You’ve probable heard it: “TeamLightskin” and “TeamDarkskin”. And, if you’re anything like me, it’s probably annoying. Especially if you’ve struggled with wanting to be lighter or darker than what you are. Maybe you’ve even wondered what category others might put you in: “redbone” or “yellowbone”.
I’ll admit I’ve struggled with my skin tone, and sometimes I still do. I’ve wanted to be lighter. At first, this wasn’t a big issue with me. Honestly, I never really thought about it. But, let’s just say, once you’re around a certain type of person for so long, either you rub off on them, or they rub off on you. I began to look at my skin and thought,”Would I be considered light or dark?” I found myself comparing myself and if I were around a light or dark skinned girl, I would compare to see if I were lighter or darker.
After a while, I became annoyed with myself. I tried not to think about it. I even felt weird for liking it when someone said I looked Mexican or Asian. I wanted to stop. I wondered,”Do I?” and “Do I look that way to others?” I became fearful and thought,”I don’t want to think like this anymore! I want to be happy with what God gave me and not care about being a particular shade or looking mixed.”
I told my mom this and she had me write down a list of my insecurities and fears. I did and she told me to read Psalm 139. Verse 14 says, “I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works and that my soul knows very well.” This has helped me a lot!
Every now and then I read or say that verse when I feel insecure about how I look. Sometimes I’m even scared of realizing how beautiful I am. I feel like I might turn into some stuck up girl just because she’s light skin. Even that’s a lie from the enemy; he doesn’t want us to realize and accept our value. Like my mom told me, “Insecurities will never completely go away.” And she’s right. It’s not like we’ll always be insecure, but when they do come, we have to speak scriptures and remind ourselves that we are beautiful no matter what we look like, or where we come from because God loved us so much that He created us in His image and in His likeness. African Americans are beautiful, Asians are beautiful, Mexicans are beautiful, Whites are beautiful, Indians are beautiful, Italians are beautiful, and so is every other race on the face of the earth.
We should not go around thinking we are better than anyone, but realize how beautiful God created us; He made no mistake when He chose which race we would be a member of.
If you struggle with looking at other people or races because of their skin tone, Try this: instead of comparing, think/say to yourself, “She’s beautiful just the way she is. I’m beautiful just the way I am.” And you’ll begin to see how beautiful she is and how beautiful you truly are.
