How to describe dark skin WITHOUT using food
@thewritersuniverse on Instagram 💖
What do you mean "without food"?
A lot of writers make the mistake of describing dark skin with words that refer to food, like "chocolate", "mocha", "coffee", and more. It's been way too culturally normalized to do this—and it's harmful.
(DISCLAIMER: OP is not a person of dark skin. This section will mainly be referencing the voices of black/Asian peoples that are.)
It can get extremely uncomfortable, being or witnessing Black people and other POC being compared to food, even as a “compliment.”
See how often these comparisons are connected to some sensual desire? As if people of Color are food to consume?
This frequent comparison to cocoa and such just in time to highlight some kinky craving is not just grounds of a fetish, it’s dehumanizing.
Think about it, what is the best way to show dominance? By eating someone - like in the animal kingdom. It’s a disgusting practice, so please watch yourself while writing biographies and replying to people, or even in your short stories/novels.
𝕚𝕚. It's reminiscent of slavery.
Get this. Cocoa. Coffee. They drove the slave trade. They still drive the slave trade. So comparing your Black character to these foodstuffs? You can see why it’s cause for offense.
It’s especially harmful to compare those of the African Diaspora to chocolate and coffee, but for the reasons above, I think all People of Color deserve more than these comparisons, again and again.
Phrases like “chocolate bar” can be racial slurs (...). It’s also one of many products once made (and actually still made) using slave labor. Other such products include cocoa and coffee. Thank you, colonialism! You really sure you want to describe this black girl with “chocolate skin” and evoke that history of slavery and dehumanization, writer?
via Paige on The YA Kitten
𝕚𝕚𝕚. It's also plain lazy.
I’ve read one too many books in which authors compare dark skin to chocolate, brown sugar, honey, caramel… And these are very specific word choices that, in terms of describing skin tone, have become [tiring] and cliché. (...)
And though I’ve read it numerous times, it doesn’t make me cringe any less at the author’s blatant lack of originality in this regard. Now no one’s saying go wild, but to rely on these same ole descriptions that go out of their way to say something other than brown. We can do better.
Haven’t we all seen those descriptions before? Or perhaps you’ve seen latte-colored skin, cafe-au-lait-colored skin, or chocolate skin or eyes. Either way, we’ve ALL read a novel where the book makes it sound like the character is a piece of food, not a character.
These descriptions are lazy and uncreative at the best of times and racist at the worst.
via Paige on The YA Kitten
"B-But...! All these other writers did it, it's unfair that I can't—"
"B-BUT!!! I'm a dark-skinned person and I'm not offended by it so I should be allowed to give everyone on the planet permission⁉️😱🤚"
Some words you can use to describe dark skin:
assorted inspo from nature
There are so many good ways to describe "brown". It doesn't even have to be accurate; brown is a colour we see often in nature, and we associate it with softness, warmth, growth, and strength. Convey the emotions of that colour in your writing—
"Her cheeks flushed of warmth and comfort, as soft as the wooden walls of an old, worn down cottage."
"His complexion was that of a summer night in the country; dark, gentle, and with unfathomable depth."
"At the news, the child's face dimmed to the shade of fallen autumn leaves."
Both poetic AND original! So, if it suits your writing style, go wild. There are millions of beautiful words out there just waiting to be used. :)
