If I see one more chocolate, mocha, caramel in a character description I'm going to scream. Like at this point if you're doing it it has to be on purpose. It annoys me because we'll get character descriptions like:

• "The detective was a portly fellow. His face was marked with pot marks that betrayed his age that his jet black toupee was trying to hide. He rubbed the stubble on his face as he looked over the cold case."

• "As I scanned the classroom I saw numerous kids at various levels of interest. Jen was one of the kids who was at level zero. Head down and covered by her brunette hair. Her skinny frame looked as if it was getting swallowed by the oversized desk. I went to wake her up."

• "Jackson was a man that took care of his body. He worked out twice a day. He had clear smooth skin that a blemish wouldn't dare to sabotage. His only flaw was that he was balding. After growing out his beard he made the big decision to cut all of the hair on his head off."

However, when it comes to characters of African descent, the language often shifts:

• "Ebony was a mocha chocolate queen. Her caramel and cream complexion would have stopped any person in their tracks. Her gold hoop earrings swayed like her hips as she walked towards me."

Like BRUHHHHHH

This style of description feels starkly different. It's as if these terms are explicitly pointing out that a character is Black, often in a way that feels clichéd and potentially fetishizing.

The first three examples don't mention race. They could technically be anyone. But when they do that, they also explicitly say when someone is black like in the last example. And when someone is white they rarely ever explicitly say. It's just assumed white is the default and everything has to be explained or addressed.

Personally, I would be fine with literally any description that doesn't have a historical connotation of dehumanizing and fetishizing black people.

Disclaimer this is highly based on the story. So the historical fiction set in Japan or fantasy set in Narnia won't really apply here for obvious reasons.

Sorry for the vent. It's just dehumanizing, and fetishizing.

And like I get it you've read books they described a white person as having milky creamy or peachy skin. It's not the same. My point was never that there's no descriptions of white people ever. If you're replying descriptions of white people as a "gotcha" you've missed the point.

Before we go any further, It's important to clarify that I'm not just a young person stirring the pot; I'm a Black man deeply invested in this discussion. The use of food-related terms to describe Black people isn't a mere cliché, but something that bears a significant historical and cultural weight, which is often overlooked.

Moreover, there's always mention of how white characters sometimes receive similar treatment with descriptors like "milky" or "alabaster." While it's true that these terms are used, they don't carry the same dehumanizing and fetishizing connotations as those often employed for Black characters. This difference is crucial and speaks volumes about the disparities in representation.

For example, the conversations around dating apps that have been happening for more than a decade have been particularly enlightening. Many Black women share experiences of being objectified, often referred to as "chocolate" on these platforms. This speaks to a broader societal issue where certain terms, meant to describe, end up reducing a person to a mere object or a stereotype.

This leads to my main point about consistency in describing skin tones in literature. If you're going to describe someone's skin color, it should be done for all characters, regardless of race. And in doing so, choosing terms that don't have a history of dehumanizing or fetishizing people is essential.

This isn't a new observation. The use of food-related descriptors for skin tone, particularly in Black communities, has been discussed widely and has historical connotations that can be dehumanizing and sexualizing. For those interested in more context or alternative ways to describe skin tone, here are some resources:

• Writing With Color on Tumblr
• Discussion on JSTOR
• Reddit Thread on the Topic
• Naomi Campbell's Reaction to Cadbury Ad
• NYU News Article

"The Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within U.S. Slave Culture" is another insightful resource on this topic.

these links explain better ways to do it, why "chocolate" and "mocha" are problematic. But since I was asked, if you are wanting to see examples of how I'd be describe dark skin look below

"In the hushed ambiance of the library, Naomi's presence was as captivating as the stories around her. Her skin, a deep onyx, absorbed the room's soft light, giving her an almost ethereal glow as she delved into the pages of a well-worn novel."

"Derek's laughter was the melody of the evening, his skin a vibrant shade of umber that seemed to dance with each chuckle. The light reflecting off of him made his dark skin look like shade of blue. As he recounted tales to his captivated audience, his animated expressions painted the room with the vivacity of his spirit."

"Aisha sat, a picture of tranquility, by the sunlit window. Her skin, the same shade of clay as from her native Georgia, complemented the lush greenery outside. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice she was being watched."

If you do not like or don't und one of my personal examples that's totally okay. There's links with dozens of better ways to do it. Georgia red clay is a reference alot of you didn't get. And that's okay. If you don't like onyx or the reddish brown clay please use any other examples. These aren't meant to be the end all be all. They are only quick examples I made up because someone asked me.

TL;DR: Reflecting on character descriptions in literature, I've noticed an inconsistent and often clichéd approach to describing Black characters, frequently using terms like "chocolate" and "mocha." This not only feels out of place compared to the more nuanced descriptions of other characters, but also carries historical and cultural baggage.

Edit:my comments are being mass down voted. I'm definitely replying to people. Please stop messaging me I'm always coward for not replying to [insert comment here]. I promise you I've either addressed that argument in my op. Or I've responded/will respond to that person. Your can't see my replies because some are at negative 30 etc. Not trying to be snarky but just want to to address the folks who are think I'm ignoring them or others