Dark Skin vs Light Skin...

 So...this whole LIGHT SKIN vs DARK SKIN controversy... Is controversy even the right word for this? Palava? Nonentity?

(If you don't know what these are, ask your nearest African.)

 I've heard some ridiculous stories over the years connected to this "issue" which made me a little worried about the future of the black community.

I still have one question though...

"WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING OVER?"

No seriously, what is it?

What could be so extremely important that something as insignificant as the colour of our skin becomes the deciding factor in what is good and bad, what is accepted or rejected and what is considered beautiful or ugly?

"Oh, he only likes her because she's light-skinned..."

"Better be careful of her, dark skinned girls are crazy..."

  

I hear phrases like these, all the time and although people who say things like this may not mean any serious harm by them, that sort of mind-set is what we are subconsciously teaching our children. They will grow up believing that because their skin is a certain colour that that is enough reason to feel and act superior/inferior to others.

There are people of different races, all over the world moving forward and away from racial predjuice and discrimination so why do we, people of the SAME race, insist on holding on to it?

A couple months ago I posted a photo on instagram (Shameless plug: @Fiyinfofo) of me in some bad lighting with the hashtag #teamlightskin as a joke but have since deleted it because I realised that even those who jest about the matter, especially on social media, fuel it to continue.

To those who take this "war" way too seriously, I hope that whatever negative attitude you have directed towards others can end today, whether they be light, dark or multicoloured.

To get worked up over somebody else's skin, with or without a fantastic reason, must stem from some deep insecurities which you need to deal with. When they don't owe you anything and they're going on and living their life not thinking about you, your being angry truly is in vain.



If there's a particular person that has offended you, it's probably easier said than done getting over it. However, how you choose to react is just that; your choice.

Choose to be the bigger person and let it go. There's actually more power in forgiveness than in spite.

If each of us just took a little time to get ourselves together and stop blaming others for our insecurities, pointless issues such as these would quickly pass.

Everyday I tell myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and although there are times when I don't exactly feel it, at the very least I know that my dark skin is nothing but a blessing from God.