Two special little guests, my niece and nephew, joined me for a discussion about what they learned and enjoyed during our virtual library sessions.
It was the end of the school year for me and for them, and the start of Spring/Summer season for everyone. So we wanted to reflect using the documents we used to record our experiences.
It’s a good practice to record and reflect at other transitional moments as well, including graduations, changing seasons, new years, new months, new days…
This happens to build on my previous workshop: Journaling and Introspection. That one is a great addition to this one.
In addition to old faithful journals, other fun and useful tools and methods of recording and reflecting on our experiences, thoughts, and feelings include scrapbooks, memoirs, photo albums, quilts, and more.
Here are a few additional tips for reflecting and recording:
Take not of seemingly small, mundane details.
Reflect soon after you’re done so that your memory is fresh with such details.
Compare and contrast the beginning, middle, and end of the experience.
Note significant milestones, shifts, or roadblocks along the way.
Consider the best of it and the worst of it.
Think about lessons to learn.
Homework: Record and reflect.
Affirmation: I can take what I need from the past and release the rest. I look forward to my future.
This was a fun special edition of Wednesday Workshop because it was a tribute to my sister on her birthday!!! Inspired by this special occasion, I shared the following three lessons I learned from our relationship about sisterhood. And these apply to biological and non-biological sistahs.
If you like this, be sure to check out our interview.
One: Just because people expect us to compete, doesn’t mean we have to.
After my sister’s graduation, a boy noticed her many awards, ribbons, certificates, and trophies displayed on the mantel. He concluded that I must be jealous. How problematic is that?!
I actually felt proud. It never occurred to me to be jealous because I knew we were on the same team.
Writing Prompt: What are some of your proudest moments of sisterhood? What are you proud of your sister(s) for?
Affirmation: I can celebrate my sister without being afraid that I will lose.
It’s a blessing to have a confidant for difficult stuff.
I’ve learned that a great sister will both talk you off a ledge and talk you into your greatness.
Sometimes we have to find that sister in the form of a teacher, mentor, or counselor. But they do exist!
Writing Prompt: Can you recall a time when you were talked off a ledge or talked into your greatness by a sister/friend?
Affirmation: I don’t have to do this alone. I can fin support when I need it.
Dark skinned girls and light skinned girls can understand each other and really love each other.
Many times my sister acknowledge and spoke up about colorism and light-skinned privilege.
And because she and I were close, I never found it difficult to see light skinned women as my sisters.
Writing Prompt: Write what you want others to know about you. Write about what you’d like to know about others.
Affirmation: I am open to understanding, and I am open to being understood.
This week’s workshop on “mirror work” is a continuation of my interest in mirrors, which started during graduate school while I was writing my dissertation.
It recalls a previous workshop in which I recited Lucille Clifton’s poem, “What the Mirror Said.”
It echoes the neuroscience theories of V. S. Ramachandran and mirror boxes used in mirror therapy for amputee patients experiencing phantom limb pain.
And, of course, it mirrors (haha) the Snow White reference: “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,” which is quite related to the legacy of colorism and white supremacy.
Whether mirrors are used as extended metaphors in a poem or whether they are literal mirrors applied in medical work, they are great tools for healing!
To kick of the workshop portion, I use a “Mirror Work” exercise I learned from Lisa Nichols. The universe sent Lisa’s video to me at the exact moment I was getting up off my couch to prep for this workshop. (Given what was going on in my personal life that day, though, I know it was sent to me as more than just inspiration for the workshop.)
After that exercise, we then use the “In My Mirror” worksheet I created as part of the Kaleidoscope workbook. Although this worksheet was created with kids in mind, I have used it with several adults who get just as much out of the activity.
Homework: Practice your own mirror work, either with a journal as Lisa Nichols describes or with the worksheets I provide.
I’m returning to the topic of talking to kids about colorism again! I recommend also reading my earlier post: “Teaching Kids About Colorism.”
Like many of you, I grew up in a multicolored family (though not really multiracial).
My sister and I represent this dynamic especially. We have different skin tones, and over the years, we have talked about colorism often informally and formally in interview settings. We present and publish on it too.
We’ve discussed it even more recently as she considers how to raise two brown children in a colorist society.
In fact, it was one of those children, my six-year-old niece, who gave me this week’s topic. I asked her what I should talk about, and she came and whispered in my ear: “Talk about what’s on the inside.”
When it comes to raising children as parents, or teaching them as educators, or supporting them as mentors, we might ask:
How do we not only help children love themselves, but also help them avoid biases and negative attitudes regarding others?
One: Start Early.
I’ve told the story of how I recognized colorism in the preferential attention my sister got over me. I’ve also observed colorism and awareness of colorism in other 4-6 year old children, from nieces, cousins, and others.
I always say that if I could identify and articulate the colorist pattern at 5, that means I most likely experienced, observed, and understood it long before that moment.
Researchers and professionals also note that we recognize physical differences in people as early as infancy and that attitudes about groups of people start to solidify by third grade or age 8.
So start early!
Two: Start by Paying Attention.
For ideas about what you can say, pay attention to what your children, students, etc. say and do. How are they behaving? Are they afraid to play outside in the sunlight? Do they only pick white dolls? What are their preferences?
Don’t ignore these things, not matter how fleeting or innocent they may appear.
Three: Ask Questions.
Take the pressure off yourself. You don’t always have to know what to say. Oftentimes you simple need to know what to ask.
Asking questions isa great way to discover what’s actually going on with a child. We may discover that they already possess the values we hope to cultivate. Or we might discover specific points that we can easily address or research.
With a good line of questioning, children might also do the critical thinking for themselves, and reach insightful conclusions we might not have even thought of.
Yes, definitely help your children see how beautiful they are, but also help them see how beautiful other people are too!
This means affirming with words and actions that they are beautiful, that other people who look like them are beautiful, and that other people who don’t look like them are beautiful.
This is important because, children will notice if you tell them they are beautiful, but you never confirm that by appreciating the beauty of others who look like them.
In a similar fashion, if you only affirm the beauty of people who look like them, they will develop colorist perspectives rather than learning that all complexions, hairstyles (and other features) are just as beautiful.
Five: “Talk about what’s on the inside.”
There are two sides to this. The first is to not only affirm children’s physical beauty, but also their other traits. Let them know how funny they are, how inquisitive, or how kind!
But this also means helping them talk about their emotions and feelings, even the difficult ones. We can model for them and coach them in how to express and cope with their feelings in healthy ways. That includes feelings of shame about how they look, or guilt about bullying, among many other things.
Six: Educate them About Melanin!
This worked wonders with my niece and nephew. After one brief lesson on melanin, their attitudes about getting darker in the sunshine completely shifted to something they were proud of.
Explain to children that skin tone is not random or pointless, but that it comes from melanin! And that melanin serves a biological purpose that is protective and positive.
Homework: Observe and ask questions. Use the Kaleidoscopeworkbook as a tool for starting the conversation.
(Also let me know what else has worked for you when talking to kids about colorism!)
Affirmation: I have the courage to talk about what’s on the inside.
Kimberlé Crenshaw presented the concept of Intersectionality in 1989 as a way to talk about violence against Black women and other women of color. See Crenshaw’s TED talk if you want more context.
Watch, Listen, or Read More Below
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Intersectionality refers to the multiple forces or sources of inequality and marginalization that compound and add layers to how people experience violence and oppression.
Colorism is intersectional.
We all have a socially-constructed racial designation AND a biological skin tone. Race and color should not be conflated or used synonymously, as we too often do. Using the word color to describe race is actually racist and hides or obscures the reality of colorism.
