media assasin harry allen sent this to me.

my god.....


Quest for Light Skin Darkening Lives in Africa

Tuesday, August 15, 2000

By Ann M. Simmons
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Los Angeles Times




NAIROBI, Kenya -- The TV ad couldn't be clearer: A young woman stares

lovingly at her young man in a college cafeteria. Another pretty woman with

slightly lighter skin saunters by, and the young man teasingly asks his

girlfriend how he can tell the woman that she is the "most beautiful girl I

have ever seen."



His girlfriend is devastated.



In chimes a female voice, advising her to use Fair and Lovely, a skin cream

that "has special fairness vitamins" and is guaranteed to lighten the

complexion in just six weeks. The young woman uses the cream and, sure

enough, keeps her man.



The advertisement, aired on Kenyan television, assures women that the skin

cream will give them "a new fairness that lights up your life!"



The cream's manufacturers insist that Fair and Lovely is not a bleach. But

creams, some containing bleaching agents, that promise to "whiten" and

"brighten" the skin and make women "more attractive" are the rage in many

African countries.



Dermatologists Cite Dangers



From the West African powerhouse of Nigeria to South Africa, women and men

too are using creams, lotions and sometimes capsules to get fairer skin.

Though users insist that using bleaching creams is simply a matter of

fashion, experts say there are important medical and sociological questions

involved.



Dermatologists warn that many of the creams and pills give false

guarantees,

and say they are dangerous enough that they should be banned in Kenya.



They contain large amounts of hydroquinone, a white crystalline

de-pigmenting

agent that is safe in small concentrations but can be fatal in large doses.

Symptoms of over-ingestion range from ringing in the ears and nausea to

shortness of breath, convulsions and delirium.



Psychologists argue that the trend of trying to lighten the complexion

points

to a deep-seated resentment of black skin and a lack of self-esteem. They

believe that education in the importance of "black pride" is the answer.



"Some women try to make themselves lighter so that men can be more

attracted

to them," said Dr. Frank Njenga, a Kenyan psychiatrist and respected social

commentator. "It's the men who have the idea that white women, or

light-skinned women, are more attractive."



In some African societies, a fairer-skinned person is viewed as not only

sexier but also worthier and more intelligent. People with lighter skin are

often given preference in the workplace.



Njenga said this attitude is part of the legacy of slavery and

colonization,

which perpetuated black self-hatred.



"It's a systematic thing of colonizing people's minds," Njenga said. "When

you extend the whole thing to the political arena and the social pecking

order, at the subconscious level at least, there is a feeling that the

lighter your skin, the better."



Mary Goretty Adhiambo learned firsthand about the physical problems that

can

result from complexion lighteners. As a dark-skinned teenager, she was

envious of her sisters' lighter color and was mortified when her friends

and

relatives made fun of her chocolate complexion. For almost 20 years, she

smothered her face and body with a variety of bleaching creams and lotions,

trying to obtain the "perfect" caramel tone.



"In the beginning, it looked good," said Adhiambo, 34, a hairstylist and

mother of four children, ages 9 to 17. "I was happy with my color. My

friends

told me I looked beautiful."



But gradually, her skin began to thin and burn. Red patches spread over her

cheeks and below her eyes. Green veins began to protrude on her forehead

and

arms. Black lumps appeared all over her stomach. She stopped using the

chemicals but broke out in a rash. Then, she began to sprout a thick

mustache.



"People started laughing at me and telling me I looked old," Adhiambo

recalled.



Most of the European-manufactured products Adhiambo used contained

hydroquinone, which reduces the production of melanin, the skin protector

and

pigment that gives black people their dark complexion.



Melanie Miyanji, a Nairobi consultant and dermatologist who campaigns

against

the use of bleaching creams, said that just as in Europe, not more than 2%

of

hydroquinone is permitted in nonprescription medications in Kenya. But as

in

many African countries, the regulations are ignored here, and many of the

brands from Europe and Asia flooding the market contain higher doses.

Often,

they do not even indicate the amount of the substance they contain. Neither

do they warn users of possible side effects.



Even those products that carry the allowed dose advise users merely to

avoid

contact with the eyes, to use them only externally and to discontinue use

if

irritation occurs. Some of the products even contain small quantities of



mercury.



"We don't have very stringent regulations," said Miyanji, who has treated

several patients for skin disorders related to bleaching products. "A lot

of

public information is what we lack."



Many beauty shops around Nairobi, the capital, boast eye-catching window

displays of skin-lightening solutions, which entice women to step inside.

Some of the products cost as much as $10--a substantial sum in a country

where the official average monthly wage is less than $100. Some users, such

as Adhiambo, admitted to buying as much as $40 worth a week.



Officials at Unilever subsidiary East Africa Industries in Nairobi, the

maker

of Fair and Lovely, claim theirs is the best-selling brand on the market.

They insist that it does not contain hydroquinone or any other product that

would alter the amount of melanin in the skin and that there is no danger

of

side effects.



Magazine ads for Fair and Lovely say it contains a substance that "works

along with your skin's natural process and effectively controls the melanin

from deep within."



Stopping Process Can Backfire



But Hautencia Njambi Mwangi, who got hooked on skin-lightening creams, is

no

longer convinced that any of them work without doing harm. She says she

would

advise women to stay away from any kind of product that promises to change

their natural color.



For her, hives, rashes and scales have been the result of years of overuse

of

a variety of such products. When she tries to stop using them, the symptoms

just get worse.



"After three days, my face is black, I have rashes, and it is no longer

smooth--it's not attractive," said Mwangi, a 26-year-old hairdresser who

started to bleach her skin in high school.



Many users gradually become darker when they quit using the chemicals, and

they develop a scaly veneer on their skin. Few, if any, return to their

original skin color.



A visit to a dermatologist finally convinced Adhiambo, the other hair

designer, to stop. The doctor prescribed some medicated soap and his own

healing balm. The pimples have disappeared from her face, but the mustache

remains, requiring her to shave every two weeks.



"I regret I started using the creams," said Adhiambo, who wouldn't mind

regaining her natural cocoa hue. "I put myself in danger."



* * *



Times staff writer Thomas H. Maugh II in Los Angeles and Bertha Omany-Odeny

of The Times' Nairobi Bureau contributed to this report.



© 2000 Los Angeles Times












tribe quote:
"when i see that nigga, imma beat the shit outta him"
-guess who over you know what?


september is paul thomas anderson endorsement month:

"feel feel feel feel feel.......feel my heeee--ee-eeeeat!"
-dirk digler

the answer to magnolia is 82.

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

I have a couple of friends who think that way.

One of my friends refers to dark people as "black" nd looks down on it.

I had another friend (who is dark), and when he describes a beautiful black woman, he always describes them as having long hair and light skin.

Sad situations.

Peace!!!!!!

AIM: BurbKnight

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>Officials at Unilever subsidiary East Africa
>Industries in Nairobi, the
>maker
>of Fair and Lovely, claim theirs
>is the best-selling brand on
>the market.

Well, maybe we should put pressure on this multinational corporation to stop supporting this racist (and unsafe) product, and force them to pull those offensive ads they show in Africa! I looked it up, and here are some of the products Unilever sells stateside:

Q-Tips
Skippy Peanut Butter
Boboli pizza
Slim-Fast
Wisk detergent
Country Crock
Lipton
I Can't Believe Its Not Butter
Wishbone Dressings
Elizabeth Arden
Mazola
Entennman's
Best Foods (this is a big one)
Hellman's Mayo
Ben & Jerry's (how sad!)

If there were a well organized boycott of these products in protest of the racist advertisements, the company might pay attention.

At any rate, think about who you're supporting if you buy any of those brand names listed.

peace,
murph

peace,
murph

I think that's a great idea -- and we should let them know that we are boycotting their products, and that we're telling our friends to do so as well. Boycotts are powerful, but the person boycotted has to be informed of what to change in order to get our business back.

Murph, do they also produce prescription medicine? For some reason that name sounds like medicine to me.

Do you have a link that could give contact information so we can tell them our views?

Peace.

~ ~ ~
All meetings end in separation
All acquisition ends in dispersion
All life ends in death
- The Buddha

|\_/|
='_'=

Every hundred years, all new people

Well, I did some more digging and here are some more brands that Unilever produces:

Breyers Ice Cream
Good Humor Ice Cream
Popsicle
Klondike Bars
Snuggle Fabric Softener
Vaseline
Dove Soaps
Calvin Klein fragrences
Mentadent toothpaste
Knorr Soups
Lever 2000 soap
Thomas' English Muffins
Ragu Pasta Sauces
Gorton's Frozen Fish
Bird's Eye Frozen Foods
Thermasilk Shampoo
Finesse Shampoo
Salon Selectives Shampoo
Degree Deodorant
Orowheat Breads
Pond's skin care products

I didn't see anything on pharmaceuticals, except a company called "Unipath" that sells pregnancy tests (I'm not sure if they're in the U.S. though). This company is BIG.

If you want to contact them and tell them what you think of their "Light and Easy" ads, try this web address:
http://www.unilever.com
The site is pretty tough to navigate, but they have a section called "Society and Environment". There's an option to contact them by filling out an online form for "comments and questions". I'm not sure how effective this would be. A lot of the brands they sell also have web sites that ask for customer feedback. Here are some of those:
http://www.wisk.com/contact/index.html
http://www.bestfoods.com
http://www.eat.com/forms/talk-to-mama.html
That way you could let them know that you won't be buying their product, and why.

I'm actually not experienced with organizing boycotts or anything, so I don't know the best way to start one. But, I think a lot of people who buy these products (especially Ben & Jerry's) would be outraged to know how the Unilever Group is advertising this product in Africa.

Just remember that when you buy any of these brands, you're supporting the company that's making advertisements that intentionally perpetuate a Euro-centric model of female beauty, and devalue women with dark skin! I know a boycott wouldn't solve the underlying societal problems, but is there anything wrong with a little corporate accountability on this issue???

peace,
murph

peace,
murph

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i almost thought i was 'subconsciencously' boycotting them...BUT damnit..i use some degree...it's almost gone though..imma switch...


WE SHOULD do this!?!?

Much love,
Kyle

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This product is also a big seller in Asia. Yes I said Asia. Asian women apparently feel as though thye need to be lighter also. If you really want to do something check out Boodah's post about advertiser's and women it gives a link to an organization that's fighting to bring realistic women in advertising.

It seems that Unilever sells Fair and Lovely in a lot of countries. It's supposed to be huge in India, for example. I haven't found that much about their ads in these countries, but presumably they exploit racism in much the way the African ads do.

As for that web site "About-Face", while I see how their message is connected to this one, there are some ways in which the ad described in ?uest's post differs from most of the ones they target. A lot of the images they talk about contain relatively subtle forms of racism or misogyny. This Unilever ad for Fair and Lovely is BLATANTLY RACIST. I don't think they could show it in this country without risking a big consumer backlash about its message. This is a case where boycotting seems like it might be an effective method of dealing with the situation, and could be done on a pretty large scale.

As the leading producer of "skin lighteners", Unilever seems like an appropriate target. They are a Dutch/English company that has become one of the bigger corporations in the world. Dutch and English women tend to have fair skin, and they are explicitly telling women of color around the world that they cannot look beautiful unless they lighten their skin. This is a pretty disgusting form of Corporate Colonialism!

As consumers, we DO have power to influence their decisions. We CAN force them to change the way they advertise this product, and possibly even get them to stop marketing it altogether. We just need a protest that is loud enough and large enough that the company can't ignore it.

peace,
murph

peace,
murph

yeah...i don't know if its the same company, but products like that are HUGE in the Philippines. really quite unfortunate in all cases.

