“You’re Pretty for a Dark-Skinned Girl!” “I Am, Am I?”

BY: SIMONE JENNIFER SMITH 

“You are pretty for a dark-skinned girl!” The first time I heard this I was about 25 years old, and to be very honest, I was not sure how to take that. Was that a compliment, or should I be slightly offended? At the age of 39, I think back to that, and my initial reaction is to be annoyed. My emotionally intelligent reaction is one of understanding; understanding that we live in a very European influenced world, and the only way to change the narrative is to become part of a better narrative.

Let us talk melanin; melanin is the pigment that makes skin dark. We are all born with melanin; some have more, some have less. They actually put melanin in our skin products to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Melanin absorbs light very effectively and dissipates over 99.0% of the ultraviolet radiation that our skin absorbs. This helps to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Despite the physiological advantages of having such a miracle pigment, darker skinned individuals face barriers that will never truly be understood by those of lighter skin. Here enters colourism, which has been well documented among descendants of African people. Interestingly enough, colourism has been found in other ethnic groups across the world, especially in Asia.

*Interesting Fact: Alice Walker (author and activist) was the person who coined the word colourism. *

Jackson–Lowman’s 2013

“A form of oppression that is expressed through the differential treatment of individuals and groups based on skin colour. Typically, favouritism is demonstrated toward those of lighter complexions while those of darker complexions experience rejection and mistreatment.”

It is important that you understand the meaning of this word before I take you any further down this rabbit hole. Take a moment to put aside your thoughts on this topic and look at what the word means. All right, so as I had mentioned, I had an opportunity to go to the Miss Jamaica Pageant at The Pegasus Hotel. The event was very extravagant, everything that you expect from an esteemed pageant like the Miss Jamaica. As I buzzed around the room taking pictures, I began to notice a pattern occurring right in front of me. I would say that about 80% of the girls who were in the top 10 were fairer skin. I couldn’t help but really think about what this is continuing to teach our young women about standards of beauty.

It has been commonplace for judges to choose lighter skinned, or fairer skinned beauties to represent their country in contests such as Miss World or Miss Universe. Why is that you ask? Well, our current narrative is that the more European you look, the prettier or more accepted you are. I don’t have to get into the bleaching topic because you all know the devastating effects that has had.

It is no wonder that we hold women like Davina Bennett, Nyakim and Khoudia Diop in such high regard; but why is that? Is beautiful, not beautiful? Organizers of the Miss Jamaica World contest are pointing to a global trend of natural beauty. Global trend? So, now dark is trending? Aston Cooke, who is the co-franchise holder of the pageant, reported that the appeal of Davina Bennett, the young lady who placed third in the Miss Universe, has boosted an Afro-Centric look. Again, so being dark skinned and beautiful is only okay because it became trendy?

It is not that this narrative has not been put on blast; Jamaican beauty pageant judges have been criticized for selecting light-skinned winners and runners-up. As I stood there, I realize that not much had changed. Joan McDonald, Miss Jamaica World 1978, and Dr. Sanneta Myrie, 2015 Miss World runner-up, are women who have sported the afro-centric look before Davina Bennett did. I notice that these names are dropped in order to defend the case of colourism; well it does not because we are not talking hairstyle, we are talking shade of skin. Dr.Sanneta is a beautiful woman, who rocks locks very well, but she is still fairer skinned, and like many other light-skinned women, she was selected to represent Jamaica on the world stage.

Changing the narrative is not going to be easy because the self-hate can be deep. What I will do is proudly say, “I am beautiful and dark-skinned and the two coexist!”