Beauty Standards In The Media

Beauty Standards
“So i’ma say somethin that’s vital and critical for survival of mankind, if he lyin’, color should never rival Beauty is what make it, i used to be so mistaken By different shades of faces” (citation). As explained in the lyrics from the song “Complexion” By Kendrick Lamar, people are divided based on their complexion. Beauty standards are based on someone’s skin color; if you do not have certain attributes you are considered ugly. In Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, a young African American girl growing up in the 1940’s named Pecola longs for the blue eyes she sees in the media. She wishes for these eyes because she believes that they will make her beautiful, and her life will fall accordingly. Beauty Standards

In the 1960’s the black is beautiful movement had begun to emerge as it represented african culture such as heritage and black beauty. But in the 1950’s before the movement was made advertisements would try to change what african americans look like by avoiding their natural beauty and trying to make them fit society’s standards. “Black models were most often featured in advertisements for hair straightening tools and skin bleaching creams that would enable consumers to better conform to the Eurocentric beauty standards that dominated American society at the time” (citation) as explained by the article “Origins of Movement and Eurocentrism” (Author Unknown) these products were advertised and likely used by many african american women, bleaching was very popular because it was as if it were mandatory to be lighter so they could fit in and as to also feel pretty but skin bleaching causes harmful effects such as skin thinning, skin cancer, and different colored spots, ETC. most african americans at the time were getting fed up of the beauty standards so they took a stand and made the black is beautiful movement, changing many perceptions of society concepts and incorporating black beauty. As people such as Morrison and famous rapper Kendrick Lamar inspire young african americans that no matter the

Today we have people that many look up to as people like Morrison and kendrick lamar spark the conversation of of beauty standards and civil rights. These people of great works of art were and are tired of the beauty standards set that don't incorporate other cultures led them to create certain works of art to make more people aware of these situations so people can help these movements. It's not just beauty that affects many but it's also if someone do a certain action they would get in trouble and be treated unfairly.“If I’m tried in a court of law, if the industry cut me off If the government want me dead, plant cocaine in my car Would you judge me a drug kid or see me as K. Lamar Or question my character and degrade me on every blog”(citation) Lyrics of “Mortal man” by Kendrick lamar explains that if he was to do something wrong he would immediately face consequences or even if it were staged. Artist like kendrick always show how beauty doesn't matter and it shouldn't that you face greater consequences just because of your