Black Isn't Beautiful

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!