Our complexion also intersects with other forms of identity like gender, class, and ethnicity, and with other physical features like hair texture and eye color.
We usually have at least one focus of identity that matters more to us for various reasons, or that we feel most potently, or that impacts us most often and most overtly.
Q: Which of your identities is most significant for your right now? Why? Has that changed over time? Why?
Intersectionality and Privilege
It’s important to note that intersectionality can also be applied to privilege.
You don’t have to be aware of your privilege to have privilege, just like you don’t have to be consciously aware of your oppression to be oppressed.
That includes things like implicit bias (unconscious biases); systems of oppression and privileges that have been intentionally hidden, obscured, disguised, and burried; and individual actions that are anonymous or secret or simply unknown.
Unfortunately, these myriad nuances are sometimes used as ammunition to gaslight those who speak out about colorism and other issues. Perpetrators will say, for example: “Well, I’m dark-skinned, and I was never discriminated against.”
It’s important to consider other intersections of your identity–like class, culture, and hair texture–that may have shifted your experiences of colorism or the apparent lack of such experiences.
Homework: Map out your own intersections of identity. Identify where you can be an ally, and where you need advocacy.
Affirmation: I am a multifaceted being, and I accept and embrace all of who I am.
How have I perceived myself in the past, particularly my complexion, hair, eyes, nose, etc.?
How did I develop those attitudes and perceptions?
What about my beliefs and attitudes about others? How did I get there?
Pivoting
The pivot isn’t always a 180 degree reversal in the opposite direction. Like a compass with a full range of points, you can explore an array of perspectives. It’s not a binary, but a spectrum. Journal prompts for the pivot point:
When was a time your perspective on beauty, skin color, hair texture, etc., flippedor was challenged or altered in some way?
If you could respond now, what would you say?
If you could revise earlier messages, what would the new and improved messages be?
Proceeding
Proceeding requires perseverance and vigilance. If we aren’ actively rowing, then we’re drifting. Questions to ponder in this phase:
What’s one way you can continue on your own path of colorism healing?
What about continuing your individual activism/advocacy against colorism?
What potential hurdles or obstacles might you encounter as you proceed? What personal or communal resources will you use to overcome them?
New Attitudes About Colorism
People can change. Whether you’re working to change your own attitudes or you’re hoping to influence the attitudes of family, friends, or others, commit to this process, and you will see changes!
Homework: Do your one task to proceed. OR Pick up at whatever stage you’re in.
Affirmation: You have the power to change your reality!
I built on the previous workshop on metaphors and focused more this time on the healing aspects of writing for this live Wednesday Workshop, particularly poetic writing, especially since this was also streamed during National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo).
I believe we can use writing as a central tool in our spiritual work, mental work, to build confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, socio-political consciousness, and so much more.
Poetry can be a polarizing subject. I know from my years of teaching writing. There’s lots of confusion and mystery and myth around it, even minor traumas for some. People either love it or hate or they’re completely apathetic. In this workshop, however, I focused on poetry for it’s spiritual and political utility, quoting Audre Lorde (which I featured in the Colorism Poemsanthology):
“Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action.”
Audre Lorde, “Poetry is Not a Luxury”
Poetry is not escapism, for me as I approach it here. It is a tool we use in the world to help us create our world.
Think of a difficult situation you’ve experienced, past or present, deep or not.
Think of yourself in that situation and brainstorm possible metaphors for who you are/were in that situation. Who or what are you in that difficult situation?
Choose a metaphor and stick with it. Extend it into a poem.
My Example:
You’re a notebook woman. You’ve got reams of potential, so much to say. You are the author of your own life. They try to shut you, close you, rip out your insides, tear you down your spine, burn your substance to ashes. But you a notebook, woman, and there will always be another page.
After you give the prompt a try, send me a message and let me know how it goes!
Homework: Give another try at using poetry to reflect on difficult situations.
Affirmation: You are somebody. You are worthy. You are valuable.
The original live stream aired in April, which is National Poetry Month (and National Poetry Writing Month, NaPoWriMo). So I shifted my focus from the previous two weeks of practical grammar lessons to a more poetic focus on the power of metaphors.
Metaphor is essentially just referring to one thing as something else that is comparable. Some common examples from everyday speech are wave of emotions, get off your high horse, bag of tricks, and I hit rock bottom. In fact, even people who claim to not be “good at poetry” or poetic people, actually use metaphors all the time. Metaphor is deeply engrained in our everyday language.
The Power of Metaphors and Colorism
As such, metaphors greatly influence how and what we think about things, including people. That’s the connection to colorism. Metaphors, how we describe and talk about things, reflect and influence our attitudes and beliefs and feelings about those things. A classic example of this is how we describe things at are dark, brown, or black. That’s why I love using my passion for language and writing to address the issue of colorism.
Writing Prompt: Describe what you see. Pick a person, place, or thing and describe it in three ways: as objectively as you can, as if you are in love with it, and as if you are afraid or suspicious.
Homework: Pay attention to how you’re using language and consider what effect it might have.
Affirmation: You are creative. You have the power to create.
We’d like to give special thanks to all participants and supporters as well as guest judges Monique Desir, Aditi John, and Breeanna Wright. The results are finally in, and we’re excited to share this year’s voices with you!
Monique L. Desir was born and raised in Florida. She’s a full-time reading teacher who hasn’t quite figured out how to escape the Sunshine State and is surviving and thriving within its alligator-infested clutches with her husband and three sons. The daughter of West Indian parents (Haitian father, Jamaican mother), she loves learning about different cultures, languages and people. She binge-watches forensic television shows and Soca dances until she glows, so she can have seconds on cake. Her stories have been published in FIYAHLiterary Magazine, Nightlight Podcast, Colorism Healing anthology Volume 2, and Rivière Blanche’s 2019 Dimension Uchronie short story anthology. Find her on Twitter @moniquedesir.
Aditi John
Aditi Precious John
Aditi Precious John is pursuing B.Com from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi with her first year coming to a successful close. She is aiming to prove herself as a banker in her near future. She started to appreciate poetry and admire poets since her 9th grade and dreamt to be one of them. A page named Secret of Shadows with 6.3k+ followers on Instagram, is being handled by her for the past 2 years. Writing has been her passion since ages. She’s a reader by the day and a writer by the night.
Breeanna Wright
Breeanna Wright
Breeanna Wright is a poet whose work predominantly covers the complexity of love and African American life. Recognizing that the adversity many African Americans experience today stems from the same seed of struggle her ancestors endured inspires her work. She hopes to give the African American community a voice through her words by painting the diverse image of black life, focusing on both the beauty and adversity rooted in blackness.
Jaidyn Bryant is a freshman Biology pre-med student at Xavier University. A recent graduate of McKinley High School, she has public health aspirations, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities. This poem was written with James Baldwin’s concept of the Alabaster Christ in conjunction with particular southern black family & faith dynamics in mind.
Elizabeth Upshur describes herself as a Black Southern poet. She holds an MFA from Western Kentucky University and her work can be found in Mistake House, Pomona Valley Review, and Red Mud Review.
3rd Place Winner: Isha Jain- “Mama’s Milk” (Fiction Story)
Editor’s Picks
The following authors will also be featured in the upcoming anthology.
The digital world has been abuzz with controversy regarding the Netflix original limited series Self Made inspired by the life of Madam C. J. Walker. Much of that controversy surrounds the historical accuracy (or lack of it) throughout the series, but particularly when it comes to the character Addie Monroe. Many people who complain about the series suggest that the character Addie Monroe is meant to portray the real historical figure Annie Malone, and that the creators of the series made egregious errors in documenting Malone’s life.
