Crystal White
Detroit, MI
Growing up with a fair complexion in a place like Michigan is harder than most would think. With Detroit being pretty much the only city inhabited by African Americans until recent years, living in the suburbs was a difficult life. From being called the n-word in elementary school where I was the only African American girl in my class, to getting to high school and my curly hair often prompting the questions, “What are you mixed with?” or “Which one of your parents is white?”, I had experienced an often ignored kind of discrimination. No, I wasn’t directly being called an Oreo or half-breed, but the sheer implication that I was a mutt, hurt just the same. My reply to the questions was always, “I’m mixed with my mother and my father.” Beige is Beautiful!