THIS is what you need first. Initiative must also be taken (such is the one qoolquest took and the person who sent it to him) to inform the general public of things like this. 1. INFORM THE NATION OF A NEED TO BOYCOTT 2. ORGANIZE BOYCOTT 3. BURN BABYLON
UNITE I
ROUNDTABLE MC's
FIRST POWER CREW
TRIBE OF KINGS SOUND SYSTEM

I remember reports/stories almost ten years ago.

Still wonder why Michael Jackson is so popular in Africa ?

It shows how "effective" (in a very sick way) European and US values/lifestyle propaganda is.


krewc

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I dont like the idea that this notion is being credited to Europeans when it preceded African interaction with them.

I've seen that. most common is when skin gets a kind of orange tint after using bleaching creams.

some of the creams smell like hell - had an aunt that wanted to get into that but she couldn't stomach the smell.

in uganda it's more of a thing that happens in the largest cities, poorer communities - any means.

I think it's fairly common knowledge that there's hazard involved with skin bleaching.

>"when i see that nigga, imma beat the shit outta him"
>
>-guess who over you know what?

damn, what's up..love movement's a distant memory already.
______________________________________

seize your time! - marley/wailers

babylon has no fruit - bob marley

..it seems to cycle the same way.......how many times haven't you heard light skinned brothers/sisters ain't in style...
or how many times haven't you seen complexion used simply as element in a composition...***anyone remember Janet Jackson's video for "Love will never do" ?
While I can appreciate the "limited" opportunities afforded the appropriately complected participants,I rather it be based on an appreciation and a respect for the diversity of hues....rather than contrast,as evident in so many Benetton campaigns....

True that!

now then, i've been in more than a few arguments with people, particularly men, who claim that this skin shade issue is simply a matter of preference and not really the result of racial brain washing.

we have women willing to ignore the possible health risks that come with using these products to gain the attentions of black men who have been conditioned to buy whole heartedly into the european ideal of feminine beauty.

we've seen this before, right here at home. lighter skin is associated with success and beauty here, too. look at the women that successful black men in the US end up with. look at the lengths black women here go to to gain the affections of black men.


what we're talking about here goes beyond the desire to protest or boycott a hazardous product, we are talking about the pandemic of black self hatred.

what can we do about it? i wonder. sometimes i think that there is nothing we can do to reverse this.






***************
September is grannie doesn't remember what september is month.

"Why the hell can't you take a bath?"
-Prince; Cloreen Baconskin

>what we're talking about here goes beyond the desire to protest or boycott a hazardous product, >we are talking about the pandemic of black self hatred.

Exactly. It's funny to hear folks sitting on their lofty American perch(ers)casually discussing the "plight" of Africa when our current condition almost mirrors theirs. Black skin provokes negative connotations in damn near every city/town/village/etc. on every continent on the face of this earth (I'm being a little extreme here but you get my drift). European colonizers have done an excellent job in seeing to that, but the saddest part is that we (the people of africa/diaspora)have taken that hate/fear/ignorance and internalized it.

>what can we do about it? i wonder. sometimes i think that there is nothing we can do to reverse this.

White "superiority" was built (in large part) on the back of the european ideal of beauty (white women)... As long as you can keep a people's self-esteem on life support, then all other aspects of their lives remain in shambles...

Black women are farthest from the idea of eurobeauty standards. If she buys into the "hype" (which many sistas and brothas have purchased stock in) her life would be a constant struggle-- a lifelong attempt to achieve a beauty that was never hers to begin with; a continuous journey of turning temporary fixes into a permanent existence. She could never be satisfied with herself because she defies all that is treasured in the "ideal" woman.

I have long ended my subscription to that doctrine.

Dismantling the status quo comes in the (self)acceptance of the ideal of black beauty. When I say "black beauty" I am not referring to the Halle Berry's and Vanessa Williams' of the race because--although these women are beautiful--their beauty is measured with a european stick...

There is hope, people. I am pleased to see African women with strong African feautures being labeled "supermodels"; women who serve as inspiration to Africans and Aframs alike. Black women here in the states are becoming comfortable with their natural God-given beauty; opting for naturally cropped hair instead of chemicals and looking more like the beautiful women our Creator intended. It's like a silent beautiful-black woman-self-acceptance movement going on right under our noses and I don't see it loosing steam any time soon.




"We live the now for the promise of the infinite" --Mos Def

"I'm tryin' to soar to altitudes unknown to man, woman or the most agile of birds" --yours truly

"your people first. a quiet strength. the positioning of oneself so that observation becomes reaction, where study is preferred to night life, where emotion is not seen as a weakness. love for self, family, children and extensions of self is beyond the verbal"
--Haki R. Madhubuti

European colonizers
>have done an excellent job
>in seeing to that, but
>the saddest part is that
>we (the people of africa/diaspora)have
>taken that hate/fear/ignorance and internalized
>it.

the saddest part is that instead of understanding that Black people can believe this with or without "white" influence we all focus on the idea that the "White" man again and again is the root of our negative condition. Its just not true in this case- I suggest we resolve the matter at the root which is us- and not with scapegoating.

>White "superiority" was built (in large
>part) on the back of
>the european ideal of beauty
>(white women)...

Not true- The European ideal of beauty is not "white" women- they seldom regard that notion especially in terms of honoring the female. The ideal of beauty for French people- is a French person; the ideal of beauty in Spain is a Spanish woman; and so on. Dont get it twisted- just cuz Americans presume "whiteness" instead of actual ethnic categories- doesnt mean everybody else does. Furthermore a great number of European ideals include and revere dark skinned women. Have you ever traveled abroad? Do you think Tina Turner left the country cuz they dont like Black women in France?

> As long as
>you can keep a people's
>self-esteem on life support, then
>all other aspects of their
>lives remain in shambles...

Then we can trace this particular example to Ancient Egyptians; as such who can we hold responsible for some ish that we have believed on our own and throughout the history of our people?

>Black women are farthest from the
>idea of eurobeauty standards.

Thats just not true- and unsubstantiated. i beg you to tell me where you got this from and I beg that any Europeans (No not Americans descended from Europeans) available can tell you differently. if anything- ask Tina.

>If
>she buys into the "hype"
>(which many sistas and brothas
>have purchased stock in) her
>life would be a constant
>struggle-- a lifelong attempt to
>achieve a beauty that was
>never hers to begin with;
>a continuous journey of turning
>temporary fixes into a permanent
>existence. She could never be
>satisfied with herself because she
>defies all that is treasured
>in the "ideal" woman.
>
>I have long ended my subscription
>to that doctrine.

her life will eb a struggle whether she subscribes to this notion or not- even if she admits the truth about its origins.

>Dismantling the status quo comes in
>the (self)acceptance of the
>ideal of black beauty. When
>I say "black beauty" I
>am not referring to the
>Halle Berry's and Vanessa Williams'
>of the race because--although these
>women are beautiful--their beauty is
>measured with a european stick...

Again- thats just not true. take Halle Berry and Vanessa Williams back to ancient Egypt and they would be mistaken for queens- thats just the truth. What bothers me about the opposition of the complexion issue is not that I think light skinned women are more beautiful I just deny the idea that it has to be one way or the other- that is basically what you just said. Their beauty may be measured by a "european stick" in your presumption of European values- but i doubt you have much of a background in relaying those values- furthermore how does their beauty measure on African sticks; according to your argument either we have to think they're beautiful and admit to being brainwashed- or admit they're ugly just to make up for it.

I dont think thats fair or right.

>There is hope, people. I am
>pleased to see African women
>with strong African feautures being
>labeled "supermodels"; women who serve
>as inspiration to Africans and
>Aframs alike. Black women here
>in the states are becoming
>comfortable with their natural God-given
>beauty; opting for naturally cropped
>hair instead of chemicals and
>looking more like the beautiful
>women our Creator intended. It's
>like a silent beautiful-black woman-self-acceptance
>movement going on right under
>our noses and I don't
>see it loosing steam any
>time soon.

Thats a good thing- but dont start hatin on the light skinned sistas.

K

The reason I called that last post "white empowerment" is because the more we blame the "white" man for our conditions the lass empowered we are at resolving those issues.

Is it enough to say- the "White" people made us think this way- no because they didnt. And what if they stopped thinking this way or stopped promoting this idea- would we? nope cuz we've been doing it all along.

K

>the saddest part is that instead of understanding that Black people can believe this with or without "white" influence we all focus on the idea that the "White" man again and again is the root of our negative condition. Its just not true in this case- I suggest we resolve the matter at the root which is us- and not with scapegoating.

Oh, and should we just ignore the British presence in Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Sierra Leone...? The French in Senegal, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Chad...; the Portugese in Mozambique and Angola...; the Italian in Somalia and Eritrea; (of course slavery in the Americas)--and the list goes on and on....Do you seriously believe that these "entities" haven't affected the way of life/psyches of the Africans? These countries were taken by force and although many are independent today, that "influence" you so casually refer to still lingers lie a thick, funky odor.

"White "superiority" was built (in large
part) on the back of
the european ideal of beauty
(white women)..."

>Not true- The European ideal of beauty is not "white" women- they seldom regard that notion especially in terms of honoring the female. The ideal of beauty for French people- is a French person; the ideal of beauty in Spain is a Spanish woman; and so on. Dont get it twisted- just cuz Americans presume "whiteness" instead of actual ethnic categories- doesnt mean everybody else does.

So what's your point? French, Spanish, Swede--TRANSLATION: blonde, brunette, or red. Are you implying that a Woman from Kenya, Mali or Sudan can fit the description? Sweetheart, please come off of it. If I'm not mistaking, France and Spain are in Europe, hence the term "European ideal" of beauty. If you haven't noticed, there are distinct physical/genetic characteristics that makes it easy to identify a Nigerian woman from a Russian...

>Furthermore a great number of European ideals include and revere dark skinned women. Have you ever traveled abroad? Do you think Tina Turner left the country cuz they dont like Black women in France?

Tina Turner is a poor example of how black women are regarded abroad. Really akin to using Michael Jordan as an example of how black men are viewed her in America. Isolated occurences such as the Black Madonna are great, but not a reflection of the sentiments of an entire population of a continent. The French have long begun to resent the African presence there...

"As long as
you can keep a people's
self-esteem on life support, then
all other aspects of their
lives remain in shambles..."

>Then we can trace this particular example to Ancient Egyptians; as such who can we hold responsible for some ish that we have believed on our own and throughout the history of our people?

What an odd comparison? You need to hit the books player. Colonization, the rape of an entire continents natural resources and people for personal gain and profit--you can't be serious?

"Black women are farthest from the
idea of eurobeauty standards."

>Thats just not true- and unsubstantiated. i beg you to tell me where you got this from and I beg that any Europeans (No not Americans descended from Europeans) available can tell you differently. if anything- ask Tina.

And you are the author of Tina's biography? I'm sure even she'll beg to differ...


"Dismantling the status quo comes in
the (self)acceptance of the
ideal of black beauty. When
I say "black beauty" I
am not referring to the
Halle Berry's and Vanessa Williams'
of the race because--although these
women are beautiful--their beauty is
measured with a european stick..."

>Their beauty may be measured by a "european stick" in your presumption of European values- but i doubt you have much of a background in relaying those values- furthermore how does their beauty measure on African sticks; according to your argument either we have to think they're beautiful and admit to being brainwashed- or admit they're ugly just to make up for it.

>I dont think thats fair or right.

Don't take my words out of context, the point is that there has to be a way to recognize the beauty of ALL African/American women--even those who don't fit into the Euro "mold". I am not arguing that these women aren't beautiful, but there are many women whose beauty aren't recognized because their skin isn't fair enough or the feautres "keen" enough. It's a matter of self-love and accpetance. I think that was the purpose of the original article...

