The Skin I’m in – Bump a Summer Body
For centuries, dark skin has been demonized, scrutinized, and dehumanized. So much so, that it went from mainly coming from white folk to being just as pervasive in our own communities. And while no one is out here doing paper bag tests anymore, the mindset born from it can be seen everywhere.
Although black skin is being celebrated now more than ever, there’s still a lot of work to do. And with summer right around the corner, you know you’ll hear at least one person say “I hope I don’t get too dark.” You maybe even said once yourself. The reality is that the impact of society’s disdain for darker skin can cause real self-esteem problems for Black folk and PoC. As a result, colorism is still heavily prevalent in many ethnic communities - especially for Black people. But I’m about to show you just how amazing Black girl magic really is.
Your Skin is Melanated Gold
Not like we really needed science to tell us, but melanin – especially during the summer – is great for your skin. Melanin acts as a kind of natural sunscreen that protects you from the sun’s rays. This means a lower risk for developing skin cancer or wrinkles. The saying “Black don’t crack” definitely didn’t come out of nowhere. Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put on your Black Girl Sunscreen, it just means you have some natural protection built in! On top of that, brown eyes are scientifically shown to experience way less age-related vision loss compared to those with lighter eyes. So not only are we practically staying young forever, but we’re also not going blind any time soon.
Aside from straight facts, black and brown skin is golden. Just ask Nyakim Gatwech – known as Queen of the Dark – a model whose net worth is now over $4 million dollars and is making a killing in the modeling industry, an industry still known for favoring Eurocentric ideals of beauty. Surely, she doesn’t pass the paper bag test and doesn’t seem to give a rat’s ass about it either. She doesn’t see her blackness as something to be corrected because it isn’t. One of her Instagram captions put it in words as clear as daylight:
“My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors.”
And despite the role colorism plays in the level of privilege light-skinned Black folk are allowed, you do not need a savior to tell you that your beautifully melanated skin is something to love, adore, and be proud of.
Your Skin is Something to Celebrate
From tanning and curly perms to lip injections and Brazilian butt lifts, people will pay top dollar to look exactly like the people they claim to hate. Who could’ve imagined that we’d live to see the day where people are addicted to wanting to look like us? To be dark like us, have lips like us, and have hair like us? Despite the “you look pretty for a dark-skinned girl” comments, we’re actually born in what is now the most sought-after image.
Luckily, the entertainment industry is following suit – portraying more darker-skinned leads as opposed to casting Will Smith and Zendaya Coleman for every Black lead role. Jordan Peele himself said he doesn’t see himself casting a white person as a lead for his movies - and I just love how often he works to bring dark-skinned representation. And while we still have a long way to go when it comes to colorism, the step we all need to make first is acknowledging that colorism does not make us less than. That we are worthy of love, empathy, and compassion - not only from others but from ourselves.
Here’s to loving the skin we’re in.
The next time you head to the beach, the lake, the pool, or anywhere this summer, remember that your skin is something to be proud of, to be celebrated, and to be shown off. For even more self-loving, grab a copy of Cocoa Butter and Hair Grease today and find your Black girl magic!
