Rod Palmer's Blog: Rod Palmer The Author's blog
December 10, 2024
Beauty and Skin Tone
In my newly released novel, Uglass: The Intrusive Thoughts Of A Melanin Queen, the protagonist, Tahj, is a darkskinned fashion model. She becomes a subject in a scientific study that attempts to navigate through the bias and subjectivity of beauty. Based on the 200 nodal points on a face, Tahj is deemed the known most beautiful woman in the world; however, men regularly stroll past her on the way the way to a light-skinned women with obvious and sometimes glaring facial flaws. Tahj always believed that when men look at her, they definitely see beauty, but often seek lightskinned because, perhaps lighter skin tone conveys status.
Excerpt:
I always figured that when men look at me they see beauty, but some reject it, like a woman might pass over a pretty bag, for an ugly one because it has a designer label. Earlier when I had walked through the club on Jalen's arm, I was convinced that people saw me differently because his status became my designer label, so to speak. This “designer” theory was the only way I could explain how sometimes a guy would walk past me, on their way to court a light-skinned chick with far-apart eyes and big gums. After talking to Bubby, I’m feeling self-conscious for the first time in who knows how long. Bro said I looked like the negative of a photo, and I can’t get over it.
So, what is your take? Is there some truth to the idea that a partner's skin tone conveys status?
Excerpt:
I always figured that when men look at me they see beauty, but some reject it, like a woman might pass over a pretty bag, for an ugly one because it has a designer label. Earlier when I had walked through the club on Jalen's arm, I was convinced that people saw me differently because his status became my designer label, so to speak. This “designer” theory was the only way I could explain how sometimes a guy would walk past me, on their way to court a light-skinned chick with far-apart eyes and big gums. After talking to Bubby, I’m feeling self-conscious for the first time in who knows how long. Bro said I looked like the negative of a photo, and I can’t get over it.
So, what is your take? Is there some truth to the idea that a partner's skin tone conveys status?
