As a woman of color in American society and one with a lighter complexion, I have watched my darker-skinned friends and family ridiculed for their skin color. 

In my family, I was born to two dark-skinned parents but somehow I was born significantly lighter.  Consequently, family members treated me superior to other kids because of my color. They would not let me play outside in fear of my skin being darkened or "messed up".  Such treatment never settled well with me and when my younger brother was born with a dark skin color, I wanted to make sure he never viewed himself as inferior to anyone because of his skin. This was the beginning to my advocacy against colorism in African American communities. Since, I have performed spoken word pieces nationwide and spoken at events advocating unity in the African American race despite our diferrences. 

This is what I am doing. Now What Will You Do?