Think you cute because you’re lightskin?
Kwazi Owens Washington, DC I see so much divisiveness among black women due to colorism. I remember growing up and girls automatically not liking me...
Do I look white to you?
Rose Jackson, United Kingdom My dad is white British and my mum is mixed white and black. So I have lighter skin and have a...
I’m an Arab named Dave Hall
Dave Hall, Brooklyn, NY. I get my name from my Yankee (English-American) father, whose ancestors arrived in Boston in 1630 but I get my complexion...
I didn’t know you speak Spanish
Nathan Ojeda, Ladera Ranch, CA Because of my physical features, eye color, hair color, complexion…. people generally are surprised to learn that I speak Spanish...
I’m unsure of my own identity
Rosalina Holloway-Vicente, Edinburg, VA I am someone who has always dealt with questions of if I speak Spanish or if I’m Latina & I honestly...
Black clients funded our white flight.
Jane Meacham, Washington, DC. My dad is a lawyer in Kansas City, MO, who always had mostly black, working-class clients. When the city school district...
You Look Like Your Dad
Krystal Lopez, San Jose, CA. Being Mexican that’s all I tried to be growing up, but the truth is there is a black hole that...
HammersteinII: You’ve Got to be Taught.
Luc Charwin Salem, OR It may be trite and unoriginal to use someone else’s words. However, the lyrics of that song brought this topic into...
“American” is the most accurate label
Anonymous, San Antonio, TX. Look, I’ll keep it real simple. My family is from Texas. Now we’ve had a French Texas, a Spanish Texas, a...
I AM MORE THAN MY COMPLEXION
Latonya Sampson, Los Angeles, CA. I am so much more than what your eyes can see on the outside.
“Garcia”? Are you Mexican or Colombian?
Alexandra Garcia, Long Island, NY. My father emigrated from Spain in 1974, and we have been raised to be proud of our Spanish heritage and...
Light brown, dark brown don’t matter!!!
Shaunta Whitaker, Lompoc, CA. I am a grandmother and I love being a grandmother but with it comes some heartache because of some of the...
What am I? Dirty but clean
R. E. Longdon Clarksville, PA My family complexion has always been called dirty or ruddy. My ancestors came from Europe through England but family folklore...
Yes, he really is my child.
Denyse C. McGriff Oregon City, OR I am in mixed race marriage and my son is very light in complexion. I get asked all the...
You’re White, You Can’t Be Hispanic
Erica Shofner Eugene, OR Explore Identity Being mixed race is a blessing and a curse. I don’t have to deal with the unfortunate social stigma...
You’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.
Taesha Detroit, MI I think almost every dark-skinned black girl goes through a phase (that hopefully she grows out of) where she doesn’t believe she...
