Tuesday, February 16, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Panel debates perceptions of skin color
By Dan Curry
Kansan staff write
Taking her daughter to buy a Barbie, brought the issues of color and beauty into focus for one African-American KU student.
From left: Melissa Emerson, Tapeka freshman; Shyra McGee, Wichita junior; Lumah Brown, Kansas City, Mo., senior; Julius Williams, assistant director of the Office of Minority Affairs; and Dion Jonis, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, senior; discuss African-American perceptions of beauty and color. The debate was held last night at the Burge Union and attended by more than 40 people. Photo by Erin McElhinney/KANSAN
"She didn't want the darker one," said Kim Moore, Lawrence sophmore. "She wanted the white one because she said it was more beauti-ful."
Moore was one of 40 people who attended a panel discussion last night at the Daisy Hill Room in the Burge Union that discussed African-American perceptions of beauty and color.
Tamara Lewis, assistant director at the Office of Minority Affairs, who conducted the debate, said that the panel consisted of African Americans of all hues, and all were beautiful.
Lewis said that her childhood experiences at home had influenced her perception of beauty.
"I got conditioned to think that only light-skinned women were beautiful," she said.
Panelist Julius Williams, assistant director at the Office of Minority Affairs, said he had a parallel experience growing up in Little Rock, Ark.
"It was very evident that light-skinned people had an advantage in our immediate family," Williams said.
But light-skinned African Americans didn't have it easy either, Williams said.
"In the '60s, when Black became beautiful, lighter-skinned people developed a complex aboot their beauty." Williams said.
Melissa Emerson, Topeka freshman and panelist, said that because of her lighter-toned skin she was pressured
to prove her African-American identity.
She said she felt as if she had to go to Black Student Union meetings so that people would know that she was Black.
But for Tashia Bradley, Orlando, Fla,
graduate student, the situation was
reversed because of her darker skin.
"I remember my mother saying, try to marry a light-skinned guy," Bradley said.
When her mother said this, she was implying that darker skinned individuals were inferior. Bradley said.
While the home is where many ideas of beauty are forged, the images of African Americans in the media also have a strong influence. The media still affects public perceptions of beauty, Lewis said.
Shyra McGee, Wichita junior, said that the media mattered, but it was time for parental influence in the home to take control of children's perceptions of beauty.
"5-2, 6-5 or 7-3. I look good," McGee said. "It is because of things my parents said to me when I was growing up. I think it's important to stop worrying about the media and to start investing in ourselves."
Student is resuming her life after accident
Continued from page 1A
Kay has had a few therapy sessions to help her with cognitive and memory problems caused by the injuries. She said that she also has had some problems with her short-term memory.
Kay is taking a class, Heroic and Archaic Ages of Ancient Greece, at KU this semester and has moved back into her apartment. She said that she was excited to get back into a regular routine.
"Ilike living in my apartment a lot better than living at home." Kaw said.
ter."
Zeddies said that she has been able to see the progress Kay had made.
She said that her class at KU had been going well and that she had returned to work at Granada.
She said that Kay's short-term memory was not perfect yet and that she repeated questions at times but that her overall improvement had been good.
"Her progress has been remarkable."
Zeddies said. "She seems to a lot bet-
Kay's father, Richard Kay, a retired KU professor of history, said that she had a seven-hour, neuro-psychological test at the Med Center last week to gauge her progress. He said that she was given a clear bill of health.
He said that Kay had to avoid rough sports for a few months but that overall her condition almost was back to normal.
"She seems to be miraculously recovered," he said, "Everyone we talk to seems to think this is the best possible case."
Richard Kay said that he and his wife were glad that Kay had been so successful in her recovery and that she was able to live on her own again and participate in activities she enjoyed.
"We're really pleased that she is back to normal," he said.
When judging whether a head injury patient would be able to recover like Kay had, Childs said that it was difficult to predict which patients would do well.
He said that it was not uncommon for a head-injury patient to recover but that it was equally common for such a patient not to recover.
He said that he had seen patients who remained in comas for four to five months and awoke completely coherent — not understanding why they were suddenly in a hospital.
Some patients, conversely, never recover their mental faculties.
Childs said that short-term memory was typically the last thing to be fully restored in head-injury patients, such as Kay. He said that this process could take months.
Despite the time and pain Kay has spent recovering, she said that she felt lucky.
Kay said that she was ready to move on from the accident and resume her life.
Childs said that in cases of severe
injury, patients could develop a type of post-traumatic stress brought on by their inability to remember their accident and by the constant reminders from those around them of how lucky they were to have survived.
Kay echoed Childs thoughts when summarizing her feelings about the accident: "I just want to be done with the accident and not have to think about it ever again."
Sgt. George T. Wheeler of the Lawrence Police Department said last week that the driver of the truck had not yet been formally charged in the case. He said that the accident investigation was ongoing. The driver reportedly had a green light through the intersection when Kay was hit.
Wheeler said that the report in the case would be sent to the Douglas County District Attorney's office before any action would be taken. He did not know how long this process would take.
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