As I suspected and eventually saw confirmed in tweets by A’Leila Bundles, Addie Monroe is actually a composite character. The use of composite characters is extremely common in film adaptations. This means that Addie Monroe was never intended to represent Annie Malone. The historical or “real” characters in the film maintained their historically accurate names, such as Freeman Ransom. Details about Addie Monroe borrowed heavily from Annie Malone’s story, no doubt, but also from other people and forces in Madam C. J. Walker’s life. The purpose of this composite character was to synthesize multiple external conflicts into an identifiable antagonist.
Some might argue that the similarities in both name and occupation are too close for comfort to be fully ignored. That’s a fine assessment to make, and I’m actually thrilled that Annie Malone’s legacy is benefiting from a bit of spotlight right now. After-all, it never hurts to know about more successful black women.
But I think the focus on accurately portraying Annie Malone hijacks the movie’s commentary from another important issue that I do think the creators intentionally prioritized in the film via Addie Monroe’s character and others: Colorism.
I think this Netflix series gives us such a salient and poignant tool to confront the harsh, ugly, painful legacy of colorism in American culture, but we’re wasting the opportunity by discussing the series as if it’s a documentary, or a history textbook, or a legal document. This series was never passed off as the official record of history. It is very explicitly an artistic interpretation of history inspired by specific parts of Madam C. J. Walker’s life. By fussing over fidelity to the facts or getting “the complete, accurate, and precise picture” of all of Walker’s life, we ignore that a dramatization made for TV is essentially a work of art.
While I do think artists are responsible for the impact of their work and that their work is rightfully subject to critique, I also think artistic license is necessary. An artist might rightfully say, for example, I’m inspired by Walker’s relationship with her daughter, and I want to create a piece that focuses on that. Or I’m inspired by Basquiat’s crown motif, and I want to write a book that explores his use of that. Or I’m inspired by all of Nina Simone’s life, but I want to tell it from the perspective of her piano. In other words, artists are free to take the angle that most intrigues them without having to appease everyone who might have a different perspective.
Also, it’s okay to have different perspectives. It’s actually more than okay. It’s great! That’s kinda what keeps the world revolving and evolving.
My Perspective
My discussions about composite characters and art comes primarily from my position as a creative writer and creative writing professor who purposely earned her writing MFA at a predominantly visual art school. My perspective for the rest of this discussion is primarily based in my identity and experiences as a dark-skinned woman who has been immersed in studying, researching, writing about, and advocating against colorism for several years.
Shortly before Self Made premiered on Netflix, another video related to black hair care went viral. In this video, a 4-year old girl is getting her locks done. She stares at herself in the camera and very clearly and directly articulates: “I’m so ugly.”
The parallel astounds me. More than 100 years later–more than a century later–members of our youngest generation still struggle with feeling ashamed of how they look as black girls.
That’s what I want to talk about.
A life like Madam C. J. Walker’s can inspire very many conversations, but the Self Made creators clearly intended to spark conversation about colorism. We really can’t tell Madam C. J. Walker’s story without that theme, because it was eurocentric beauty standards that made such hair products so popular to begin with. Even now in the new natural hair movement, there’s still texturism and a preference for certain kinds of natural hairstyles.
(I know that black people were taking great care of our hair long before the diaspora spread to the Americas, so black hair care is not inherently colorist, but since the diaspora, colorism has been a pillar of the industry.)
I love the way Self Made puts colorism front and center, and not just as a one-off, isolated incident. The series shows colorism as an ugly and ubiquitous reality pervasive in everything from regular small talk at the beauty salon to major systems of employment and oppressive forms of representation. One of my favorite things about Self Made is that there were numerous lines and scenes that incorporated colorism in all four episodes. I won’t describe them all, but I’ll share some general takeaways I got and the big questions that the series raises.
Colorism Affects Self-Esteem.
“They put us down, tell us we’re ugly, make us feel ugly….”
Madam C. J. Walker in Self Made
We didn’t need Self Made to tell us this, but it’s an honest depiction. These words spoken in Self Made are echoed by the 4-year-old girl in the Instagram video. It almost feels like time travel the way Madam C. J. Walker’s words in Self Made are mirrored by the words of this baby girl. We can’t deny that this painful legacy still lives on, even alongside the legacies that make us feel good, proud, and comfortable.
But it’s also great to see that a woman can be wildly successful despite struggling with self-esteem. The trend these days is to be “unbothered” and impervious to everything. In Self Made, we see Madam C. J. Walker struggling with feelings of shame and doubting her self-worth due to colorism while simultaneously demonstrating confidence, courage, strength, determination, and tenacity. People aren’t successful because they’ve never dealt with insecurity. They are successful because they don’t let their insecurities hold them back. They overcome. They feel the fear and do it anyway.
Colorism Affects Job Opportunities.
In one scene, Madam C. J. Walker gives a persuasive sales pitch to a group of women at a street market, saying:
“Wonderful hair leads to wonderful opportunities.”
Madam C. J. Walker in Self Made
Throughout the series, Madam C. J. Walker and other characters speak directly about how hair and complexion limits the job opportunities for so many black women. Things have improved over the decades, but we are still dealing with this issue, especially about hair that’s deemed unprofessional, people not getting hired at all, or getting fired for refusing to adhere to company policies on hairstyles, young girls getting suspended or kicked out of schools for not fitting into the eurocentric standards of professionalism and respectability.
Light Skinned Privilege is Real.
“Colored women would do anything to look like me even if deep down they know they can’t.”
Addie Monroe in Self Made
Directly tied to the career opportunities is the reality of light-skinned privilege. While biracial and/or light skinned black people are not granted white privilege, they are still positioned higher in the phenotype hierarchy than darker skinned people. If anything, Self Made reveals that a light skinned, biracial woman like Addie Monroe can actually have a lot of painful struggles in life even while working really hard. And I like that about the series. Just like Madam C. J. Walker wasn’t all superhuman success, Addie Monroe and other light skinned characters were not all posh.
There’s actually a scene where Booker T. Washington’s character compliments Addie on her good looks. It’s clear in that scene that Madam C. J. Walker is bothered by this praise because she knows it’s based in colorism. However, Addie also appears uncomfortable with the attention. I think this is a great instance of nuance on the part of the filmmakers. They depict the reality of light skinned privilege, but also depict the complicated dynamics of such privilege. The hierarchy is made very clear, but so are some of the nuances, contradictions, and complications within that hierarchy.
Colorism is Normalized.
An important aspect of how colorism is depicted in Self Made is that it’s woven into the everyday life of all the characters. It’s not an anomaly or an isolated incident. It keeps showing up again and again. Some commentators see that as a flaw in the show. As someone who created a platform for raising awareness about colorism, I see it as a point of praise.
I be tryna get across just how pervasive and ingrained colorism is. That it happens every day. That it’s in the media. It’s in conversations with our family. It’s in our intimate and romantic partnerships. It’s in our career lives. It’s in our entertainment. It’s in our social organizations. It’s in our politics. It’s in our activism. It’s in our sense of style. It’s in our culture. It’s just there.
I’ve seen so many shows and movies that give subtle nods or mere allusions to colorism periodically if at all. I like that in Seld Made there’s just no escaping it. We can’t brush it off and go back to feeling comfortable.
Confronting our Legacy of Colorism is just as Important as Celebrating our Historical Achievements.
