colourism

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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onto today’s topic: colourism 🪞

“don’t stay in the sun for too long, you’ll get a tan.”

in my punjabi, indian, even probably extending to south asian and asian culture, this is a common thing to hear from relatives and pretty much anyone.

tanning is this monster that they all fear and hide away from at all costs. i honestly forgot about this part of my life until i came to india a few days ago. the skin brightening lotion ads plastered everywhere and all the skincare product promoting their brightening capabilities. ☀️

to our society, fair skin is desired while dark skin is abhorred. even within one race, colourism exists and it’s so harmful. i grew up particularly affected and feeling othered. in fact, i still am sometimes on the receiving end of a subtle colourist jab.

my skin is darker than any of my family members’ and i’ve had classmates starting from elementary school repeatedly question if i’m adopted. i’ve been told there’s no way i’m punjabi with my complexion, as if i don’t know my own roots better than others would. after a soccer tournament in the blazing sun for a weekend, their remarks wouldn’t be a congratulations but rather a “wow you should have worn sunscreen.”

still, i didn’t relent. i never did pick up a bottle of fair and lovely and slather it across my face and arms. 🧴 it was because of my stubbornness then, now it’s my pride and comfort in my own skin that not only stops me, but also enables my retaliation. to my relatives i say, “i don’t have a single problem with my own skin, so why does it bother you so deeply?”

why does it? why do others in our communities feel so wounded by the colour of our skin, the beautiful melanin, that they must take matters into their own hands and offer “advice for our well-being”? they’re so passionate about “just looking out for us” when in reality they’re desperately trying to fill up a pit of their own insecurities. 🤨 therapy is calling!

there is nothing unnatural, disgusting or ugly about dark skin. soak in the sun with bliss and dunk your head under the ocean water at the beach without minding the rattling background buzzing of “you’ll tan!” let the sun paint your skin and leave its mark of such a life filled with vigour and adventure. it’s absolutely beautiful.

i was a child of the outdoors, and i still am. of course i would tan with my hours spent under the sun. my skin symbolizes an adventurous spirit. a life brimming with exploration and perseverance. it’s lovely, and i wear it with pride. 💖

i hope my younger self knows it too. :)

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