The most gorgeous black man in the world

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The most gorgeous black man in the world

Mon Jan 24th 2011 by abagond

Here are the ten most gorgeous black men in the world who are famous enough to have an article in the Wikipedia. See below for how the list was produced.

Idris Elba

1. Idris Elba (1972- ) is a British actor. He was in “The Wire” on American television from 2002 to 2004. His father was from Sierra Leone, his mother from Ghana.

Boris Kodjoe

2. Boris Kodjoe (1973- ) is an Austrian-American actor. He was on the American television show “Soul Food”. His father is from Ghana, his mother from Germany.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

3. Chiwetel Ejiofor (1974- ) is a British actor best known for playing the lead in “Dirty Pretty Things” (2002). He was born in London to Igbo parents from Nigeria.

Barack Obama

4. Barack Obama (1961- ) is the current American president. His father was a Luo from Kenya, his mother was a white from Kansas.

Tyson Beckford

5. Tyson Beckford (1970- ) is an American model for Ralph Lauren, now turned actor. He is part Chinese and Jamaican.

Blair Underwood

6. Blair Underwood (1964- ) is an American actor. He was on the television show “L.A. Law” from 1987 to 1994.

Shemar Moore

7. Shemar Moore (1970- ) is an American actor best known for playing Malcolm Winters on the television soap opera “The Young and the Restless” from 1994 to 2002.

Djimon Hounsou

8. Djimon Hounsou (1964- ), born in Benin, became a model in Paris and then an actor in Holllywood. He played Cinque in “Amistad” (1997) and later appeared in “In America” (2003) and “Blood Diamonds” (2006). In 2009 he had a son by Kimora Lee Simmons.

Maxwell

9. Maxwell (1973- ) is an American R&B singer, best known for the songs “Fortunate” (1999) and “Pretty Wings” (2009). His father is from Puerto Rico, his mother from Haiti. He is who I voted for.

Michael Jackson

10. Michael Jackson (1958-2009) was an American singer, the King of Pop. His “Thriller” (1982) became the best selling album of all time.

Honourable mentions: Will Smith, Will Demps, TJ Holmes, Denzel Washington, The Rock, Morris Chestnut, Reggie Bush, Prince, Taye Diggs, Mos Def, Bob Marley.

How I made the list: I had five days of open nominations on my blog followed by 12 days of an online poll. Commenters were allowed any number of nominations and seconds, but voters could only vote for one man. There were 405 nominations and seconds for 190 different men. All those who were at least fourthed made it into the poll: 30 men. The poll got 356 votes.

I have already done posts on Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Idris Elba and Boris Kodjoe. I will do posts on the remaining six, one a week starting next week.

Men who did worse than expected (made the top ten in nominations but not in votes):

Denzel Washington
Lenny Kravitz
Michael Ealy
Bob Marley

Those who did better than expected (not among the top ten nominated):

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Tyson Beckford
Shemar Moore
Michael Jackson

Thank you to everyone who took part (even if your favourite lost)!

See also:

Posted in stuff | 229 Comments

229 Responses

on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 20:00:20 Mira

Finally! I thought you forgot about the list.

My favourite (Blair Underwood) made it to top 10, so I’m happy. Can’t wait for a post on him.

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 20:15:27 jas0nburns

Stringer Bell FTW!

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 20:36:08 medium

go idris with your gorgeous self just fine
dijmon you too
o blair you could get it
obama you manly manly daddy o

the rest we need to vote over

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 22:12:44 Usagi

No, Lenny Kravtiz. Bah, they’re too clean looking. Still wish slash was one of choices.

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 22:17:45 Oyan

Awesome list; not many ‘blk Americans’. Surprised to see Michael Jackson on the list. Definitely drool worthy!!! I love all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 22:20:22 bigWOWO

Wow, I thought Denzel would do much better than that. Back in the day, he was always on people’s informal lists. But I guess his time has somewhat passed.

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 22:24:40 bigWOWO

Also, Shemar Moore is on Criminal Minds. He’s on ION Channel like every single night for like four hours during prime time. He gets more media coverage than most of the other guys on this list just because of that. He should run for higher office since he’s got the face time already.

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 22:30:41 Mira

Lenny Kravitz is very attractive (at least to me), but there’s just something about Blair’s eyes that I find fascinating. I mainly voted for him because of his eyes. They are so beautiful.

As for Slash, I was thinking on nominating him, but after much consideration, I decided not to. I like him mainly because of his music and playing style, not because of his physical appearance. But I must say (again): that man’s lower lip is PERFECT. I mean, perfect!

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 23:27:58 Zaire...

Yeah! Shemar-mar made it !!! I voted for him! AWESOMENESS!
He’s on Criminal Minds, it’s in its 6th Season! This season is not that great BUT seeing his face is like ecstasy. He is so sexy that smile kills me EVERY single time.
My first choice was Idris BUT I knew that he did not need my help! 🙂 Tempting piece of dark chocolate!
Ooh and Blair Underwood, goodness! There NO words. None.

I’m surprised at Djimon -_- No really, I am…out of everyone on the poll he really is not attractive to me. Not even a little. I’m half Congolese (from the D.R.C., ex-Zaire) and men like him are regular Joes! I mean he has great teeth and a great build. That’s really all there is too him, to me. Most Africans have great builds and teeth over there and very beautiful dark even-toned skin. He’s just so average…

I used to be all for Tyson…but something over the years changed. He just isn’t “it” anymore.

President Obama…is a fine man. Really, First Lady Michelle has it good. Did u see his body pics on the beach….well..;)

All the other look great as well!
Also, I have NEVER considered The Rock black….even looking at him, I always thought he was a native or a Polynesian or from the islands or something. I did not know he was part black Nova Scotian…weird.

@Mira…I still dont see Slash as black because I just don’t see it since he’s soooo white BUT it’s true his bottom lip is PERFECT! He has a certain charm!

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on Thu Jan 27th 2011 at 23:54:29 Mira

Zaire,

True. That man’s lower lip is art. I fell in love with it when I was about 12. (But hey, it was the only part of his face you could see circa 1993). Oh, and there was his gorgeous hair.

Also, I have no idea how he identifies himself, but he doesn’t see himself as white, and, if Obama is eligible for this list, or Bob Marley, Slash should be eligible, too. (But I agree, it does open many issues regarding race and how to put people in racial categories).

PS-I never saw him as being “too white”. I mean, he is really light skinned, but I knew he was part black right from the start. I don’t know how (I usually can’t tell… I thought Kirk Hammett was part black, too, but he’s half Filipino).

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:24:55 FG

“Also, I have no idea how he identifies himself, but he doesn’t see himself as white, and, if Obama is eligible for this list, or Bob Marley, Slash should be eligible, too. (But I agree, it does open many issues regarding race and how to put people in racial categories).

PS-I never saw him as being “too white”. I mean, he is really light skinned, but I knew he was part black right from the start. I don’t know how (I usually can’t tell… I thought Kirk Hammett was part black, too, but he’s half Filipino).”

If mixed people, even mixed people with pretty much imperceptible African ancestry, can be put on the “black” list, shouldn’t they also be eligible for the “white” list too? If not, why not? It seems to me these lists are a subtle way of helping to maintain hypodescent/racialist dogmas. They cleavage the population into discrete segments and shove mixed people to one side of them.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:33:50 FG

If being “black” has nothing to do with physical appearance whatsoever, maybe it would be a good idea to send autosomal DNA tests to Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, and others. If they show 1% African Admixture, they too can be put on the black list!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:46:24 fan2010

I only sometimes participate on this blog – and I didn’t participate at all in this poll but I am so glad that Idris Elba is #1.

As someone with one parent born in Sierra Leone I would just like to take this moment to say “Sierra Leonean’s” do it better.

I’m going to make that phrase stick.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:55:41 leigh204

Oooh, three of my faves made it: Blair, Boris, and Shemar. *woot*

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:56:33 King

@ fan2010

“Sierra Leonean’s do it better.”

Doesn’t exactly slide off the tongue does it?

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:57:14 Herneith

Come on now FG. If I knew what you looked like, I would have nominated you. You sound cute!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 00:59:14 Herneith

Doesn’t exactly slide off the tongue does it?

Is that a dirty insinuation? If so carry on!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:22:34 Mira

FG,

If mixed people, even mixed people with pretty much imperceptible African ancestry, can be put on the “black” list, shouldn’t they also be eligible for the “white” list too?

Yes, if mixed people can be put on one race list, they should be eligible for another race, too.

Herneith,

We forgot to mention FG, though I don’t think he’s eligible: he doesn’t have an article on Wikipedia (does he?)

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:23:49 leigh204

I thought FG was a woman?

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:37:46 FG

“If I knew what you looked like, I would have nominated you. You sound cute!”

“I thought FG was a woman?”

Hmmm … something about my writing style?

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:49:10 FG

“We forgot to mention FG, though I don’t think he’s eligible: he doesn’t have an article on Wikipedia (does he?)”

Well it seems like about half of these guys come from a similar social background, so it may be appropriate. Maybe I do have a wikipedia page. You never know 😉

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:53:22 Mira

Admit it, FG, you are one of these guys! If you’re Obama, can I have an exclusive interview with you? And if you’re Blair Underwood… Never mind.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 01:57:34 FG

I am most certainly male, and heterosexual at that. For the record, I would nominate Mira as the most beautiful Slavic woman without a doubt!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 02:28:39 FG

“Also, I have no idea how he identifies himself, but he doesn’t see himself as white, and, if Obama is eligible for this list, or Bob Marley, Slash should be eligible, too. (But I agree, it does open many issues regarding race and how to put people in racial categories).”

I guess there will always be disagreement over whether a particular mixed person looks black, looks white, or looks neither. I’m just a little bit sensitive to the labeling of people who to me look ambiguous or white (like Slash) as “black” because this practice has been used extensively as a weapon to de-legitimize light-complexioned mixed individuals. If you pay careful attention, you’ll notice that whenever a near-white mixie gains prominence (like when Jennifer Beals starred in Flashdance), suddenly accusations start flying that they succeeded by covering up their background. Furthermore, light mixed people are accused of “passing” for merely interacting with white people without any evidence that they conceal their ancestry. So this sort of labeling has an ugly past, reflecting much ill-will to predominantly white people of African descent.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 02:34:54 leigh204

@FG:

I honestly don’t know why I thought you were a woman. I figured you were once since the majority of commenters here (I assume) were female. D’oh! My apologies. 😀

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 03:37:17 Herneith

I am most certainly male, and heterosexual at that.

I figured as much, but how cute are you?

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 04:13:27 Mel

I love that Chiwetel made it. I’d prefer to see him at number 1, but whatever.

