I think I’ve gotten ahead of myself. The conversation ‘on being beige’ has begun, yet I have skipped a step. So, wait a minute.
Before I jump headlong into this conversation, before I offend my dark skin brothers and sisters, I have to own up to my privilege. I want to talk a little about colorism. Colorism is the idea that people with lighter skinned tones are better than our darker skinned brothers and sisters . I want to say LOUDLY — this is false and a product of white supremacy!!!
During slavery the lighter slaves, possibly children of slave owners, were given the jobs inside of the house, while darker slaves worked in the fields. Today, those with light skin and straighter hair are those seen as love interests on television shows, and take preferred spots in media. This colorism is a reality all over the world. Billboards in Africa tout the benefits of bleaching cream.
I will admit that I have been given access to places and opportunities because of the lighter shade of my skin. And I have also had the opposite response. Those in my own community would call me names “light bright and damn near white,” “high yella,” and “snooty.”
While I have the experience of being favored by some teachers, I also have the experience of being victimized by my peers. Yet, let’s be clear I have never thought that I was superior and that is probably why I have worn my hair in its natural state for most of my life. Somehow I always wanted to prove that I belonged to my beloved Black community.
So, I just want to say to my darker skinned brothers and sisters, “I love you” and your beautiful brown and black tones. And try as I might to sit in the sun, to darken my shade, I can’t help that I am beige.
On Being Beige 