Melanin varies within my family. And it’s definitely not something I’m ashamed of. I’m chocolate brown and my immediate family (sisters, mother, and father) are of a lighter shade. I never really noticed it much growing up except for others who forced me to. Like, the occasional mix-up when it came to buying and sharing make-up with my sisters. My sisters seemed to always have the best shades and foundation that fit them both perfectly, and me? Well, I couldn’t share in their festivities. Or, the curious soul who asks, on the discovery of my sisters and I relation, if we have the same parents. And I’m not the only one within in a colorful family who’s experienced something similar to this.

This is black culture. We should celebrate our differences not degrade each other because of it with words like red bone or purple to describe our natural hues. These words are reminiscent of mulatto and nigger that were used to separate and ultimately create a hierarchy within the black community. This divide and conquer strategy is still evident and functional today. Some of us prefer light skin over dark skin. A darker skinned African America is automatically deemed more threatening than a lighter skin person of the same descent. Lighter skinned people just seem more approachable, in a workplace, at the gym, in the mall, etc. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone feels this way however there are enough people who do to create a problem.

Someone’s skin complexion shouldn’t determine they’re demeanor. This is a complex matter because someone’s skin color is one of the first things that greet you. The whole “I don’t see color” motto is folly. You do see my skin color but that isn’t the problem. The problem lies within the thinking. It’s a person’s mindset toward people of color, the essence of we are, that need to be reversed not they’re eyesight.

This should begin within black culture first. We have to stop being so judgmental of each other and embrace our diversity then, maybe, others will follow.