Comments on: Flavors

By: Margari Aziza Hill

Margari Aziza Hill — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:26:52 +0000

Walaikum salaam Safiyyah,
This poem was not just a tribute to women in Harlem, but to Black women in general and celebrating our diversity. It represents so much of what the Harlem Renaissance was about, the celebration of being Black and our rich cultural heritage. Have you read much about the Harlem Renaissance? I think every American should read more about what used to be the Black Mecca. Have you read much on the history of Black and Jewish relations? If not, I’d recommend reading “Jazz Age Jews” which is about the ways Jewish artists and musicians identified with Black culture (through Jazz and Minstrel shows) in the first half of the 20th century and the gradual assimilation process by which they became accepted as white. I’d like to know what you think of the book.

By: Safiyyah

Safiyyah — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:29:38 +0000

As Salaamu Alaikum:

Langston Hughes is so eloquent in this poem. What a tribute to the Harlem sweeties! I was born in Harlem but I am white. I was Jewish prior to reverting to Islam. Harlem had a large Jewish population at one time.

By: Khalid

Khalid — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:19:55 +0000

Margari, why does you mother assume that white people are surprised to see an attractive black family when the reason they stare could be simply because your an attractive family. Do you find yourself staring at attractive people when your out?

By: Khalid

Khalid — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:17:57 +0000

Wounded Soul, don’t you think PREFERING DARK SKIN is just as bad as their parents PREFERING WHITE SKIN? Is having a preference regarding skin color morally wrong?( And here I mean sexual preference, the origins of which are hard to pinpoint)

By: Margari Aziza Hill

Margari Aziza Hill — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:57:52 +0000

This entry was not about being accepted by another ethnicity, especially others which have little appreciation for African aesthetics. Maybe I should have not included to the Southern Moroccan reference. I wrote about it because of my own oberservations about the beauty standards of that country. I noticed in Morocco that they thought the people in the North were the most beautiful. One Moroccan man told me because the women look like Spanish girls. In contrast, I found the South to have the most striking people. It was clear that many people had sub-Saharan African heritage mixed in there. Some were clearly Black.

By: Wounded Soul

Wounded Soul — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:09:22 +0000

As salaamu alaikum,

I’m not so certain about that statement regarding Moroccans. I know several fair skinned Moroccan men who have told me time and time again (as have other Middle Eastern and SE Asian men), they prefer black and dark skin women BUT their RELIGIOUS families want them to marry white (regardless of religion, morals).

The only sadness I find is seeing Islam no longer exists according to MY UNDERSTANDING of the Quran and Sunnah… Muslims are so full of hatred, nationalism, anger, etc… nothing like the stories of old or words I read in the Quran.

My thing is self esteem, we cannot stress it enough. When we, as women have it, we will not settle for crumbs.

The amusing thing as many continue to mix, the black never fades. I still have the photo fo the black and white twins and I assume we’ll see more of this happening in future generations.

By: Imanubillah

Imanubillah — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:43:35 +0000

As Salaamu Alaikum:

It is a sad state of affairs. But from what I know, Moroccans are more open between themselves in regards to color and outside of themselves as well. You will find the light and dark skinned Moroccan together. However, watch out when you go to Egypt. They are very color struck. Be on guard. Expect the “You are from America? Well where are you REALLY from?” Type of questions.