… at least appear as white as possible. The lighter the skin, the straighter the hair, the closer you come to meeting the standards. That way you can at least be “pretty for a black girl.” It’s acceptable to look a little “black” but not too much. We live in a world in which skin is lightened with creams and computer programs. And bodies are digitally altered to have a bigger butt, smaller waist and more “alluring” features.
Black beauty and self-love by a Black girl is only acceptable in certain contexts or in small doses. Keep the full lips, leave the coarse, high-maintenance hair. Cornrows are called edgy, innovative, and epic when the braids are above a whiter face, but are “rachet” or ghetto on a black girl. Only when bearing the seal of approval from high profile celebrities and style icons are these features deemed acceptable or beautiful.
So if you see someone not believing in their own #BlackGirlMagic and beautiful Black skin, what should you do?
Simple change the narrative and share just how God created her to be: to be herself, to love herself, and to reign.
And why is it so important? Massachusetts teacher and singer Lovely Hoffman probably said it best.
“There is a strong correlation between self-esteem and student achievement,” Hoffman said. “As an educator, I believe it is my duty to not only ensure students are reaching their potential academically, but that they are also comfortable and confident in their own skin. It’s about educating the whole child.”