The Woman With The Darker Skin

A recent inspiration from a courageous piece by a current actress brought to surface old feelings. This actress has approved the use of excerpts within.

 

The woman with the darker skin

sits alone in solitude

She’s in her room, this place of gloom

not smiling, not in the mood

 

The many dreams she’s known so well

when dreams were pure and kind

now collecting dust, some webs or rust

in the storage closet of her mind

 

The world has lied straight to her face

since her innocent years of youth

“You can achieve anything your heart desires,”

but now she knows a saddening truth

 

As the old adage mocks in jest

‘He who has the gold makes the rule’

but those so rich, of silken stitch

can never own this precious jewel

 

The one inside her heart and soul

where few will seek to dwell

the stone that shines like diamond mines

in the eyes that know her well

 

Beauty comes in every shade of color

like every paradise seen in books

not just thoughts or deeds, beauty exceeds

all portrayals, every fashion model’s looks

 

So if you see, please, not for me

a young girl with darker skin

would you let her know with eyes aglow

“You are BEAUTIFUL as you are!” … again and again

 

 

 

~ Thank You, Deepti, for the inspiration! ~ 

Article and open letter excerpts:  

"A few months ago, someone posted a comment on my Facebook fan page, making a negative comment about my skin color, calling me “Kali Kaluti”.  It means a female with dark, therefore undesirable, skin color. This was not the first time people posted negative comments on my fan page about my dark skin or my features. They questioned how I could even be on TV, looking the way that I do."

 

“I was told that I was too dark and too fat to be considered beautiful enough to be in movies and on TV. Some of those messages even came from loved ones.” 

 

“At that time, I didn’t feel strong enough to tell him that I wanted him to appreciate my nose and skin color the way it was… if he could make me look beautiful on camera…well then, that would be a first. I wanted to feel beautiful and validated.”  

 

“…in America, skin color becomes your race, your ethnicity. It’s not just that you are darker, you’re also the “other”.  Racism has deep roots like the caste system in India… Here, white is beautiful. Not just fair skin, but white skin.”

 

“Today, when someone tells me, in very indirect ways, they think less of me due to my darker skin or my “Indian-ness”, I know now they are merely victims of unconscious bias. I’m glad I’m now mature enough to know that other people’s distorted lenses don’t have to change or define my truth.”   

These aren't to be taken out of context. I strongly recommend anyone interested to go read the article and open letter for yourself, especially if aspiring to be in the entertainment field. The links are below. 

http://inityweekly.com/my-brown-skin-on-screen/     

or 

 https://www.facebook.com/notes/deepti-gupta/an-open-letter-to-my-fans-iamwith-kalikaluti-darkisbeautiful-iamlistening-fairsk/10153244583797291

Author's Note

On March 9th, 2016, I came across an open letter on the internet while browsing and it stopped me in my tracks. A familiar topic since I was a child regarding the struggle of growing up in a delusional society that sees and/or believes one skin color or one race could ever be better than all others. As this child, it confused me because although I liked chocolate ice cream, I adored homemade vanilla (not to be confused with what passes as vanilla ice cream nowadays)... The logic, as applied to skin color by my yet-to-be-fully-developed brain, made as much sense as someone denying me the flavor I loved best for the same reason, so I ignored teachings to the contrary. Unfortunately, especially in this media-driven world we know now, life decisions aren't always that quick and easy for young people. The letter in which I speak has inspired this poem, and those that truly know me here know well I will not be silent when injustices and ignorance threatens the proper growth of our kids, or puts them at risk. There are young and extremely talented people at this site, but I don’t doubt some of you have bigger dreams. I hope this, along with the letter, help you strengthen at the core and NEVER GIVE UP being your very best — boy or girl — no matter what ANYONE tells you you don’t qualify for or can’t achieve.

Thanks, Deepti, for the courage and care it took to not only write but publish your letter in the business you are in. Blessings to you and your family.

Reviews

[Dhaye]

We cannot see the real beauty in the physical appearance of a person. Outside appearance is only one of the aspects of being a person.

When people are kind, and faithful and with the same belief like us, we are happy to be with them and see them as "spiritually beautiful". Or when people are always showing positivism, always calm, cheerful, generous, understanding...we call them "emotionally beautiful" people.--Those are people with beautiful hearts.

We also admire smart or "intellectually beautiful" people. There are people who are easily turned on when they find someone like a book of wisdom or the creative people....those people with beautiful minds.

We cannot find perfect person on earth. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We just need to discover those things within us. Sometimes, those weaknesses can be turned into strength, depending on the acceptance of the person. But there are persons whose weaknesses are coming from the heart, of how they accept and love themselves. The sad thing is, when a person's view of himself was affected by those who are closer to him/her, it is really hard to revive self-worth. The only way to make him/her see his/her own strengths is to go with people who see his/her real beauty and help him/her see it from himself/herself.

For me, "beauty" means "strength".

I salute the courageous person who wrote that open letter as an eye opener and inspiration to others. I also commend you for sharing it here and writing your own poem about it. We do not know what insecurities each person is keeping deep inside, not knowing his/her own "beauty". You are right. We should never give up being our very best no matter what they tell us, how hard others may try to discourage us.

Applause for this! Thanks for the Author's note, too.

Please keep writing inspirational pieces like this. You are great. Keep it up!

[Antoñyo]

Thanks for the generous and thoughtful review, Dhaye...and for adding to the wisdom one might come across by visiting.

[Shankar Mohan Singh]

Nice one, you really took it into the stride

[Antoñyo]

Mr Singh, Thanks a bunch for taking the time to stop by. It's appreciated!