Muted, but still listening, still learning. Today is not about the acne community but as a member who fights to normalise skin, no matter the condition or shade, I wanted to speak up.
Black lives matter. A movement which began due to the fact a black persons life is relatively undervalued, and more likely to be ended by police. I am deeply saddened every single time a black life is lost at the hands of a white person in power. This abuse has gone on far too long – not just in the US, but black lives have suffered hardship in the U.K. and being blind to this just should not be an option. This inequity needs be recognised, and it needs to be brought to an end.
If you don’t have to represent your race day in and day out, and your actions are not limited or discredited because of your racial background, the likelihood is that you are at a “privilege”. You are further ahead before you even knew it.
As a south asian girl with predominantly black friends (who I’m now lucky enough to call family), I have encountered many from my own community who are racist against all races. While the ignorance of some individuals within my own race angers and saddens me, it’s not possible to get through to everyone and we shouldn’t force it upon anyone to change their view – at the end of the day, they need to believe. A fake belief means nothing. And if they want to, they will.
So many black and poc families have given up their identity as what seemed to be a small price to pay for acceptance. But this is far from small – primary languages, accents, traditional dress, family names and cultural expressions – all sacrifices being made by this community in order to be fully accepted.
But remember divide and conquer isn’t new and sometimes it happens in our own community. All over the world we are finding it incredibly difficult to recover from the unrealistic westernised ideal whereby people perceive lighter skin tones as higher class or more worthy. The whiter, the better. This is naturally embedded in us and is felt by many all over the world. However, in light of everything going on in the world right now, we must WAKE UP. Stop this ignorant mentality. We are all guilty of this. All races need to normalise darker skin tones within their own race too. We should never judge someone by the colour of their skin. It doesn’t take an education to teach us to treat people with respect, it takes a decent heart.
Together we must fight the force that causes black lives to feel and be treated differently due to the colour of their skin. Education and awareness is incredibly important no matter the age, gender or generation. We all must learn, unlearn and relearn.
I will call out those who are racist (overtly or not), explore race related prejudice, in the hope they see light.
To the black community, you are strong, you are enough, you are worthy. I love y’all and I stand with you all because your life matters. 🖤✊🏽✊🏿
IMPORTANT! Ways You Can Help : https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co 🖤🖤🖤
naturally vivi 