I still don’t know the appeal of Djimon.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 07:16:40 lil'vina

Well I am glad that Michael made the top ten because he was my first vote. Glad that Blair is also on here. So sexy.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 08:24:46 Aiyo

It didn’t not surprise me in the slightest that Idris came number 1

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 11:25:18 Mira

leigh,

Is there a way I could contact you? I have some questions about Canada, and I don’t have anybody else to ask. (If other Canadians here are willing to help, I would be more than thankful).

FG,

Thanks! Though I wouldn’t call myself a typical Slavic woman (I’m too short and too curvy for that).

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 11:26:28 Eurasian Sensation

Nice to see that there’s a lot of dark-skinned guys. Half the list is African or part-African.

That’s not exactly the best photo of Djimon. There’s plenty out there that capture a better side of him. I’m surprised he made it so high, but nonetheless, he’s got a certain something.

Slash is not on this list because no-ones ever seen his whole face! On top of that, he’s not particularly good looking. I agree about his bottom lip though, it’s pretty impressive.

The big winner in this poll: the Ghanaian diaspora!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 11:35:33 Mira

I’m just a little bit sensitive to the labeling of people who to me look ambiguous or white (like Slash) as “black” because this practice has been used extensively as a weapon to de-legitimize light-complexioned mixed individuals.

I believe Slash sees himself as mixed, or close to it. He did mention he’s neither white nor black, and that, while growing up, he was “too black for whites and too white for blacks”.

He was born in England but he grew up in America with his (black) mother’s family. It’s interesting to note he got interested in rock music with the help of his mother (who was a costume designer for many musicians, including David Bowie, who she dated for a while).

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 11:45:36 mrbootyluver

I think the addition of that white faced monkey now deceased MJ throws your list into disrepute and is a slap in the face for all those Black men on the list to have that paedo freak at no.10. Are u mad? What did MJ do after Thriller that made you proud of him.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 12:16:23 sam

My humble opinion is this: if Michael Jackson is there, why the hell Muhammed Ali is not? He was not only one hell of fighter but also raised political hell too. “No vietcong has ever hurt me”.

And on that note: who else feels sorry about the state of the heavyweight boxing today?

Pitifull, I’d say. Look at what kind of guys were in top then back in 1970 example. And look at the guys of today. It says something when Big George was able to make a come back at the age of fortyfive. In his prime he could have whupped all these present day daffodils up to Alaska at least. Not to mention Smokin Joe who would’ve gone on so hard that these boys of today would be in need of a understanding audinece. Ken Norton, George Chuvalo, Cleveland Williams, and many many more…

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 13:44:50 Gen

Chiwetel made top three wooot! I’m happy!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 14:45:44 Di

Lots of dark skinned guys which is good. I wonder, if gender was reversed would a similar poll put dark skinned women at the top?

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 14:48:17 Di

One has to wonder who the voters were though..something fishy about certain people doing unexpectedly well.
I have heard of online groups who urge people to vote for a certain cause/person etc; usually with success.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 17:49:39 ge

mrbootylover: What have YOU done in your life that would make someone proud of you? Have you achieved even a fraction of what Michael Jackson did? I rest my case. Oh, and that ‘white faced monkey’ was a beautiful black man back in the day.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 17:59:25 BleuParfum

A man whose face was bleached and pancaked as white as porcelain (yeah, yeah, I heard about the autopsy report too– if MJ actually had vitiligo, he could have worn brown make-up to cover up the white patches rather than going completely white through the aid of Benoquin and other chemicals); had his nosed repeatedly sliced and diced until it was an upturned point that needed to be taped down; had a hole gouged into his chin in a vain attempt to look manly; wore a straight-haired wig, had black eyeliner, eye brow coloring, facial hair and pink lip coloring tatooed on his face came very close to winning “The most gorgeous black in the world” poll. LOL

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:01:08 BleuParfum

The poll was about looks alone–not talent, personality, or charitable acts.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:15:05 Jeri

@Di
Would a similar poll put darkskinned women at the top? I think you and I know the answer to that question. Probably not. It’s possible. But more than likely not. I can see a man like Abagond including alot of darkerskinned women on his list but I am not so sure that Abagond represents most men’s sentiments. I have seen Abagond lists and I remember his “Black beauty of the day” post. He was pretty fair in my opinion, having a good mixture of dark and lightskinned women, with the majority of the women being brownskinned or darker. I remember some women having a problem with his lists, especially his “The Most Beautiful Black Brazilian Women” list. He had a few mixed race women on the list. But I was satisfied because he had some very dark women on that list as well. No biggie right? But if you were to poll a huge group of men, with the majority of them being black, I have a bad feeling that the majority of the women (probably 75%) chosen in the poll would be lightskinned.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:19:37 Llama

Crap. Lenny Kravitz should have made that list. Oh, well. I voted for Maxwell so I’m glad to see him up there.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:19:38 Jeri

I would be satisfied with a poll where 60% of the women of the women chosen were darker and 40 % lighterskinned, like the men chosen in this poll. But I have a feeling that would not happen. I still think that a “beautiful black woman” is still a lighterskinned black woman in many men’s eyes. That is sad but true.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:21:53 Jeri

I mean’t to say that 60% of the women chosen were darker and 40% of the women lighterskinned. Sorry for the error.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:40:08 Jeri

@MrBootyLuver and Blue Parfum

Like I mentioned before, he had that skin disease and it could have caused him to have some serious issues about his appearance. Do either one of you know what it is like to feel that your appearance is permanently ruined because of something you can’t control? And then to feel this way while constantly being in the public limelight? He was still a brilliant entertainer and yes, he was extremely gorgeous back in the day. Despite his problems, I still love MIchael and I am glad that we gave Michael his small tribute. He deserves it!!

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 18:59:15 piscesgirl

@BleuParfum
Listen weather you like it or not mj made the list so it’s safe to say alot of people disagree with you. Mj was a beautiful black man wether you like it or not. He was always a beautiful black man wether he had white skin or dark skin, big nose or small nose, so get over yourself.

<[IMG]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad28/Brittanypwns/Young%20Micheal/2991849jpg3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy75/pashby_2009/MJ-michael-jackson-18469302-500-644.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/Loriqc/Intherain.gif[/IMG]

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 19:37:46 piscesgirl

@BleuParfum

my other links didnt work, here are more link of this beautiful black man.

You act like he got ugly after his skin and nose changed, he didnt. The main reason he look out of the ordinary in the early to mid 00’s was because of stress, drastic weight loss and the fact that he was experience a lupus flare at that time

And as for his makeup, you need to do research before you talk, michael wore BROWN makeup form the late 70’s( when the vitiligo started) to the late 80’s early 90’s even though he was mostly white by the late 80’s. Which is why he has a caramel type complexion in the bad era, and in certain pic around that time his skin looked greyish because he was using the wrong type of brown. If you put brown makup on someone who has white skin, it will give the impression of a caramel complexion when the light hit. that why michael looked caramel in the mid to late 80’s. By the late 90’s his skin had become mostly white than it was brown so he was advice through MEDICAL INTERVENTION by his doctors, to undergo depigmentation therapy. Alot of people who has universal vitiligo end up doing depigmentation therapy because their desire is to be one color instead of looking like a spotted cow. The depigmentation took away most of the remaining brown blotches but not all, so he used white makeup to cover up the remaining brown blotches. He only depigment the parts of his body that he could exposed. But like his mother and many people who saw him with no shirt or makeup said, he still had blotches on his legs and his chest and not so local areas of his body. So you need to be asking yourself why would someone bleach their skin to look blotchy. does that even make sense. And bleaching does not scraps you of your pigment it makes you lighter. its not a permanent thing look at samy sosa, he already has his pigment back.

Michael was a beautiful black man no matter what and i am thankful to all the people who voted for him. Adviously they are not full of hate like you

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 20:00:07 Jeri

@Piscesgirl

Thanks. I agree with you 100% about Michael.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 20:09:52 BleuParfum

Piscesgirl: “Adviously they are not full of hate like you.”

Whoa, piscesgirl, no need for ad hominems. It’s you who needs to get over herself. We can just agree to disagree.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 20:15:15 BleuParfum

Piscesgirl:

Wow, your little tirade was getting kind of good to you, wasn’t it?! Believe me I can give as good as I get but I’ll refrain from personally attacking you the way you’ve attacked me.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 22:04:09 Usagi

” find it interesting how many people find Djimon unattractive. Is it because he has strong West African features? Why is that considered unattractive? Is it because those features tend to be the direct opposite of traditional Nordic features? How many of us have internalized a euro-based beauty concept without even realizing it”

None of the selected are attractive to me. Too boring looking and I prefer men that are Androgynous . Plus, Djimon and most of the men are bald and has a huge nose. Love hair, doesn’t matter the texture, but short hair is a turn-off for me. Top hottest men for me are Miyavi, Lenny Kravitiz, Gackt, Jonny Depp and Slash. The clean cut muscle bound type is ugly to me. I have no idea it’s euro-based or whatever.I don’t think of certain features as “black” or “white. I don’t care about hair texture or skin color(Actually prefer dark skin)

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 22:05:32 Usagi

I also forgot David Bowie, Trent Ravor, and Sid Vicious. Hate Nancy with a passion.

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 23:04:44 JGreyden

Djimon looks attractive to me and i voted for him. I’m glad he made it into the top 10. ^_^

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on Fri Jan 28th 2011 at 23:38:40 Mira

Love hair, doesn’t matter the texture, but short hair is a turn-off for me.

This. Oh, this! Thanks for saying that. I adore hair, beautiful hair, preferably dark and thick, but texture (or even colour) is not that important. I just want it there, and I don’t like when men have really short hair or when they are bald (it’s ok if it’s natural- not all men have thick hair, but to shave it… nooooo).

I guess it’s one of the main reasons I don’t find some of the popular black men attractive, and I am attracted to black men. But it seems to me (correct me if I’m wrong), that many black men (celebrities) wear their hair quite short, and I am not particularly attracted to that.

I can still remember the first time I saw a picture of Bob Marley. Or the first time I saw Slash on TV. Hair. Hair. Amazing.

The clean cut muscle bound type is ugly to me.

Same here! I like them messy. lol

I also forgot David Bowie, Trent Ravor, and Sid Vicious.

Didn’t you mean Trent Reznor?

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 00:11:39 fan2010

Late, I know.

