Why Is It So Difficult To Be loved As A Dark Skinned Women And The Importance Of Black Sisterhood.

If you haven’t already read The colour purple by Alice walker, the novel vogues through a journey covering themes of beauty within the black female, female dominance and  self love. Many years later the novel was adapted into a movie, starring big female actresses such as Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. Creating a more visualised take on the book. For me the colour purple really made me reflect over the fact that black women in general really have to go through a lot to just be accepted in society, going beyond standards, even if it means putting aside their pride, not only towards white people but black men as well. When watching the movie/ book you tend to see the struggle is more prominent the darker that you are. The particular themes that I will be discussing through this article is attraction and Pride.

For me growing up as a darkskin girl in a predominantly white environment was not the easiest. Especially when it came to attraction of the opposite sex. I found it very hard to accept that I was beautiful just the way I was and had very low confidence, back in my secondary school days. Watching and reading books like the colour purple really helped me to establish the confidence in myself that I have today, obviously I am still growing and establishing what it means to have self love, but I can proudly say that the journey that I've encountered so far has enabled me to come a very long way. Hence why I believe representation matters in most things brought to the public eye, whether it being the media, books or films. I remember when I was in secondary school I was told by a “friend” the only reason why she's able to attract the opposite sex is because she is light skin, now reflecting over this at a much more mature age and mindset, I would say this is sad on both of our behalf's yet, I would say mainly hers, because I would hate to only be found attractive on only my features, with disregards of my personality. However, at the time I found the comment to be somewhat hurtful and this amongst many this did decrease my inability for me to see the beauty that I have. Similarly, I can relate with Celie (the main character in the colour purple ) as throughout the book she was constantly looked down upon for being a darkskin girl and called ugly by black men. This immediately creates a mental barrier that you are not good enough for your own people, making you question who you are really good enough for, despite yourself. I asked some black boys why in the past it was such a big deal to go out or have the desire to be with a Lighter skinned girl and they're answers were, that they often felt the pressure of doing so because everyone was doing it, it was never the case that they were attracted to them they just felt the un-forced pressure of doing it as it was just a norm. As well as this they told me that certain characteristics, from a mixed raced girl in particular was always emphasised, such as having curly hair or caramel skin. Which I found very interesting, because growing up, you would hear the mixed-raced girl/ lighter skinned girl to be fantasised but I genuinely can't think of any positive connotations that were held to dark skin girls.

Perhaps we can blame men for the way they acted towards dark skin women but, I blame the lack of media representation that was put towards dark skin women at the time, and if a colourist comment were to be made the issue would never be seen as something of relevance. For example 

Maya Jama, a very attractive light skinned television and radio presenter made a comment stating. “Dark skin bitches shaving their head expecting to look like Amber Rose, when really they end up looking like Michael Jordan'. Looooooooool.” Yes, although the presenter eventually apologises  about the comment five (5) years later, she was still able to get away with it, which brings on the questioning of whether her light skin privilege was the reason as to why this was ignored or if this comment was kept quiet would she still have apologised? Maya Jama has continuously been given the opportunity to represent black women, in what she does but personally I do not think she is the best person to do so, yes I believe that everyone should be given a second chance, and that we shouldn't, be held accountable for our past actions, as well as this I believe Maya Jama has worked incredibly hard to get to where she is now. But living in a world where dark skin girls are not even given the same platforms as most light skin women is applicable. One could argue that we are improving, as we have the likes of Nella Rose who has been in the public eye for a while and is now presenting shows on Entertainment television, has been a step forward, where I agree to an extent, but it's hard to name another dark skin woman who has been given the same opportunities to be in the public eye that can be argued of being on  the same level as Maya Jama in my honest opinion.

Despite this, Books / films such as the colour purple have become such an eye opener, for  darker skin girls who do not get the attention that they deserve in society as well as highlighting issues that all black women, from different shades experience, and enhances black sisterhood in the black race.

Printed by Nya'Lay