Carl Malcolm sports a 100-watt smile. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
As Black History Month 2007 comes to an end, utterances like "she's pretty for a black girl," or "he's handsome for a black guy," remind us that many people still think that anyone too black or dark, is usually ugly, bad and shameful. This is a slap in the black faces of our ancestors who toiled and died for racial equality, only to have suffered in the name of a society still segregated by shades of blackness.
Sexy dark-skinned men such as actors Taye Diggs and Denzel Washington, Pulse's Orane Barrett and R&B singer Tyrese, have all been touted as 'dark chocolate' sex symbols, their 'blackness' being of great appeal. They are not attractive despite being so dark, they are just just damn fine - point blank!
Carl Malcolm, 26, epitomises the term 'hunk of dark chocolate', and is confident in his 'blackness' as all men of African heritage should be. He has been told that he is handsome, "for a dark guy", but asserts that despite the mitigated prejudice, "I don't let it get the best of me."
The phrase would seem to compliment an attractive, dark-chocolate man for his good looks, but is actually a subliminal insult to the Negro race, as it suggests that 'black' is not usually good looking. No wonder some men feel compelled to bleach their skin.
But Carl loves his complexion. He cites it as one of his best traits, along with his 100-watt smile and piercing eyes. He continues: "When you are dark, you stand out, so my complexion plays a significant role when people find me attractive."
Still, some don't view their dark skin in the positive light that Carl does.
Some Jamaican men bleach their skin to achieve a lighter complexion, proliferating the belief that "browner is better". They deny the beautiful complexion bequeathed by their heritage, which is an unfortunate reminder that we are still very much enslaved.
Some Jamaican men bleach their skin to achieve a lighter complexion, proliferating the belief that 'browner is better'.
Carl Malcolm - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
