BLACK HUE

Col·or·ism - Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group. "Colorism within the black community has been a serious emotional and psychological battle"

[blackhues]

Same mama. Different daddy

Colorism hits you right in the face when you and your sister have the same mom but different dads. That might not be such a problem but it is when her dad is white and my dad is black. There is an immediate difference when you look at me and my younger sister. So much that people don't even believe that we are related. She's is mixed and I am all black so we have different hair, different features, different skin. I know that my mother loves us both the same but she plays a big role in the relationship between me and my sister.

When she was born I was 7. I was aware of things including my feelings and could pick up on how I'm being treated. I knew my mom was excited for a new baby, we all were but when my sister came out, my mom was mesmerized. She could of had the same reaction when I was born but that I wouldn't know. My mom doted on my sister every single day. She was always so beautiful and the most beautiful girl in the world. I was too, but I was told that very less often. My sister had gorgeous hair and my mother told her that every chance she got. My hair in my mom's words was "a headache." I feel that is where my mom went wrong. I don't think she purposely compared her daughters with one another but it happened all the time. It made me believe that I wasn't as pretty as her or even loved as much as her. I was the definition of the black bird my family. When we got older I was able to deal with dumb comments from friends and people outside because we were just use to it. But all of my hurt came from inside my home.

My mom and my sister have a great relationship, but the three of us are struggling with each other. I would say I am mainly the reason of that struggle. As I'm older I seem to care less and want no parts but I know they are family and all I got.

-Ashanti K. 20

[blackhues]

She's not Beyonce tho...

I'm dark skin so I always rooted for the dark skin girls. Specifically in Destiny's Child. I loved Kelly Rowland, completely obsessed with her growing up. To a point where I thought that could be me. She was my skin, she was talented, she was beautiful. I actually wanted to be her. Then I got older and reality came and punched me in the face. I realized that colorism is a thing. And it's big. Yes Kelly was gorgeous and talented but that meant nothing because she wasn't Beyonce. All the time I think about how would the dynamics be if Kelly was lead in Destiny's Child. I might be bias because she's my favorite but I truly do believe she's equally talented and people took more of a liking to Beyonce because she is lighter with light eyes and her creole mixed background. Your typical trophy black girl. I would bring that idea up to people and they swear up and down that is not the case and Beyonce is just the chosen one. And don't get me wrong, I agree and stan for her but the question still stands, what if Kelly was the lead? She has the vocals, the looks, the talent. I could honestly see it, but when that idea is introduced, people just can't get passed the fact that she's not Beyonce.

-Samantha R. 21

[blackhues]

Black people wear sunscreen?

I never thought I needed to wear sunscreen because I was black. I honestly thought it was only got white people and lightskin people so that they wouldn't get red like a tomato after 2 minutes in the sun. But one day I realized that sunscreen was for many more.

My best friends and I planned a trip to Miami for spring break last year and the trip was everything I wanted to be. Wake up by the beach, pool everyday, relaxation. I couldn't ask for more. But what I did get on this trip that I did not expect was a lesson in how to love myself and accept me for exactly who I am.

One of the plans on our itinerary was to spend the day at the beach. Tanning, swimming, the goods. Before we got there one of my friends drenched herself in sunscreen and my immediate response was "girl you don't need that we're black." She believed otherwise and continues to pour the sunscreen on her from head to toe. When we got to the beach, we all wanted to just lay out in the sun first and that friend laid face down with a towel on her back. Still I was confused but I was letting her do her at the moment. When it was time to go swim, I got my answer on what was going on. She refused to get in the water because she believed that you get the darkest tan when you're in the water under the sun. My nonchalant self didn't see a problem with that but that looked like her biggest fear. I then does everything together. The sunscreen, no tanning, everything was to prevent her from getting darker.

That was only day 1 of the trip and she continued the same behavior for the whole 5 days. I watched her and for someone who I thought was confident let out all her insecurities about her skin. That showed me that I truly don't matter if I get a dark tan or the sun burns my skin, I'm black and I love it. I won't use sunscreen to try and make that go away.

-Taliah H. 20

[blackhues]

Scrubbing the black off

This is kind of an embarrassing story to tell but I feel like there's a black girl out there who needs to hear it.

I was a bleacher. And no I don't mean I put bleach in my laundry to make sure the whites comes out crisp. I was a skin bleacher. Face creams, body lotions, serums, soaps, I did it all. Back then I had no idea why I was doing this to myself. Now I see every problem that led me into that situation.