@King
“Sierra Leonean’s do it better”. Does not slide off the tongue well. You’re right. But I am hoping that with a few more examples like Idris Elba (and myself;) — others will come around to it.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 00:31:51 Jeri

I think Djimon is very attractive. I like his personality alot also. That makes a big difference to me. He seems like a gentleman and he seems intelligent. I just love African men!I also like Carribean men. More so than African American men. But you know what? I know alot of you guys are going to think I am crazy, but what is the deal with Idris Elba? I think he is attractive but not the most attractive!! Denzel, Djimon, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Michael Ealy, Maxi Priest, Tyese Gibson, Chiwetel, 2face Ibidia, Will Downing, Gary Taylor, and even Kem ( I know he may not be considered attractive but I love his music) are the men for me. I like jazz and old skool music alot. So I think alot of jazz singers, musicians and old skool singers and performers are attractive. So are the men who sing reggae. I like the friendliness and laid back attitude of African men. I hate rap so I don’t care too much for rappers no matter what they look like. And most of all, I love a kind and intelligent gentleman.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 00:58:17 Jeri

@Mira
I like both men with long hair and men who are bald. I am not always crazy about dread-locks. I like shorter locks ( and twist) but not extremely long locks. The locks and twist have to look neat to me. Sometimes the longer locks are neat looking but sometimes the longer locks look too wild for me. I guess it depends on the men. Some men look better bald, with locks, with long hair, or with short hair. Bob Marley looked better with shorter locks. You could see his handsome face more with the shorter locks. The longer locks masked his features. Will Downing, Kem, and Djimon look good bald. Denzel looks good with the clean look. Maxwell SHOULD NOT have cut his hair. The clean cut look is boring on him. Slash is okay looking. I admire his music but I am not incredibly attracted to him. He has too much hair. It covers his face. I don’t know what the man looks like!!! Have you heard of Maxi Priest? I am in love with him. He has long locks but it looks good on him. You would like his long hair.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 01:27:00 Jeri

And why didn’t anyone mention Billy Dee Williams and Phillip Michael Thomas? When I look at them when they were young, I am in ecstacy!!!

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 02:29:25 Y

Glad Maxwell made it on the list!!!

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 03:13:17 lil'vina

Thank you piecesgirl. Michael deserved that top spot because he was a beautiful man who had to deal with hardships all his life. And as far as I’m concern he was still beautiful during his surgery. The man had a skin disease that he couldn’t help yet some of you continue to make up lies about him when facts are shown he had vitiligo. As for the case, he was proven innocent and no facts that he committed the crime, even the boy came out and said it wasn’t true. Accept the fact that Michael was a black man and he knew that. I’m glad he’s on the list because not only is he gorgeous but talented at that. Get over it.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 03:17:42 The Cynic

Interesting. I saw many accusations that all of the ladies on the ‘Black women’s’ list had to fit a euro-centric standard of beauty, however I don’t see the same in many of these comments.

Shemar Moore
Boris Kodjoe
Obama

are all half Euro biracials.

Lenny Kravitz
Bob Marley
Slash

Half Euros that also made nominations or honorable mentions.

Micheal Ealy and TJ Holmes look as if they could be Afro-Euro biracials. Will Demps is actually half Korean & a quarter White. Maxwell is half Puerto Rican though I can’t jump the gun on that one since their are still plenty of Black Puerto Ricans. I believe their are more, but I think I’ve made my point. Maybe there weren’t as many Euro-centric beauty accusations bc their is a bit more of a mix(Ilba, Beckford, Underwood).

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 06:50:02 Eurasian Sensation

@ ano
I find it interesting how many people find Djimon unattractive. Is it because he has strong West African features? Why is that considered unattractive? Is it because those features tend to be the direct opposite of traditional Nordic features? How many of us have internalized a euro-based beauty concept without even realizing it?

What you propose certainly has some truth to it; nonetheless, Chiwetel and Idris Elba both were popular choices, and they are likewise purely West African.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 06:53:05 Eurasian Sensation

@ Jeri:
But if you were to poll a huge group of men, with the majority of them being black, I have a bad feeling that the majority of the women (probably 75%) chosen in the poll would be lightskinned.

It’s not something limited to blacks though. Throughout South and East Asia, fair skin is very prized, but especially for women. Men with dark skin in are far more accepted than women with dark skin in Asia.
Sucks, I know.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 07:40:52 BleuParfum

lil vina:

Who is it that you are claiming is making up lies about Michael Jackson’s skin?? Because, if you mean me, I want you to point the lie out and present conclusive proof that I’m “making up lies”. Other than that, it’s all a matter of opinion, but at least I’m willing to admit it’s my opinion that he did not have vitiligo (a coroner concluding that spots on the body are proof of vitiligo is NOT conclusive — those spots could actually have been a side effect of skin lightening — and neither are potentially photoshopped pics or the hearsay out of Michael’s mouth), while you behave as though your were MJ’s dermatologist.

Please present your proof in the Open Thread…and while your at it, please present your theories on why there are reports that police found 18 tubes of Benoquin and 19 tubes of hydroquinone in MJ’s rental home after his death. That’s a lot of bleaching cream for someone who claimed he had vitiligo and yet who categorically denied ever bleaching his skin in any context. And explain away, if you can, why MJ’s personal assistant stated at the hospital that MJ’s private physician Conrad Murray wanted to return to the house to remove said massive stash of bleaching creams “so the world would never know”.

I’m sure you have lots of verifiable proof and won’t simply resort to calling everyone/everything involved a lie/liar. (I was going let this drop but I’m tired of the self-righteous ad homs)

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 09:33:07 lil'vina

@bleu I wasn’t talking about you. For the record his autopsy and pictures have shown that Michael had vitiligo. Even Michael had said it and family members have said he had vitiligo. I’m all for opinions but please know what you’re talking about before it comes out of you’re mouth.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 09:45:13 lil'vina

for people who don’t believe michael didn’t have vitiligo:

http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/06/10/vitiligo-photos-michael-jackson/

http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/06/12/full-information-on-vitiligo-michael-jackson/

the definition of vitiligo:

http://www.medicinenet.com/vitiligo/article.htm

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 09:50:43 robert uyi

1.models- salieu jalloh, ibrahim baaith,

2.boxers- sugar ray robinson,cassius clay

3.actors- isaiah washington, djimon housou

4. rappers- rakim, dmx,

5. singers- christopher williams,eric benet,chico debarge’;marvin gaye

and ill also add black men who were fashion icons

6.jazz and bebop- miles davis,sonny rollins,dizzy gillespie,thelonious monk, max roach.

7.black scholars- ben carson,langston hughes,yusuf grillo

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 09:54:54 lil'vina

little girl who is dealing with vitiligo:

another site about the autopsy proving he had vitiligo:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/02/10/2010-02-10_michael_jackson_autopsy_report_confirms_singer_suffered_from_vitiligo_wore_wig_h.html

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 12:11:47 robert uyi

unsung black male beauty

david ruffin
eddie kendricks
teddy pendergrass
athletes john carlos and tommy
malcolm x

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 12:21:14 Di

Yes completely forgot about Isaiah Washington- very attractive man! I’d never heard of him until I watched Greys Anatomy and was like woah! Where have you been hiding?lol
Regarding Michael Jackson I firmly believe he was a self-hating BM, yes he was insanely talented and dare I say it, damaged in other ways but it does not change what he was. Vitiligo? Okay, I’ll buy that. Also treatment for the condition can include bleaching (it’s one of the options) to even out the tone. But..and this is a big one- why are his ‘kids’ white? I’m not interested in going into the psychology of him marrying (and openly dating) only WW- cool, if that is what he loves, fine. But to end up with Debbie Rowe..paying her to have his kid and who knows the other secret women he got to have the last couple of kids..wow! I’m sorry y’all but this is damage to the nth degree. Yeah I know in public he always spouted stuff about being a ‘black man’ and being proud to be one..
I dunno, I sympathize with his struggles but they don’t take away the reality staring me in the face. It’s really about what we ‘do’..not what we ‘say’.
I know the poll was based strictly on physical appeal but I am unashamed to say personality, etc did play a part in some of my choices (of course I appreciate that we don’t really ‘know’ any of these men,lol). But, say I heard some guy was a wife beater- no matter how gorgoeus, charming or seemingly wonderful he was he would be a complete and total turn-off to me. Now I am sure many women would feel the same but I work in the healthfield and you would be surprised at how there are still loads of women out there who just.don’t.care.
Anyway may he rest in peace now, his life on earth was hell for the most part.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 12:53:03 Di

@Jeri
I know, silly isn’t it? I guess it’s all part of living in an imperfect world, everyone has their own issues. What is key is LOVING oneself and enriching ones own life, living it to the fullest, despite people trying to rain on your parade.
Personally I see the beauty in all races and actually many men I know (black, white, Indian etc) recognise beauty no matter the shade it is covered in, lol! Caucasian men generally ‘see’ all types of beauty more than others. I am generalising a bit but this is stuff I have noticed.
One example which springs to mind: the Indian or chinese guys who lived in my African country invariably married Indian/Chinese women but majority of the white guys living and working there married or dated African women. In fact I ran into an Italian man here in London the other day who was quick to tell me about the good ol’ days (lol) when he lived and worked in my country and ended up marrying a woman there. They eventually divorced but he has a son he sees regularly.
Sadly, many people in the non-Caucasian world often seem to display issues around colour. Maybe becuase they have been made to feel inferior and internalised it. I know many Caucasians are also very racist – it’s a bit of a mess really.
Just think- if it were left to all those light, bright and d**n near white folks we would not have had stunning and successful models like Naomi, Alek Wek, Oluchi, Liya, Lorraine Pascale, Agbani Darego, Roshumba, Yaya and so forth.
I still say your colour or race does NOT define you; with determination, hard work faith you can strive to be the best you can be.
Naive? Maybe, but I try to look on the bright side, the dark side is simply no fun at all!

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 15:48:42 Natasha W

ano says:

“I find it interesting how many people find Djimon unattractive. Is it because he has strong West African features? Why is that considered unattractive? Is it because those features tend to be the direct opposite of traditional Nordic features?”

?

So Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor don’t have strong West African features? They are very typical Ghanaian and Igbo men, respectively. Men like them are the average in their groups, look a little closer.

To me there isn’t anything to read into: Djimon is just not that good-looking. Period. It has nothing to do with Eurocentrism. He wouldn’t win any beauty awards in Benin (women I know from Benin don’t think he’s attractive and wonder why he’s popular in the U.S.) yet here he is in the top ten. Very surprising. How he scored a spot when many of those in the Honorable Mentions are much better-looking is beyond me (hello — Morris Chestnut and TJ Holmes!).

“How many of us have internalized a euro-based beauty concept without even realizing it?”

