Team Us: I Care About What You Think

Well now…I have been waiting to get to this. Y’all, (I’m just gonna let all my southern slang fly today) I am so tired of seeing these gut wrenching hashtags: #teamlightskin and #teamdarkskin. I know, I know…I’m messing with your fun now.  However, the ignorance being displayed has got to stop. I have seen countless posts that will display those hashtags underneath. It’s their way of taking pride in their complexion. Which to be honest, is not a bad thing when it doesn’t reflect badly on our community.
What this hashtag says is that we are happy to separate ourselves from others in our community. It says that we know there is a division within our culture and it’s okay because we’re “#teamdarkskin” anyway. This influence on skin complexion only furthers the self- hatred many women and men harbor daily. I can’t tell you how many articles I have read from “rich” skinned women (as one of my fellow writers put it) saying they feel ugly and alone. No one wants to be reminded what many people in the world already think about their appearance. Most importantly what does this say to our children? Our little boys and girls already have to build a thick skin because let’s face it, kids are cruel. Now, you want them to see that it is not only other races they have to protect themselves from, it’s also their own community. This is where it all starts and we have to protect our children from the people who care nothing about the emotional distress of others. I understand that it’s how you feel about yourself. However, to say that we don’t care what other people think of us would be a lie. Yes, I care if you think I am an unfit mother. Your thought could prompt you to call child services on me. Yes, I care if you think my child is a thug. Your thoughts could prompt you to gun him/her down in the middle of the street unarmed.
The point I’m trying to make is that we all, to some extent care what others think of us. Not in the way where our life is ruined because someone doesn’t like our accent. You know what I mean. If we feel this way about ourselves, then how can we demand respect from other races?
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Let’s talk about Serena Williams. This wonderfully, talented woman has been in the media for many reasons. One of the latest ones involves someone by the name of Drake. The comments that I have read are so hurtful. A lot of people put this “LOL” or funny looking emojis behind their comments as if it’s all in fun. This is not fun, this is disrespectful. All because she has a darker complexion than Drake. It’s bad enough, as high profile as she is, Serena has to put up with this stuff while she is on the court, but from us too? Please don’t be confused, everyone is not on her side at those tournaments. They try to tear her down even worse, but she is supposed to have a community of support. Yet, many of us can’t seem to move beyond the idea that she has more muscle than the average woman.
Man…y’all come on. We “got to do better”. I am not saying I am perfect. Please understand, I just have too much riding on the future of our community. A little girl and a little boy that call me mom. Are you willing to invest in #TeamUs?