I recently taught a course at the University of Illinois Springfield called #Melanin: International Perspectives on Skin tone. I thought, as an African American woman, that the term melanin was very common, that the average, everyday citizen knew what melanin was. But then my students asked me in the first week: What is melanin?
Then I realized that not everyone is as versed in that discourse community as I had thought. It’s possible that knowledge and use of the word melanin is more common in communities that have more melanin.
So what is melanin, exactly?
I’m not a scientist or a biologist, by any means. But I do like words, and I like sharing new vocabulary. So I’m going to try to help explain as best as I can.
Melanin is a chemical produced in our body by cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that exist on the lowest layer of our skin. Melanin is one of the most important, though not the only factor, in determining our skin color.
Melanin, however, is not just about the color of our skin, it’s also about protecting our skin from the UV (ultraviolet) rays that we get from the sun. And since it’s melanin’s job to protect us from the sun, we tend to produce more when we have more exposure to the sun. That’s why people look tan, or their skin complexion looks darker when they’ve been out on the beach on a sunny day for a long time, because the body will produce more in order to provide more protection in that situation where it’s getting more sunlight.
While most people have about the same amount of melanocyte cells, not everyone’s cells produce the same amount of the chemical melanin. That’s why we have such varying distinctions in skin tone.
So the key thing to remember about melanin is that the more you have, the darker your skin. The less, the lighter.
So now that we understand the biological definition of melanin, I want to talk about why melanin is poppin. Why exactly is it “on fleek”? I know that’s an outdated term at this point, but I still remember those hashtags, and they are dear to my heart (#MelaninMonday #MightyMelanin).
The reason I think people started coming up with these affirming hashtags, statements, and phrases is because people with more of this magic chemical (aka people who have darker skin0 have typically been stigmatized throughout the world.
This is what we call colorism.
Perhaps for many people, knowing the biology behind their skin tone helped them to stand proudly in their darker, browner skin in a world that tends to marginalize people of those complexions.
I also think knowing the beneficial nature of melanin also helped people to affirm their skin tones. Knowing that their darker complexions was actually their body’s way of protecting them and offering them shielding from harmful sun rays was a celebratory thing. Referring to our skin tone by using the biological term was perhaps a way for us to see the privilege of being darker skinned.
And when people say it’s “poppin” or “on fleek” or it’s glistening or it’s glowing or whatever other positive terms we want to use for that deliciously brown complexion, we think about how our skin color does glow or glisten in the sun. Or how our skin tone does make certain colors “pop.” Melanin does that.
So there you have it folks. That is the biological definition of melanin and also the social use of the term.
So for all the young people out there who might have once thought their skin was a curse or some kind of disadvantage, we now can see our skin color as biological magic.
I try not to roll my eyes when people make racist comments about my hair. One of my pet peeves since going natural is when folks ask me: What are you doing with your hair? What are you going to do to your hair?
At my high school graduation, a black dude, who was extremely colorist, committed this racist microagression by asking that very question with a smug smirk on his face: “So what you gone do with your hair?”
I shrugged and said: “Put a hat on it.”
Women of other races let their hair fly free in its natural state all the time and I’ve never heard of anyone asking them what they’re going to do with their hair. (Maybe I’m wrong. Just because I haven’t witnessed it doesn’t mean it’s not a thing.)
But black women with natural hair are expected to “do something” aka tame our hair for special occasions like graduations, weddings, proms, school dances, job interviews, presentations, and just everyday work-life existence.
If we don’t ask women of other races who are just wearing their natural hair in its natural state, what they’re going to do with that hair, then it is racist and antiblack to ask black women.
That’s why the Weekly Word is: Aesthetic.
Weekly Word: Aesthetic
(adj.) related to beauty or style
(n.) a belief about beauty, style, or taste
I choose my hairstyles for aesthetic, practical, and political reasons.
I choose to define and embrace my own aesthetic rather than submit to oppressive beauty standards.
In a world saturated by antiblackness, racism, and white supremacy we are conditioned to dislike a natural black aesthetic. We are conditioned to prefer a more white, European, or simply nonblack aesthetic.
That applies quite obviously to hair but it can include other things like facial features, body type, and fashion style (until white celebrities decide they want to appropriate it).
We have been fed for centuries that some European woman’s aesthetic was the universal standard of beauty, femininity, professionalism, etc. And more recently, for black people, it doesn’t even have to be a European aesthetic. For many of us, any non-black look (i.e. Southeast Asian, Native American, “Latina,” etc.) is preferable to blackness. I know race and ethnicity are not the same and there are “black” women who are also Latina, etc. But I’m explaining the language and the attitude that is prevalent among African Americans.
Of course one of the most common arguments is that natural black hair is just not professional.
If your “professional” aesthetic also, somehow, is an exact match to a naturally European or non-black aesthetic (i.e. straight hair), then your notion of professional appearance is a racist notion.
We all choose our own aesthetic. And the variety is beautiful.
But be honest with yourself about where your “preference” comes from.
Could it be a preference based on years of white-supremacist, racist, antiblack conditioning via the media, major institutions, standardized education, or your family upbringing?
Yes, your preference can be a racist preference.
Just like the Ku Klux Klan prefers to only have white Christians in this country, your “preferences” can be racist preferences.
I invite all of us to do a little introspection and ask ourselves why it’s so hard for us to really appreciate and love natural black beauty on ourselves and/or on others?
I’m well aware that this is a touchy taboo subject, but that’s what I’m here for.
Sincerely,
Sarah
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We all have those iconic role models whose words, art, and revolutionary lives shape who we are and what we do today. Below is a (slightly chronological) list of 8 historic figures who deeply influenced my colorism healing journey during my adolescence and as I was coming into young adulthood.
I discovered Marcus Mosiah Garvey around 2000 or 2001 while scouring blogs to find support while transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair as a sophomore in high school. Blogs like Curly Nikki were coming into prominence at the time and there were a couple of pages and forums for black women in their natural hair transition.
On one such page I discovered a quote by Garvey:
“Don’t straighten the kinks in your mane. Straighten the kinks in your brain.“
Marcus Garvey
I learned that Garvey also launched a Black is Beautiful campaign long before the Civil Rights movement made the phrase “Black is Beautiful” a popular statement.
This was all food for my adolescent black girl soul.
2- Malcolm X
Like many people, I’d known Malcolm from the Spike Lee movie, and his autobiography, but it wasn’t, again, until my natural hair journey and searching online for information that I discovered his 1965 speech: “Not Just an American Problem, but a World Problem.”
He really broke down colorism in a way I always felt but never articulated or saw or heard articulated and broadcast so clearly and so boldly. He clearly explained the correlation between the white-controlled media’s negative images of Africa and of Black people and how that influenced black people to despise Africanness and Blackness.
“It’s imagery. They use their ability to create images, and then they use these images that they’ve created to mislead the people. . . . Our color became a chain, a psychological chain. Our blood — African blood — became a psychological chain, a prison, because we were ashamed of it. We felt trapped because our skin was black. We felt trapped because we had African blood in our veins.”
Malcolm X
You can read more excerpts from X’s speech in my post on Colorism Quotes.
3- Alice Walker
Book cover for Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens
I learned about Alice Walker’s treatment of colorism via her short story “Everyday Use,” which I read my freshman year of high school (I think) and it recently inspired an article I published in English Journal titled “Everyday Colorism.” The story is about two sisters, one lighter and one darker, and the differential outcomes and differential treatment and overall tension between them.