I don’t get it: there are three African men on this list and two in the top three. In a list where most people voting aren’t even African. Most of the rest are typical of the average black man (Tyson Beckford, Blair Underwood, etc). If anything it’s clear that those who voted haven’t internalized Euro-centered beauty ideals.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 16:08:05 Natasha W

abagond says:

“Those who did better than expected (not among the top ten nominated):

1. Chiwetel Ejiofor
2. Tyson Beckford
3. Shemar Moore”

It’s not surprising — they had good pictures.

You stiffed Maxwell with that picture; you can’t even see his face in that picture, all you see is nose and hair. What was wrong with this one? On the other hand, Shemar Moore looks amazing in the photo you chose, and I don’t find him attractive normally.

I know you just pick the first picture(s) on Google Images, but maybe I can help you find better photos next time? Like for the most gorgeous white man poll? 🙂

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 18:37:27 piscesgirl

people are entiled to their opinions about michael but please don’t twist the facts to justify your believe.

The fact that you are using Benoquin and hydroquinone as a way to justify he didnt have the disease shows how little you know about the diesease. I live with someone who has universal vitiligo, she is sitting 3ft from me as i write this. She was diagnosed with universal vitiligo about 4 years ago and she already lost 65 percent of her pigment. last year her doctors suggested depigmentation therapy, insurance wouldnt cover it because according to them it is a cosmentic procedure. so her doctor prescribed Benoquin AND hydroquinone as an alternative treatment.Those cream come in small tubes and they dont make much of a difference. it only lighten the skin so the blotch would be so noticable but you can definite tell the difference between what he cream did and what vitiligo did. The cream does not scrap you of your pigment it only lighten the skin. No matter how many you use, your pigment will still be there. And those cream is not permanent, once you stop using it your skin would get darker. Most of the creams found in michael house wasnt even touched, he wasnt using it like he should.

also conrad mauray wanted to go back to the house to hide evidence it had nothing to do with those creams. People already know michael was using that to treat his vitiligo, it might be news to you but it is common knowledge. Back in 2005 when the police raided neverland they found those cream also and not one care. You would think the media would have used it to their advantage to justify their ” bleaching skin rumor” Right?. even they knew it would only prove he indeed had it.

Look at these pic of michael skin. you can still see the blotch, eventhought his brown blotch is lighter than it use to be because of the treatment but look he still has pigment. You can still see the difference.

http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/miscellaneous/black-tv-reporter-vitiligo-turns-white-screen-page2-58077.html
http://img504.imageshack.us/i/017bx0.jpg/sr=1

Also extensive bleaching does not make you skin blotchy, it literally burn you skin. Like this women

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 18:42:48 Usagi

” The argument over whether Djimon’s attractiveness reminds me of some extremely hateful comments I have seen on other black blogs regarding Alek Wek. I still haven’t heard anyone explain what makes either of them ugly. I think I know why.”

But here’s the question, why do you have find him attractive ? It’s like a witch-hunt for self-hatred. It’s seems more like some type PC, everyone’s beautiful crap. Also, what if you’re black and don’t have West African features ? How are I suppose to find broad noses, very big lips, and short black hair the most attractive if I, myself don’t have any of these features? Wouldn’t be the same as worshiping white beauty ? So, if an Indian man found a Chinese woman unattractive or a non-asian more attractive, is he cosumed by self-hatred? There both Asian.

“To me there isn’t anything to read into: Djimon is just not that good-looking. Period. It has nothing to do with Eurocentrism. He wouldn’t win any beauty awards in Benin (women I know from Benin don’t think he’s attractive and wonder why he’s popular in the U.S.) yet here he is in the top ten. Very surprising. How he scored a spot when many of those in the Honorable Mentions are much better-looking is beyond me (hello — Morris Chestnut and TJ Holmes!).”

It reminders of when they were trying to say that about Fantasia Barrino. She wouldn’t be consider very attractive by West African standards, either. Personally, if she had light skin and long hair, she would be hideous. The only thing she has is a big butt, but her face looks like a tree frog. Rosanne Barr and Susan Boyle has very European features, but no one’s calling them pretty.

“Didn’t you mean Trent Reznor?”

LOL, my sis was rushing off the computer. Love him and rockers in general. My boyfriend has tatoos. Squee

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 19:15:13 Jeri

@Ano
What you just said was absolutely true. Many black women are very attracted to lighter skinned black men but, unlike black men, they go out of their way not to make it obvious. I think that black women know the pain it feels to be excluded because of their skin color so they don’t want to appear cruel to black men by making their attraction to some lighterskinned black men known. Maybe it has to do with our female desire to be subtle or nurturing. But men!!! They will make it very obvious about their preference for lighterskinned women as if they don’t care how black women feel . Some even go out of their way to exclude us(darker women) all together from list, polls, magazines, videos, you name it! If they were more tactful, it would be different. Some men are different. Like I said before, Abagond is a man who has presented different types of black women, from very dark to very light, as beautiful black women on his list and “black beauty of the day” post. But it seems that other black men are hardened in their attitudes about beauty and skin color. Like you said, they don’t seem to care how it makes us ( black women) feel. Well, maybe we are the fairer (kinder) sex.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 19:24:43 Jeri

@Di

Thanks alot for your advice. I will definitely follow it. Yeah, it is a shame that men have such an immature attitude sometimes. But that is life, right? Nothing you can do about. So I keep myself positve and even forgiving because it gives me peace of mind. But I will also do what it takes to make myself happy because as Erykah Badu put it ” I work to please me cause I can’t please you”. She sung that on her “Appletree” song. That is my girl there! So that’s that. Thanks again.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 19:33:03 Jeri

@BleuParfum
I don’t think that you have proven that he didn’t have the disease. Yeah, he was probably bleaching his skin to try to get rid of the dark spots. Isn’t that obvious that he had to be bleaching his skin because otherwise he would have had very, very dark spots all over his body. Instead the spots were less noticeable. I saw the pictures that lilvinia posted and it shows that he did have dark spots all over his body. They weren’t very dark but you could see them. I don’t believe his skin would have spots as a result of bleaching his skin. So he could have had the disease. Only God knows for sure. So I don’t see the point in debating back in forth. He was a troubled man, no doubt about it. But that just makes me love him more, not less. Who are we to judge the man. He seemed like a kind person, despite his problems. So he is still one of my favorite entertainers. And yes I am going to say it again, he was a very attractive man way back in the day!!!

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 19:39:55 Jeri

@Euration Sensation

Yeah, it seems that the preference for lighter skin isn’t just among blacks. You are right. I heard Indians were obsessed with it as well. Well, whatever. A preference for lighterskinned isn’t a crime but when your preference becomes something you use to abuse and disrespect people, then it becomes a problem. It is sad we don’t live in a world where there is someone for everybody. Meaning some folks like lighterskin, some like darkerskin, etc. Then, we wouldn’t have all this bitterness and competiveness.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 20:01:24 abagond

Natasha W said:

“You stiffed Maxwell with that picture; you can’t even see his face in that picture, all you see is nose and hair. What was wrong with this one?”

Fair point.

I generally picked the first picture on Google Images where they were pictured alone, in their prime and that was not strangely coloured – like that Maxwell one and one of Bob Marley.

On the other hand if it were a poll on beautiful women it is highly unlikely I would have allowed a picture where you could not see a woman’s eyes. But since they were men I did not notice that so much unless it they were wearing sunglasses or something.

To me the bigger issue with the Maxwell picture I used was that it was in black and white. But since Poitier’s best pictures were in black and white, I allowed it.

Since Maxwell is who I voted for, I certainly did not pick that picture on purpose to hurt his chances.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 20:35:51 Mira

On the other hand if it were a poll on beautiful women it is highly unlikely I would have allowed a picture where you could not see a woman’s eyes. But since they were men I did not notice that so much

It’s a big mistake. Eyes are extremely important (and this comes from a girl who generally notices hair first). I must say black men tend to have amazing eyes: so dark and deep, and beautiful! Just look at Blair Underwood: there are certainly more attractive black men out there, but oh, those eyes! (His eyes secured my vote in the end).

And yes, Abagond, I think women should pick images next time. I volunteer.

PS- Are we going to have most gorgeous white man poll?

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 20:42:33 Mira

Also, Maxwell IS good looking. And you know who else is good looking? The Rock. I’m not into sports, and he’s a crappy actor, but I watched one of his movies today, and I must say… wow. I had no idea.

Djimon Hounsou is good looking, but he’s not my type. I don’t think it’s because he’s dark skinned. I have the same problem with him like I have with Denzel Washington: he looks like someone’s dad.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 20:44:19 Jeri

Old timers that were gorgeous

Billy Dee Williams Al Freeman Jr. Glynn Turman
Langston Hughes Donny Gerrard Dorian Harewood
Duke Ellington Harry Belafonte Bill Cosby
Sam Cooke Sidney Poitier Brothers Johnson
Gregory Hines James Ingram Howard Hewitt
Teddy Pendergrass Gil Scott Heron
Peabo Bryson Phillip Michael Thomas
Quincy Jones Clifton Davis Richard Roundtree
Max Roach Gregory Abbott Leon Sylver
John Coltrane Quincy Jones Ray Parker Jr.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Felipe Luciano
John Conyers Bob Marley James J. T. Taylor
Johnny Wilder Jr. Stanley Clarke Little Walter
Brothers Johnson Herbie Hancock John Conyers
Malcolm X Julian Bond
Ivan Dixon Smokey Robinson

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 20:56:49 Usagi

“Djimon Hounsou is good looking, but he’s not my type. I don’t think it’s because he’s dark skinned. I have the same problem with him like I have with Denzel Washington: he looks like someone’s dad.’

