population.

Black on black, or intraracial, discrimination has had a profound effect on the identity of black people. In "Color Complex" it states that "Black identity is a multifaceted and in some ways [an indistinct] concept. Being black affects the way a person walks and talks, his or her values, culture, and history, how that person relates to others and how they relate to him or her. It is governed by one's early social experience, history and politics, conscious input and labeling, and the genetic accident that dictates external appearance. Skin color appears to affect identity, but in complex and seemingly unpredictable ways."



Black children early in life are aware that they are different from other children, and in a society dominated by white people, they are exposed more to the beauty of that culture than of their own. From dolls to magazines, the perfect image they see most of the time is a white one. Studies by Kenneth and Mamie Clark showed just how much of an influence white society has had on black children. The Clark's gave black children as young as three a choice of playing with a white doll or a black doll. The result was that nearly all the black children selected white dolls and when they were asked why they did, most said, " 'The white doll seems nicer and prettier, with better coloring.' " As black children grow older, they eventually turn towards their own culture but usually with a certain amount of confusion.

Light-skinned black people also have an identity crisis. Because of their color, black boys are often teased about not being black enough. To prove others wrong, they often exaggerate their masculinity by acting tougher and more streetwise than they actually are. Light-skinned girls do not have it any easier. They are often called "Black American Princess" and accused of thinking they are better than everyone else. They too
have to act tough to get accepted by darker-skinned girls.

Black identity can also involve the naming of a child. Distinctly black first names can interact with skin color to convey certain social impressions. Names like Laura, Robert or Susan are more likely to be associated with light-skinned blacks while names such as Letichia, Malcolm, and Nikaya are more likely to be associated with dark-skinned blacks. The names also seem to carry over into society. While white people may not "flinch" when they hear certain names, they usually take notice when they hear the more unusual African names, and they also may associate it with a certain type of black person.

It is a small wonder that black people have trouble finding their own identity, when they cannot even find a way to describe themselves. Over the years, Black people have been referred to as Negroes, Colored People, Colored Americans, Black Anglo Saxons, Afro-Americans, Afra-Americans, Black Americans, and African Americans. In a 1991 survey of 759 Black Americans, seventy-two percent said that they preferred to be called Black while only fifteen percent said they wanted to be called African Americans. The other Thirteen percent was either undecided or preferred Negro or Afro-American.

However, it is interesting to note, that many black people who do not wish to be called African Americans only do so because it brings about other problems. One problem is that many people who have migrated from Africa consider themselves the "true" African Americans and are offended by American born blacks who claim that they are African Americans. Many black people who call themselves African Americans feel that they have to, or should act like and dress the way they do in Africa, because doing otherwise would be doing an injustice to black heritage. Some Black Americans do not necessarily agree with this notion, so instead of facing ridicule or harassment, they simply forfeit being called an African American.

In my opinion, intraracial discrimination among black people is likely to get worse before it gets better. It is true that they can come together for a common cause, as the Civil Rights Movement demonstrated, but the division is still there. And, with more black people marrying outside of their race, the problem will simply grow. The "one drop rule" which states that any person with even a drop of black blood is considered black, almost ensures that there will always be a color variance among blacks. Ironically, the only way black people may be able to find their identity and achieve racial harmony is to forget all about the color differences among them. Skin color is but one part of a person's or group's identity and should not be viewed as anything else. Being black is an experience. An experience that has been cultivated by the values, ideals, and lifestyle of a people. Therein lies black identity.

an article by roger smith - reprinted from black history site