Reaction paper to film, A Question of Color essays

Reaction paper to film, A Question of Color essays The film, A Question of Color, taught me a lot about the psychology behind discrimination within the African American race. The film reminded me even more of the continuous discrimination African Americans face, yet it bothered me to know that I too am a participant in that discrimination. We are the products of a society that treats African Americans as second-class citizens. It seems like the closer a persons appearance is to the African image, the farther that person is from the white idea of beauty. I think I can say with certainty that we all have associated a persons character with the tone of their skin. If not as an enlightened adult, then for sure we all have done so as children. The film pointed out that our society teaches us that white is right; the closer a person is to white, the better off that person is perceived to be. The film also made me more aware of the detrimental psychological lessons that African Americans have learned about their value in this society. The film noted how some other non-Caucasian groups have sought to emulate the white ideas about beauty, but it has not eroded their sense of worth as it has done African Americans. I thought the footage of Malcolm X in the film telling of the white mans plot to keep African Americans down by making African Americans devalue who they are, was effective in getting that point across. This was also evident, when an African American mother and her two sons were eating breakfast, and the older brother teasingly asked the younger brother if he ever wished he was light skinned, the younger brother did not have to say a word; his answer was all over his face and it was obvious it made him uncomfortable. In his young mind he already knew that his darker skin was less desirable. Socialization had already taught him that people with lighter compl exions are better in some way than those with darker complexions. ...