When blacks describe other blacks what do they mean by redbone and yellowbone?

Question

And is there any other "bones"?

Answer 1

Red bone is referring to having mixed blood from black and white parents. These are lighter skin blacks in America, and considered to be the higher class. This doesn't come from outside the black culture.

Yellow bone- Is a mixture of Black and Asian parents, like Tiger Woods. Again, within the American black culture they are considered more attractive and more intelligent.

I have not heard of any other "bones" but in the last 20 years is has become popular to claim some sort of Native American heritage. Why? I don't know its a black American thing.

Blacks on the rest of the planet have no idea what they are talking about.

Hope this helps in your research of American cultures and sub-cultures.

Best Wishes

Answer 2

I am biracial and people often describe me as redbone. Although I am brown I have a red underlying tint. Somewhat like a native american. A yellowbone is someone how has a yellow underlying tone. Examples of redbone celebrities: Tatyana Ali (Ashley from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), or Chili from tlc. Yellow bone: Alicia Keys, Mya, or Amerie. Most redbones are people mixed with black & hispanic or Indian. Most yellowbones are mixed with black & white. Hope that helped.

Answer 3

Please do not pay any attention to Boz. I just love it when people open their big mouths and nothing intelligent comes out. I'm Black and I've never heard of the term "yellow bone". I think you're referring to the term "high yella" which basically just means a lighter skinned Black. This term does not just apply to biracial people; for example, I have a cousin who is "high yella", but both of his parents are Black. "Redbone" refers to a Black with reddish undertones to their skin. I can think of many descriptions for our skin, but I don't know of any other "bones". I try not to use the term "high yella" because for me it has a negative connotation. As a child whenever I heard someone use that term it seemed like it was an insult. Boz, if you knew anything about the history of African Americans you would realize that some Blacks do in fact have some native American ancestry. Why is it that no one questions whites who always claim to be part Cherokee, but immediately doubts Blacks when we do the same?

Answer 4

No what we mean is when a black person is very bright they are yellowbone. Their skin isnt dark tone just bright colored like honey. And ive never heard the expression redbone, so I dont know what that mean. And no there isnt anyother expressions like that.

Answer 5

It is describing the person because black people come in different shades of color and this is how they would describe an individual.

I personally do not use that redbone, yellowbone if I am talking about a light skin black person I say( lightskin )if it's a darker skin black person I would say (dark skin)..

Answer 6

This "BOZ" character is so smart he's stupid! The terms Yellow bone and redbone have nothing to do with "more Intelligent" nor "higher class". These are distinctions in HIS mind. These terms are simply used to describe the skin tone of people within the black community. Local jargon.
And as for Blacks claiming Indian ancestry? Study American history ! Its a fact of life! They (black people)are just now owning up to the fact that American Indians mixed with black people! In my family my father was Cherokee from Ahoskie,North Carolina. With segregation and mistreatment of the Indians it was natural for Blacks and Indians to form an alliance. There is much of this mixture in Virginia and the carolinas. During the time of Andrew Jackson run away slaves run outside the territories and fled to areas like Georgia and Florida. In Georgia they built a fort in cahoots with the local Indians called Fort *****. When the US Govt sent agents to negotiate with the Indians to retreive the runaway slaves - they sat around the powwow fire smoking and trying to negotiate. When asked for a decision from the chief of the fort - they were astonished to discover that the chief himself was a black man! The Seminoles of Florida are very mixed with black. So Dont show your ignorance by not learning about American history. As an American it is part of your story too!

Answer 7

Old fashion slang refering to the color of the skin, but within the african american race. Yellow bone or "high yellow" would mean the very light complexion of the race. Redbone is a more ruddy or red tones, and auburn hair
Strange isn't it, there are even distinctions made within ethnic groups.

Answer 8

Well it's not yellow bone but yellow and that's a light skinned blk person. Not necessarily mixed w/ white. but just a yellow toned black person. and Redbone yes "bone" is someone who's more Carmel honey complexioned darker than yellow. Confusing??? yeah I bet!!

Answer 9

redbone and yellowbone is merley the tint of thier skin.

Answer 10

It means a reddish skin color girl is a red bone and a yellow skinned girl is a yellow bone.

use to describe women, black women of a certain color skin.