neoafrican:

Colorism is real and is present in every corner and crevice of the African community, from the most conscious to the most oblivious. Being a Black, African woman of dark complexion with kinky hair and distinct West African physical features, there is no space (Black or White) I have entered without being subject to whispers, gazes, and even snickers. The journey to loving my physical being is a hard one. If not for the love I have for my culture and people, I’m not sure if I would be the person I am. I could have been one of many resorting to physical manipulation of my body to conform to societal standards of beauty. The struggle to love the physical can take its toll on the mental. We all say Black is beautiful but do we really mean it? My Black seems to be a black too extreme for my own people. It’s at Howard University where I learned that my skin, my physical was not deemed attractive by my own peers. Colorism is painful. It is only the passion I have for educating my people on our beauty and importance that keeps me going on this journey of self-love