Describing Skin Color

[rayrichardsauthor]

I have a question about writing skin color. I am currently editing a piece and the writer describes one of the female characters as "a dark skinned woman with braids". I normally don't care about describing a character's race because there are ways to do that aren't fetishizing and add to the story. But also, readers will all fan cast different people to fill the same role, so it doesn't super matter.

So that being said. Is describing her as a "dark-skinned woman with braids" offensive? Should I tell the writer to change it?

[bulgariansumo]

That sounds like a pretty neutral description to me. I wouldn't suggest changing it.

[Dadoche]

Yeah, I think it is fine. It only gets weird when you can feel that the author gets in his head about it.

[rayrichardsauthor]

Thank you! I wanted to get a second opinion before I moved forward with my recs

[Maki-08]

There's nothing offensive about the character's description. Its direct and plain. That being said, as an editor, I would encourage the writer to be more descriptive, especially if the character is integral to the narrative. Brown has a pretty broad spectrum of shades. What kind of brown is it? Is the character sallow? Is her skin chestnut? Chocolate? Ebony? Sand? Honey-brown?

Context is also important. Some people may find it offensive to be described as having chocolate-brown skin, but if this description is a source of pride for the character then it would be more offensive to deny them that.

[rayrichardsauthor]

Brown has a pretty broad spectrum of shades. What kind of brown is it? Is the character sallow? Is her skin chestnut? Chocolate? Ebony? Sand? Honey-brown?

See I've heard not to do this because some people find any reference to food and skin color offensive.

Context is also important.

There honestly isn't much context for the scene. Character A is watching a building and just describes two of the other characters going into the building. We're working on characterization in another session.

[IndigoShirtProd]

See I've heard not to do this because some people find any reference to food and skin color offensive.

I would second that.

Sure, there are worse ways to refer to someone of a deeper complexion, but there are also for sure better. But generally I would avoid food comparisons.

@rayrichardsauthor Maybe to add some spice, you could describe the types of braids the character has. Like, do they have box braids, cornrows, goddess braids? Are the braids actually twists? If they are tied up, how are they tied up? You know, there's plenty of details there you could expand on.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

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[Leyelle]

it's not offensive. i'm a black woman and we say dark skinned vs light skinned all the time. The problem is, people have very different ideas of dark skinned, so it's not going to give a clear idea. when I imagine dark skinned, I am imagining a woman with the complexion of dark chocolate (not saying to use that as a description, it's very over used), but some people consider anything darker than a blanched almond dark skinned, so her complexion might be that of caramel, peanut butter etc. it depends on how clear a mental image this author wants to create for their readers or whether they want to leave it open for interpretation

[Leyelle]

I would second that.

Sure, there are worse ways to refer to someone of a deeper complexion, but there are also for sure better. But generally I would avoid food comparisons.

I don't consider a food comparison offensive, just generally bland. Chocolate brown specifically is used so often it's basically a cliche, whether it's accurate or not, since it's the quintessential shade used for a black person's skin. But "cinnamon skin" or "peanut butter candy" are descriptions i've used myself.

[IndigoShirtProd]

I don't consider a food comparison offensive, just generally bland

To each their own. It's not as though something that offends one person from a minority group is going to offend everyone from that group. The thing is, there has been a history of fetishization of black people and having your skin tone compared to food seems to be a leftover part of that. I personally think it's a little strange and would avoid doing it in literature, but it's not as though some people would use to describe themselves or others.

[rayrichardsauthor]

Thanks everyone for the insight.

[AliceTuinz]

You could use the most poetic description, or the most simple and straightforward one, you'll still find a crowd that takes offense. So focus more on the intention behind the description, and the respect with which the character is portrayed ( make sure they're not just there to check a mark, that they are represented correctly, etc). That being said, I think the description is just fine, and in my opinion people tend to take more offense if you use 'chocolate' or other such comparisons.

[kyupol]

I don't think it's offensive. I'd say the same thing if I was describing a person I'm looking for

[Leyelle]

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[IndigoShirtProd]

Food descriptions are used in the Song of Songs, in some French versions of Cinderella she is described as having cheeks like a peach and lips as red as cherries. I've seen women being described as milk white in old literature as

While I don't disagree with you, I hope you can appreciate that that same framing can be insidious. For women too, but especially for black people. You can play it off as a historically common writing trope, and that's fine, but others, including myself, find some discomfort in it. Not saying you can't do it, or that you entirely shouldn't, just to be cognizant some of the implications.

[Leyelle]

I don't disagree that it might have been used in a negative context by some people, but I personally think, in the context of literature at least, that it has less to do with the ethnicity of the person. And those who find it uncomfortable are free to, it's not inherently invalid, and no one is forcing anyone to use it or read works that include it if they don't like it. There will be implications for literally anything anyone does at this point, so what matters most is intent. What I'm worried about is telling writers that they inherently shouldn't use food analogies when there are also many many people of color who find them complimentary rather than offensive.

again, it depends on the writer/speaker's intent, and some people may find it offensive, but nearly all compliments are highly subjective and depend on context.

[simpleSH29]

This helped me with writing skin color. Very informative and helpful.

https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/post/96830966357/words-for-skin-tone-how-to-describe-skin-color

[Maki-08]

To add to @Leyelle's comment. It is not only about the writer’s intent. It is also about what is consistent with a character’s personality, the relationship dynamic between characters, their arc, and much more.

Imagine yourself writing a slice of life where a father calls his daughter “Little cinnamon” or “Princess Cinnamon” because she looks like her mother, and he loves how his wife’s skin glows like cinnamon in the sunset. This shows a character’s love for his family and the type of relationship they have. To erase the parts of his character because it offends some readers erases the nuances in the human experience.

As writers, our job is to show nuance and to create an environment where the reader can freely explore and challenge ideas. Sanitizing writing to the point it sounds more like a beauty store’s foundation colour pallet is not going to do anyone any favours. Least of all the audience.

TL;DR Write character the way they want to be written. Allow their personas to drive the plot and to inform the language they use.

[Leyelle]

I 100% agree, my Latina MC is referring to her sweetheart's complexion as being like peanut butter candy out of affection, not any kind of exoticism. It would come off as creepy if a stranger dwelt on someone's skin at all in any way lol