"There is hope, people. I am
pleased to see African women
with strong African feautures being
labeled "supermodels"; women who serve
as inspiration to Africans and
Aframs alike. Black women here
in the states are becoming
comfortable with their natural God-given
beauty; opting for naturally cropped
hair instead of chemicals and
looking more like the beautiful
women our Creator intended. It's
like a silent beautiful-black woman-self-acceptance
movement going on right under
our noses and I don't
see it loosing steam any
time soon."

>Thats a good thing- but dont start hatin on the light skinned sistas.

That was not the intent of my post. That last sentence was not necessary or called for. "Hatin'" is bleaching/damaging the glorious skin that God blessed you with to fit into an ideal of beauty that was never yours to begin with. Self-"hatin'" to be exact--at it's worst. Dark skin of any hue is healthy, beautiful and beneficial in the long-run; it's a shame that people have been lead/fooled not see the beauty in themselves across the globe/African Diaspora.

"We live the now for the promise of the infinite" --Mos Def

"I'm tryin' to soar to altitudes unknown to man, woman or the most agile of birds" --yours truly

"your people first. a quiet strength. the positioning of oneself so that observation becomes reaction, where study is preferred to night life, where emotion is not seen as a weakness. love for self, family, children and extensions of self is beyond the verbal"
--Haki R. Madhubuti

>Oh, and should we just ignore
>the British presence in Kenya,
>Libya, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Sierra
>Leone...? The French in Senegal,
>Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Chad...; the
>Portugese in Mozambique and Angola...;
>the Italian in Somalia and
>Eritrea; (of course slavery in
>the Americas)--and the list goes
>on and on....

Didnt say that.

>Do you seriously
>believe that these "entities" haven't
>affected the way of life/psyches
>of the Africans?

Didnt say that either.

>These countries
>were taken by force and
>although many are independent today,
>that "influence" you so casually
>refer to still lingers lie
>a thick, funky odor.

As do the conditions of conquest that have taken place in all parts of the world- including African tribes. This particular "influence;" the idea that light skinned people are more attractive might be a very effective means for "whites" to capitalize on the insecuirty of Blacks but nonetheless the idea goes much farther back than the "whites" that you blame for it.

>"White "superiority" was built (in large
>
>part) on the back of
>the european ideal of beauty
>(white women)..."
>
>>Not true- The European ideal of beauty is not "white" women- they seldom regard that notion especially in terms of honoring the female. The ideal of beauty for French people- is a French person; the ideal of beauty in Spain is a Spanish woman; and so on. Dont get it twisted- just cuz Americans presume "whiteness" instead of actual ethnic categories- doesnt mean everybody else does.

Furthermore the idea of White Superiority was built on the premise that there is a race of people that is farther evolved than all others. "White" superiority ideology doesnt necessarily equate to the ethnic ideology of Europe cuz in many ways it demeans their culture just as much.

>So what's your point? French, Spanish,
>Swede--TRANSLATION: blonde, brunette, or red.
>Are you implying that a
>Woman from Kenya, Mali or
>Sudan can fit the description?

Well then can a German fit the description of a Spaniard, an Englishman for a Frenchman- not if you know them well enough, not if youve seen them in their native land and environment. Its as easy to tell the difference between a Chinese person and a Japanese person- most of us cant do it cuz we dont even try; but ask a chinese person if they know.

pardon the tangent but the point is- the idea of white doesnt fit when people honor ethnic examples- when cultures coalesce to produce ideals they tend to honor the extent of what they can accomplish- my point is Black people dont necessarily aspire to the ideals of "white" people- they aspire to the general prinicples of caucasian feautures and more importantly to features that have been held as beautiful since before the invasion. It goes back as far as written history.

Again I ask you how many Europeans do you know to be making such bold statements about their ideals? And what cant you admit that this ideal preceded our involvement with Europeans?


>Sweetheart, please come off of
>it. If I'm not mistaking,
>France and Spain are in
>Europe, hence the term "European
>ideal" of beauty. If you
>haven't noticed, there are distinct
>physical/genetic characteristics that makes it
>easy to identify a Nigerian
>woman from a Russian...

dont get into genetics- there are just as many genetic variances between blacks as there are between any other group. genetics* doesnt support race or even divisible human categories.

-------------------------------->

"Many physical anthropologists believe that, because there is
as much genetic variation among the members of any given race as there is between different racial groups, the concept of race is ultimately unscientific and racial categories are arbitrary designations."

-Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition 2000; see RACE
http://www.bartleby.com/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/sitesearch/?query=race&db=db&cmd=context&id=39b5e3ba893#hit1

-------------------------------->


what defies your idea is that there are just as many genetic characteristics that makes it easy to identify a Russian from a Englishman, a Nigerian from a Kenyan.

>>Furthermore a great number of European ideals include and revere dark skinned women. Have you ever traveled abroad? Do you think Tina Turner left the country cuz they dont like Black women in France?
>
>Tina Turner is a poor example
>of how black women are
>regarded abroad.

see thats the hatin that Im talkin about- you cant speak for Tina's European fans; you dont even know who they are.

>Really akin to
>using Michael Jordan as an
>example of how black men
>are viewed her in America.
>Isolated occurences such as the
>Black Madonna are great, but
>not a reflection of the
>sentiments of an entire population
>of a continent. The French
>have long begun to resent
>the African presence there...

you have to site that- I still dont believe that you know any Europeans much less speak for them.

>"As long as
>you can keep a people's
>self-esteem on life support, then
>all other aspects of their
>lives remain in shambles..."
>
>>Then we can trace this particular example to Ancient Egyptians; as such who can we hold responsible for some ish that we have believed on our own and throughout the history of our people?
>
>What an odd comparison? You need
>to hit the books player.
>Colonization, the rape of an
>entire continents natural resources and
>people for personal gain and
>profit--you can't be serious?

sorry charlie- we aint talkin about all that; we're talking about the idea that light skinned blacks are more attractive. You can try to link that to our history of oppression if ya want the problem is we had that idea long before any of that- any book or person that denies or disregards that fact- the truth i might add- disrespects the idea that Africans are just as capable as destroying ourselves as "whites" if not more so. The danger you should be reminded of is the fact that despite the abhorrent things that were comitted against us- we let them do alot of it especially when we let them do it to somebody else. The scary thing is that we still do.

I suggest you find more books that provide a holistic view; perhaps you can concentrate on solutions that extend beyond blame- meanwhile try sticking to the topic.

>"Black women are farthest from the
>
>idea of eurobeauty standards."
>
>>Thats just not true- and unsubstantiated. i beg you to tell me where you got this from and I beg that any Europeans (No not Americans descended from Europeans) available can tell you differently. if anything- ask Tina.
>
>And you are the author of
>Tina's biography? I'm sure even
>she'll beg to differ...

Stop hatin on Tina- she's said frequently that she is enamoured by the appreciation she finds in Europe and disappointed by the response she gets in the states. Isnt she married to a European man? Hasnt she dated exclusively European since Ike? Have all those "white" guys dreaded this Black woman's appearance- cmon now.

Apparently you cant substantiate your claim- you have no evidence of this supposed demeaning impression that Europeans have for Blacks. What you do have is the American system's impression of how the foreign world sees us- Ive gone to Europe as have many of my friends- and many more of my friends are from and in Europe the opinion you speak of is not the majority- it is not common. Im waiting for you to show me something otherwise.

>the point is that
>there has to be a
>way to recognize the beauty
>of ALL African/American women--even those
>who don't fit into the
>Euro "mold". I am not
>arguing that these women aren't
>beautiful, but there are many
>women whose beauty aren't recognized
>because their skin isn't fair
>enough or the feautres "keen"
>enough. It's a matter of
>self-love and accpetance. I think
>that was the purpose of
>the original article...

Then this comes down to what arena you're hoping that these women are revered. If its the European fashion world- or the American fashion world of New York I still think there's a pretty decent impression of dark skin available- try Barbara Edwards, Roshamba, Joie Beard, Tracy Wheeler- just cuz you dont see them on ABC doesnt mean they're not loved and honored for their beauty. I just dont see how that arena is fulfilling or worth the effort- if it's a general social acceptance then I dare say you're interfering with people's personal preferences moreso than their idealogy. I like light skinned sisters like chocolate chip cookies- doesnt mean I wont eat a fudge cookie or an oreo for that matter. Some bruthas dont like dark sistas- some women dont like fat men (fuck all y'all) what are ya gonna do? If you insist that this is about self-hatred then you have to admit that it still goes back much farther than "white" people.

My point is that the standards of lightness equating to beauty and refinement was originally an idea of Black people. The idea that anyone should emulate "whiteness" is a recent development and a miscalculation of social idealogy- the truth is even most "white" people dont want to be white- as in pale. The Black people represented as consumers here dont want to be white either- they want to be lighter; that notion preceded the concept of the white race.

>>Thats a good thing- but dont start hatin on the light skinned sistas.
>
>That was not the intent of
>my post. That last sentence
>was not necessary or called
>for.

was 'you should read more books, player" necessary- pardon me if i engage in candor.

>"Hatin'" is bleaching/damaging the
>glorious skin that God blessed
>you with to fit into
>an ideal of beauty that
>was never yours to begin
>with.

Thats exactly what Im disputing and you have yet to address the argument- the fact is that ideal of beauty WAS ours to begin with so come again.


K

>Thats exactly what Im disputing and you have yet to address the argument- the fact is that ideal of beauty WAS ours to begin with so come again.

Okay, player: You have fragmentary historical references and your own wild imagination to thank for your "not-knowing-ness." You, my dear, have yet to cite facts/evidence to support your outrageous premise. The very idea that African people never walked with their heads held high (and still do to this day)???...Have you any knowledge of African art? Of ancient times and even today, women were carved/painted black, not presented as cafe' au lait Madonnas... It seems that you're making a bogus case for 'light skin is a prerequisite for beauty', because your words have not been introduced or follwed by facts.
Don't mention another word about Tina Turner.

There is alot to be said about the affects the European presence has had on EGYPT itself...

"We live the now for the promise of the infinite" --Mos Def

"I'm tryin' to soar to altitudes unknown to man, woman or the most agile of birds" --yours truly

"your people first. a quiet strength. the positioning of oneself so that observation becomes reaction, where study is preferred to night life, where emotion is not seen as a weakness. love for self, family, children and extensions of self is beyond the verbal"
--Haki R. Madhubuti

>You, my dear, have
>yet to cite facts/evidence to
>support your outrageous premise

Actually Ive sited references and been corraborated on many outrageous premises. read along

> The
>very idea that African people
>never walked with their heads
>held high (and still do
>to this day)???...

Never said that.

>Have you any
>knowledge of African art?

Actually yes I studied art history for three years.

>Of
>ancient times and even today,
>women were carved/painted black, not
>presented as cafe' au lait
>Madonnas...

Thats just not true in the case of Egypt- even Nahymsa who oppsed my ideas gave us ample evidence of the lightening of artistic representations of sistas. It is a natural fact of the artistic traditions of Egypt. Ivan Sertima furthermore indicated that there was a significance of luxury and wealth that was attributed to light skin as well as a class system where dark skinned blacks held the notoriety- both these are examples of color preference that precede colonialism.

>
It seems that you're
>making a bogus case
>for 'light skin is a
>prerequisite for beauty',

Never said that- I argued only that this idea preceded colonialism and oppression by "whites" Ive presented the facts and evidence clearly.

>because your
>words have not been introduced
>or follwed by facts.
>Don't mention another word about Tina
>Turner.

I disagree- the facts are up and down this page, turn to Nahymsa's posts for photo evidence.

damn another Tina hater

>There is alot to be said
>about the affects the European
>presence has had on EGYPT
>itself...

sure- but those effects precede colonialism and oppression.
that has been my point all along- its incorrigable that you suggest I offer evidence for something that is logical and fairly obvious.

