at Satellites'™ comments, especially at the Rihanna shade.
But anyways, that whole issue of internal racism, though a phenomenon mainly known to African-Americans in the U.S. (which does have roots in slavery), is pretty common in virtually all ethnicities where there is variation in skin color. And in some cultures it's worse than others, like in India for example. Skin lightening cosmetics is a HUGE business over there, and the color of your skin (especially if you're a female) determines your social status. You're virtually ****ed if you're dark-skinned.
But back on topic for THIS culture, I also have to agree with Da beeziness! that being light-skinned can be its own curse, as anyone who is black, light-skinned and successful/popular automatically gets hated on by some darker-skinned blacks for the perceived notion that they're only successful because of their complexion. Honestly, light or dark you're screwed by members of your own ethnicity either way.
You'd really think that a group that has endured more than enough racism as a whole would know better than to perpetuate that same ignorance amongst themselves. Ugh.