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Colorism

I’ve got beef with colorism. Colorism is defined as discrimination based on skin color. Myself and other young women I know have had to deal with issues surrounding it, both within our own race and others. I’ve struggled with colorism since I was a kid, and as an adult, I’ve still found myself in situations where I’ve had to wrestle with it. I’m not a hater and I’m not insecure, but I don’t like being treated like I’m invisible, because of my shade of brown as a woman of color. And I can't imagine that other women of color appreciate similar treatment as well. 

I've had some girlfriends who've been darker than me suggest that from their perception, I'm light skinned, so when I've shared my colorism experiences with them, they've seemed shocked. However, I'm definitely brown and I'm not exaggerating what it's been like. I’ve noticed. Man, have I noticed. And I’ve felt awful every time it’s happened.

I noticed during early moments in my youth, growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods and schools, and watching as teachers and different guys I went to school with would always tell the lighter skinned black girls and/or white girls how beautiful they were, as I looked on and often wondered, what does that make me?

I’ve noticed (and sadly have continued to notice) whenever I’ve heard different ignorant black guys and a handful of white ones, make statements as well as suggest that lighter skinned black women are more attractive than darker ones, and have expressed their preference for white women or any other races of women that are not brown or dark skinned.

I’ve noticed whenever I’ve been out with friends (whether they were light skinned or anything but brown to darker skinned) and watched as guys from all kinds of races would approach them, and completely ignore me.

Honestly, it hurts. I know I shouldn’t feel less than or compare myself to others, but I do feel some type of way about all this. It’s messed up and I don’t understand it. I’m brown, beautiful, with big brown eyes, and a contagious smile that can light up an entire room. Along with a great body and a very dope spirit, plus, a mind filled with knowledge, education, intelligence, and creativity.

I’m not invisible. Don’t treat me like I am.

When I was in undergrad I wrote a non-fiction piece titled, Mirror, Mirror, about self-esteem and one of the chapters focused on issues surrounding colorism within the black community. There’s always been this long standing stigma that if a black person is light skinned they’re deemed as more attractive, because they look close to white (which was once the ultimate standard of beauty.) Of course what’s considered the standard of beauty has drastically changed, but I still feel the stings when I believe I’m overlooked because I’m a woman of color that’s shades darker than someone else. I’ve had other black girlfriends who’ve battled with similar issues, and have seen how visibly hurt they’ve been whenever they were overlooked, mistreated, or felt less than, because they didn’t look like the girl everyone gushed over that was lighter than them or from another race. But I’ve got some words for any and every woman of color who has felt this way. And I also have words for those of you that diss, dismiss, and overlook us.

To my fellow women of color who have felt the shade of colorism…

I believe you’re beautiful. You may not look like the others that surround you, but you still have value and are appreciated. I see you, know you, and have felt what you’ve felt in more ways than you’d ever know. I’ve cried the same tears and have felt invisible. I’ve definitely felt not pretty enough or good enough plenty of times, and want you to know, you’re not alone. Don’t ever feel left out or invisible because someone doesn’t recognize your inner and outer beauty.

To those that diss, dismiss, and overlook us? It’s your loss. We’re dope. 

Also, a special thanks to…

Naturi Naughton
Teyonah Parris
Tika Sumpter
Normani Kordei
Kelly Rowland
Keke Palmer
Angela Bassett
Alfre Woodard
Taraji P. Henson
Lauryn Hill
Rutina Wesley
India Arie
Sanaa Lathan
Naomi Campbell
Lupita Nyong’o
Gabrielle Union
Viola Davis
Shonda Rhimes
Kerry Washington
And all the others. You’ve helped in many ways.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well – Psalm 139:14




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