"Exotic" in Atlanta (Boston, White: appointed, crime, to live in)

[chiatldal]

Originally Posted by CaliDreaming01

The use of the term "exotic" is kind of a loaded term in the African-American community, so step cautiously when using or discussing the term. Colorism still exists among some in the black community, and the use of the term "exotic" is plays into that mindset big time. For some blacks, dark skin=bad, white skin=good. However, while few blacks will openly admit they worship whiteness, glorifying black people and other people of color who have certain whiteish looking features is more palatable.

Unless you are prepared for the possibility of triggering very heated battles with warring sides, just avoid any discussion of this term with black people and forget you ever brought it up. If you can't help yourself and want to discuss it, just keep in mind how sensitive this topic can be for some in the black community.

It is a very loaded Term

The Colorism thing works both ways, Just as there clear discrimination against dark skin blacks by blacks themselves and general society. There also a reverse of darker skin black having hostile to lighter or mix blacks. basically just as there weird prise of being light skined, there also this assumption if your light skin you think your better, or they would try to discredit or excluded light skin blacks from anything related black American culture and etc. I remember going to a forum online and they pretty much used to the "exotic" or "exoticals" to insult light skin blacks. basically saying they aren't black enough.

Any one light skin should not accept being call that, cause either your being praise or insulted for being light skin. Either or it's ridiculous

[wasel]

I've heard "exotic" used in a positive way to describe someone strikingly beautiful with unique features that are not just run-of-the-mill Caucasian or whatever.


Like I used to think when he was much younger, Dermot Mulroney had an "exotic" look about him, as if he could have been from Turkey or some other faraway land.


I woud love to be considered "exotic."

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by CMMom

I think I know what you mean. I've heard "exotic" used to describe people of color with light eyes. I remember people back in the day referring to Vanessa Williams (singer/former Miss America) as having an "exotic" look.

Originally Posted by Atlwarrior

Not a good word, my art teacher taught me exotic was a word use by white men who sexual viewed black women in a total sexual way with extra large body parts for their entertainment and enjoyment. We learned about this the word, exotic, before the feminist movement began and females demanded to be look at in not just a sexual way. This feminist movement was an awesome study, but the word exotic in its true sense ; for those who know history is not a positive portrayal of black women in the past.

Yes, light eyes is one of the things some people tend to see as exotic.



Yes, "exotic" used towards people has racist origins. Even when people today call certain places exotic, you can know that many of them are not just talking about the plants/animals, etc., of the country but also the people.

[DreamerD]

Originally Posted by wasel

I've heard "exotic" used in a positive way to describe someone strikingly beautiful with unique features that are not just run-of-the-mill Caucasian or whatever.


Like I used to think when he was much younger, Dermot Mulroney had an "exotic" look about him, as if he could have been from Turkey or some other faraway land.


I woud love to be considered "exotic."

I believe for some it might be considered good because when they are called exotic, they are not being objectified and made into something lesser than human.

[seussie]

Colorism is definitely a thing in Black communities. But, it is also an unspoken issue in many cultures throughout the world in which lighter carries certain contexts of privilege and darkness carries certain negative ideas. Then again it depends on "whose colorism." Darker can seem better than lighter, depending on the culture and background of someone- IE religious white tanners is just one quick and crude example. It's disappointing that we seem to only think about this when it comes to Black folk. But since you describe being in mostly white and/or black spaces DreamerD, I'd say I found more people in the South imply racial connotations (IE "mixed" is supposedly better, by both self-hating Black folk or pasty-hating White folk), whereas my social circles in Boston used exotic to describe a preference for Western and Central European Whites. It means lots of things by different people, but I also find that the two common denominators (when "exotic" is a problem) tend to be stated by people whose experiences with other cultures is provincial or by people who fetishize difference.

[CaliDreaming01]

Originally Posted by chiatldal

It is a very loaded Term

The Colorism thing works both ways, Just as there clear discrimination against dark skin blacks by blacks themselves and general society. There also a reverse of darker skin black having hostile to lighter or mix blacks. basically just as there weird prise of being light skined, there also this assumption if your light skin you think your better, or they would try to discredit or excluded light skin blacks from anything related black American culture and etc. I remember going to a forum online and they pretty much used to the "exotic" or "exoticals" to insult light skin blacks. basically saying they aren't black enough.

Any one light skin should not accept being call that, cause either your being praise or insulted for being light skin. Either or it's ridiculous

Yes this is such a good point and it's a shame. When you look back at history, so many light skinned blacks were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement. I think it can be harder for darker skinned blacks to accept that racism affects light skinned blacks just as badly because of resentment over the perceived advantages that in truth are only are only superficial. It must be hard to be fight so hard and care so much and not feeling accepted by the people you are fighting for and feel a kinship with.

I think light skinned blacks are in a unique position to speak out on racism and we all need to be coming together. I notice some biracial blacks are especially outspoken--I'm thinking of Colin Kaepernack (sp??)

[CaliDreaming01]

This has been such a great discussion....

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

If properly used, "exotic" is not offensive. If properly used..

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/exotic

Exactly.

I wonder if some people conflate "exotic" and "erotic"?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by wasel

I've heard "exotic" used in a positive way to describe someone strikingly beautiful with unique features that are not just run-of-the-mill Caucasian or whatever.


Like I used to think when he was much younger, Dermot Mulroney had an "exotic" look about him, as if he could have been from Turkey or some other faraway land.


I woud love to be considered "exotic."

I haven't heard it used much, but yes, it generally has a positive connotation. Unique, interesting and different in a positive way.

[CaliDreaming01]

Originally Posted by bu2

I haven't heard it used much, but yes, it generally has a positive connotation. Unique, interesting and different in a positive way.

Yeah, it's positive, but it's kind of like describing a black person as articulate. It's based in stereotypes. It can be a stereotype about what it means to look American or black or what-have-you. It's pretty much saying "you don't look like us" or "you don't look like them". Depending on who you're talking to, it can be a compliment or it can be an insult.