He does. That creeps the hell out of me. That and he has really big ears.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:07:51 Jeri

Oldtimers that were gorgeous

Billy Dee Williams, Langston Hughes, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Phillip Michael Thomas, Johnny Wilder Jr., Howard Hewitt, Peabo Bryson, Glynn Turman, Dorian Harewood, Adam Clayton Powell Jr, Julian Bond, John Conyers, Bill Cosby, Gregory Abbott, Teddy Pendergrass, Malcolm X, Donny Gerrard, Gil Scott Heron, Al Freeman Jr., Ivan Dixon, Duke Ellington, Leon Sylver, James Ingram, Gregory Hines, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke, Brothers Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Felice Luciano, Bob Marley, Ray Parker Jr., James J. T. Taylor, Little Walter, Stanley Clarke, Sidney Poitier, Richard Roundtree, and Clifton Davis.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:17:19 Jeri

I mentioned Felipe Luciano in my list of goodlooking older men. Here is a picture of him. Boy oh Boy, he is fine!!!

http://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/felipe-luciano

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:26:53 Jeri

Here is a video of Donny Gerrard of Skylark. He is also one of my gorgeous oldtimers. Skylark was a Canadian group that did the hit “Wildflower”. Enjoy

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:30:40 Jeri

Here is some information about Ivan Dixon. He was so handsome. Another gorgeous oldtimer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Dixon

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:41:55 Jeri

Here is an article about Sam Cooke. That man was fine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Cooke

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:47:27 Jeri

Here is an article of Gregory Abbott. He did the hit “Shake you down” way back in the day.

http://www.last.fm/music/Gregory+Abbott

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:53:10 Jeri

This is an article about John Conyers. I love this man. I met him a couple of times and he is extremely kind and humble. I couldn’t find a picture of him on the internet when he was much younger, but believe this when I say he was super fine when he was younger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conyers

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 21:58:17 Jeri

I used to think Glynn Turman was so handsome back in the day. He did the movie “Cooley High”. I know that is going back way too far for some of you but it was an awesome movie. Here is an article about him

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glynn_Turman

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 22:02:47 Jeri

Max Roach. Handsome and extremely talented. I think he was married to the late Abbey Lincoln. Here is both him and Abbey in this video. Max Roach is the guy playing on the drums. Enjoy.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 22:17:51 Jeri

Harry Belafonte. Very handsome and a very good singer and actor. Here he is in the movie “Carmen Jones” with the beautiful Ms Dorothy Dandridge.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 22:33:41 Jeri

Let’s try it again. James J. T . Taylor. Lead singer of Kool and the Gang. Very sexy. Here he is in the live video “Too Hot”

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 23:31:22 The Cynic

@Ano

That is so true. Most of the people that I have actually heard voice a preference in skin color have been Black women. I also think it’s funny how some of them will beat someone down about being color-struck and then go on to say they LOVE “chocolate brothas.” Huh??? Are light skin ppl not Black anymore?

Why is it okay to say you have a preference for dark skin, but not light skin? Light skin Blks are not oppressing dark skin Blks in America, so I don’t get the double standard. An argument could be made that White people allow them to have more advantages in society using studies in skin biases in hiring and prison sentences(which do exist), but if light skin folks aren’t directly doing the harm can you really justify this double standard?

p.s. Most of the ladies I have heard state a preference were more attracted to light skin.

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 23:49:38 Jeri

Here is a picture of Richard Roundtree back in the day. So handsome.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2019137536/nm0745780

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on Sat Jan 29th 2011 at 23:55:53 The Cynic

^Ugh my bad. That last comment on Sat 29 Jan 2011 at 23:31:22 was to Jeri and not Ano.

I’m a dude and I have never understood why, so many women love on Djimon Hounsou? I wouldn’t even say he is an average lookin dude.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 00:30:03 King

@ Jeri

Talkin ’bout… Shut yo mouth

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 00:51:17 Jeri

Well, one more video. Here is Horace Silvers Quintet. I love Horace’s music. He looks okay but boy was he talented. The other musicians in the quintet were attractive also. I love the old, old music, movies and musicians. They had so much class. The guys I have just mentioned (oldtimers)would be my grandfather’s age but I think their style is so much more attractive than today’s style. Enjoy

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 00:52:59 Jeri

@King

HahHa, you are silly!!!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 01:05:56 Jeri

@The Cynic
Well, there is nothing wrong with being attracted to lighterskinned black men. I like black men in all shades. When I was a little girl, I primarily liked darkerskinned men, but as I got older, I began to appreciate lighterskinned men more and more. So you can say, I appreciate all types. I have dated all types from pitch black to high yellow and many different types of mixtures. Many of the men in my family are lightskinned, so I feel comfortable appreciating lighterskinned black men but I don’t exclude darker brothas because I find many of them attractive also. I like brothas and the thing I like about black men is that you can find all types. Why are people nervous to admit they find some lighterskinned black men attractive? Probably because often people don’t want to come across as colorstruck. And I can understand that. Now I think Djimon is attractive. I wouldn’t call him pretty but he is attractive in a rugged sort of way. It is a different kind of sexy.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 01:23:15 Herneith

I’m with you Jeri, I prefer a ruggedly handsome man also. The ‘pretty’ ones do nothing for me when it comes to engendering lust. From an aesthetic point of view the ‘pretty’ ones are nice to look at but so is a handbag!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 01:38:27 Mira

It all depends on the guy, I’d say. I like some manly guys, but there are also the pretty ones I like. (As long as he has a nice hair, I’ll probably notice).

But there are many celebrities that fall under “someone’s dad” category. George Clooney is another of those. I certainly don’t find him attractive at all.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 01:51:01 Jeri

Okay. One more time. Gregory Hines. Another sexy oldtimer. You can say he was a jack of all trades. He could sing, act, and dance. Here he is with the wonderfully talented Luther Vandross singing “There is nothing better than love” . Enjoy.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 01:56:46 Jeri

Yeah, I like them pretty and rugged also. Both can be incredibly sexy!!!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 02:06:22 Jeri

Now I think about. Luther was gorgeous in that video too. Fat or skinny, Luther was the man!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 02:51:13 The Cynic

@ Jeri

“A different kind of sexy”

Lol I don’t know why, but this statement makes me laugh. I wanna try to incorporate this into my speech.

I also don’t understand why color preference in ATTRACTION(not hiring, politics, etc.) is wrong. I love caramel to chocolate girls, or what I call from Meagan Good to Gabriele Union. I’m not ashamed to admit that. Maybe it’s bc it encompasses most Black American women, so I get the “he doesn’t have self-hate” pass.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 03:08:19 Jeri

@The Cynic
Well, being attracted to a certain type is not a problem. The heart wants what it wants, I guess. But I have a problem when people exclude people in the media, tv shows, magazines, movies, high fashion, videos, music, etc. Everybody doesn’t have the same preferences, so why should we see the same types over and over again. It gets boring after awhile.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 03:28:40 Jeri

@The Cynic
And another thing, attractive doesn’t come in one form. I know saying “a different type of sexiness” sounds weird but what I mean is that there are different types of beauty, at least to me. Mira said she likes the pretty types and the rugged types and I agree with her. You can find yourself being attracted to completely different types of men. I remember once, I walked into a black business man’s store. The brother who owned the store sold computers, art, clothes, etc. There were alot of people there, mostly between 17 and 25. And more men than women. They were all black. Well, I like men and so I decided to look around(LOL). There was this one young man that was very darkskinned and he was very handsome. He was trying to sell an Ipod to the black business man. After the darkerskinned brother left, I notice an lighterskinned young man and he was extremely attractive. He seemed like a sweet young man also. And he had the nerve to seem shy too. Well, both of them were fine but they were just different, that’s all. There were all kinds of men in there. I had to admit. I was having a good time. So pardon me(LOL). So beauty comes in different looks. That is what I meant to say.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 03:48:12 Mira

I can’t believe I had no idea who this man was:

I mean, he’s… I’m speechless.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 04:11:16 Jeri

@Mira

Yeah, that is Lance Gross, I think. Yes, he is pretty!!!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 04:29:07 Mira

He’s beyond pretty. What eyes!

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 04:48:00 Jeri

@Mira

Look at pretty Billy Dee!! Everytime I look at this man I get so excited!!!

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1325761280/nm0001850

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 04:59:24 The Cynic

@Jeri

“But I have a problem when people exclude people in the media, tv shows, magazines, movies, high fashion, videos, music, etc. Everybody doesn’t have the same preferences, so why should we see the same types over and over again. It gets boring after awhile.”

cosign

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 06:11:40 Jeri

@The Cynic
Yeah, for me it is all about people not being totally excluded. And I understand how some lighterskinned black men might feel at times. They may feel overlooked at times. Often times men like Morris Chestnut, Wesley Snipes, and Idris Elba get attention but lighterskinned men feel neglected. That is why I believe that variety should exist in the media. It seems mean and cruel to leave out people with a certain phenotype. That is why I liked the 70’s. You had so many types of black people involved in the entertainment industry from Freda Payne to Judy Pace. And you had men from Lou Gossett to James Earl Jones. It seemed like a great time and a great period of enlightment. There was so much freedom back then. We can learn alot from that period.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 06:30:04 Jeri

@the Cynic
I remember this young man on youtube. He does alot of videos about skin color. He is very darkskinned and quite handsome but he didn’t know it. When he was a child, people within his own family told him that he was ugly. Because of this, he had low self-esteem. He would talk about how at times he felt ugly and left out. All he need was some encouragement and to know that he was important and attractive. Well, some women, myself included, told him he was fine just the way he was. Well, in his next video, he had his hair cut and he was wearing a suit. He looked good. Absolutely gorgeous. It was as if all he needed was some encouragement. Feeling good about himself gave him confidence and it reflected itself in his outer appearance. He had a cousin who was lighterskinned. His cousin also expressed in a video his insecurity about being lightskinned. He was attractive, like his darkerskinned cousin. But he had issues. You know it seems as if all people need is encouragement and it makes a big difference in their lives. We are all beautiful just the way we are. And beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 21:12:33 Natasha W

ano says:

“Black men are not the only ones who have a strong preference for light skinned women. This preference exists all over the globe. I also believe that there are many black women who have a very strong preference for light skinned men.”

It’s funny when people try to make it seem like black woman are color-struck and prefer lighter men. It seems like a way to say “Well, black women are the same way!” and give colorist men a pass.

Time and time again this notion is proven wrong. Time and time again we see that the black men who are considered the most attractive by black women are not at all light. Denzel Washington, Morris Chestnut, Tyson Beckford, Blair Underwood, Idris Elba: those have been the top black men in the past couple of decades. Which of them is light? Just take a look at this list: most of the people who voted were black women and most of the men are dark.

If anything it seems black women have a preference for medium brown or dark brown men, though I wouldn’t say that either because men like Barack Obama, Boris Kudjoe, TJ Holmes, and even Chris Brown are not hurting for black female attention, by any means.

“The argument over whether Djimon’s attractiveness reminds me of some extremely hateful comments I have seen on other black blogs regarding Alek Wek. I still haven’t heard anyone explain what makes either of them ugly.”

Alek Wek isn’t ugly, but she isn’t pretty either. But I don’t know why she keeps being brought up as an example of a “true” black woman, because neither in the Americas or West Africa does the average black woman look like her. She’s distinctive to her group in Northeast Africa.

Anyway, Alek isn’t pretty IMO because

a) She has no hair. There aren’t many women that can pull off the bald look; she is no exception.

b) She has a round face/poor bone structure. Especially when you are bald, you need to have exceptionally good bone structure.

c) Her eyes get very small sometimes, barely there. Small, squinty eyes don’t look good with a round face.

Djimon Hounsou looked better when he was younger but to me his features aren’t well-balanced.

Some beautiful dark-skinned and/or W. African women IMO are Heather Headley, Brandy Norwood, Genevieve Nnaji.

