Colors

by Kimaya "Maya" Shabazz

Conflict theory is a theory propounded that claims society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources. It holds that social order is maintained by domination and power, rather than consensus and conformity. According to conflict theory, those with wealth and power try to hold on to it by any means possible, chiefly by suppressing the poor and powerless. Conflict theory has been used to explain a wide range of social phenomena, including wars and revolutions, wealth and poverty, discrimination and domestic violence. It ascribes most of the fundamental developments in human history, such as democracy and civil rights, to capitalistic attempts to control the masses rather than to a desire for social order. The theory revolves around concepts of social inequality in the division of resources and focuses on the conflicts that exist between classes.
 

In this movie clip the “jigga boo’s,” and the “wanna be’s” meet in the hall way. The groups have different views of each other.  Later on in the scene, as they argue in a hair salon about which group has the better of "good hair.” Both groups of women use many derogatory words to describe each which shows how ignorance is still apparent even within one’s own race. The jgga boo’s think that the wanna be’s choose to have long hair, and wear color contacts, and all have lighter skin, and believe they have more beauty, money, and status, better known as bourgeoisie, and automatically assume that they are in a higher social class. Also a mild case of social reform. Where as the wanna be’s look at the jigga boo’s as if they could never compare to them, need to take more pride in the way they look, which is natural, less status, money, and all have darker color skin. This displays major discrimination.

In many different cultures and countries around the world, skin color plays a huge role in the concept of beauty. Lighter skin is often preferable to darker skin, which they think they have the power. The effects of the African American self-hate toward each other because of one’s skin color is rather eye opening and sad, to say the least. This is a very hot and taboo subject among the African American community. As a culture that came from years of oppression and hatred inflicted by slave owners, forced to think that because of their color, they were inferior, blacks have somehow reverted back to having this sort of mindset, which is, in fact, hurting them as a whole. With no thanks to the media and its influence on what is seen as beautiful, Black America is tearing itself apart when it focuses on such a shallow aspect of a person that they can’t control.  Even today, some people who are lighter-skinned consider themselves superior to (and more attractive than) darker-skinned Americans.

On the other hand, however, in the corporate world, it is assumed that ”relative to their lighter-skinned counterparts, darker skinned Blacks have lower levels of education, income, and job status.” As history shows, although light skinned blacks were of a higher rank than their black counterparts, they still received scraps at the end of the day. So wouldn’t that make these two groups in the movie clip basically the same? I would think so being at the end of the day, the treatment is the same?  Such differences and inequalities also manifest in the work place, the criminal justice system, socioeconomic status, and education.  Although light skin may be more preferable, those with darker skin still find their way in society. In this movie clip, why would this group feel superior? Is it history? Or maybe this is what they were taught?

References:

 

Starr, Terrell J. "Light Skinned Blacks Preferred Over Dark-Skinned Ones." The Beer Barrel. 21

Dec. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Article that speaks on how lighter African’s are preferred over darker African American’s in the business field.

School Daze Clip. Lee, Spike Uploaded by Anna. 9 Apr 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=begTsFdM7oc

Chief Journalist
Kimaya Shabazz

Maya is majoring in Nursing. She is currently a Licensed Vocational Nurse continuing her education to receive her BSN. She believes this class will help her further understand different cultures along with their backgrounds, and beliefs. It will ultimately help her easily understand her patients, and her aspirations to travel around the world. Relatively she may start off understanding things slowly, but once she understands, she moves quickly.