As an adult I read In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens (a tribute to Zora Neale Hurston, whom I’ve included later in this list). In this book, Walker actually coins the term colorism and she really breaks down the issue, especially among African American women, in the chapter “If the present looks like the past, What does the future look like.” Walker argued that colorism is just as significant as sexism and racism and colonialism.
You can read more excerpts from Walker’s book in my post on Colorism Quotes.
4- Zora Neale Hurston
In my junior year of high school, I read Zora Neale Hurston’s autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road. Hurston calls out the hypocrisy of colorism among African Americans:
Image of Hurston with overlayed quote: “If it was so honorable and glorious to be black, why was it the yellow-skinned people among us had so much prestige?”
At that time in my life I felt the pain of colorism very deeply. But I also felt the enforced silence about colorism within my community just as much. It was way more taboo to discuss it back then. I felt so validate reading Hurston’s words. I re-read them over and over again. It was cathartic to hear someone (of such historical prominence at that!) speak so directly and bluntly about colorism and corroborate my own observations and experiences.
5- Toni Morrison
Early in college, a friend of mine let me borrow The Bluest Eye (1970). I instantly recognized the internalized white supremacy that the main character suffered from. Seeing how deep her suffering went gave me perspective: As much as colorism and racism hurt me, I would be okay.
Years later I read Morrison’s follow up on the topic, God Help the Child (2015). In an interview, Morrison said she revisited the topic because the first novel was so tragic. Without spoiling the story for those who haven’t read it, the more recent novel does offer us something that the first did not–hope for redemption, healing, forgiveness (including self), and reconciliation.
6- Wallace Thurman
Book cover for Wallace Thurman’s The Blacker The Berry
Before discovering Wallace Thurman’s The Blacker the Berry at a used bookstore (I think) early on in college, I had never read anything that was so explicitly about colorism. The book depicts colorism in every way and on every page: everything ranging from differences in hair texture, gender, dating and sex, employment, education, social groups, and class.
Thurman was a Harlem Renaissance writer, and the story mostly takes place in his contemporary setting of 1920’s Harlem. The main character is a dark-skinned, young black woman who is both a victim of colorism and a perpetrator of colorism.
Thurman’s novel remains one of the most thorough and complex studies of colorism I have encountered to date.
7- Nina Simone
As with many of the people on this list, I discovered the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, while I was in undergrad. She herself was a dark-skinned black woman with wooly hair, which automatically drew me to her. I had previously only known the Billy Holiday’s and Lena Horne’s, whom I did not identify with as deeply. And I suspected that their relative fame was itself an outcome of colorism.
The first song I heard was “Little Girl Blue,” and it was love at first listen. But then I listened to “Four Women,” and Simone then became and remains one of the most iconic historic figures in my personal life. The song itself is about four black women with different skin tones and the struggles they face in a racist and sexist country. The first woman has black skin and wooly hair, and her name is Sarah!
Never before had I felt so thoroughly represented in music.
8- Gwendolyn Brooks
Now that I’m living in Illinois, I get to see more of Brooks’s legacy, since she was a Chicago girl. She’s another dark-skinned writer, like myself. One of my favorite books of all time is her autobiographical novella Maud Martha. The prose is so poetic.
Brooks talks explicitly about the character’s experiences with colorism starting in childhood with being ignored by her family in favor of their favorite–her older and lighter sister Helen. Maud Martha is bullied and ignored as a kid, and as an adult, her classist husband prefers and entertains pale-skinned, “white-looking” women.
But I see myself in Maud Martha because she has a rich inner life. She’s deeply introspective, self-reflective, and has a vibrant interiority. Despite her external observations of the world, she reserves a special perspective of her place in the world that is only hers. She asserts herself in the world in ways that reflect her firm self-assuredness.
My list is not meant to be representative of everyone who has said anything worthwhile about colorism. So if there are other individuals who’ve greatly inspired you in your personal path toward colorism healing, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from ya!
Sincerely,
Sarah
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Diana Vazquez is a junior at the University of Illinois at Springfield. She is majoring in English and aspires to be an editor in trade publishing. At UIS, she is the Fiction Editor for The Alchemist Review and a Peer Editor for Continuum, two student-run literary magazines. She is very excited to be working with Dr. Webb on the Colorism Healing Writing Contest this year!
Listen or Watch Diana Vazquez’s Interview with Dr. Webb
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Language is the most powerful invention in the history of humanity.
Language conditions our perceptions and understandings of the world. Language shapes our governments, particularly in written documents like constitutions, laws, policies, etc. Language is used to persuade others and influence actions and behaviors. And language is the primary means through which we conceive of ourselves and communicate that conception.
We need look no further than the dictionary definitions of “black” and “white” and how these words have influenced our attitudes and treatment of people who’ve been given those labels. We see the power of language in the contentions about calling ourselves black, not wanting to call ourselves black, calling other people black with the intent to insult them, and who exactly should/could be labeled as black.
Perhaps I’m overstating the importance of language, as a result of my bias as a writer and English Professor. But I honestly don’t believe I am. That’s why my writing tip this week is as follows.
Writing Tip: Learn to Love Language
I love language (and alliteration!). In fact, language is my love language (haha).
But seriously, this advice is not for people who merely want to be competent writers or merely want to write well enough to get by in school or fulfill the responsibilities of their job.
But if you’re drawn to writing for more intrinsic reasons, deepening your love of language will bring a professional polish to your work. When you love language for the sake of language (as opposed to a necessary means to an end), you relish in finding the precise words to articulate your ideas. You play with the pliability of sentence structure. Find joy in the rhythm and music of prose.
So how might one discover or grow a love for language? I suspect that some of it has to already be part of your nature. For example, I’m a Gemini, ruled by Mercury, the messenger god, the planet of communication. So I couldn’t suppress my love of language even if I wanted to. It’s in my DNA.
Others, though, have developed a love of language because they’ve had several positive, nurturing, affirming, enjoyable, funny, and/or entertaining experiences with it in the past. Fond memories of Uncle Lee’s comedic storytelling. A teacher’s voice reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Reading Nikki Giovanni’s kidnap poem and connecting wordplay with Black love. Tupac (also a Gemini).
If you’re searching for the spark of inspiration that will help you see the magic of language, identify and reflect on those moments in your own life. Sit in the energy of such moments and lean into the yummy feelings they evoke. Rehearse the language. Absorb it on your tongue. Feel it’s texture in your throat. Feel the bulk and weight of it on your diaphragm and in your gut. Let it reverberate in your bones.
But language isn’t always pleasant. Recognizing and understanding the times when language does emotional or social damage is also important. That helps us recognize that language has consequences, which in turn might inspire us to wield it more responsibly. The Weekly Word is directly connected to this.
Weekly Word: Affirmation
An affirmation is a positive statement that confirms or supports an idea.
Affirmations are a necessary part of colorism healing. Many of us have lacked positive affirmation and have instead received insults, language meant to degrade and oppress us. Even if you have never been directly ridiculed as an individual, there is systemic and culture-wide derision of dark skin, coily hair, and broad features.
Affirmations have been a central component of my personal healing. Though some say affirmations did not work for them, there are still many people who find great value in them.
Tips for Using Affirmations:
Try all of these, and hopefully one will work for you or will inspire some other method that works.
write them down (repeatedly)
say them out loud (repeatedly)
post them in highly visible places around your environment
use them daily
use them as needed
carry some with you
google lists of affirmations
create general lists and lists for specific issues
create your own original affirmations
borrow quotes from books, speeches, etc.
put them on t-shirts, jewelry, and other items and apparel
create artwork out of them
rehearse them first thing in the morning
rehearse them before falling asleep
record yourself saying them, then listen to yourself
write poetry inspired by your affirmations
make it your background or screensaver on devices
I hope that some of this is beneficial to you.