Some handsome dark-skinned and/or W. African men IMO are Morris Chestnut, Kevin Garnett, Emeka Okafor.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 21:32:33 Natasha W

Usagi says:

“But here’s the question, why do you have find him attractive ? It’s like a witch-hunt for self-hatred. It’s seems more like some type PC, everyone’s beautiful crap.”

Thank you.

“It reminders of when they were trying to say that about Fantasia Barrino. She wouldn’t be consider very attractive by West African standards, either. Personally, if she had light skin and long hair, she would be hideous.. her face looks like a tree frog. “

Lol. True. I don’t think Fantasia’s ugly, but I wouldn’t call her attractive. She’s average. But I like the tree frog comparison — somewhat accurate. 🙂

Light skin doesn’t make a person more attractive: Tisha Campbell isn’t better-looking than Fantasia.

abagond says:

“To me the bigger issue with the Maxwell picture I used was that it was in black and white.”

Yes, that’s an issue as well. But if you were going to choose a black and white, it could have at least included the whole face.

“Since Maxwell is who I voted for, I certainly did not pick that picture on purpose to hurt his chances.”

I know. You’re just a heterosexual man, the vast majority of whom I would never trust to choose the best photos of men. 🙂

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 22:19:46 The Cynic

@Natasha

“Anyway, Alek isn’t pretty IMO because

a) She has no hair. There aren’t many women that can pull off the bald look; she is no exception.

b) She has a round face/poor bone structure. Especially when you are bald, you need to have exceptionally good bone structure.”

I partly agree with this. Nnenna Agba is a dark-skinned bald headed Naija model and she looks a thousand times better than Alek Wek. I don’t believe this has anything to do with conforming to the Euro standard of beauty. Though I wonder… do you think maybe with not liking Nilotic/South Sudanese features? If it is not race, could it be ethnicity?

(My first time embedding a vid to a blog. I hope it works!)
Oluchi Onweagba is another beautiful dark-skinned Nigerian girl…

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 22:55:26 Mira

Shoot me, I like that Maxwell picture. (Hint: you can see his hair).

But I agree with Natasha: from now on, women should choose images for this sort of polls.

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on Sun Jan 30th 2011 at 23:33:01 Chuck

Natasha W:

Hey, my blog is still working. I thought it would be down by now. What’s up with that?

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 08:10:19 Hammurubai

RAKIM no doubt.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 09:57:16 Jeri

You know I don’t understand why people keep bringing up Alek Wek all the time. She is okay looking. She certainly isn’t unattractive. I have seen some very ugly people and I wouldn’t consider her ugly. She is pretty, not beautiful, but pretty. I am sorry. But I really believe that people’s issues with her has alot to do with her very, very dark skin color. And yes, I know that people have said that her dark skin isn’t the issue but if isn’t the issue, why do people keep bringing her up all the time!!! What else makes her different from other models besides the fact she is very very darkskinned. There are other high fashion models that are very different looking. In fact, looking very different is one of the things that makes some high fashion models very successful. So she is not the only one. And she has a beautiful smile and, from watching her on a tv interview on PBS, she has a lovely personality. And quite intelligent. And I like her eyes. I like slanted eyes sometimes, so she looks good to me. I still say that alot of people have subconscious feelings about beauty that affects the way they look at people. Djimon is attractive, not super gorgeous, but attractive. I wish people would try not to have such a narrow minded attitude about beauty. And no, I am not trying to be politically correct. I am pretty honest about people in terms as to whether I feel they are attractive or not.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 10:17:05 Jeri

Alot of people from southern Sudan look like her. They are very, very dark, very tall and very thin with very pronounced cheekbones. They have their own look, even among other Africans. Alot of people might be taken back by her look because we are so often told that her kind of look is strange, weird, unattractive etc. I mean it is the complete opposite of what other races look like. And often being different is considered ugly. But when I look at Alek, I see an attractive woman that represents the average woman of her ethnicity. I am sure there are women who are from southern Sudan who are more attractive than her, but I would say she is above average in terms of her appearance. I like the fact that there are women like her in the fashion industry because like I mentioned before, I am tired of seeing the same looking people over and over again in the media, videos, fashion industry etc. Whether you like her look or not, she has opened the door for more opportunities for African and women of African ancestry in the fashion industry.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 10:36:12 Jeri

You know what concerns me. Why is it that you see alot of African men like Idris Elba, Chiwetel, Djimon et. on tv in movies, shows, while you don’t see African actresses on tv. I have heard of Thandie Newton and Sophie Okonedo but not any darkerskinned actresses. I have heard of Estelle, the singer, and Shingai of the group, the Noisettes. They are both darkerskinned, but is it possible that the only times you see darker African women in the spotlights, they are singers, possibly high fashion models? Why hasn’t Stephanie Okereke made it big in the U.S as an actress? You know, instead of picking apart all these African actors, models, singers concerning their “weird ” appearances, we should try to support them because I think it is still more difficult for black African women to make it big, especially on the big screen.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 10:55:18 Jeri

And another thing I want to say is this. When was the last time have you seen an extremely( and I mean extremely) darkskinned woman on the big screen as a lead actress, since Judy Pace and Cycely Tyson. I am talking about someone who looks like Bria Myles. I would say that Bria Myles is like the female version of Morris Chestnut. Both are very, very dark and very, very attractive. It is as if men have it easier when it comes to being very, very, very dark and women don’t. You might see a very, very dark skinned women with her behind displayed all over the magazines and videos, but not as a serious actress. It is as if all very, very darkskinned women are good for is to be sex objects. What kind of message does that send to our extremely darkskinned ladies? No wonder you see so many black women displaying their bodies in an provocative fashion all the time. And I am beginning to understand why black women are so sensitive concerning the issues of colorism.

LikeLiked by 1 person
on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 11:08:30 Jeri

Recently, I have seen alot of black women getting very frustrated about not seeing other very darkskinned women on list and polls. I used to think they were overreacting and I still do to a certain extent. I mean I have seen examples where a list would have 25% very, very dark women, 25% brownskinned women, 25 % lighterskinned women, and 25% mixed women. And I am still okay with that. There are all kinds of black women. So I feel that list like that are okay. But now I understand the frustration of extremely darkskinned women. I am lightbrownskinned. I wouldn’t consider myself light or dark. But I can relate to feeling like an outcast. When I was a little girl, I would get teased for having very full lips. Everyday, I was the girl with the “bubble” lips. Kids can be very cruel. I was miserable as a little girl. It wasn’t until I grew older, that I began to like my lips. People would begin to say that full lips were beautiful and when I saw people getting collagen injections to enhance their lips, I felt attractive for the first time in my life. So I can relate to feeling different.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 11:19:06 Jeri

Well, I think the “overreaction” of very darkskinned women concerning list, polls etc, has to do with being made to feel unloved and unattractive. If more extremely darkskinned women were on the big screen, I think more women would become laid back and less sensitive. And of course, they also need to feel accepted in other areas as well. It can’t be easy for them. We need to let these women know that they have more going for them than just their bodies. In the United States, being a darkskinned female is synonymous with committing a crime. I think it is easier in other places such as Europe, Africa, the Carribean, and other places. But the States, despite all the progress in other areas, is as backwards as they come when it comes to colorism. We have to fight to open the doors for darkskinned women in the media, especially the big screen. And I am talking about classy roles. Enough with the bigotry already!!

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 13:41:12 Natasha W

The Cynic says:

“I partly agree with this. Nnenna Agba is a dark-skinned bald headed Naija model and she looks a thousand times better than Alek Wek. I don’t believe this has anything to do with conforming to the Euro standard of beauty.”

Yes!

How could I forget Nnenna? She is gorgeous. She is a perfect example of a woman who can pull off the bald look. Notice her great bone structure. *genuflects*

“Though I wonder… do you think maybe with not liking Nilotic/South Sudanese features? If it is not race, could it be ethnicity?”

I don’t think so. I’ve seen better looking people from her region.

Alek looks better when she is wearing earrings and jewelry, which furthers the idea that why she isn’t considered as attractive is because she lacks adornments that most other women have like hair, earrings, make-up.

“(My first time embedding a vid to a blog. I hope it works!)”

Needed to click through.

“Oluchi Onweagba is another beautiful dark-skinned Nigerian girl…”

Yes. I didn’t want to make my list too long, but she is pretty too. Also, my girl crushes: Lauryn Hill, Jill Marie Jones, Kelly Rowland.

Jeri says:

“I am sorry. But I really believe that people’s issues with [Alek] has alot to do with her very, very dark skin color.”

I don’t really. Oluchi isn’t much lighter than Alek, but she is considered much more attractive.

Chuck:

I’m busy. Don’t push you’re luck.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 13:43:06 Natasha W

*your

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 14:28:42 Eurasian Sensation

Yeah Alek Wek isn’t anything special. Seen plenty of Sudanese women who are much more beautiful than her, and this is just walking past me on the street. But hey, it’s all opinions I guess. Glad she got her shot at stardom, but unfortunately some people think that since she is one of the best-known African models, she must therefore be the best Africa has to offer.

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 19:49:06 laromana

Jeri says,
Well, I think the “overreaction” of very darkskinned women concerning list, polls etc, has to do with being made to feel unloved and unattractive. If more extremely darkskinned women were on the big screen, I think more women would become laid back and less sensitive. And of course, they also need to feel accepted in other areas as well. It can’t be easy for them. We need to let these women know that they have more going for them than just their bodies. In the United States, being a darkskinned female is synonymous with committing a crime. I think it is easier in other places such as Europe, Africa, the Carribean, and other places. But the States, despite all the progress in other areas, is as backwards as they come when it comes to colorism. We have to fight to open the doors for darkskinned women in the media, especially the big screen. And I am talking about classy roles. Enough with the bigotry already!!

laromana says,
Jeri,
Thanks for your excellent comments but, especially, for highlighting how ANTI-BW COLORISM negatively affects dark skinned BW in America.
You couldn’t be more on point when you state that ” In the United States, being a darkskinned female is synonymous with committing a crime.”
From my first hand, long term experience, most American men of ALL RACES treat most dark skinned BW as INVISIBLE, 2ND CLASS women who aren’t “WORTHY” of being treated like NORMAL, HUMAN BEINGS (by dating and/or marrying them, as they do NON-BW).

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on Mon Jan 31st 2011 at 23:14:06 Jeri

@Eurasian Sensation
Yeah, I am not saying, I haven’t seen prettier south Sudanese and African women. I have seen those who are prettier than Alek. I am just saying, why do people debate about her looks so frequently? How else is she different besides her very, very dark skin? I have seen some very strange looking white and Asian models on the runway. Often the different looking ones are considered “interesting” looking, like a Picasso painting. The designers use these unusual models to get attention concerning their clothing. I still say that Alek is above average. Like on a scale from 1-10, she is a 6 or 7. Yes, there are millions of African women who are 9’s or 10’s on the goodlooking scale. But the question I am asking is this; what is the real reason for so much negative talk concerning her, when alot of high fashion models are “different”?

