India, Oct. 24 -- Years together,
I would resent my skin;
Wearing it like-
An armor of shame.
Because I was told,
this skin I carry wasn't beautiful.
Because being fair was lovely,
but being dark was a disgrace.
From advertisements to movies,
how we have this
instilled sense of beauty,
to maintain, to be perfect.
To be something you aren't.
From a tender age,
I thought I wasn't living
up to the standards of society-
because of my dark skin.
slamming my face into products.
To fit in, to look pretty.
because if I didn't,
I wouldn't find someone-
as I wasn't 'lovely' enough.
I was taught 'to get a guy,'
just because I was brown, dark.
because all the boys
drool over the 'fair' ladies.
I was told to wear dark clothes
as it matches my skin tone...