When I heard the speech of Oscar winner lupita nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave at the 7th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon my heart leaped, because I've heard it before, but as I watched again I listened. Go on now I say, so that other
black girls can see it before they see it, meaning see themselves achieve limitless heights in their hearts before they see it manifest in mainstream sources.
My daughter is a dark skinned girl
and oftentimes I've been asked, "mommie how do I bleach my skin, why
am I so black, and the kids pick on me." I always sway the conversation to
black beauty while working tirelessly to build her self esteem through healthy
activities that reflect her gifts and make her proud to be the who that she is
skin deep.
The media has shown a depiction of what beauty should be from the
long hair, to the slender build and the very fair skinned hues well it's a new day
black, browns, and yellows arent shadows that lay waste they fill our skies and
embrace our skin bringing color to our world again and again just as white is
not the sum but apart of the colorful whole.
Lupita said she wrote her speech without practice, which was not hard to believe, because anything from the heart dont need practice, but preparation and that she was prepared.
Her first words were "I want to take this opportunity to talk about beauty. Black beauty. Dark beauty." This line had me sold to continue to listen as she went on to take the time to address a young girls letter that shared issues of dark skin and how she was on the verge of bleaching her dark tones for a lighter result.
Her first words were "I want to take this opportunity to talk about beauty. Black beauty. Dark beauty." This line had me sold to continue to listen as she went on to take the time to address a young girls letter that shared issues of dark skin and how she was on the verge of bleaching her dark tones for a lighter result.
She expressed her story of growing up with similar challenges of self acceptance and loathing until hearing the affirmations of Oprah and seeing the example of Alek Wek until her mothers continual ringing that beauty is not a sustaining source nor can we attain it as a marker of success we have to just be the beauty that we are and embrace that. Now the irony is her voice extends beyond the states for young girls to see.
You cannot just see beauty as exterior adornments but as things that we each feel when we reach out to those that may not be able to return the favor or give us anything but a thank you or a smile.
You cannot just see beauty as exterior adornments but as things that we each feel when we reach out to those that may not be able to return the favor or give us anything but a thank you or a smile.
As an at home audience I went away with a message to share with my dark skinned daughter and with my soul that we can come out of the shade and walk in the glory of the sun, because there is nothing more beautiful than confidence in the skin you have no matter your race or hue. This is her story and legacy to all young girls of color and I salute her.
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