I remember being four years old and my mom saying, "Say it loud." Then I would yell, "I’m black and I’m proud!" My family has educated me about my black history and what my ancestors and even my grandparents had to go through; I never really understood the depth of my culture. As I grew up and became more educated, I realized what it means to be black and proud. I love black people and I appreciate all that my ancestors endured for me to have the amazing life that I have today.

As a young African-American woman, I have encountered prejudice and forms of numerous types of racism. When I was a child, I never knew how to stand up for myself. As much as I wanted to defend myself, I did not know how. I was not strong nor confident enough. I grew up in a white neighborhood, went to a white school and participated in white-majority sports/activities. I was always one of the only black kids’ everywhere I went. I remember there were times I would feel self-conscious because I was black. During school, some of my peers would treat me like an Amazonian freak. It was almost as if they had never seen a black person before in their lives. Sometimes I would laugh it off and revel in the attention. But then there were other times that I would feel awkward and uncomfortable. It wasn’t until later on that I realized that those people were not my friends. They were just ridiculing me unbeknownst to my knowledge. I know if the same were to happen to me today, I would know how to handle the same situation.

I am so happy and blessed to be able to attend Winston-Salem State University. I am so excited to have the opportunity to attend an HBCU because I have grown up in a white-washed world. To be honest, it is so refreshing to be around so many intelligent black men and women. My mom has told my sister and me about black colleges ever since I could remember. Going to a predominately white college, or a PWI, was not an option, which to me is not a bad thing at all. I am glad that my mother taught me about schools such as Spelman, FAMU, Howard, Morehouse, Hampton and Winston-Salem State University. It saddens me that there are black people who have never heard of HBCUs or who believe that the education here is lesser than an education at a PWI. I cannot wait to learn so much more about my black history and I know that I will be able to at this university. I am going to be even more educated and proud of who I am as a black woman.

Colorism. I never knew there was a name for it.

Colorism: Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

I have learned what the name of this disgusting discrimination is. When I was younger, especially in middle school, I would hate my skin complexion. I hated that my skin was dark. I thought that the lighter your skin, the prettier you were. My sister was lighter than I was, and she would receive all the attention and compliments while I was just referred to as the dark girl in the family. In school, people gave me the nickname “Midnight.” Black boys would tell me that I would be pretty if I were light skinned. Girls’ Facebook name would be Anya MixedBeautyGoddess Thomas. I didn’t understand why people thought less of me because of my skin, specifically black people. It was confusing because girls who were not particularly pretty would get so much attention because they were lighter. It was not until my junior year in high school that I began to love my skin tone. It makes me so angry know how ignorant some people are. Colorism makes me angrier than racism because of the fact that the prejudice is within our own race. How we supposed to get respect and demand equality when we are prejudiced with each other? I love my skin now and I am confident with how I look; I still get the “You’re pretty for a dark skin.” To be honest, it still hurts when I hear that. Why is dark skin perceived as ugly? I am beautiful and people with a dark skin complexion are beautiful. So why am I just pretty for a dark girl? Although I am not self-conscious about my skin, it is still hard for me to deal with colorism because it brings me back to the old uncomfortable me who hated her dark skin. I just pray that one day we can get away from the ignorance that is colorism.

Today I fully embrace my black pride as well as my woman pride. Though I have not experienced much prejudice from being a woman, I fully embrace the fact that I am a black feminist. In reality, all women should be feminists and all black people should have black pride. Sadly, this isn't true. Not everyone shares this mindset. It's sad to know that not everyone thinks this way. The equality of women and African Americans are two topics that I will fight until the end for. I would love to see the day where women and black people are all treated with the same equality as men and white people. I lived to see a black president in the American White House, and I hope that I can live to see a woman in the White House.

The person I am today is not the same person I was two years ago. The person I am today is much more confident and outspoken. Like I mentioned before, I used to be quite meek and I had no idea how to stand up for myself. I like the person that I have become. Some people may say that I am a bit radical when it comes to my black pride, which I do not agree with whatsoever. To me, the word radical has a negative connotation to it. I don't believe my black pride is radical or extreme. I am proud of being black. I am proud of what my ancestors, great-grandparents and grandparents went through in order for me to have the life I have today. Although everything is not perfect and there is racism in this world, living as an African American is much better than it was 30 years ago. I am always more than happy to educate anybody about black history since the history classes in the American school curriculum doesn't even cover a third of what black people have contributed to this country and to this world. Sometimes people get upset with some of the things I say.

Some people believe I hate white people or that I think all white people are racist. I know not all white people are racist, but I like to group them up all as one.

Welcome to the other side of the stereotype.

I guess that is a prime example of one of my "controversial" statements. However, I believe you cannot have a filter sometimes. Sometimes you have to say things how they are to get your point across. I know it sounds weird, but this class has taught me to not sugarcoat things anymore. White people weren't sugarcoating when they were whipping, lynching and calling us dumb n*****.

I did it again.

My point is is that when I am talking about my history, I am going to tell people the full story, not the PC version.

I realize my article has deviated a little bit and that it now sounds a bit unprofessional. However, every point I have made is a result of what I have experienced growing up. I never realized all that I have been through and how much it has impacted me. At the time, being called an ugly dark skinned girl or a dumb n-word really hurt me. In a weird way, I am glad it happened because those incidents made me the strong, proud black woman I am today. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to attend WSSU. I cannot wait to learn even more about my history, and meet amazing men and women who look like me.