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 07:24:58 Eurasian Sensation

@ jeri:
I guess it’s because in terms of being “different”, Wek is a challenge to preconceived notions of what beauty is in the West. With some other well-known black beauties – Iman, Beyonce, Vanessa Williams – they still correspond closely enough with what the typical Westerner thinks of as being beautiful. Wek is different though. But I think it’s also largely because her profile is higher than most other African models. Any famous person whose profile seems disproportionate to their perceived level of talent (“talent” in this case meaning “being good looking”) is going to be the subject of a lot of discussion.

Check this picture for contrast:

Also a Sudanese model, not at all European-looking, yet I think if it was her with Wek’s profile, few would question it in the same way. She corresponds more with what most would say a model should look like. Wek has a nice face, but I wouldn’t exactly call it “hot”.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 13:52:14 Di

I love that Alek Wek is a phenomenally successful supermodel with dark skin! Love her or hate her, there are enough people willing to pay for her to wear their clothing oe model in their ads. Point is- there are all kinds of beauty and I can bet you no matter how supposedly gorgeous one person is there will be someone somewhere who begs to differ. There is conventional beauty and there is that kind of beauty most would not recognise or admire- maybe thats her kind, maybe not. But some influential people out there said..you know what we are not interested in pedestrian ideas of beauty we want to take it up a notch.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 18:02:01 Jeri

@Di

I agree with you. Yeah, I mentioned this earlier when we were talking about Dijimon. There are different types of beauty. Just because westerners don’t think it is beautiful, doesn’t mean I have to go along with what they think. Alot of folks are obsessed with just one type of beauty. I can understand appreciating a European type of beauty but to like it exclusively, without allowing other types of women to shine, seems closeminded to me. It is a shame that it is often black folk who criticize her. But that doesn’t surprise me neither. She is still attractive to me. My opinion hasn’t changed. And yeah, I am glad that designers haven given her a chance to walk the runways of the world. I am proud of her and I am glad she is so successful.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 18:10:47 Jeri

@Eurasion Sensation

Some people also challenged whether Adriana Lima is beautiful also. Folks can just sometimes be haters. Doesn’t mean what they have to say makes sense. Anytime a person’s success challenges conventional types of beauty, they are often criticized. I don’t know. I am the type of person that likes to think outside the box. And to be honest, only liking conventional types of beauty can get boring after awhile. Alek is interesting looking and I think that is the real reason why people talk so much about her.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 18:12:37 Jeri

@Di
I mean’t to say I am glad designers have given her a chance to walk the runways of the world. I sometimes type too fast.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 18:17:49 Jeri

@Eurasian Sensation

And lets be honest. If she was really ugly, she wouldn’t get this much attention. That fact that people are so fascinated with her speaks more about how they feel about her than all the negative comments. People often say they hate black people but then these same people are obsessed with black music, dancing, language, entertainers, culture etc. The fact that they are so obsessed with us tells you how they really feel. So don’t always believe the hype.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 18:30:02 Mira

Alek Wek is not ugly, but I bet there are more beautiful dark skinned black women. Just like there are, in my opinion, more beautiful white women than models (such as Heidi Klum). What I find interesting about discussions concerning Alek Wek is that people pay so much attention on her skin shade (which is different than the white/Euro beauty standards), but not to the fact Alek is still pretty close to European beauty standards when it comes to body shape. In this sense, it’s interesting to note people see Alek as an example of a beautiful black woman, when she is much more in tune with European/white standards of beauty than many black women are. All she has “different” is her skin shade, and, arguably, it’s what white modeling industry finds so fascinating about her.

Also… Why are we still talking about Alek Wek and other females? Shouldn’t we discuss gorgeous black men?

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 19:29:45 Usagi

I find Alek Wek is very pretty. I love slim body types and is one of the few people that looks attractive with little to no hair. Her skin is very pretty, too. I always try and tan, but end being sun burned. I think that they should include all types of bp because just having one type on top just saying that all Blacks are the same. We are diverse and need to celbrate that. I’m so sick in tired of people saying East Africans (Iman) and North Africans are only popular because they look white. Iman isn’t even that light. These are the same people say that Obama is black eventhough he’s only half and of East African descent (Kenya).Bria and Jill Marie have nice bodies, but their faces aren’t attractive to me.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 19:32:25 Usagi

“What I find interesting about discussions concerning Alek Wek is that people pay so much attention on her skin shade (which is different than the white/Euro beauty standards), but not to the fact Alek is still pretty close to European beauty standards when it comes to body shape. In this sense, it’s interesting to note people see Alek as an example of a beautiful black woman, when she is much more in tune with European/white standards of beauty than many black women are.”

It’s more about diet and exercise. Americans in general are heavier than people overseas. I’ve seen more slim Africans than overwieght ones. It’s the same in Europe. Sometimes people confuse fat for being thick.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 19:39:49 Di

Word! Jeri! I got you, dont worry, 😉
Usagi- are you male or female if you don’t mind my asking.
I agree, I feel Ms Wek is beautiful. BTW have you seen her bf…also very good looking. I will hunt up a pic if I can.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 19:43:30 Di

Here goes..

I hope it works because I am technology challenged!

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 19:52:16 Usagi

I’m a chick. Usagi means rabbit and my friends compare to Usagi off of Sailor Moon or Miaka from Fushigi Yugi. LOL. I need some of Naoko Takeuchi money. LOL

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 20:22:35 Usagi

Her boyfriend is very pretty. Teehee. Lucky girl.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 20:41:44 Jeri

@Mira
Well, I hear what you are saying but what is a typical “black woman” shape. Many of the black women of southern Sudanese background are tall and thin, I believe. I haven’t met a whole alot of southern Sudanese women, but based on what I have seen on tv, the youtube and the internet, many of them are shaped like Alek. All black women are not shaped the same. There are some black women who are tall, thin, short, storky, etc. Some have voluptuous figures and some don’t. So I wouldn’t say that Alek has a white women’s figure. And some black women have certain shapes based on what ethnicity they come from. Like I said, southern Sudanese women tend to be taller and thinner than other black ethnic groups, I believe. I could be wrong.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 23:34:58 Mira

I know not black women are curvy. However, tall & thin (which is required for models) is in tune with European standards of beauty. Alek has that. So is she really that different than the current white beauty standards? All that is different is her skin shade. In all the other aspects, she’s a typical model.

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on Tue Feb 1st 2011 at 23:56:40 King

I personally prefer Aqtaui Deng to Alek Wek

Not that it has anything to do with the most gorgeous black man in the world, I suppose.

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on Wed Feb 2nd 2011 at 22:00:16 Jeri

@King

Yeah, Aqtaui is very pretty. I have never seen or heard of her before.

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on Sat Feb 5th 2011 at 22:36:06 luvlybrowngirl

Re: Top 10

* vigorously applauding and grinning like a fool *

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on Sun Feb 6th 2011 at 18:11:37 ALICIA BANKS

wow

great blog

blair underwood wins!

peace

eloquent fury
http://aliciabanks.xanga.com

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on Sun Mar 13th 2011 at 12:25:18 smd707415

White guy here.

I’m bi so I can say that you’re wrong–Djamon Honsou is easily no. 1.

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on Sun Mar 13th 2011 at 17:54:59 Herneith

@smd707415:

You’ll always have a date on Friday night!

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on Thu Apr 14th 2011 at 02:51:35 Tabbicat_1

I think Stan Shaw is one of the most beautiful men that Goddess ever created….yum!

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on Fri Apr 22nd 2011 at 00:51:04 Trublu112

I’m late to this discussion, but to the people dissing Alek Wek’s looks:

ARE YOU CRAZY??? SHE’S BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Back to the poll–I love ALL of the choices–but I’m into Denzel, Lenny and Sidney Poitier also. And I don’t look at Denzel as a father figure at all! Just totally hot!

I wish I had known about this blog at the time of the vote. Maybe Abagond can make this an annual event (hint, hint)? 🙂

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on Sat May 7th 2011 at 12:48:00 HandsomeOlderLustyBlackLad

I GUARANTEE that if you ladies saw MY RECENT PICTURE,I’D BE IN YOUR “MOST GORGEOUS BLACK MEN IN THE WORLD LIST!!!’In fact,though I’ll be 58 July 6,you’d woner why I’m
not a leading man in Hollywood’s next hit movie!!!

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on Sat May 7th 2011 at 15:29:25 King

It’s easy enough to post a picture and link to it.

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on Sat May 7th 2011 at 18:00:16 Herneith

Here’s my photo:

Eyes that can melt the coldest heart and the hind legs to die for! They don’t call me heifer for nothing!

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on Sat May 7th 2011 at 19:08:19 King

@ Herneith

Nice mascara!!! M-A-C?

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on Sun May 8th 2011 at 04:00:01 Herneith

@King:

Those are my natural lashes. Cud does wonders for a girl’s lashes. MAC has nothing on cud! Besides which, MAC doesn’t make very good mascara. Anyways, here I am frolicking with Flipper. he is one hot so and so!:

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on Sat Jan 21st 2012 at 15:41:07 Life-SizeBlackCowboyStudBrettDoll1953

If you ladies saw MY photo,I’D be Number One Black Stud(even at 58!!!!)Hands Down!!!!!

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on Wed Feb 1st 2012 at 09:33:36 lovely

kodjoe is the hottest.!!!

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on Fri Feb 10th 2012 at 00:28:04 poetess

I would think Tyson would be closer to the top, but Idris deserves #1 he’s one of the finest men on the planet. Charles Divens is a half brother who is super fine http://www.mostbeautifulman.com/actors/charlesdivins/images/pic03.jpg

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on Tue Feb 14th 2012 at 15:25:42 What do you think of Eurasian?

[…] […]

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on Sun Feb 26th 2012 at 07:12:10 Freddie Merritt(Yes Im A Girl)

Where is Jessie Williams his sexy self didnt make it 😥

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on Sun Feb 26th 2012 at 07:33:13 Satanforce

@hernieth

But you have horns, so that would make you a ………

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on Sun Feb 26th 2012 at 11:03:17 Demerera

Where’s Thierry?

& Pharrell Williams (but wearing trousers not those bloomin shorts)

Plus, special mention for Antonio Hardy aka Big Daddy Kane (bit old school I know) lol

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on Sun Feb 26th 2012 at 14:01:17 Demerera

@OK Bulanik

Not too familiar with names in the media, more faces and whether they have a certain something that cant be pinned down, cant be bottled, but just IS sigh…lol. After Morris, the rest are in no particular order suffice to say he is NUMBER 1.

