Narishkeit

I originally took these on Thursday night and was really peeved after taking it that I have waited this long to write about it on the blog. I have a slight automatic preference to lighter skinned people. Outside influences in our life such as family, media, and government teach us what is morally right and wrong in the world. We are obviously going to have a preference to strong and positive outside influences in our life. I think the majority of us have these stereo-typical images in our head of black "thug" drug dealers and white trailer trash. On the same note, I think we all carry images of a distinguished white family with a picket fence. I can picture a similar distinguished black family in my head, but it is harder. I didn't grow up in that kind of culture, so is it really my fault?

I had a good friend of mine from Florida take this test as well. She is originally from Haiti and carries a great deal of pride in her heritage. She was surprised to find out after taking the race test, that she is more responsive to lighter skinned people. Obviously this person is not a racist, so why would a white person that prefers lighter skinned people considered a racist?

I mentioned all of this to some friends of mine and we all came up with some interesting ideas. The conversation took on a life of it's own and I was a little surprised at the direction we ended up going. The subject of racial/skin colored preference turned into our preference in men. My Spanish friend Ingrid says that she prefers white guys. My white friend Adrian prefers black guys. When you hear this in a conversation, I don't think to myself: "Oh, she's a racist, but this other gal is an equal opportunity girl." It's the same idea as when my roommate Aaron brings his boyfriend over for dinner. I don't think, "Oh, here comes Aaron. He doesn't like the women enough to date them." In these types of situations, we (we being the people in my social groups) don't question or argue preference. But the minute the definite topic of race is brought up, suddenly we can't have a choice as far as preference goes.

I assume that there is such little tolerance in this world that it is hard to be just okay with the way person is. Regardless of my "slight automatic preference" to lighter skinned people, I refuse to believe this makes me a racist or a bad person in any way. I try my very hardest to assure that I am treating everyone I encounter the same way.

B.Knee

PS Sorry! I didn't proofread everyone. I hope there are not too many grammer errors.