The presence of this dark-skinned black woman Sitting Alone and farther from these couples has folks talking.

Over the holidays, actor Lance Gross and wife Rebecca Jefferson took a couples photo while on vacation in Big Bear, New York. The trip is an annual holiday tradition for Gross, who has been going there with friends since 2006. But it’s the presence of a dark-skinned black woman at the end of the line — eyes averted and sitting alone — that has folks talking. 

 As the photo makes the rounds on social media, it is sparking some heated commentary and a whole lot of projection. Some are calling it a visualization of colorism, others an unfortunate couples photo, still others say it is an image of the ‘strong black woman.’

 The mystery woman in the photo, who is a long time friend of Gross, has spoken out, expressing incredulity at the uproar and clarifying that the photo is actually a joke.

That the picture has triggered such a response is evidence of how sensitive the issue of colorism is in black culture. Ladies, what are your thoughts?