My grandmother will tell me to make sure I scrub hard when I take a bath. Which I 100 percent agreed with because no one wanted a dirty body. Her reasoning was completely different than mine. Her logic was to scrub hard everyday so that my skin would remain even and I wouldn't be at risk at getting darker. This started when I was 6. And it never ended as I entered my teen years. Scrub hard and harder was all I heard. When you constantly hear that everyday you start to think maybe the scrubbing isn't working. That when I turned to my biggest regret.

It all started with mixing a little bit of bleaching cream in with my lotion and only applying a little bit at a time. Dark spots like my knees and elbows got lighter instantly and I got excited. I had felt like I found the cure for cancer. But then every other day turned into every day. And problem areas turned into my whole body. I had a problem. I was physically altering what God gave me. I was no longer the beautiful black girl he intended for me to be. I then became mutated and a patchy mess.

When I was 17 I watched Lupita N'yango give a speech on how she hated her skin growing up like me. The only difference between us is that she turned away from bleaching products. She embraces the skin she was in and learned to access her inner beauty. If I could turn back the clock I would in a heart beat. But as for now, I tell this story to tell little black girls, don't scrub the black off.

-Alexis J. 20

[blackhues]

Black girls rock

I was about 15 or 16 the first time I saw the black girls rock award show on BET. It wasn't until then that I saw myself as a black girl who rocked. I always tried to hide my blackness and looking back at it, it's a shame that thought ever crossed my mind. It's just that for so long, I never saw a black girl who rocked and looked just like me. Yes, there were dark skin girls in the industry who represented girls like me, but they weren't held up to the same standards as those with lighter skin. I looked at actresses and realized that the talent isn't what's getting lead roles. It's the beauty. And I feared that going into the modeling/acting industry I would be dealt that same hand. I would have to work twice as hard or wear twice as much make up just to be noticed at casting calls. Because when I got casted in projects it was my token, but when lighter girls got casted it was their regular. The industry is changing and I applaud black girls rock for that. It opened my eyes to see that there is a community our beautiful brown girls who will cherish by blackness and wouldn't have it any other way.

-Leanna D. 22

[blackhues]

(BLACK HUE)

[blackhues]

Honey nut goodness

I don't recall directly being affected by colorism in my life. But I am fully aware of the harm it has done to the black community. I recall my friends and family members going through situations and struggling with their identities. It has been extremely hard for me to be there for them through their rough times.

"You don't know what I'm going through with your honey skin." Was the response I would get when I tried to be present and understand. In a way that made me look at my own skin color in a negative way. Are we all just not perfect? Do I also have insecurities about my skin? I had to ask myself all those questions and it took me nearly 5 years to find the answers.

I share your struggle. And I am hurting as well. So before you turn me away cause I have honey skin, lets talk about how this beast of colorism is attacking us both.

-Aja M. 21

[blackhues]

My beautiful black baby

My daughter is black and beautiful and I wouldn't have it any other way. Why? Because I am black and beautiful myself. I didn't get the support as a child that I will give to my daughter Ayla. It is both fortunate and unfortunate because although that is a huge part missing in me, she will be okay. I will make it a mission to kiss her every single day and tell her how much I love her. And how much I love her black skin. If wont matter if no one else does it because Ayla will get all the love and acceptance she needs from her mother and father. I look at my daughter and I see perfection. And it makes my heart hurt to know that there are so many other black girls in the world who won't get the same love when it comes to their skin. They will grown up to be teased and bullied over what I think makes them beautiful. It's a shame but it will change one step at a time. My step stars with Ayla.

-Heatheru J. 26

[blackhues]

Dipped in chocolate

love everything about my skin. I love the way it feels, the way it looks, the way is glistens. It truly is chocolate. When you see piece of chocolate you get happy. You can wait to eat it. And when you do, that first bite is so satisfying that you want another one. When you don't have it you crave it all day. While it waters in my mouth you think to yourself, "this is so good."

The way you feel about the delicious piece of chocolate is how I feel about my chocolate skin.