K

"we have women willing to ignore the possible health risks that come with using these products to gain the attentions of black men who have been conditioned to buy whole heartedly into the european ideal of feminine beauty."

First of all the European ideal of femimine beauty as we in America know it is not light skinned Black women its so-called "White" women. Abroad- Europeans contribute an entire variety of ideals on beauty- of them dark skinned women are highly ranked.

The idea of light skinned Black women equating to beauty goes back much farther than race theory or racial oppression- read "Go Back to Africa."


If Im going to be one of the many men you argue with so be it.

K

And I'm not talking about how dark skinned people want to be light skinned...that's just icing on a poison cake.

It's even worse that other countries will do anything for a dollar, including lie to a society about something. It shows how greedy people can be, to take advantage of people that don't know the consequences. They're entrusting someone to sell them a product to give them what they want, but aren't warned of the lethal side effects, and that's terrible.

As for the fair-skinned issue, it seems that there's no getting away from it. Most places treat others with fair skin better, and fair-skinned women are "standards of beauty" all across the world (happens in the West Indies a whole lot). It's a horrible stereotype to place in a society, because you're literally killing the self esteem of many beautiful women, who'll now do anything to be deemed beautiful.

How to change this kind of thinking? Starts with strengthening the self esteem of young girls, and then it should pour into advertising to show that dark-skinned is beautiful.

Damn shame though

Peace
Rex

Abdul Jabbar, Muggsy Malone you
I don't know what that means but you know what I meant when I told you (c) Sean Price

I have sisters and see the stupid lengths that they went to, to look attractive to stupid men. They have straightened out as they got older, but stereotypes are to blame. The world is a superficial place.

"On a personal level, Freaking Out is a process whereby an individual casts off outmoded and restricting standards of thinking, dress, and social etiquette in order to express CREATIVELY and his relationship to his immediate environment and the social structure as a whole."-Frank Zappa


"Escuchela la ciudad respirando"
"So much on my mind I just can't recline
Blastin holes in the night til she bled sunshine. Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine. Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline.Yo don't the bass ride out like an ancient mating call.I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin.Chest heavin, against the flesh of the evening.Sigh before we die like the last train leaving."--Black Star "Respiration"

without an uncompromising foundation of love for one's self regardless of size/shape or colour we're lost.......and believe me there are circles(isolated from the popular european influences) where quite the opposite is the case.....
We've gone thru phases/occasions(albeit rare) during which our african features were celebrated and we graded each other on our "degrees of africaness",
a backlash to the everday typical/isis papers/bell hooks chronicled colorstruck madness

having had such a hard time growing up and being teased for my dark skin...taking nearly 28 years for me to finally learn that my own skin is beautiful..having a mother who to this day admits she doesn't think dark skinned people are attractive...

this was hard to read and i didn't finish it..

Damali

Underground Railroad hosted by Jay Smooth (okayplayer JSmooth995)
The best hiphop show you will ever hear!
Featuring DJs 3D, EmSki, and Monk One
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live stream on www.hiphopmusic.com

Listen.. people be askin me all the time,
"Yo Damali, what's gettin ready to happen with Okayplayer?"
(Where do you think Okayplayer is goin?)
I tell em, "You know what's gonna happen with Okayplayer?
Whatever's happening with us"
If we smoked out, Okayplayer is gonna be smoked out
If we doin alright, Okayplayer is gonna be doin alright
People talk about Okayplayer like it's some giant livin in the hillside
comin down to visit the townspeople
We are Okayplayer
Me, you, everybody, we are Okayplayer
So Okayplayer is goin where we goin
So the next time you ask yourself where Okayplayer is goin
ask yourself.. where am I goin? How am I doin?
Til you get a clear idea
So.. if Okayplayer is about the people
and then.. Okayplayer won't get better until the people get better
then how do people get better? (Hmmmm...)

dem a bleach off dem skin dem a bleach to look like a brownin"

lyrics from a dancehall song about woman who bleach there skin to lighten it.
it is sad that "White Is right" mentalities still exist.
they have broken down the pride of havin melanin domance to down grading it. this article mad my stomach turn ?uest. and me being a light skinneded multi racial woman i have experienced the h8 towards me cuz of the ideas like this put into my darker skinned sisters heads. I have been told im better or i got the job because imligh skinned or they guys gonna like me cuz imma red bone!
shit is sad and now they in africa tellin them people it is better to be light bright damn near white!
Im seriously sadened and sickened byy this article!
thanks tho ?uest!




"the complexity of simplicity" Flo and me

"everything and nothing" Me and Flo


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grey effin matter to this guy
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Factology -vs- theology
http://www.factology.com

Order of the Ancient Ones
http://egiptianmysteries.com

"i soar up above you oh mortals
for i have kissed the sky as a falcon
i am not for the land i am for the stars...." Prayer of Osiris

Thanks, Quest, for bring this issue to the "light"!!!...I have seen a lot of African women that use those skin lighteners on their faces...yes, it lightens their complexion, but it give them sort of a "baby do do" appearance.

Through the years, we have been conditioned to look upon the white, blue eyed, blonde hair women and men as the beautiful people. Their faces are mainstream on the magazine covers and anything that that is suppose to be correct and proper.

I have also found that it's not just black people that try to impersonate white societies image of beauty. I found out from a Chinese girl that it is more exceptable to have a slim nose than a blunt one...I was very surprised. Hispanic people seem to appreciate people from their culture more readily, if they are born with blonde hair and have caucasion-type physical features.

To me, it is a very ignorant concept and I don't know what can be done to change some peoples mentality. To me...People are beautiful in all colors....GOD MADE A RAINBOW!!!

♥ I LUV U 2!!! ♥

  

>I have also found that it's
>not just black people that
>try to impersonate white societies
>image of beauty. I
>found out from a Chinese
>girl that it is more
>exceptable to have a slim
>nose than a blunt one...I
>was very surprised. Hispanic
>people seem to appreciate people
>from their culture more readily,
>if they are born with
>blonde hair and have caucasion-type
>physical features.
>

ever watch telemundo or univision? talk show hosts, news reporters, actors & actresses on novelas, game show hosts, people on commercials... they're all light skinned w/ european features. unless they're playing a lower class character, of course.

a while back i read this article in latina magazine actually advocating the use of skin lighteners. the article said they should be used to even out the skin tone, but i could do that getting a tan. needless to say, i don't read latina magazine anymore.

__________________

"If I was sisqo I woulda went up there and said "I cant accept this award, I am not what is considered hip-hop to anyone who knows what hip-hop is" but NO, he has to do his fruity dance all the way down the aisle smiling like hes won his oj prize."- atruhead on the mtv awards.

__________________

MSN IM name: azucar18
__________________

http://community.webtv.net/azucar18/yetanotherwasteof - giving short people big reasons to smile since 1998.

___________________

i am jesus's little sunbeam.

All them girls on telemundo are from Spain. Thus the euro-features.

"To me, it is a very ignorant concept and I don't know what can be done to change some peoples mentality. To me...People are beautiful in all colors....GOD MADE A RAINBOW!!! "

Ancient Egyptians were far from "ignorant" and they propelled the same notion long before colonization.

God also made snow.

It is quite sad to hear this, yet for some reason I'm not amazed to hear this. To me it shows how the process of decolonization is much more than throwing out the colonial power and replacing a governmental structure. Their needs to be a social/spiritual/cultural componant to decolonization that deals with unlearning all of the lies that have been perpetuated by the colonial powers. Eurocentrism runs so deep it is digusting. We need to decolonize our minds, our hearts, our bodies, our relationships.

love and respect,
El Rey


http://www.mumia2000.org
http://www.mumia.org

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
who are you









really

This notion was available in Africa long before colonization- if you diminish the role that invaders have taken in African development this problem will still be there.

what can we do about it?
protest..write the company letter...

it's called ACTivism..any suggestions?

Much love,
Kyle

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nothing but a good publicist, while
talent is a genuine article..." ~ Pozi

much love,
Kyle

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this shit is ridiculous.

on sabbatical.

does it really matter?

wonder what bin's doing?
http://i.imgur.com/phECCMp.jpg

It's hard to beleive.. but then again it isn't. That's the sad thing about it all. I'm so disgusted by this that i think i'm going to come back to this post later when i can express myself intelligently.

~the Blacker the Berry the sweeter the juice~

peace,
inCog pOetic


If anywon wan reach de badmon --> e me
at (smoovecog@aol.com)

Quotes------

“C. Delores run... C. Delores Tucker/
f**k her f**k her f**k her” ...Nikki
Giovanni

“you said he reached sir/ but he didn't
have no peice sir/ and now he rest in
peace sir/ in the belly of the beast
sir” ...Wyclef Jean

“no not nigga, thUNDERbiTCh, (yes i can
say that, b/c thats wtf i am, and wtf
ull be callin me after petty ppl read
this response~)” ...the honerable Rudie
Virgo making a polite correction & layin
the smack down

“african princess, tell me your
intrests/ wait let me guess, boo u
probably like poetry/ well here’s a lil’
something that i jotted down in case i
saw you around/ so let me take this
opportunity/ would u share a moment with
me over herbal tea?” ...M1

“I don’t playa hate/ i just stay awake”
...Stic Man

http://www.marcuskwame.com

http://www.myspace.com/inkogmrgone

http://www.myspace.com/marcus_kwame77

to think that this is still happening, and people are still buying into it. being darker complected myself, i have had a fair share of the liter is better talks w/ sum of my southern family, who tell me to marry a lite-skinned man to better the genes. two "blkies" cant make a baby to them, drk children rnt beautiful. it just makes me sick to my stomach to believe this is taking place in africa, or any other place for that matter.

***

we got this cream/lotion type of thing called Eskinol...it supposedly bleaches your skin and all that good shit to make you look mestiza or mixed so that you're favored by everybody. what a joke. it's sad to hear that it's gotten Africans going crazy over it too.

--vette.

___________________________
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__________________________________________

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this is so sad... that african women are taking serious measures to attempt to lighten their skin color.

but all of the reasoning behind it exists right here in the good ol u.s. of a. color complex is so taboo, but once you get folks talking about it, you'll find some interesting things out.

i've had some fair skinned black men tell me that they only dated fair skinned black women because the darker black women refused to give them any play. and darker sisters that say they could never be attracted to fair skinned black men...

lots of it, perhaps influenced by colonization in its origin, has a whole lot to do with the environment in which you were raised. my mother is an extremely fair skinned black woman, and was teased for being the darkest of her cousins as a child...strong inner self is required no matter what shade you inherited.

unfortunately, that light on the inside is forever eclipsed, to be ultimately determined by surface hue.