Sincerely,
Sarah
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This week’s episode of The Word Wise Webb is inspired by a recent situation in my personal life. I believe I need to understand the lessons that difficult situations are meant to teach me. To do this, I turned to the tried and true practice of journaling.
Writing Tip: Journaling
Journaling is a form of writing that is meant for your eyes only. Rather that striving to communicate with others, journaling is a practice of communicating with yourself. Though you may think to yourself all the time, there are lots of reasons to also write to yourself, even if only periodically.
Writing is a useful tool for thinking because our “working memory” (how much content we can actually keep in our head all at once) is limited. Writing compensates for the limits of working memory by recording thoughts so we can refer to them again later.
Writing also helps to make our thoughts and feelings concrete. The act of articulating my experiences, thoughts, and feelings on paper brings more to my conscious awareness. I often find that as I continue writing, more information comes out. I start to remember additional details. I begin reaching conclusions and articulating truths that feel like epiphanies. Putting all my thoughts and feelings out on the page in front of me helps me see a bigger picture, make connections, and gain clarity on my condition.
I also think about journaling as a form of self-therapy. Just like talking to someone else about your struggles can often help, even just as catharsis or release, journaling can have a similar effect. And it’s convenient, free, and always available (often not the case with talking to other people).
If you’re considering giving journal a try (or another try), it might help to not pressure yourself to do it consistently or regularly. While I try to journal daily or more, there’s no reason you can’t just use journaling as needed. Journaling can be used like a flashlight–an enlightening tool that you pull out when you’re trying to find your way through the dark.
The Weekly Word: Introspection
Since you can easily look up standard definitions of the weekly words, I want to proceed by providing my own explanations and discussions of the Weekly Words.
I’ve identified myself as an introspective person from the moment I learned the definition at some point in my younger years. I think of introspection as:
The act of studying yourself, particularly your behavior, feelings, attitudes, and thoughts/way of thinking.Looking inward.
SLW
I practice introspection when trying to understand what a difficult situation might teach me about myself.
Journaling is a great pathway to introspection.
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Many of us, myself included, would complain that we just can’t seem to find what we’re looking for.
After a recent reminder of “You find what you’re looking for,” it occurred to me that if you say you’re looking for opportunities but you just can’t find any, then maybe it’s because you’re not actually looking for opportunities like you think you are.
Perhaps what you’re actually looking for is excuses, rejection, the thrill of the chase, or an entirely different category of opportunities.
I hear my inner skeptic asking: But why would anyone be looking for rejection?
What I’ve learned through lots of exposure to psychological principals is that we often look for and accept what we think we deserve. Not what we say we deserve, but what we actually believe we deserve when no one is looking. Or what we believe is actually achievable or available or realistic, etc.
If the thing we’re searching for continues to elude us, it’s worth reevaluating whether we’re actually looking for what we think we’re looking for. It’s worth asking if we truly believe we are worthy and deserving of said thing. It’s worth asking if we’re just pretending to search for something because it’s what someone else said we should seek.
As part of my goal to create and share more content in 2020, I am piloting a new series that will be featured on multiple platforms, including YouTube and other social media. The premise of the series is to synthesize or combine my love of literacy, reading, writing, and words (#WordNerd!) with my passion and commitment to colorism healing and other related issues.
In this very first episode, I provide the most foundational writing advice and pick the Weekly Word (randomly selected from my SAT vocabulary flashcard deck, which I bought for a different reason, but find fun and useful for this endeavor as well). Keep reading for the writing tip and Weekly Word.
Writing Tip: Read.
This may be an unexpected writing tip for some. But all writing begins with reading, at least if we’re talking about writing verbal language.
Many of my students say they love to write but don’t enjoy or necessarily make time to read. That’s a problem for a couple of reasons:
For one: Writing is not merely transcribed thought or speech. Writing and speaking and thinking are each very different processes and products, though they appear deceptively similar. For more on this, I recommend John McWhorter’s TED Talk, “Texting is Killing Language. JK!!!”
For that reason, the best way to be a better writer is to study writing. Yes, you can write without reading much. But to really take your skills and craft and dexterity to greater potential, reading is the gateway.
Secondly, there’s what I call a law of reciprocity or the rule of writer’s karma. If you write so that others will read your writing, then there’s good karma in reading other writers’ writings.
Quick Followup Reading Tips
The key to reading more is to read widely until you discover the reading that inspires you to read more.
Another way to read more is to not pressure yourself to finish. Many of us dread the process of reading because the thought of reading “the whole thing” overwhelms. But counter-intuitively, you’ll end up reading more when you give yourself permission to read less.
Weekly Word: Generalization
A generalization is a vague or broad statement based on inference or specific cases.
Colorism of often involves making generalizations about people with similar complexions. Rather than making generalizations, let’s focus on understanding the unique humanity in everyone. Yes, there may be patterns within a groups, community, culture, etc. but rarely do such patterns equate to the whole of who someone is.
While generalizations may be useful at times, they are treacherous when they lead us to pre-judge people that we do not know or when we try to force people we do know into general categories they don’t actually fit into.
I’ve enjoyed this first week of The Word Wise Webb (here on WWW), and I hope you’ve found it interesting enough to get this far. See ya next week for Episode 002!
My work has ebbed and flowed at various times since I launched the blog back in July 2013. In this new phase, however, I have more clarity than ever before. So my use of the common “2020 Vision” slogan actually reflects the clarity of my vision for my life, career, and mission.
This doesn’t mean I and my work won’t continue to evolve. After all, the only guarantee in life is that things change.
I did a lot in the past decade that I won’t even try to list here. (If you’ve followed me for awhile, you already know anyway.) Amid all of it, my fire for Colorism Healing never died, even when I had to scale back. Even through periods where I went silent on social media, I thought about Colorism Healing every single day.
Admittedly, some of those days were filled with doubt and fear and anxiety, and exhaustion, which only partially explains some of my silence.
But just as many of those days were filled with diligent work, like executing an art exhibition halfway across the country, writing a major national grant application, designing new products, creating and teaching a brand new college course on colorism, and connecting with and mentoring others who want to make a difference.
The biggest change, then, is that I’m returning to a state of being more visible and more vocal. Rather than merely working, I will also be sharing.
May seem like a trivial difference, but for me it feels big. Quite simply, I just miss creating and sharing content on a regular basis with the general internet audience.
Fortunately, everything I’ve learned, skills I’ve gained, my growth and increased maturity over the years will make this “easier” and more enjoyable than it’s ever been.
I recognize that this message is not super detailed as far as exactly what I’ll post or the exact projects I’m bringing this year or the precise dates and schedules of events, etc. I’ve tried that route, and that’s part of the clarity and the change too: Following what feels right in authentic alignment with the core of who I am. The detailed schedules, rigid timelines of what and when to post can be helpful. I learned that for me they were not.
So I’m starting off the new decade organically creating and sharing as it feels right. Blame it on all the Gemini energy dominating my astrological chart, or blame it on a lack of discipline. Lol.
Either way, I’m already on track to create and share more in this decade than I did in the last. And it feels… great.
Happy NY!