Mashaia C. 20

[blackhues]

(BLACK HUE)

[blackhues]

I get it from my mama

Growing up I hated my skin. And that was completely normal in my household because my mother hated her skin as well. We both could not learn to accept that out black was beautiful. Her insecurities and all of her doubts about being black was passed down to me. It wasn't her fault, because they were simply passed down to her as well. She grew up believing that dark skin and a crime within itself. That her skin couldn't compare to those who were lighter or simply white. She grew up looking in the mirror and saying "ew." So she knew no other patterns than self hate when she had a daughter of her own, me. I watched how she viewed herself. I watched how she felt self-conscious around those who were lighter than her. I watched my mother call herself ugly. I watched her bathe in Clorox to try and get the black off. And I wanted to be just like my mother, so I did the same. I then called myself ugly. I became insecure in a group of friends where I was the darkest one. I too looked in the mirror and said "ew." But now, both me and my mother are different. Our skin isn't what's ugly, the way society views it is what it ugly. Through meditation, deep conversations, and love, we are able to now look in the mirror and say, "wow, I'm beautiful."

-Jourdyn A. 20

[blackhues]

Darkskin vs. Lightskin

Because you're light skin doesn't make you're better than me. Because you're light skin doesn't mean you will be more successful than me. Because you're light skin doesn't me you are more loved than me. Because you're light skin doesn't mean you will have more jobs than me. Because you're light skin doesn't me you are more worthy than me. Because you're light skin doesn't mean you matter more than me.

Because I am dark skin doesn't mean I am uglier than you. Because I am dark skin doesn't mean I am dumber than you. Because I am dark skin doesn't mean I will get paid less than you. Because I am dark skin doesn't mean I will get less attention than you. Because I am dark skin doesn't mean I will be loved less than you. Because I am dark skin doesn't matter less than you.

-Sereya B. 21

[blackhues]

Light skin problems

I know when you think of colorism your first initial thought is how dark skin girls are affected by it. It's not right the way that they are treated simply because of the color of their skin but I've had my experience with it as well.

Being lightskin, people automatically assumed I was stuck up or thought I was better than them. Which is completely false. I'm an actually shy and insecure. I struggle in big crowds and aim for the nearest door any chance I get. Which is why growing up I always thought it was confusing that people viewed me as the opposite. I got plenty of attention from guys growing up but that was never enough to fill the void of the girl friends I didn't have. Instead of trying to find out who I am, I was immediately deemed as the stuck up lightskin girl who thinks she's pretty and too good for us. All I wanted was friends but what I got was young females, along with myself, faced with colorism. I've been called named such as highlighter, piss bitch (because apparently my skin is the color of piss), yellow tail, and the list goes on and on.

I hope sharing this story can help someone who is confused about their tone just as I was. It gets better. I promise.

-Paris T. 19

[blackhues]

Ain't we all black?

Lightskin. Darkskin. Brownskin. Yellow skin. Middle skin. Red skin. At the end of the day aren't we all black? I can answer that for you, YES! Yes we all are black. And that should be nothing to be ashamed of. In the world today, I think it would be more effected to come together rather than divide. We don't need to put ourselves into groups based on how dark is our skin or how light is our skin. Black is black is black is black. And it is beautiful!

I am blessed to be a beautiful black women who is aware of her melanin and praises it. I love my skin and honestly feel bad for those who don't. Because they are the ones missing out. They have the shortened end of the stick because they can't see the beauty I see. They don't see the culture, the roots, the glow, the food, the music, the clothes, the hair... They don't see EVERYTHING that comes with being back. And that's their lost.

There should be more people motivating those to love themselves instead of divining the black community from within. Colorism is not a problem we should be dealing with in 2017. We have bigger fish to fry.

-Emery R. 20

[blackhues]

Colorism?

Yes, it’s a thing. Colorism has been present in communities of color, especially within African Americans. The purpose of Black Hue is to inform, share, and learn more about it. Where did it come from? How can we stop it? These are questions we hope to answer through our media platforms. 

For the dark girls who feel like they don’t belong, Black Hue is a place for you. For the light girls who get called names, Black Hue is a place for you. For the mixed girls who struggle to identify with their blackness, Black Hue is a place for you. Black Hue is a platform for us to come together and celebrate all beautiful things that are black. All shades, all forms, all hues. 

Black Hue will host blogs, forms, podcast, and much more material. Send us your story and share your experiences with us. You can not only be helping yourself but the hundreds of others out there like you. 

Thank you for visiting our page and hope to see you again!

-Black Hue                                                                              

[blackhues]

(BLACK HUE)