So sad! Being a light skinned puerto rican, I grew up envious of my darker complected friends. I always thought, "I'd be so much prettier if I had skin that color". Only to find later that people are actually ashamed (!?) of their skin tone and would use these things to change it. Why? Aren't "white" people spending millions on tanning salons and self tanners because dark = healthy and attractive?

it's pretty amazing that so many in society strive to be the exact opposite of their existence...

but like i said before, it all goes back to strength of inner self (which for some takes a lifetime to achieve) and your surroundings.

i think as you get older, you appreciate the beauty in individuals; appreciate diversity a little more.

it's nothing new to me.
having folks from Ghana, West Africa, i've seen my aunts and uncles use those products many times....here they sell those same products i've seen haitians to dominicans use the product.
it's nothing new.
one






"I try to school these shorties under me/but they can't see from life to death/so know we're back to where we never left/the ghetto/It's a damn shame/knowing it's a man's game/shorty think it's time to make your plans change/all that running around trying to chase whats already here/been there/pops told me to knuckle up/No fear." - Nas

"What makes anyone think that two hundred years of legal protection for discrimination, bigotry and hatred can be counteracted in thirty years? I don't believe it." - Janey

I know that even in America -- if this product were sold -- there are those among our community who would buy it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Kristy*

Back to the original: Go eat a Manwich, bee-ach! -- me

Artist Quote: I hate when silly groupies wanna run they yap/ word to God hon, I don't get down like that -- Phife

k.

so much awesome in one place.

but products like this ARE in America..ARE in our communities--check ANY Black mag for skin bleaching products..WHY are these adds among the most PREDOMINATE in stuff like Jet, Ebony, Essence, etc.?????


these ads SAY these bleaching creams are for "lightening discoloration marks and the like from acne, etc." but WHY do you have to have so many of them in the mag??


in general, this is frightening to me...i know countless women and some men who've been told that they weren't good enough cause they weren't light skinned...i really couldn't finish the article cause it just reminded me of how i was always talked about by my older relatives cause of my hair and skin color (im not even what most folk would consider to be "dark skinned", but many of my older relatives were hella light and could pass for white in some cases..and STILL hold that mentality to this day....)


hmm...ill be back later if i can finish the article without getting upset about it.


Ryan






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https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/get-out-the-room/id525657893

Some of y'all need this in your life: http://www.psychology.com

yo I didn't even need to finish reading that. Just so people know I'm not racist but I think that dark brown to black is the most beautiful color I've ever seen especially on a people. I think that black women are definately more gorgeous than white women. And black men we posess more style than a white man ever can. I think that black people need to stop being afraid of becoming what we have spent so long fighting against and realize that there is a difference between loving yourself and hating others

Just imagine a large, flower garden with only red flowers???...Wouldn't it be much more beautiful, if there was some, white, purple, orange and pink to make it right??? In the fall...the leaves turn all shades of beautiful...don't you just love it???...We all gotta be thankful for what God gave us and appreciate what we have. Everyone can't look the same...God did not intend for it to be that way. Changing the color of your skin, is not going to change your character...We have to appreciate who you really are!! :-):-)!!!

♥ I LUV U 2!!! ♥

  

This saddens me deeply and I am angry that those ideals have effected people in such a way. I wish there was a way to let all people know that beauty comes in all shades. With those commercials, any good that someone achieves is totally destroyed.





If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me. ~W.H. Auden

Power occurs when your personality is aligned with your soul. ~Gary Zukav

N-trigued
N-Tranced
N-amored
In love or is it.....
N-fatuation ~Blakstar33

you wouldn' think that light skinned obsession would happen in africa of all places where dark skin is a way of life. But after the colonization and the segregation this is what happens. Skin color=class rank. It's truly sick. People preach all this "let's go back to africa" stuff when they are in just as bad a shape as america is in...shit worse. I hope this article gets out to the people of africa to show them what it will do to their skin, and how it is not worth it. no job, no man/woman is worth the losing of you, and your culture. Man....the media is bullshit...

Stay Positive,
Serena

And remember serenalovesu....well...on aim at least..

*~*~*~*~*Did you click a banner ad today? Do it now!*~*~*~*~*

"you wouldn' think that light skinned obsession would happen in africa of all places where dark skin is a way of life. But after the colonization and the segregation this is what happens."

You guys need to understand that this product plays into a notion that preceded colonization and segregation- it bothers me that some of you arent even willing to give credit to our people for coming up with bad ideas on their own much less believe that they're stupid enough to believe what the man tells them.

thats just not how it is- and dark skin in africa is not necessarily a way of life- Africa is a continent comprised of people of a variety of complexions- this has been the case throughout recorded history.

Did Africans not regard complexion until the "White" man came along- preposterous- these ideas are on the walls of the pyramids.

you guys have got to give Africans more credit- even if its for some ish that we dont want to claim.

K

This makes me appreciate the sisters who keep it real (cliche statement I know) even more, what I mean by keeping it real is knowing that they are beautiful and not needing a product to affirm their beauty. Just another struggle we must rise above. The media is so bad with this kind of stuff, the fact that the product exists is bad enough but the commercial sounds even worse. The whole concept of a black woman wanting to look any different than what she is meant to look like is bothersome. The whole idea that black is wrong needs to just be thrown out, as each day passes I get more n more anxious for oct. 6th to get here (bamboozled)

Make my sig longer eh?

Paying tribute to my favorite album of all time here is Midnight Marauders word for word minus the skits, copied n pasted of course (corrections fixed by tuesday the 26th)

Steve Biko (stir it up)


Linden Boulevard represent, represent
Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
When the mic is in my hand, I'm never hesitant
My favourite jam back in the day was Eric B. for President

Rude boy composer
Step to me you're over
Brothers wanna flex
Youre not Mad Cobra
MC short and black
There aint no other
Trini-born black like Mia Longs grandmother
Tip and Sha they all that, Phife-Dawg ditto
Honey tell your man to chill, or else you'll be a widow
Did not you know that my styles are top-dollar?
The Five-Foot Assassin knockin fleas off his collar
Hip-hop scholar since bein knee-high to a duck
The height of Mugsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck
You better ask somebody on how we flip the script
Come to a Tribe show and watch the three kids rip


Queens is in the house represent, represent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
No tamin of the style cuz it gets irreverent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent

Huh-huh, here we go
You know that I'm the rebel
Throwin out the wicked like God did the Devil
Funky like your grandpas drawers, dont test me
We in like that, youre dead like Presley
When we comin through get tickets to see me
We work for the paper so therell never be a preemie
Lyrics are abundant cuz we got it by the mass
Egos are all idle cuz the music is the task
Valenzuela on the pitch, curveball, catch it
I think I got it locked, just smooth while I latch it
Right
Now I must move with the quickness
Here comes Shaheed so we must bear the witness

Chorus

Stir It Up x3
Steve Biko

Stir It Up x3
Steve Biko

Verse 2


New York City represent, represent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent
The Dawg is scientific with the styles I invent
A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent

MCs like to meddle, but heres my proposition
I let my lyrics flow, and jumped your whole position
I'm radical with this like the man this song is after
Yo Tip settle down, whats the reason for the laughter?


I really cant say, I guess I laugh to keep from cryin
So much goin on, people killin, people dyin
But I wont dwell on that, I think I'll elevate my mental
Thanks for these bars on the Biko instrumental


Yo I take it back, Im the Indian giver
MCs take notes as I stand and deliver
Percussion isnt less, D's wear the vest
While they dodgin bullets, you should be dodgin Quest
Dont get me wrong, violence is not our forte
I just like to rhyme, kick the lyric skills like Pele
Tip educateem, my rhymes are strictly taboo
Fill em with some fantasies and I'll look out like Tattoo



Okay
I am recognizing that the voice inside my head
is urging me to be myself but never follow someone else
Because opinions are like voices
we all have a different kind
So just clean out all of your ears
these are my views and you will find that
we revolutionize over the kick and the snare
The ghetto vocalist is on a state-wide tear
Soon to be the continent and then the freakin globe
Theres room for it all as we mingle at the ball
We welcome competion cuz it doesnt make one lazy or worn
We gotta work hard, you know the damn card
Try to be the fattest is the level that we strive
Try to be the fattest also to stay alive


Award Tour
chorus Dove from De La Soul:
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
New York, NJ, N.C., VA
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
Oaktown, L.A., San Fran, St. John

Q-Tip:
People give your ears so I be sublime
It's enjoyable to know you and the concubine
Niggaz, take off your coats ladies, act liike gems
Sit down, Indian style, as we recite these hymns
See, lyrically I'm Mario Andretti on the mo-mo
Luticrous, we speedy, or infectious with the slow-mo
Heard me in the eighties, J Beez on the promo
On my never endin quest to get the paper on the caper
But now, let me take it to the Queens side
I'm takin it to Brooklyn side
All the residential Questers to invade the way
Hold up a second son, cuz we almost there
You can be a black man and lose all your soul
You can be white and blue but don't crap the roll
See my shit is universal, if you got knowledge and dolo
Of delf for self, see there's no one else
Who can drop it on the angle, acute at that
So, do that, do that, do do that that that(come on)
Do that, do that, do do that that that(OK)
Do that, do that, do do that that that
I'm buggin out, so let me get back cuz I'm wettin niggaz
So run and tell the others cuz we are the brothas
I learned how to build mics in my workshop class
So give me this award, and let's not make it the last

chorus:
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
Chinatown, Spokane, London, Tokyo
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
Houston, Delaware, DC, Dallas

Phife:
Back in '89, I simply slid into place
Buddy, buddy, buddy all up in your face
A lot of kids was bustin rhymes but they had no taste
Some said Quest was wack, but now is that the case
I have a quest to have the mic in my hand
Without that, it's like Kryptonite and Superman
So Shaheed come in with the sugar cuts
Phife Dawg's my name, but on stage, call me Dynomutt
When was the last time you heard the Phifer sloppy
Lyrics anonymous, you'll never hear me copy
Top notch baby, never comin less
Sky's the limit, you gots to believe up in Quest
Sit back , relax, get up out the path
If not that, here's the dancefloor, come move that ass
Non-believers, you can the steps
I roll with Shaheed and the brotha Abstract
Niggaz know the time when the Quest is in the jam
I never let a statue tell me how nice I am
Comin with more hits than the Braves and the Yankees
Livin mad phat like an over sized Bam-bi
The wackest crews try to dis, it makes me laugh
When my track record's longer than a DC-20 aircraft
So, next time that you think you want somethin here
Make somethin deffer, take that garbage to St. Elsewhere

chorus:
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
S.C., Maryland, New Orleans, Motown
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
Chinatown, Spokane, London, Tokyo
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
Houston, Delaware, DC, Dallas
We on Award Tour with Muhammad my man
Goin each and every place with the mic in their hand
New York, NJ, N.C., VA

8 Million Stories
Went to Carvel to get a milk shake
This honey ripped me off for all my loot cakes
The car oh yeah there's money in my jacket
Somebody broke into my ride and cold macked it
Yo tip I tell you man the devil's tryin it
But I'm goin to stay strong cause I ain't buyin it
Tonight I'm taking Sherry out, I don't have jack to wear
You know I gots to look dipped in the fresh new gear
Cool I found something so I ironed it
I then got caught up on the phone, oh shit I'm fryin it
Will someone tell me what did I do to deserve this?
I think I'll, pull out my suit for Sunday service
My little brother wants Barney, cool I'm gettin it
Took him down to Kay-Bee, they ain't sellin it
Here we go with the cryin, yo he's throwin fits
My blood pressure's blowin up, I can't take the shit
Finally got what he wanted now he's good to go
Again the ride was smashed, where's my radio?
One time the car was in the shop I had to borrow see...
They had no mercy on the car they almost killed me
Where the hell can Nicki be? I'm gonna smack her up
I got the tickets for the Knicks and she cold stood me up
I need to hit a honey off, Jarobi pass the phone
Pulled out my book of hoes, oh yo Sheila's home
Steady smilin like a mother yo I'm read' to bone
Went down to hon, she's in the red zone
Stressed out more than anyone could ever be
Forever tryin to clear the samples for my new LP
Everybody knows I go to Georgia often
Got on the flight and I ended up in Boston
With all these trials and tribulations yo I've been affected
And to top it off, Starks got ejected

Refrain: Phife Dawg

Problems, problems, problems, woe is me I'm havin
problems, problems, problems..