Sincerely,
Sarah
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I’d like to give special thanks to all participants and supporters as well as guest judges Donney Rose and Benjamin Washington. Each year I look forward to reading every submission and sharing the wonderful poems and essays with all of you. This year is perhaps the most diverse, and we have the largest number of Editor’s Picks ever. That means 2018 contestants really explored the subject of colorism from a variety of perspectives. I know you’ve been patiently waiting to see the results, so without further ado…
Youth Poetry Division
1st Place: “Hands” by Anvitha Soordelu
2nd Place: “Paper Bag Blues” by Ashley Tate
Youth Essay Division
1st Place: “Dipped in Vantablack” by Stephanie Hasford
2nd Place: “(Un)fair and Lovely” by Isha Sharma
Adult Poetry Division
1st Place: “The Day I Called My Grandmother Ugly” by Andreen Hodge
2nd Place: “Souls Within” by Monique Desir
Adult Essay Division
1st Place: “Biting My Tongue” by Nicollette Davis
2nd Place: “Untitled” by Harrison II
Editor’s Picks
Hafsah Abdur-Rahman
Ebonie Adams
Angie Baker
Brianna Bennett
LaMario Bennett
Kathryn Bertram
shalyce black
Nephthalie Bonny
Kiora Brooks
Stephanie Brown
Camille Bruce
Daniel Burris
Jennifer Charlera
Jessica Christion
kayla curry
Azalia Cyphers
Nicollette Davis
Anique Edwards
Keshona Fletcher
Amber Flores
Morgan Frazier
Blossom Graham
Janasia Graham
Dawn Gray
Aisha Guiles
Tisha Gupta
Michaela Gyasi-Agyei
Anya Hardeman
Stephanie Hasford
Dr. Mary Hendrickson
Tiffany Hennings
Alejandro Hernandez
Flor Hernandez
Jonica Hill
Andreen Hodge
Brandina Jean-Jacques
Jorge Jimenez
Aditi John
Jalesha Johnson
Journey Johnson
Allen Jordann
Candice Kenard
Karen King
Miah La Rue
Chyna Leopoldo
Kashish Lewis
Julia Llanos-Boyd
Iliana Lujan
Danielle Marks
Sophonie Merisnor
Sophia Moore
Sienna Morgan
Claudia Nava
Kat Nix
Vanessa Ojeda-Gomez
Sara Parker
La’Daisha Pfister
D’jatarya Powell
Destiny Rainge
Zaria Rather
Muneera Samie
Starrlese Scott
Deon Self
Isha Sharma
Angelique Short
Bobbi Simmons
Toyesha Simpson
Lynita Smith
Madison Spencer
Lilith Tijerina
Anthony Treadaway
Elizabeth Upshur
Shania Weaver
Olivia Wilks
Keyuanna Williams
Tajinnea Wilson
Breeanna Wright
Edoka Writes
You can read these essays and poems in the forthcoming anthology. First and second place entries will also be available to read online once the book is published this Fall.
Since I’m a writer, and a writing professor, and I host the Colorism Healing Writing Contest, I thought I’d offer some writing inspiration for those interested in the contest or simply exploring the topic for themselves. I’ve created 30 writing prompts to get you through a month-ish of writing.
Watch, Listen, or Read More Below
Whether or not you choose to share your writing or enter the contest, I believe these writing exercises can be productive by merely engaging with them.
I’ve been leading several in-person writing workshops lately. Seeing the effect of engaging in reflective writing as a tool for contemplating colorism inspired me to offer this practice to my comrades near and far. Online community, this is for you!
Please enjoy these 30 prompts to help you explore colorism! Let me know which ones you like best.
List of Writing Prompts:
1- If my skin could speak for itself . . .
2- I remember . . .
3- Respond to the song “Four Women” by Nina Simone:
“Four Women” Lyrics
My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is woolly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
inflicted again and again
What do they call me
My name is AUNT SARAH
My name is Aunt Sarah
My skin is yellow
My hair is long
Between two worlds
I do belong
My father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night
What do they call me
My name is SAFFRONIA
My name is Saffronia
My skin is tan
My hair is fine
My hips invite you
my mouth like wine
Whose little girl am I?
Anyone who has money to buy
What do they call me
My name is SWEET THING
My name is Sweet Thing
My skin is brown
my manner is tough
I’ll kill the first mother I see
my life has been too rough
I’m awfully bitter these days
because my parents were slaves
What do they call me
My name is PEACHES
4- Many black magazines during the early & mid 1900s featured bleaching cream ads like this one. Write a “Letter to the Editor” of one of these magazines responding to the presence of this ad.
5- Consider all of your features. Colorism often influences our attitudes about hair texture, eye color, and the size and shape of noses and lips.
6- Respond to the following quote by Malcolm X: “It’s imagery. They use their ability to create images, and then they use these images that they’ve created to mislead the people. Those who oppress know that you can’t make a person hate the root without making them hate the tree. And since we all originated in Africa, you can’t make us hate Africa without making us hate ourselves. And they did this very skillfully. And what was the result? They ended up with 22 million Black people here in America who hated everything about us that was African. We hated the African characteristics. We hated our hair. We hated our nose, the shape of our nose, and the shape of our lips, the color of our skin.”
7- Dear past/future self . . .
8- What _____ taught me about complexion . . . (or hair or facial features)
9- PROBLEM: Colorism. SOLUTION: ? ? ?
10- Write an analysis of this magazine cover. What messages are implied by this combination of words and images? Why is the fact that this cover was published in 1966 a significant detail? What was happening in the U.S. or the world at this time? What does it mean that this cover was published by Ebony magazine?
11- Respond to the song “Cloud 9” by Donnie:
“Cloud 9” Lyrics
We live from the head down and not the feet up
And I’m adorned with the crown that’s making this up
And I’m fine…fine…under Cloud 9
Yes I wear the lamb’s wool, the feet of burned brass
And the wool defies gravity like the nature of a gas
And I’m fine…fine…under Cloud 9
Twist my cloud and it rains
And when it rains, oh it pours
And the energy will absorb
Power for the metaphysical one
Happy to be nappy, I’m black and I’m proud
That I have been chosen to wear the conscious cloud
And I’m fine…fine…under Cloud 9
I be a chameleon and wear it bone straight
But it’s so much stronger when it’s in its natural state
And I’m fine…fine…under Cloud 9
We live from the head down and not the feet up
And I’m adorned with the crown that’s making this up
And I’m fine…fine, I’m so fine…under Cloud 9
Twist my cloud and it rains
And when it rains, oh it pours
Twist it and it rains
And when it rains, oh it pours
Twist my cloud and it rains
When it rains, oh it pours
Twist my cloud and it rains
Twist it…twist it, twist it
Twist it, a-hey…a-hey…yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah…yeah
Twist my cloud and it rains
Twist it and it rains
Don’t you let…them tell you
Tell you…you ca-a-an’t
You…ca-a-an’t
Don’t you…let them
Tell you…that you
You’re ugly
Or you’re not…
Who you’re not…
You don’t…fit in
But be proud of your Cloud, yeah
Be proud of your Cloud
12- Use the poem “Contrast” by Marielle R. Medina to inspire your own piece of writing about how two people experience the world differently based on how they look.
13- Dear . . . Write a letter to someone from your past who played an important role in your experiences with colorism, whether an ally or an antagonist or a complicated mix of both.
14- Art History Contemplation: Describe what you see in the painting “Free Women of Color With their Children and Servants” by Agostino Brunias c. late 1700s. What historical reality is it depicting? Why do historical artifacts like this one matter when addressing colorism? How do you think this aspect of history influences present day issues of colorism?
