I never understood the idea that fair skin is automatically seen as beautiful while dark skin is somehow considered inferior. It feels like society has drilled this notion into our heads, convincing us that fair equals attractive and dark equals undesirable. But let’s be real, that’s just a warped idea we’ve been fed.

And it’s not just about skin colour; there are so many beliefs and expectations out there that we’ve blindly accepted. In this particular case, it doesn’t just affect children with darker complexions, it also affects everyone else who hears these ideas and begins to believe they must be true, simply because adults reinforce them. These notions settle deep within us, making them incredibly difficult to break free from as we grow older.

I’m not sure if it’s because my parents never strongly imposed these ideas on me or if I simply didn’t accept them, but I never fully bought into these societal indoctrinations.

To me, beauty has nothing to do with skin colour. It’s a combination of everything that you are. (And no, I’m not just trying to be politically correct, that’s genuinely how I see it. In fact, it feels like the most natural way to think. Maybe even how it should have been by default.)

It’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness young children growing up internalizing these toxic messages about their worth based on something as superficial as skin colour. Imagine a dark-skinned child seeing an ad on TV that tells them they need to become fair to be considered beautiful. What does that do to their sense of self?

It’s unfair. It’s damaging. And frankly, it’s disgusting to discriminate against someone simply because of their skin colour.

And maybe it’s time we stop letting these comments slide. The casual remarks, the “harmless” jokes, the backhanded compliments, they all add up. We should question them. Call them out. Not aggressively, but firmly enough to make people pause and reflect. Because silence is what allows these ideas to survive.

Honestly, it infuriates me to see how deeply these harmful ideologies have permeated our society, especially when they affect innocent children. But more than anger, I hope for change. I hope this isn’t something the coming generations grow up accepting as normal. I hope they question it sooner, reject it faster, and build a world where beauty is no longer measured by the shade of someone’s skin.

We need to do better. Not someday. Now.