June 27, 2008 at 6:16 pm
#628490
Kayleigh
Member
Very cool links, soc.
Growing up, I always hated my skin because I have that very very fair Scandinavian skin that really doesn’t tan. I can look awfully pale ’cause my hair and eyes are dark. Not a pretty contrast if I am sick, exhausted, etc.
But one day it hit me really hard: if I inherited the dark skin of one side of my family, I might have experienced levels of racism and discrimination that I didn’t (given the way I look otherwise, which has been called Italian, Spanish, etc.) Just because my genes lined up randomly, I was given privileges I only vaguely understand.
I no longer curse my skin and I will never get a tatto. It’s hard to explain. :-(
I realize the above sounds kinda corny. But it was a powerful moment for me.