Verse Two: Phife Dawg

Just last week my girl was stressin me
Now her best friend be underssin me
Well I was lovin her by the moon ray
Now I'm tricking on her like Kinte' (c'mon)
Bought a bag of izm from the smoke shop
Walkin towards the car, here come the damn cops
Now I'm station bound for the thai sticks
I bought it for my man, I don't believe this shit
Coach sat me down from the ball team
Cause I was breakin niggaz on the inseams
Some niggaz cross town was tryin to stick me
All I had was shorts, a dollar fifty
Picked up this girl in the hooptie
Just because I rhyme she tried to soup me
Pay for this, pay for that, loot for nails and hair
Who the hell you think I am, Mr. Belvedere?
Go and get a bloody job, then can we look cute
Even if you give me boots, you'll neva see my loot
She wasn't even all of that just another hooker
So I turned that ass away, quick like Chucky Booker
Sometimes you got put the hoes in their friggin place
Just move from in front me with your botty face!

Refrain: Phife Dawg

Problems, problems, problems, Lord knows I'm havin
problems, problems, problems, Jesus Christ I'm havin
problems, problems, problems, pray for me I'm havin
problems, problems, problems..

Yeah
Yeah..
Just lay down your burdens by the riverside
Hah, and you'll be alright, knowhatI'msayin?
Love and peace from Phife for '93, knahmsayin?
Tribe Called Quest, Shaheed and Tip
This is how we flip

My man Muhammad in the house, huh
Zulu Nation in the house, huh
SubRoc is in the house, huh
My man Skeff is in the house, huh
Jarobi White is in the house, huh
Bob Power in the house, huh
My man Eric in the house, huh
My man Nitro in the house, huh

Refrain: Q-Tip

Help me out y'all, help me out now
Help me out y'all, help me out now
Help me out God, I really need ya
Help me out now, I really need ya
Help me out y'all, help me out now
I'm havin problems, help me out now
Really need ya, to help me out now
Help me out y'all, help me out now
Help me out y'all, help me out now
Help me out y'all, help me out now
Help me out God, I really need ya
Havin problems, help me out now..

help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me.....
.....MUHAMMAD!!]

Sucka Nigga
hey sucka nigga, whoever you are" (repeat 2X)
"hey sucka nigga, hey sucka nigga
whoever you are, whoever you are"


Aiyyo, turn it up Muhammad
Turn everything up in the headphones
so I don't lose my vocals
Yeah that's good, turn my vocals a little bit
with the upper bassline

I be hatin sucka MC's, and the sucka niggas
Posing like they hard when we know they damn card
what you figure, rhyme-wise, I do the figure eight
So concisely, musically we are the herb so sit back
and light me, inhale *inhalation noise*
My style is kinda fat reminescent of a whale
Young girls desires for the females dreams
I be the Abstract Poetic representin from Queens
Socially I'm not a name, black and white got game
If you came to the jam, well I'm glad you came
See, nigga first was used back in the Deep South
Fallin out between the dome of the white man's mouth
It means that we will never grow, you know the word dummy
Other niggas in the community think it's crummy
But I don't, neither does the youth cause we
em-brace adversity it goes right with the race
And being that we use it as a term of endearment
Niggas start to bug to the dome is where the fear went
Now the little shorties say it all of the time
And a whole bunch of niggas throw the word in they rhyme
Yo I start to flinch, as I try not to say it
But my lips is like the oowop as I start to spray it
My lips is like a oowop as I start to spray it
My lips is like a oowop as I start to spray the

Sucka nigga, nigga nigga
I throw the sucka in the front for the ones that front
The sucka niggas, nigga nigga
I throw the sucka in the front for the ones that front
The sucka niggas, nigga nigga
I throw the sucka in the front for the ones that front
It's the neo-nigga of the nineties, c'mon

I be hatin sucka MC's, and the sucka niggas
Posin like they hard when we know they damn card
what you figure, rhyme-wise, I do the figure eight
So concisely, musically we are the herb so sit back
and light me *inhalation noise* inhale *echoes*
My style is kinda fat reminescent of a whale
Young girls desires for the females dreams
I be the Abstract Poetic representin from Queens
Socially I'm not a name, black and white got game
If you came to the jam well I'm glad you came
See, nigga first was used down in the Deep South
Fallin out between the dome of the white man's mouth
It means that we will never grow, you know the word dummy
Other niggas in the community think it's crummy
But I don't, neither does the youth cause we
em-brace adversity it goes right with the race
Yo I start to flinch, as I try not to say it
But my lips is like the oowop as I start to spray it
My lips is like a oowop as I start to spray it
My lips is like a oowop, yo you know the rest

The sucka niggas, niggas niggas
I throw the sucka in the front for the ones that front
The sucka niggas, nigga nigga
I throw the suckas in the front for the ones that front
The sucka niggas, nigga nigga
I throw the sucka in the front for the ones that front
Sucka niggas, nigga nigga
Aiyyo Shaheed, take us the fuck outta here

Midnight
The night is my mind
The sun'll still shine
But the night is on my mind
So parlay while I drop this rhyme

See, Jake be gettin illy when the sun get dark
They be comin out the heads, but shit don't let me start
Their activities are plenty in nighttime(nighttime)
For the ghetto child, it seems to be the right time
See, kids be gettin stuck with jewels and fly gimmicks
Shorty see the action and then start to mimic
Runnin to the corner, the dice game is blazin
Lookin at the loot, it seems so amazin
Puts it short down, to be exact would bound
He shakes the stones in his hand, then he lets it down(uh!)
Scam money don't make none
He threw a trip on the ace, now he's out son
Hits the local bodega to woof down a hero
Son is on a 'Midnight Run' like De Niro
Spots the shorty rock standin on his block
The thieves be handlin in the pumps,so he asked it it's not
Conversation that he kicked to the shorty was a sly one
Increased intensity, his dance sure was a fly one
Took her to the crib there she ran her gibs
About mind upliftment and bein positive
He yawned and he sighed til 1:05
Then he finally realized that hunny wasn't live
At least he didn't plan on buildin for the evenin'
Threw the Fila on the dome and said 'Come on yo, we leavin'
Came out on the scene as he told her to beep him
Saw his man Sam with the blunt in his hand
(Aww Shhh...!!!)You know the transaction
Brothas gettin lost in the weed satisfaction
Comin down the block man loud as (fuck)
You would swear Redman was inside the trunk
As the night seemed darker, cops is on a hunt
They interrupt ya cipher, and crush ya blunt
See you left your work at home, so they pat you down for nuthin
Why in the hell does 10-4 keep frontin?
You push to the park, even though it's still dark
The kid is nice on the hoop, he said 'I'll spot ya troop'

The night is on my mind
The sun'll still shine
But now the night is on my mind, the night is on the mind
The night is on your mind
A yo, the sun'll still shine
But now the night is on the mind
As for me...

I'm a nocturnal animal, God concentrates
On a young black man, who makes the niggaz speak a shake
The nighttime is busy, it's word to Aunt Kizzy
It's the time we get down, yo son, you know the sound
The flavas on the top with the rugged beat to back it
The night makes the aura and the J can't hack it
The way the moon dangles in the midnight sky
And the stars dance around, a yo, I think it's fly
Intensity, most rappers don't see it
Spirit wise, musically, you gotta be it
Serenity and sirens of the sounds and emotions
In the concrete jungle and the sun don't bungle
I think it's hard to find the words on how I feel
I paid about a deuce twenty for the Ampex steel
But let me slow down, I think I ran my gibs enough
Peace out to the Nation, stay rugged and rough

The night is on my mind, the sun'll still shine
The night is on my mind, the night is on my mind
The night is on my mind, yeah, the sun'll still shine
But now, uh huh, the night is on my mind
The night is on your mind, you know the sun'll still shine
But now the night is on the mind, yeah, the night is on my mind
The night is on the mind, a yo, the sun'll still shine
But now the night is on the mind, yeah, the night is on the mind
The night is on the mind, a yo, the sun'll still shine

We Can Get Down
chorus:
We can get down
We can, we can get down(both lines 4X)
Ah, it's like that man, it's like that (yes!)
It's like that man, it's like that (yes!) (2X)
It's like that man, it's like that
(Rakim from "My Melody":"Why waste time on the microphone")
Check it

Phife:
I'm not your average MC with the Joe Schmoe flow
If you don't know me by now, you'll never know
Steppin on my critics, beatin on my foes
The plan is to stay focused, only then I can go
Straight from the heart, I represent hip hop
I be three albums deep, but I don't wanna go pop
Too many candy rappers seem to be at the top
Too much candy is no good, so now I'm closin the shop
Crushin competition like your tires on grapes
My rhymes styles be blendin like a Ron G tape
My man where ya goin? You can't escape
When the Tribe is in the house, that means nobody is safe
How can a reverend preach, when a rev can't define
The music of our youth from 1979
We rap about what we see, meaning reality
>From people bustin caps and like Mandela bein free
Not every MC be with the negativity
We have a slew of rappers pushin positivity
Hip hop will never die yo, it's all about the rap
So Marion Barry smokin crack, let's preach about that
The trash you talk won't matter, that old bogus chatter
The more that you condemn us, it only makes us phatter
When I talk, I know I'm talkin for you poppers all around
You know you love the sound, we gets down

chorus:

Q-Tip:
I'm the cherry on the top of yo ice cream
I'm the wish you thought inside your dream
Listen to the way we pulsate the jam
I'm the nigga here with the mic in hand
Styles that we present are just a few
To do away with you and your hum drum crew
This is '93 and the shit is real
Black people unite and put down your steel
Ladies make a forum on your sexual drive
Devoted to your lover and make it thrive
The riff was of F, I'm a hip hop body
Release the energy like the force of a shotty
Standin on the wall with my Polo on
Talkin to the girl with the Liz Claiborne
Keep the poetry in my black knapsack
Got my Timbo horse and my Doublemint pack
Hit the city streets to enhance my soul
I can kick a rhyme over ill drum rolls
With a kick, snare, kicks and high hat
Skilled in the trade of that old boom bap
I can do a trick with the opposite breed
I used to down 40s and smoke grain weed
Now, I'm doin shows with half loot down
Now it's time for me to take ya uptown

It's like that man, it's like that (yes!) (7X)
It's like this, Shaheed!

