Hello again Youvies!
Today's post will be a bit more serious, but it's one that
we think is important to address as it ties in with our desire for everybody to
have a positive self-image. So, let's get started.
Far too often, we hear that light skin is something to
aspire to. It’s coveted in everything from the media, popular culture and even
the personal lives from celebrities to the average citizen alike; rumors swell of
darker complected individuals bleaching
their skin because they feel their own is less-than-desirable. There are even
magazines who take it upon themselves to significantly lighten the skin of
their darker celebrities (or even tan the fairer skinned ones)
The fashion industry is one that is guilty of perpetuating
the idea that lighter skin in somehow better than darker skin. An overwhelming
majority of models seen in runway shows and advertisements are tall, thin, and
fair skinned. These models are undoubtedly beautiful, but where is the
representation? In many countries, particularly the United States, there is an
incredibly diverse population of men and women of all different colors. If this
truly is the melting pot, why not show it?
The goal of this article isn't to bash people of fairer skin
or create a feeling of "Us vs. Them", but to say that every body is
beautiful regardless of skin color. What we're trying to say is that this
concept paired with constant reinforcement is highly detrimental to the mental
health of our younger generations. And that most certainly needs correcting.
Being people of color ourselves we want to be part of the
generation that ends the cycle. And we think a good place to start is by
accepting and loving ourselves exactly how we are and we encourage you to do
the same. Whether your skin is dark, light, or somewhere in between, it's
beautiful just as it is. We know this sounds so cliché, but it's really true.
The sooner you forget what everyone else has to say the
sooner you can start loving yourself for who you really are. That, we think, is
true beauty; a person who is able to love themselves, regardless of what people
may say, is a demonstration of inner strength and self-respect, which will
ultimately result in greater well-being.
Last week, there was an incident where Jazzi was departing
from the city library. A man approached her with small talk and inquired
politely, “If I may ask, what ethnicity are you?”. There was nothing wrong with
his approach, but what was entirely unaccepted was his reaction. “No way you’re
black! You’re way too fucking beautiful!”
Excuse us? Is that supposed to be some kind of twisted form
of flattery? We were unaware that being black came with a small-print clause
that read ‘you cannot be beautiful’. Is that what we get for not reading the
full print?
Of course not! That’s utterly ridiculous! While we can
understand (sadly) that straightening hair and bleaching skin and cosmetic
surgery to change the ‘ethnic characteristics’ of the black race has become
almost a norm and make some people happy, it’s a sad reality.
What kind of world do we live in where people are told for generations that the qualities that make
their race unique are the very qualities that make their race ‘ugly’ or
‘undesirable’? It’s a pretty sad place to be if you ask us!
Let’s break this social stigma that beauty has set rules.
Let’s thrash the idea that, because of your skin color, you’re inferior to your
lighter-skinned peers. Let’s tilt our noses in the air towards the system that
breeds intolerance and self-hate and realize that we’re better than the
falsified images we see in our medias.
Do you know what the world would be without the different
features of every race? Boring. Bleak and Boring. Nobody looks at a
single-colored ray of light in awe, but everybody stops to gaze upon the multi-colored
rainbow.
You know what.
Black IS beautiful
Brown IS beautiful
White IS beautiful
Red IS beautiful
Yellow IS beautiful
Olive IS beautiful
Every color under the sun is beautiful.
And anyone who thinks otherwise, well, there’s a chair full
of tacks with your name on it.
What did you think, Youvies? Show us your unique shade of beautiful by sending us a DM @hey_deja_you for a chance to be featured!
Until next time,
Hey DeJa You!