Morris Chestnut
http://theberry.com/2010/11/18/afternoon-eye-candy-morris-chestnut-18-photos/

Mos Def
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080049/

Boris Kodjoe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Kodjoe

Gary Dourdan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Dourdan

Columbus Short
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Short

Keston Karter
http://www.kestonkarter.com/site/

WAAAAAY TOOOOOO YOUNG But MUST be Acknowledged…

More than anything I feel maternal to these guys.

Chris Brown – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown_(American_entertainer)

Nate Gill – http://models.com/models/nate-gill

PLUS

Denzel Washington (handsome but for my mama they would make a beautiful couple)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington

That’s my list in a nutshell. I like the company of men generally more than women so I realise that I probably have got into the habit of not looking at them in a sexual way hence my lists are generally much much shorter than most.

I wonder if any of our commenters resemble any of these guys here and would mind a bit of ‘friendly’ stalking 🙂 lol. Only kidding chaps, i’m crazy, but not that crazy.

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on Sun Feb 26th 2012 at 23:49:17 Demerera

mmmm 😉

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on Tue Mar 6th 2012 at 21:14:29 Demerera

@Bulanik

All very nice, particularly LAMON ARCHEY….

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on Thu Apr 12th 2012 at 02:17:41 deedee7789

Sidney Etienne, wow that man is beautiful.

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on Sun Apr 29th 2012 at 08:22:16 Jane Austen

Somehow, african and carribean men are more appealing than african americans Is it because of better self-confidence? Maybe.

Checkout two handsome carribean athletes:-
[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/o6icz4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/dskus.jpg[/IMG]

I really dont like Shemar Moore. Seems like the Justin Bieber type. I would prefer someone with a little more charisma like Evan Ross – though both are more like the boy band types.
[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/2by90o.jpg[/IMG]

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on Sun Apr 29th 2012 at 08:28:52 Jane Austen

Somehow, african and carribean men are more appealing than african americans Is it because of better self-confidence? Maybe.

Checkout two handsome carribean athletes:-

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on Sun Apr 29th 2012 at 08:40:32 Jane Austen

How do I embed images here? Somebody please tell me…….

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on Sun Apr 29th 2012 at 11:41:30 cleonette

My favorite, Morris Chestnut did not make the list. That man is beautiful. My tastes lean more towards American-born, very dark-skinned men; no height preference. I have dated men from different races and types but nothing really compares nor really understands me like an American-born, black man. I don’t have to explain as deeply. He understands my frustrations, my hair, my style, my culture….Honestly, I guess I just love guys that remind me of my dad.

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on Sun Apr 29th 2012 at 12:47:20 Demerera

@cleonette

I wholeheartedly agree re Morris Chestnut. He has the absolute most kissable lips ever…

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on Mon Apr 30th 2012 at 05:16:05 Lilianna

Shemar Moore is beautiful.

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on Fri May 18th 2012 at 22:13:55 phoebeprunelle

None of these guys.

Barack looks too much like my dad and secondly i prefer older black men.

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on Fri May 25th 2012 at 06:36:11 4SocialJusticeNow

How did Denzel not make it?? : ) That adorable overbite and shy, coy smile. And his great acting roles. Maybe I’m just too old for these things! ; )

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on Thu Jun 14th 2012 at 01:35:08 Aiyesha

mmmmmmm…….Barack Obama lookin pretty fine…..Michelle is 1 lucky woman…..however u left out Jo Wilfried Tsonga, professional tennis player with a mother from France and a Congolese Father….now Tsonga is one fine black man….

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on Thu Jun 14th 2012 at 02:42:51 Michelle

I would have to say…Taye Diggs.

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on Sun Jul 8th 2012 at 00:51:02 john-julian

Movie Star Celebrity Motivator-Personal Trainer NYC, ”I motivate you”. A master adviser.Image consultant date coach and business consultant. Servicing the client’s tempered headquarters:http://motivationamust.com/. We are New York City best personal trainers, and suitable to service clients in any state.With the Body Crave (natural development program). home personal trainer.photo byhttp://www.mdjproductions.com/.

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on Thu Jul 12th 2012 at 23:00:42 Kanu Alimamy

michael jackson, could be Number one or two

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on Wed Aug 1st 2012 at 07:57:53 Y.

Peter Mensah….the man is the DEFINITION of ‘Black don’t Crack’

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on Fri Aug 31st 2012 at 15:33:00 deepdkchocolate

IDRIS…

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on Mon Oct 22nd 2012 at 17:32:18 anonemouse

When you all get a chance visit the cocolate room and eat thei delicious cakes it,s so rich so yes I can understand why white women like that dark rich thick skin, it,s richer than white, then again add the wipped cream to the cocolate cake and it,s good too, I love it all cocolate sometimes add camarel too or cocolate with strawberries, or cherries can,t beat that.

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on Mon Oct 22nd 2012 at 17:41:18 anonemouse

Then if you go the other version some people love cheese cake with strawberries and that has milk flavor and you can add wipped cream to that to then there,s strawberry short cake with cream already in it there are so amny flavor types of cakes to every taste some cakes are yellow some are red, some are olive color and some are cocolate so everyone can choose their preference in what they desire to eat the most.

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on Fri Nov 23rd 2012 at 18:40:27 Jefe

I wonder why nobody voted for Isaiah Mustafa.

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on Mon Jan 14th 2013 at 22:04:59 Frank

I think i neeed to post my pics so you can see. You might think all those guys are nothing…..God created me when he was not in a hurry! lol….

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on Fri May 24th 2013 at 17:38:23 jane

Jimmy Hendrix should be noted

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on Fri May 24th 2013 at 17:45:17 jane

I know most people will disagree but Jordan peel and Richard Pryor so sexy and I don’t know his name but the black actor from blazing saddles was beautiful his smile was as bright as the sun

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on Fri May 24th 2013 at 17:49:40 jane

Michael Duncan I’m shocked will smith isn’t on here in personally not attracted to him but almost every other woman on the planet is

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on Wed Jun 26th 2013 at 17:45:25 cindasmommy

#latepass I clicked on this article with my finger crossed repeating “Is it Idris Elba? Is it Idris Elba?” Thanks for not disappointing.

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[…] The most gorgeous black man in the world […]

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on Thu Aug 29th 2013 at 21:00:03 Johannes Mogale

Maxwell, wow this guy awakenend a part of me i never thought it would. He complete my hearing sense and appease my soul through my 10years chronic backache 2years later am alive, i borrowed my neighbour Jabu a cd i bought of him he never return yet still his acoustic melodies reaffirms me here in South-Africa. Bigup this ‘woman’s work’.

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on Mon Sep 2nd 2013 at 20:35:21 olodo

beautiful comments

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on Sat Sep 14th 2013 at 13:51:35 Lloyd Baim

Keep posting more black men!

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on Sat Nov 2nd 2013 at 02:10:22 karen

I wish I had taken part of the poll. I KNEW BLAIR UNDERWOOD would be on the list. what about John Legend, and Babyface?

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on Sat Nov 9th 2013 at 00:07:05 Alicia

What about Christopher Williams?

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on Sat Nov 9th 2013 at 00:08:23 Alicia

I don’t know, Will Smith is just average to me!

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on Tue Apr 29th 2014 at 14:46:49 myman

Where is the god,the king of kings,the Cherub….

WILLY MONFRET?he is arguably the most handsome man in the world.

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on Tue Aug 12th 2014 at 02:45:38 grin and bear it

This list is missing some old school brothas:

Calvin Lockhart (http://madamenoire.com/136008/vintage-evening-eye-candy-blaxploitation-star-calvin-lockhart/)

Fred Williamson (http://filmposterart.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/fred-the-hammer-williamson/)

Billy Dee Williams (http://madamenoire.com/135198/vintage-evening-eye-candy-billy-dee-williams/3/)

Sidney Poitier(http://theredlist.com/wiki-2-24-525-527-668-view-1960s-2-profile-sidney-poitier.html)

Harry Belafonte(http://multibeautiful.dreamwidth.org/18700.html)

Tupac

In their prime they were just as gorgeous as many of the gentlemen listed in this post. I do agree with the inclusion of Idris, Blair, Chiwetl, Maxwell, and Tyson, though. The others are attractive and deserve mention, but I don’t necessarily swoon over them. Surprised that Denzel, Lenny, Morris Chestnut, and Michael Ealy didn’t fare better. Also surprised not to see more athletes on the list, or the likes of Common, Cam Newton, Lance Gross, and Rick Fox, among others. Hmmm. I guess this list is just about who’s gorgeous…today?

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on Sun May 31st 2015 at 23:28:23 Gregory Wilson

What an annoying list. The Chinese in Tyson is like looking for the Norwegian in me. Please.

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on Fri Aug 7th 2015 at 14:34:01 taotesan

Mmm, the top men who would make me neak at the wees are:

1. Trevor Noah- chocolate cherub .Genius comedian.
2. Samuel L.Jackson- just one syllable from him would render me stupid.
3. Jimi Hendrix – supersexy personified.
4.Idris Elba- indescribable.
5.Bob Marley- beautiful, natural.
6.Lenny Kravitz – supercool.
7.Maxwell- beautiful.
Others who are gorgeous, but do not much for me- Shemar and Boris.
Michael Jackson? Really? When he was himself, he was beautiful.
I would have said Denzel Washington, but before his teeth.
And Barack Obama? Ordering drones where innocent people are killed. Not sexy!

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on Fri Oct 23rd 2015 at 15:27:44 handsomerandyladdiebrad1953

Ladies,if you saw this poster boy handsome black Canadian lad,62,with 18-inch biceps,you’d forget ALL BUT PERHAPS TWO of those above chaps!!!!!

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on Fri Oct 23rd 2015 at 15:39:42 Herneith

^^^^^

Leave your phone number and I will call you later!

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on Fri Mar 18th 2016 at 05:02:05 Liz Beth

I throw up a little in my mouth every time I see an image of Michael Jackson. He should be rotting in jail for the twisted pedophile he was, not idolized by a bunch of psychotics who love feminine-looking men who rape little boys.

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on Thu Dec 22nd 2016 at 17:41:16 Michelle

Michael Ealy blows them all away!!!!!!Gorgeous Man but Barack Obama should never of been on this list !!!!

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on Sat Apr 3rd 2021 at 22:57:43 blueberrymoon5969

Idris is the only man that came to my mind when I read this title, but Maxwell is an Oldie Goodie. IJS. That being said, all that glitters is not gold.

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