Re: Black henna is low class?!

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: : Yes, racism is not unique to any one place - there are many places : where "lighter" is considered "better" and its a sad comment on the : human race. My recent experience in morocco tends to back up the : perception of prejudice on the part of some people. : I have to say that I was surprised at some of the racism in Morocco : (silly, idealistic me!). The lighter skinned people looking down on : the darker skinned people, calling them slaves. My husband is dark by : Moroccan standards and so is considered less beautiful (I couldn't : disagree more!) and then when he arrived here he didn't feel black : anymore because he was so much lighter than most american blacks. : Racism shows itself in Morocco in other ways, especially between Arabs : and Berbers. It appears to me that many Moroccans I met wouldn't admit : that they were Berber. Arabs and Berbers intermarried so much over : the centuries that it is really no longer possible to distinguish : between them. There is a resurgence of Berberism...pride in being : Berber, teaching Berber languages and cultures in schools, : broadcasting the news in the various Berber languages. : : However, there is also an AWARENESS on the part of many henna : artists I spoke with in Morocco that the "black" henna with its : additional harsh ingredients is not beneficial because of health, not : racism. One henna artist (with very dark skin) explained to me her : amazement that someone could take a natural, nutritious plant like : henna and ruin it's healthful properties by the addition of harmful : ingredients. She did feel that the use of black henna was a "low : class" thing, but again, because of the ignorance of the harmful : ingredients, not because of race. : I agree with you about attitudes about black henna in Morocco. I don't : think i have ever seen black henna anywhere in Morocco, altho I saw : some really dark henna in the Sahara (but not black - probably just : pumped up with kerosene). For the most part they leave henna as it : is, adding only natural stuff like lemon and cloves. : : Fortunately I also met many people in Morocco who were decidedly : anti-racist and i have to say that overall, Morocco is far less racist : than some places I have lived (ie Arizona!) : : The perception that henna is for ignorant country people seems to : have been more prevalent perhaps a few years ago. People today are : aware of the renaissance of interest in henna in the western world, : too, and it has renewed a lot of pride in our beautiful art. And I : witnessed first hand a vital interest in henna in both "upper" and : "lower" classes. : : : Just ran across the following in one of the back alleys of this : site, : : : in a discussion of the history of henna: : : : "In this day and age, women of all socio-economic status get henna : : : designs of latice and flowers for weddings. The bride and bride's : : : mother getting the most intricate work. Black henna is avoided : : : because that would indicate you have dark skin, and in Morocco : mid- : : : colored skin is considered the most beautiful (not to dark lest : you : : : be a worker, not to light least you be european). It is true that : : : some moroccons do not get the work done because they want to : appear : : : more "modern" but this is a rare case. " : : : Seems avoidance of black henna has traditions elsewhere...and also : : : has a racist tinge! : : : From my travels in Morocco I can attest to this attitude. Most : women : : : seemed to prefer the red-brown color. The only place I saw really : : : really dark (almost black) henna was in the Sahara, where the : women : : : have darker skin for the most part. And there is definitely the : : : attitude among many Morocca

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