PRETTY FOR A BLACK GIRL?

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PRETTY FOR A DARK SKIN?

It is said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This seems to have always true until white or light became the new beautiful. I cannot really pin point when the coup de’ tat occurred but the reign of ‘light is beautiful’ has been going on for some time now.

Research has shown in Kenya light skinned women are preferred much more than dark skinned women. The light women it was said get to access various socio-economic tools more easily than dark women. An example is in the entertainment industry. The same goes for most countries in the world with most dark skinned women seeking solutions to become lighter. What does this all mean? Black is not good enough? Black is below the required standards of this life? And on that note, which standards are we talking about here?

Growing up as a child in our home I did not know there really was a difference between people. People were just people. Going to school opened me up to a new experience where teachers and children would be described as “blacky”.I found it interesting how light skinned children had better treatment than the dark skinned ones from the teachers. How quickly childhood perceptions are shattered. I thought this was just a kid thing but 27 years later this has remained to be the norm of most societies in the world.

I cannot say being discriminated like this did not affect me. It did. From a young age however I knew that God had created me so and that God is perfect in all His ways. This was a truth that was so deep within me and that I never forgot. The more I grew in the face of discrimination for my skin colour the more this truth became real to me. I have a tendency of believing God is always right. This saw me not be bothered by such comments anymore. Luckily for me my skin colour has never really bothered me. Everyone has their own demons to battle and for me my skin colour was never one.

What I don’t understand most times is who said lighter is better than darker or that being dark means there is a problem with you? The other day at a party, I listened to a friend who happens to be the same complexion as I am, apologize for being dark skinned. I didn’t judge her at all, just got sad that dark skinned ladies have to be placed in a position where they have to feel sorry for who they are. How cruel the world is.

In prayer sometimes I mention to God some of the injustices people go through and this is one of them. It may sound funny but having to walk through life feeling inferior and not good enough for a trait that you were born with is quite sad. It sadder not to recognize that God in His perfect wisdom made you so wonderfully unique and beautiful. It is a tragedy that some of us will get to learn this on the other side of life.

One can argue that, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is one of them. True. Another can further add it’s not their problem dark skinned people don’t know God’s perfect handiwork in them according to the bible. True.

In light of this two facts, what then is the problem? ACCEPTANCE. People have a hard time accepting themselves as they are. Understand this, acceptance runs deeper than any shade of skin colour. It is the state of our inner being. If we do not accept who we are and see ourselves in our Father’s eyes, how will we ever be comfortable in our own skin? Worse how can we see ourselves in God’s eyes if we do not know Him?

Attaining acceptance is hardly achieved alone. How can you when all you hear is light is better, from your friends, family, colleagues, tv, internet, radio stations and the world. This maybe all you have known since you were born. Who then can blame you? When you reach within yourself, all you can find is your insecure self, who is louder than the world in telling you, you not enough as you are.

Acceptance is found in the One who security is founded, Jesus Christ. Look, you have no idea how truly beautiful and perfect you are until you know it from your Maker. Only then when your life is invaded by the one who truly defines beauty are you set free from the notions and standards of this world. I am a living testimony of this.

I am Ruth Nzioka

I am black and beautiful.

I have no apologies for how beautifully and wonderfully God made me.

I am not defined by the world’s standards.

So,who are you to tell me that I am less than what I should bebased on my skin colour? Seriously who are you?

 

 

 

Video credit:Princess Latifah.