too dark
Asmaa Hashmi | 13, Toronto Ontario growing up, my skin colour seemed to be an issue. i was constantly shamed for being “too dark”. always being told how being fairer was the beauty standard. so there i’d be, in the shower. trying to scrub my melanin. the thing that makes me who i am. the thing that identifies my race. why was i chagrined for the way i was born? being told to use creams such as “fair and lovely”. however, now i’ve learned to be comfortable in my skin. to embrace who i am. the beauty of it, it makes me stand out. makes me different from the rest. and that isn’t a bad thing. it never was.