Shahee scratching)(until end)
Rakim: "Why waste time on the microphone"

Electric Relaxation
Relax yourself girl, please set-tle down (4X)

Verse One: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg

Honey, check it out, you got me mesmerized
With your black hair and fat-ass thighs
Street poetry is my everyday
But yo, I gotta stop when you trot my way
If I was workin at the club you would not pay
Aiyyo, my man Phife Diggy, he got somthin to say

I like em brown, yellow, Puero Rican or Hatian
Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation
Told you in the jam that We Can Get Down
Now let's Knock the Boots like the group H-Town
You got BBD all on your bedroom wall
But I'm Above the Rim and this is how I ball
A pretty little somethin on the New York street
This is how I represent over this here beat
Talkin bout you

Yo, I took you out
But sex was on my mind for the whole damn route
My mind was in a frenzy and a horny state
But I couldn't drop dimes cause *you couldnÕt relate*

Chorus

Verse Two: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg

Stretch out your legs, let me make you bawl
Drive you insane, drive you up the wall
Starin at your dome-piece, very strong
Stronger Than Pride, stronger than Teflon
Take you on the ave and you buy me links
Now I wanna pound the putang until it stinks
You can be my mama and I'll be your boy

Original rude boy, never am I coy
You can be a shorty in my ill convoy
Not to come across as a thug or a hood
But hon, you got the goods, like Madeline Woods
By the way, my name's Malik
The Five-Foot Freak
Let's say we get together by the end of the week
She simply said, "No," labelled me a hoe
I said, "How you figure?" "My friends told me so."
I hate when silly groupies wanna run they yap
Word to God, hon, I don't get down like that

I'll have you weak in the knees that you could hardly speak
Or we could do like Uncle L and swing an ep in my jeep
Keep it in the down, yo, we keep it discrete
See, I'm not the type to kid to have my biz in the streets

If my mom donÕt approve, then I'll just elope
Let me sink the little man from inside the boat
Let me hit it from the back, girl I won't catch a hernia
Bust off on your couch, now you got semen's furniture

Shaheed, Phife and the Extra P
Stacy, ? DJ and my man L.G.
They know the Abstract is really soul on ice
The character is of men, never ever of mice
Shorty let me tell you about my only vice
It has to do with lots of lovin and *it ain't nuthin nice*

Clap Your Hands
ChorusChorus(scratching):
Clap your hands now

Phife:
Brothas know the flavs when the Quest gets loose
Slammin sucka fuckas like the wrestler Zeus
Crazier than Tupac in that flick called Juice
Cock is longer than the hat worn by Dr. Seuss
Love a girl in Daisy Dukes like them kids called Deuce
Gets paid to sex the hoochie like my main man Luke
Control the mic like Denzel on the girls
Wack MCs be on the nuts like Rocket J. Squirrel
The worst thing in the world is a sucka MC
Favorite rap group in the world is EPMD
Can't forget the De La, the two originality
And if I ever went solo, my favorite MC would be me
Phife Dawg up in the house, I give a shout out to Snoopy
Peace to all the Questers, to hell with the groupies
Like um, Ralph up to Potsie, Brooklyn to Dodger
Laverne to Shirley, Rerun to Roger
Ren to the Stimpy, Laurel to Hardy
Q-Tip and Phifer, they mashed up the party
Kick the rhymes and more rhymes
Kick the beats and more beats
We'll have you scratchin in your head, like trying all techniques
For those who wanna oppose, just take a stand
But for now, just shut your shit and clap your hands

chorus:

Q-Tip:
You just wanna dance man, then clap your hands
If you venture up the wrong road, then the circumstance...
Will be crucial, I got hundreds of rhymes that'll suit you
So listen
The Abstract intuition is very very worthy
I can feel ya out from Russia to Jersey
Can't understand, the underground, it gets deep
The low, the Nikes, the links, the jeeps
The women, the lingo and all the other goods
Peace to the hoods, that keep my shit on play
Please don't do the mute when you hear me on the juke
Brothas know my angle, it's the Star-Spangled black banner
Hook up the beats at the funk manner
If want a roll, then dough I be rakin
The scope is on the world, cuz it's mine for the takin
You know I'm gonna do it
My shit is rock solid, but it flows like fluid
Chemists get confused of my ill composition
This is the third of the new Tribe addition
MCs be swingin, but alot of them be missin
So shut your bloodclot and listen
Cuz I'm bringin you the ill rendition
I'd like to send this out to the L.E.S.
Gotta alot of rhythm and style and finesse
Come here love, hot sex on a plat
And when your done with that then clap

Oh My God
Chorus(until end)Listen up everybody the bottom line
I'm a black intellect, but unrefined
with precision like a bullet, target bound
just livin like a hooker, the harlett sounds
now when I say the harlett, you know I mean the hott
V-A-V-A-Vader, the brothers in the spot
Jalick, Jalick ya wind up ya hit
Captain of the poets, I'm the #7 pick
lick, lick, lick boy on your backside
lick, lick, lick boy on your backside
listen to the fader, Shaheed lets it glide
Tip the earthly body
heavens on my side
even in Santo Domingo
Can I gotta Gringo
we got mikes when do we go
know a little nigga who can ryhme when you ask me
short, dark, and plus his voice is raspy
Phife Dawg
1 for the treble
2 for the bass
you know the style Tip
it's time to flip this
I like my beats hard like two day old shit
steady eatin booty M.C's like cheese Grits
My man Al B. Sure, he's in effect mode
used to have a crush on Dawn from En Vogue
it's not like honey dip would wanna get with me
but just in case I own more condoms then T.L.C.
now the formula is this Me, Tip, and Ali
for those who can't count it goes 1-2-3
The answer(scratch-Damn right I'm)Hiccup is how i be
brothers find it's hard to do but never me
some brothers try to dis my malik
you see'm ditchin me
now cure all the B.B. M.C.'s my shit is hittin
trainin gladiator, anti-hesitater
Shaheed push the fader from here to Granada
Mr. energetic, who me sound pathetic
when's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?
(I don't know man(3x))
(I don't know(2x))

:
(Oh My God yes, Oh my god(10))


Complimentary it be
the theif of Poetry
I got a humdinger comin hook line and sinker
the TIMBO hits with the prints underground
TIMBO's on the toes, i like the way it's goin down
down like the lady of the evenin
when it goes in Toots just beleive the sin
cuz Queens is the county, Jamaica is the place
Take off your boots cuz you can't run the race

:
(Oh My God(14))

Keep It Rollin
Verse One: Phife Dawg

Aiyyo swing swing swing, to chop chop chop
Yo that's the sound when MC's get mopped
Don't come around town without the hip in your hop
Cause when the shit hits the fan, that ass'll get dropped
MC's wanna attack me but them punks can't cope
I'll have you left without a job, like Isley from The Love Boat
So money watch your mouth, or I might have to bust ya
Battlin MC's, from JFK to Russia
Back down to London, Sweden and Brazil
Do a U.S. tour for three months and then a chill
Styles be fat like Jackie Gleason, the rest be Art Carney
People love the Dawg like the kids love Barney
"I love you, you love me"
The shorty Phife Dawg is your favorite MC
So move back yaself dread, you know the element
The Tribe is good for your health like a can of Nutriment
MC's don't have no winds, MC's don't have no winds
I flips you crazier than a busload of Jerry's Kids
Your crew don't want it, man your crew don't want it
But if you feel you can swing it, then money please bring it
(sup) Large Professor in the house (sup)
(sup) You know how we do (sup)
(sup) I stay on your crew (sup)
(whassup) like Mario Lemieux (whassup)
(Whassup?) Peace to Ike Love
(Sup? Hah hah) and the rest of the crew (Whassup?)
(Whassup?) I meet you guys in front the cleaners
Bring the blunts and the brew so

Verse Two: Q-Tip

Whassup kids? The Ab is speaking from the moon
Thanks for your support, aiyyo I'll be home soon
But the only thing I ask when I return from my task
Is a whole bunch of beats and a Blass full of ass
My fist stands firm because I'm, black and solid
I open up your pores like a plate full of collards
C'mon take it easy wouldya, easy easy
I'm up in the gulley, that's when I am her Buddy
She told me pull her hair, I did, it drove her nutty
Filled up the hole like spackle or I mean putty
When we over joints like this we never cruddy
Extra P hooked the beat, and kids it feels luh-huh-ovely
Check it out, cause my conception is immaculate
A bachelor, lookin for a bachlelorette
Back to you MC's, this is what your gonna get
A first degree burn from my man Ken's cigarette
I hope you like Malboro, Paul you know we thorough like Denver
The beat feels like a never-ender
But all things good must, so I won't sweat it
Drop the C's for the youthful crew, I hope you get it
As I stand, grip this mic inside my hand
Boy I smack you up, like I was your old grand
so respect yourself Son, and come and gimme love
Once again the Ab is who you think of
So chill with the beef money, we got a Jetti

Verse Three: Extra P (Large Professor)

It's Extra P and yo Tip I'm bout to set it
on the country once again here to win
I'm Uptown chillin, takin in this grand master Vic blend
from the projects, the PJ's, fuck them two DJ's
Self mission, I had her in the ill position
Saying "Large youse the soul brother that I'd like to
eff with for the rest of my life" yeah yeah now check the method
As I, proceed with what you need like Akinyele
A whip looks complete when the tires say Firelli
Funk monkey, one rapper fell off, now he's a junkie
There's 8 Million Stories in the city it's a pity
Don't fuck with the skins if she's trying to act shitty
Shout to the Guru, Primo and Zulu Zulu
Nation, was on a vacation, in the ghetto
Yo Ras slow your roll I'm bout to bag this here's metal
Rapper Nas on topic, seems we gonna rock it
Queens represent, buy the album when I drop it (drop it)

The Chase Pt. II
"I'm bout to wreck ya body and say turn the party out" --> BizMarkie
(repeat 4X)


Phife:

Them can't touch me no, them can't touch me
Them can't hold me no, them can't hold me (2X)
(Q-Tip: Damn, Phife you got fat!)
Yeah, I know it looks pathetic
Ali Shaheed Muhammad got me doing calisthenics
Needless to say, boy I'm bad to the bone
Making love to my mic like Jarobi on the phone
But um, no time for jokes (what!), there's bills to be paid (what!)
Hoes to be laid (what!), punks to be sprayed (what!)
Chumps to attack, so my man watch your back
Cuz '93 means skills are a must, so never lack (uh!)
Sit back and learn, come now watch the birdie
Your styles are incomplete, same as Vinny Testaverde
Battlin, whenever -- hot Damn!
Give me the microphone bwoy, one time, bam!

Q-Tip:

Keep it on the corner, cuz here comes the heat
Lyrically it stays, the jazz will pace the beat
As we proceed to elevate you, we in fo-fo
Run and tell your dad the Abstract's the bag
As we proceed to move your high parts, we know who has ass
Poets got the gimmicks, but they lack the sassafras
To make the average hardrock and cock the glock
And roam the city streets on the jury, they hot
I be ingredients, like sugar and candy
If your life is broke, girl I'll be the handy-dandy
That commends you, my fee is a shower
For you, I'll scrub your back and I'll soap the butt-crack
Make you shiny, spiffy in a jiff
Fuckin with the Ab, you got the greatest of gifts
Yo, my mic is sounding bug. Bob Power, you there?(Yeah)
Adjust the bass and treble make my shit sound clear(echo)

Chorus(x8):
(Q-Tip: After fourth time)
Make you shiny, spiffy in a jiff
Fuckin with the Ab, you got the greatest of gifts
A-yo, my mic is sounding bug. Bob Power, you there?
Adjust the bass and treble...OK, could you come in Tip?

Q-Tip:

Whoop, back yourself man. Come watch me drop it
For showing me I could do it, for showing me I can rock it
Me not deal wit no changaram, bangaram business
I got soul on a hymn, like Jehovah's got the witness
Musically, the three, poetically, be me
We in jammin on the airwaves, kids just rave
Obey the MCs, cuz the MCs say
We flippin more niggaz like we Super Dave
But noticin my stature, y'all niggaz know we gotcha
Movin to the rapture, listen how we catch ya
Movin with the grace, here we go, let's begin
Makin people jump out their goddamn skin
Lyrically, we bite like we Rin Tin Tin
Peace to Grand Pu and his many, many skins
Don't mark with the arrow, cuz we know we get the wins
It's the Ab, Shaheed, and the Dawg for the blend

Chorus(until end):

Q-Tip:

I wanna say peace to my man Rob P, my man Jerod, and
Skeff Anslem on the help out and we out like shout
Nine-tre, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...
I don't wanna say nine-tre
cause my man Extra P said don't say the years
So, it's for eternity, know what I'm sayin?
Rock rock on, everybody in Queens, rock rock on
Everybody in Brooklyn, rock rock on
Money Earnin Mt. Vernon, rock rock on
Everybody in Jersey, rock rock on
Everybody in Philly rock rock on
Everybody in Houston, rock rock on
Everybody LA, rock rock on
Everybody in The Sand, rock rock on
Everybody in Egypt, rock rock on
Everybody Nigeria, rock rock on
Everybody in London, rock rock on
Everybody in Sweden, rock rock on
Everybody in beware, rock rock on
To the niggaz on the famous, rock rock on
Everybody no name, rock rock on
To the kids at Nu-Clear, rock rock on
The Cave rock rock on. McDonald's, rock rock on

