FTN: US Prez Obama brings blacks in spotlight

For years Blacks have been discriminated against. But now that change has come to America with Barack Obama being elected as the US President. "Black" music, fashion and style and cultural implications are being perceived as dignified, high class and an ideal of beauty. With Barack and Michelle Obama being called the new 'it' couple, the cultural implications of the Obama presidency have put the black identity in the spotlight.

With Obamas in the spotlight, panelists on CNN-IBN's Face The Nation debated: Is black finally beautiful?

The panel included author and academic Kancha Ilaiah; radio jockey and actor, Tarana Kapoor; Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair, Marie Brenner and art critic S Kalidas.

Black is back?

Kalidas began the debate by referring to cultural history; he said Black was always beautiful in all its dimensions.

"Black has always been beautiful. The problem was weather you looked at Black from an Anglo Saxon point of view, you saw him as Othello or you saw him has Krishna or Kali. The demonisation (SIC) of Black is highly Anglo Saxon," said Kalidas.

Marie was asked if Michelle Obama has become a standard of beauty as Jacqueline Kennedy was. She said the Obamas have influenced the country in a drastic way and Michelle is being seen as an icon for fashion and beauty.

"America is being transformed by the Obamas, the same way it was transformed by the Kennedys. At last we have a young dynamic couple and it’s remarkable to see their influence in the first couple of days in Washington," said Marie.

When asked if she sees White women looking up to Michelle Obama as a fashion or cultural role model, she said America has transformed its culture and don’t refer to one’s race.

"The very fact that on the Inauguration, Obama was able to introduce himself as Barack Hussein Obama speaks volumes of the mood of the country," she said.

Art and Colour

The Obamas have also drastically influenced America and gained popularity. But will their popularity fundamentally change something for the Black artists, performers and models?

Kalidas said in a democracy power attracts money, which patronises art and culture and with Obamas exuberating power, the Black artists and culture will get a boost and will largely benefit from it.

"In the next six months, we are going to see a rash of Black, models, painters, poets and artists making it to the headlines," he said.

Taking the debate further, Illahiah was asked if India needs to change its depiction of Gods and Goddesses to get over the White skin complex? He said India needs religious reforms along with the civil society and the support of education system to change this mindset.

India: Skin deep

Saying the Indian mindset on standard of beauty still stuck on lighter skin colour, Tarana thought Indians were still regressive when it came to dark skin.

"Unfortunately, it is still the norm of our country that one would find matrimonial ads asking for fair, beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen," said Tarana.

Tarana also said that Indians like Obama because he represents change and not because he’s Black. "He is intelligent, articulate and somebody that we could look up to and that is why Indians like him," she said.

Illaiah said that India and America were culturally diverse. Though the US has now been culturally transformed, India continues with its mindset, "America has now been transformed for White beauty to Black beauty," he said.

Coming back to the concept of fair being considered beautiful in India, Tarana was asked why is it that a Black or dusky woman in India would rather be considered a sex symbol than just an ideal of beauty?

Referring to the Indian fashion industry and Bollywood, Tarana said that there is a mindset that when it comes to beauty and style fair skin is still preferred in India.

"We can accept brown skin people as our leaders, but when we want style we look towards fair skin," she said.

To which Kalidas replied that the concept of fair being beautiful has come from the West, "Once the West changes its attitude, Bollywood will as well."

Illaiah was asked if he thought that it’s the countries that have gone through Colonialism that venerate White skin. Illaiah said it isn’t just Colonialism but also the Indian history, which has played a major role in cultivating this mindset.

"It’s not just Colonialism. Before Colonialism the Aryan physique, which defined beauty, was of reddish skin and dark hair. That became the standard norm before Colonialism came in," he said.

Though the mindset of fair is beautiful and dark or dusky represents sexuality does exist in India, Tarana also thought that with actresses like Konkona Sen Sharma and Nandita Das times are changing. And with the multiplex, parallel cinema movement; dark skin could be considered a role model of style and beauty in times to come.

The debate concluded on a hopeful note: While white skin has been the ideal of beauty, style and dignity in the past, times have changed and with Barack and Michelle Obama’s influence and impact. Black indeed is beautiful.

Results of the Web/SMS poll: Obamas in the spotlight: Is black finally beautiful?

Yes: 75 per cent

No: 25 per cent

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#Face the Nation #Barack Obama