Apparently, Using Food to Describe Skin Tone is Racist?

[Inspector_Spinda]

“Ms. Smith had skin the color of caramel.”

“The girl brought her coffee-colored hands to her face in wonder.”

Well fair I guess. I think it's one of those things I personally wouldn't do just because it's not something I would think to just naturally, but I wouldn't blink if someone else did it.

"Her skin was the color of a poorly plastered wall."

^^ slightly off topic, but I think it's funny.

[foxnflames]

I’m sure someone out there has said it. Also found these examples on how this particular writer describes POC

Describing characters of color in writing

[IndigoShirtProd]

I've heard "milky white" and "chocolate brown" used to describe skin tones before. Is it really, ahem,

Problematic?

It doesn't seem that offensive, at least to me.

[Inspector_Spinda]

fair but the first one was personally bizarre "Shanghainese and dignified"

that is... new and frankly dont know if i like it.

[foxnflames]

That one threw me off too I was like um....mkay

[miss.monocle]

From what I've heard, the use of food as a descriptor of skin tones (for POC) has roots in fetishization and it can also feel dehumanizing. I have definitely read more examples of food being used as a descriptor for characters of color than for white characters. I also would have to assume it just feels like a tired and overused trope from white writers who may not even listen to the stories of POC to influence their stories.

It's one of those things where you can do it if you want, but some people are going to dislike it and find it offensive. That can be confusing to a lot of white people (I speak in general as some on here are not), but it also isn't something white people encounter as much in writing, nor do they live with the ramifications it can have in the real world (i.e. fetishizing especially with black women).

[Inspector_Spinda]

I think a better way to describe it is that it just feels a bit sleazy. Like imagine being "Her skin was like vanilla ice cream and soft as a baby's butt."

[foxnflames]

if I read that I’d probably die laughing

[miss.monocle]

Oh god not that video! Yeah, I think food descriptors work best if you're writing dialogue for an asshole who is a sleazy douche haha

[Inspector_Spinda]

thanks im here all week

[Aims]

I don't think it's racist, because I don't think anybody does it with the intent of being racist or of offending anyone, and honestly I think I makes it easier for readers who don't have a rich knowledge of colors and color variations, but it's still really overdone and cliche...

[alexlcuri07]

I feel... I don't.... The sense of violation I have from watching that is immense. XD

[indagold]

I've seen it being used actually by poc people...on dating sites... looking for hookups.

I guess it works if you want to be as lecherous and sleazy as possible lol

[Inspector_Spinda]

I don't think it's racist, because I don't think anybody does it with the intent of being racist or of offending anyone, and honestly I think I makes it easier for readers how don't have a rich knowledge of color and color variations, but it's still really overdone and cliche...

I see what you mean. I don't know what to tell ya. Sometime doing the good thing is complicated. That's why I also think it's important, whoever we are do take things in good faith. If a black character is good overall it may be something we just need to take on the cheek. All I can say is that it does feel a bit "off" to me even though I'm not black, but I get other people may have a different level of sensitivity. It's a weird issue.

[IndigoShirtProd]

Never considered the fetishization angle. Now I can understand how a descriptor like that can bring someone down to level of food; to only be gawked at and consumed. I never really use those words to describe skin tone specifically so it never really crossed my mind.

[miss.monocle]

It hadn't crossed my mind until after a couple years of me using those sorts of lines in writing, so I don't really blame writers who don't know why it can be offensive. It's just one of those cases where a lot of people don't know and I'm sure don't mean the offense behind it. Though however pure the intention, it is still up to the affected communities to interpret it. Some people might not care, others may not like it. The best we can do is just listen to such communities and realize when we've made a writing goof like that.

It also just sounds way better when using other descriptors, but I'm also a firm believer in addressing only very particular features rather than just always restating the colors of characters.

[IndigoShirtProd]

For me personally, I usually only bring up race/skin color when a character is first being introduced or if it's relevant to a scene. I'd rather rely on other physical features to convey story, like the eye. Eyes are great for conveying emotion. And plus there are only a few cases where a character's skin is important to a story.

[joannekwan]

Here's an excerpt from the first article post I linked above:

But POC call each other…

Folks can’t do what POC do amongst each other, particularly what’s done within their race. I can call myself a delicious brown sugar honeycomb (okay I wouldn’t) and that’s my prerogative as a Black woman.

The whole “he wants that chocolate” line has even been jokingly passed between my Black friends and I as well. But obviously conversational jokes are not the same as a writer describing their character as such. And again, within circles…

It's kind of like the N word. People who aren't Black shouldn't use it despite its prevalent usage within the Black community.

Like, as an Asian person I sometimes joke with my white spouse and ask him if he ever had "yellow fever" (he hasn't, btw). It's that intimacy and knowledge between him and I that lets me feel comfortable enough to joke around with the term.
But if a stranger randomly told me they have 'yellow fever', I would immediately get creeped out and run because to me it would seem that they have a fetishistic view of Asians and are ignorant enough to use the term so casually.

[miss.monocle]

I usually like to add in the skin tones just so the reader is aware. I want readers to know that they are represented, as there are issues in fandom where people will debate more the skin colors of ambiguous characters, which can really lead to some racist encounters. But, since I am white myself, I usually like to have that representation, but I don't make it the whole character. I also don't try to make the story about race or bring elements of other races in unless I do a lot of research or consult others who are a part of such race. That way any rep is accurate and such characters aren't just tokens. Such rep can be pretty important, just like I enjoy when a character's sexuality is very clear but not all encompassing of their character.

[IndigoShirtProd]

This this right here.