15- Where is my privilege? Yes, it exists. We ALL have it. Some more than others. No matter your skin tone, reflect on the ways your complexion and/or other aspects of your physical appearance, ethnicity, or cultural background benefit you.
16- Respond to this quote by Bill Duke (creator of Dark Girls): “What it comes down to is pain that is deeply held by children, and they don’t discuss it because they feel they’re going to be ridiculed by discussing it. So, we’re giving a voice to that discussion. The reason we think that dialogue is important is because it’s the beginning of healing. If you hold things and you don’t discuss it, it does bad things to the human body, psyche, everything.” Write About: pain you’ve experienced as a child, pain you witness in other children, the fear of speaking about colorism, the demand for silence around colorism, breaking the silence around colorism.
17- Write a response to the following research studies:
Matthew S. Harrison & Kecia M. Thomas (2009): “The findings suggest that skin tone plays a considerable role in the favorability of a Black applicant; indicating that skin color is more salient and regarded more highly than one’s educational background and prior work experience.”
Kimberly Kahn and Paul Davies (2010): “confirmed that high stereotypical (HS) Black targets (i.e., those with darker skin, broader noses and fuller lips) elicited stronger implicit bias in split-second “shoot/don’t shoot” situations than low stereotypical (LS) Black targets or White targets. The implications for policing are discussed.”
Viglione, J., Hannon, L., & DeFina, R. (2011): found that in North Carolina between 1995 and 2009, light skinned black women received more lenient prison sentences and served less time in jail.
Hannon, L., DeFina, R., & Bruch, S (2013): reported that very dark-skinned black girls are 3x more likely to be suspended from school than very light-skinned black girls, and for boys and girls alike, darker skin correlates with higher suspension rates.
18- Whether it’s sunny or rainy, GO OUT and FEEL NATURE on your SKIN. Then Write About: Joy. Peace. Love. Happiness. Confidence. Passion. Awe.
19- Know that it is okay to talk about and write about: Hurt. Sadness. Pain. Anger. Mourning. Loss. Fear. Loneliness. Shame. You are not “weak” because you feel these things. You are simply HUMAN. Facing these emotions and addressing them directly is actually a sign of STRENGTH, COURAGE, and BRAVERY, not a sign of weakness.
20- Accept and Honor the Process. My analogy for the healing process is a SPIRAL STAIRCASE. It can seem like we’re going in circles. But each time we come back around we are able to view our situation from a higher plane, a higher state of consciousness. And healing requires effort and persistence, right? Rarely is it ever achieved in a single leap. Also, it’s okay to rest, take breaks, slow down, pace yourself, or even sprint if you have a boost. So, yeah. Write about your healing process. Accept and honor wherever you are, wherever you’ve been, wherever you intend to go. (p.s. embrace the writing process too!)
21- Celebrate Growth and Progress! Write an ODE to your GROWTH.
22- What’s your hair story?
23- I’ve never said this to anyone before, but . . .
24- How have I been part of the problem and/or the solution?
25- Keep Writing: Take the last line or sentence (or any line/phrase) from something you’ve previously written, and make it the first line of a new piece of writing.
26- ReVision: Take an existing piece of your writing and cut 30% of it. (p.s. I know that’s scary! But you can save the original draft just in case 😉
27- SHARE! Let someone else read your writing. Ask for feedback about the content or the craft. Or not.
28- PERFORM! Read your writing OUT LOUD to yourself or to others. See how it feels. See what you learn about your writing.
29- What would you say to yourself about colorism if you only had 30 seconds?
30-SUBMIT YOUR WRITING to the 2018 Colorism Healing Writing Contest! You might decide that entering a contest is not for you. However, if you’re hesitating out of fear or shyness or self-doubt, I challenge you to practice a little courage today. Be brave. Take a risk. You will survive. And practicing the skill of courage is the best way to thrive!
The 2017 Results are In! I’d like to give a special thanks to all participants and supporters, guest judges Alejandra Torres and Amaris Wilson, and the Black Women Being fund. Each of the following poems will also be published in the anthology Colorism: Essays and Poems, scheduled for release this fall. I know you’ve all been patiently waiting for several months to see the final results. So without further ado…
Editor’s Pick: “Beauty, Like Water” by Faith Esene
Editor’s Pick: “Black Tea” by Edoka Writes
Guest Judges
I’m honored to announce the wonderful Guest Judges for the 2017 Colorism Healing Writing Contest: Alejandra Torres and Amaris Wilson. Alejandra has been a great colleague of mine at LSU for the past 3 years. Amaris is a talented writer whose poem “Dark Chocolate” is featured in the anthology Colorism Poems. Continue reading to learn more about each of them.
Alejandra Torres
Alejandra Torres is a PhD candidate in English, a Women’s and Gender Studies graduate minor, and the recipient of the Economic Development Assistantship at Louisiana State University. Her research interests include literacy, language learning, and youth studies. Her dissertation seeks to address the educational needs of undocumented adolescent English Language Learners. She has taught college composition and high school English and is currently a coordinator for Humanities Amped, a justice-oriented, critically-engaged literacy program. Contact her at atorr35@lsu.edu.
Amaris Wilson
Born in Natchitoches, LA, Amaris Wilson is a two-time member of the DTHS poetry slam team and a two time member of the Baton Rouge Brave New Voices poetry slam team. She has been published more than five times and has been featured on the popular blog, For Harriet. Amaris’s poetry focuses on blackness, youth, womanhood, and the intersections between them. She is currently attending Louisiana State University, pursuing a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing.
2017 Rules & Eligibility
The Colorism Healing Writing Contests are open to anyone.
Submit one original poem or essay up to 1,000 words by 11:59pm Central Standard Time on Friday, June 30, 2017. You will be able to submit via the contest page starting January 1, 2017.
By submitting to the Colorism Healing Writing Contests, you agree to have your poem published online at ColorismHealing.org and in the subsequent print anthology, should your piece be chosen as a winner, finalist, honorable mention, or editor’s pick.
Prizes
Prizes apply for both divisions (Youth and Adult) of the poetry and essay contests.
1st Place: $100.00 plus publication online and in print
Finalist: Publication online and in print
Honorable Mention: Publication in print
Editor’s Pick: Publication in print
If you’ve missed the deadline, please come back in January to submit a piece for the 2018 contest. Catch up on previous results for 2016 and 2014 contests.
Mother’s Day season is the perfect time to have candid conversations with your mom about colorism. Although I’ve interviewed and written about my mother and colorism before, I recently sat down with her again to let her be seen and heard more directly. The clip at the end is her recalling a special memory about her own mother, my grandma. Watch the full video below.
In this latest video from the Colorism Healing YouTube channel, I paid a visit to the University of Mississippi’s Tupelo campus to interview my older sister, Dr. Jandel Crutchfield, about colorism as it relates to family, motherhood and parenting, social work, and education.
“…really using your light skin privilege, your voice, to be able to do what research can’t necessarily do. But what you can do in a family may touch a lot more people than research can.” —Dr. Jandel Crutchfield
What are your sibling experiences with colorism?? Share in the comments below.
I started the month of March with a great opportunity to speak about Colorism Healing and read selections from the new book Colorism Poems at a monthly local event called “7 Minute Sundays,” hosted by my friend and fellow writer/creator Jacquelyn Brown here in Baton Rouge.
Here’s video from the beginning of this event. We did not record the dialogue in order to respect the privacy of some individuals. However, I must say that everyone present expressed sincere appreciation for the discussion. I was thoroughly encouraged by all of their participation, honesty, questioning, and wisdom.
If you’d like me to speak at your event, contact me here.
