Originally Posted by
Hydromorphone
There is nothing to debate. In the context of American Media, light skinned black actors and actresses are incredibly popular. Of course, whenever you say that someone will jump out of the woodwork saying "Look at this X, Y, Z person!" and of course, there is no limit to what someone can look like, anyone can make it big in america. But in general there is a bias towards light skinned black people in the mainstream media. Although it can vary from place to place. Black actors don't have AS much to hurdle through than their female counterparts, in music (especially rap, to an extent hip-hop) and movies. Denzel, Will Smith, and Chiwetel are all typical african-american men in terms of skin tone and happen to be very popular and bankable movie stars. For women it's different, all the examples you posted, Nicki Minaj (absolutely huge) Beyonce has fair features and straight hair, etc. Knowing America's history and large white majority it makes sense why there is a bias towards European features.
Some people call that as another example of 'white privilege' in the U.S, but the truth is that's just the way we've always been as people, same way the Chinese prefer their own people with the most attractive features seen in their various groups, it is so in the U.S.A, or anywhere else in the world.
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