Lyrics To Go

Lyrics to go (lyrics to go) uhh
Lyrics to go (lyrics to go) ahh yeah, c'mon
Lyrics to go (lyrics to go)
Lyrics to go (lyrics to go) yeah yeah
Lyrics to go (lyrics to go)

Goin on and on to the rhythmic variation
Wakin in the morning I still represent the nation
When I speak of nation please don't make the deviation
Rebels of the party who create the jump sensation
Mind is a pit of different information
Microphone is on so of course communication
Bogle at the party then you got the bogle-ation
Decaptatin foes yo as if my name was Jason (c'mon)
Makin all the fellas at the party lose composure
Hook up the beat with the mic and it's over (original, uh!)
A Tribe Called Quest we on the run for whatever
Trials and tribulations that we have to endeavor
Brothers know my steelo it's a letter to the better
If you see a shorty that you like, then you sweat her
Silly with the microphone, in other words I'm loco
Six foot zero with my height, complexion cocoa
Representin on the mic it seems to be my daily
I can do a split and turn around like Alvin Ailey
But when it comes to days like this I got lyrics to go

(I got lyrics to go) It's like that y'all, c'mon y'all
Lyrics to go It's like that y'all, c'mon y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that


I know it's been two years but see the Tribe was never fallin
Would have tried for singin but that stuff was not my callin
The mic is in effect so you know I'm never stallin
Walkin through the door and all them suckers started haulin
Talk a lot of trash but no one can seem to beat it
Pull out your microphone and watch the Phifer make you eat it
The MC's they get jealy when the girly's on my belly
Kick a slow dance like my brother R. Kelly (bust a rhyme)
Today's a hip-hop draft will I be top-seeded? (uhh)
Worked too frickin hard while all the rest were gettin weeded
Steady kickin styles so I can reach that other level (uh)
Don't worry about gettin gassed I push the pedal to the metal
Always wanted this cause it surely beats a scramble (right)
I'm Jordan with the mic, huh, wanna gamble? (mmm)
This I dedicate to all the honiest that be bogle-in
Cause at the end of the night y'know Malik will have his Trojans
But when it comes to nights like this I got lyrics to go

Check it out y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that y'all
Lyrics to go Check it out y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that y'all
Lyrics to go Check it out y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that y'all
Lyrics to go Check it out y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that y'all
It's like that y'all
Check it out y'all
It's like that y'all
Check it out y'all
It's like that y'all
Check it out here we go!


Please proceed with caution cause the lyricist is fatal
I can kick your little monkey ass like Kato (yes dread, uhh)
Formulate your rhymes like a child forms Play-Doh (right)
Calm and serene like the study was tayo
Poetry machine with correct mechanisms
Immune to disease I defeat organisms
that are waitin in my path, I overstep the critters
Give your ass the willies and your moms'll get the jitters (uh)
Winners turn to losers, losers are forgotten
Tangle in my fore with, hopes that I stop rockin
Never will that happen only if it is permitted (uhh)
Wait... I think somebody shitted (c'mon)
I guess that will be me cause I'm the only one MCin
I go for what I know doin a show for human beings
Always try to lead yo never will I follow
Blowin up the spot like Fred did to Rollo
And when it comes to days like this, I got lyrics to go

Check it out y'all
(Lyrics to go) It's like that y'all
I got lyrics to go Everybody
(I got lyrics to go) Ah c'mon now
I got lyrics to go Ah check it out y'all
(I got lyrics to go) It's like that now
I got lyrics to go Everybody
(I got lyrics to go) Ah c'mon now
I got lyrics to go Check it out y'all
(I got lyrics to go) It's like that now
I got lyrics to go C'mon y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Everybody
I got lyrics to go It's like that y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Check it out now
I got lyrics to go Ah c'mon y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Everybody
I got lyrics to go It's like that y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Check it out now
I got lyrics to go It's like that y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Every-bo-ty
I got lyrics to go It's like that y'all
(I got lyrics to go) Ah check it out now
It's like that y'all
Check it now
It's like that y'all
Check it now
It goes... uhh

God Lives Through
There's a million MC's that claim they want some
But see, I create sounds that make your ears go numb
Peace to Sayers Ave., yeah you know how we go
My best friend Steven at the Home Depot
Lowerton is in the house, I can't forget Southside
Walk past MC's like that girl did the Pharcyde
I'm labeled as the cat's meow, the MC with the know-how
Act like you know, not now, but right now
Beast of the East, on MC's I have a feast
I'd eat that ass like quiche, crack a smile like Shanice
Straight out Jamaica scene, Jamaica, Queens
But you could find me out in Georgia, or anywhere in between
Now if my partners don't look good, Malik won't look good
If Malik don't look good, the Quest won't look good
If the Quest don't look good, then Queens won't look good
But since the sounds are universal, New York won't look good
Picture Phife losin a battle, come on, get off it
Put down the microphone son, surrender forfeit
Did I hear somethin bout a crew? What they wanna do?
You better call Mr. Babyface, so he can bring out _The Cool in You_
or it'll be a sad love song being sung by Toni Braxton
And I'll dissect you like a fraction
Oh, you wannabe top cat MC's, I'll pop you like a zit
You wanna be the champ, you more like Chief Some-shit
Big up myself everytime when it comes to this
MC's be runnin scared as if they're watchin the Exorcist
I kick more game than a crackhead from Hempstead
My styles are milk, man, you'd think that I was breast fed
You know the steelo when the diggy Dawg is on the scene
I dedicate this to all the MC's outta Queens
that goes for Onyx, LL, Run-D.M.C.
Akinyele, Nasty Nas and the Extra P
You need a chart, straight up and down man, there ain't no other
Nuff respect to all my peeps that made the album cover
Yo, Tip don't worry Dunn you know I get the party jumpin
Get on the mic and break em off a lil lil sumthin
Yo, Tip don't worry Dunn you know I get the party jumpin
Get on the mic and break em off a lil lil sumthin (Ooohh...)

"Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes (16X)

(over Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la, la..
Doop, doo, do, do..
La, la, la, la..
Shooby-doop, do, do..
La, la, la, la..
Shooby-doo, do, do..
You know I'm on the other, for the top 40
Haha, you gotta do it like this..

We got the funk doody don shit, clearly it's the bomb shit
So recognize me, kids memorize me
Everyday, I be scroungin, really, I be loungin
I play the down low, very very incognito
Aries is my sign, I know that I can rhyme
Sometimes I rhyme in riddles, plus I make the hunnies wiggle
Intellect is the major, some heads like to wager
The skills on the hill, overlookin dollar bills
Man, ya crazy, thinkin you can phase me
The Ab doesn't study near nonsense money
Life seems to meet me, MC's seem too cheesy
With they doody ass renditions of defeatin competition
I rock to the roll man, yes, I'm a soul man
Bet'cha bottom dolla, Vinia will make ya holla
As ya stand at attention, did I forget to mention
MC's will give me twenty, if I sense that they act funny
Lyrics are abundant, right there, I sound redundant
Just mentionin the fact, that the area is fat
I dwell in the unda, so hunny, it's no wonder
That I get plenty of tail, well I even get white
I'ma bet hittin head crack, there money, take that
Breakin niggaz off, cut their bank, then I'm off
While my Nik'es match my lil hat, beat joint is mad fat
Got the cutter of the box if a kid thinks he's ox
For tier means creator, the poetry relator
It's hemp, like Betsy Ross, let me tell you who's the boss

La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes) smooth it y'all
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)
La, la, la.. ("Oh my God!" -> Busta Rhymes)

Queens got a Zoo
Brooklyn got a Zoo
Bronx got a Zoo
Long Island got a Zoo
Long Island.. got the zone
Jersey got a Zoo
Philly got a Zoo
Milwaukee got a Zoo
L.A. got a Zoo
Oaktown got the zone

La, la, la.. (4X)
See, I like to get down Jack

Just wrote a reply, went to look at something, and lost it.
This miracle product is another poison, physically, mentally, spiritually. The white man society has got believers-lighter skin is superior to dark. He has people believing these things, advertises product that has the key to success (with men, jobs, etc). Conveniently, he has added mercury, which is not particularly healthy for anyone. (In my chem labs, we aren't allowed near it, even in trace amounts, let alone to slather it all over our bodies). People spend a good majority of their pay on it. People spend their pay to mutilate their bodies, mutilate what they were born with because we have been brainwashed to think light is better, light is good, light is smart, light is beautiful. Self-mutilation. They get some desired results, but after a while, they just end up looking all scaly and where they thought they were when they started: not acceptable. When will anyone be good enough in this frame of mind?
It's just an endless circle. Kind of makes me think of the opening on Dead Prez's album, about the wolf licking the knife. He thinks he's getting something, because he's so thirsty, but he's just killing himself.
Me? I'm half Native-American, half Filipino. I love my brown skin! I feel proud when I get darker, when my father and I are almost the same color. *Sigh*

Be like me...PROMOTE OKAYPLAYER.COM in the WORKPLACE!
Peace}}i{{Love}}i{{Empathy

Dont give the "White" man credit for formulating these ideas- he is only capitalizing on the ish that we have believed for a long time- even before we were subjugated by them.

You show me where black people systematically hated on blackness of skin prior to colonization & slavery.

Read Ivan Van Sertima's book (Van Sertima is Black by the way) "They Came Before Columbus". Egyptians regarded light skin as signifying luxury and wealth- such people most probably lived and recreated indoors. As a result several Egyption figures- who by practical reference should have been dark skinned like Cleopatra were depicted in a lighter fashion. This ideal was applied most heavily to the women as the men were expected to be working, able-bodied, warriors- all under the tanning benefits of the Egyptian sun.

K

1) the variations is complexion that would allow for significant tanning in & of itself is indication of "race" mixing which would explain to a certain extent how what you are describing could come to pass. These were not black people of the Alex Wek type.

2) Cleopatra didn't reign until the end of Eygptian power, by that time Eygpt was a multi-ethnic nation & being surpassed (by non blacks) in power which also would fit the pattern where lighter complexed people impose their look as the ideal.

3) Eygpt is not the standard for all of africa, nor is it primarily where blacks sent all across the diaspora were drawn from. Despite what some think, there are records that indicate our heritage - primarily we were not Eygptians. Tell me where in They Came Before Columbus does Van Sertima draw the conclusion that 1) black americans (or blacks across the diaspora) are from Eygpt. 2) That blacks were discontented with their complexion prior to colonization & slavery. I'll skim the book tonight.

>1) the variations is complexion that
>would allow for significant tanning
>in & of itself is
>indication of "race" mixing which
>would explain to a certain
>extent how what you are
>describing could come to pass.
> These were not black
>people of the Alex Wek
>type.

Regardless the condition you admit to preceded colonial invasion.

>2) Cleopatra didn't reign until the
>end of Eygptian power, by
>that time Eygpt was a
>multi-ethnic nation & being surpassed
>(by non blacks) in power
>which also would fit the
>pattern where lighter complexed people
>impose their look as the
>ideal.

Regardless the condition you admit to preceded colonial invasion.

>3) Eygpt is not the standard
>for all of africa, nor
>is it primarily where blacks
>sent all across the diaspora
>were drawn from. Despite what
>some think, there are records
>that indicate our heritage -
>primarily we were not Eygptians.
>Tell me where in They
>Came Before Columbus does Van
>Sertima draw the conclusion that
>1) black americans (or blacks
>across the diaspora) are from
>Eygpt. 2) That blacks were
>discontented with their complexion prior
>to colonization & slavery. I'll
>skim the book tonight.

Regardless the condition you admit to preceded colonial invasion.

whether or not we all came from Egypt- the Blacks in Egypt DID adopt this idealogy thousands of years before the "white" man even existed.

this has been my point all along

K