"Embracing the Beauty of Dark Skin: A Journey of Resilience"

To be Black in this world is an experience. To be a Black woman in this world is a trip. To be a dark skinned Black woman in this world is something extraordinary.

 

Living in a predominantly white neighbourhood in the UK next door to a racist witch was hard to deal with at times but never once did I feel like it had anything to do with how Black I was.

I was fully aware that Black people were only tolerated in some spaces and in others, not at all, so although I experienced hate I had a community of hated Black people that stuck together and went against the ignorant pagans that surrounded us. 

 

Being raised by my dark skinned parents, along with the unwavering support of my dark skinned aunties, uncles, grandparents, and fellow churchgoers, who embodied love, strength, and beauty, instilled in me a deep appreciation for my dark skin.

 

The only time I truly noticed a difference was in relation to my hair. I distinctly remember a day at school when I was about 6 or 7 years old, sporting two braids adorned with colourful clips, and suddenly decided I wanted to look like my best friend Nadia. She was mixed, her mum white and dad Indian; she had thick, long brown hair that bounced from ear to ear.

I headed to the toilets, undid my hair, patted it down, and carefully placed the clips at the front of my head. When I returned to my classmates, I was met with laughter, and in that moment, I realised that my hair defied gravity.

 

Throughout all these experiences, I never saw my complexion as a disadvantage, a testament to the incredible black men and women who surrounded me.

It wasn't until high school, around year 9 or 10, that I personally noticed colourism. It manifested in the preferences of the boys around us, with lighter-skinned or Mixed-race girls often being more desired, regardless of their actual attractiveness.

 

Despite these observations, I never viewed my colour in a negative light. I cherished my melanin from a young age and was always drawn to highly melanated boys and now men. 

 

I heard a lot of people that looked like me complain that they weren't given the same opportunities as their White peers which I didn’t experience for the first 15 years of employment. Everything I wanted in work I worked hard and got.

 

 I  noticed the difference in treatment in social settings around peers, my opinions taken as aggression but Stacey’s opinions with the curly hair and pale skin were heard and respected.

 

In the workplace particularly there was and still is the continuous insinuation that if someone listened to my views, abided by my rules, acted on my suggestions was because they had to be scared of me; not because what I have said is right or respected but because they are scared of me.

 

Being a Black woman in this world is constantly being offended but trying to hide your offence to avoid the condescending ‘why are you being defensive, i didn’t mean it that way’.

 

Despite the continuous challenges, being a dark-skinned Black woman is about defying negative stereotypes and uncovering the beauty within the darkness. It's about showing those who've shown love and support how truly amazing you are, beyond the surface. Being a Black woman in this world is a testament to your worth, living each day as intended by God.

 

Being a dark-skinned Black woman is an ongoing battle, but it's also a beautiful reality, showcasing the strength and resilience of a unique identity.