DETROIT

Yasmine Toney describes herself as a "dark-skinned sista." So when she heard about a recent club promotion in Detroit, allowing all-night free admission to Black women with fair or light skin, she was incensed.

"It's offensive," Toney said. "It continues a negative stereotype."

"I'm perceived to be aggressive, assertive, attitude-having ... a lot of things, because my complexion is darker," said the 24-year-old receptionist.

The party was canceled last week after its promoter, who is Black, received dozens of complaints. But for Toney and other Black women, the issue reopened old, deep wounds as word of the party spread through the Internet.

How Black women are viewed and treat each other depending on the hue of their skin, eye color, and the length and grade of their hair has long been a point of contention for many in the Black community.

Many women with lighter skin frequently are accused of believing they are better than those with darker complexions. Many women with brown or dark-brown complexions complain that they too often are not treated as well socially or professionally as those with fairer skin.

"I think they get to slide in a little easier," Toney, who is pursuing a master's degree in counseling, said of women with lighter skin. "They are assumed to be passive and nice and sweet. I feel I have to do a little bit more. Number one, I'm Black. Number two, I'm dark and I have short hair."

Ulysses Barnes, who goes by the name DJ Lish, says he canceled his "Light Skinned Women & ALL LIBRA's" promotion after complaints rolled in from women, activists and organizations across the country.

"I thought it was a brilliant promotion at the time," said Barnes, who has spent the last several days apologizing to people. "I didn't anticipate any type of feedback. It was just a party thing."

Barnes, 27, canceled future "sexy chocolate" and "sexy caramel" promotions and just wants the controversy to go away.