Anyone who’s on Instagram has seen the sudden stream of hundreds of girls with light brown skin and thick curly hair. Everyone wants natural, thicker or longer hair. Girls are out buying pills and products to make their hair grow. Natural hair is definitely all the rage. And while this is great for girls like my sister and me, this hasn't always been the case.
Growing up in Bermuda, we were always the odd ones out. With our lighter skin and long loose curls, we were foreigners amongst our own peers. I can recall trying to convince classmates that I was born in the same country as them. I remember spending hours in the sun trying become darker in the summertime. I remember wishing I could get my hair relaxed like the other girls in my class. However, between my sister and me, she got the brunt of it because she's much lighter than I am. I remember kids (and even family members) constantly calling her "whitey" or "paleface." People would ask if she and I were cousins or if she was adopted. Most of the time, she'd laugh it off, but sometimes it would really hurt her.
We couldn't seem to find our place because we didn't seem to fit in with the Hispanic side of our family either. We spoke Spanish like a "gringa"*’ and neither of us liked avocado. We knew nothing about salsa or reggaeton. My sister simply went from being "paleface" to "blanquita."*
You see, before we were trending, we were outcasts. Before we were popular, we were misfits. It's a strange feeling that only a few understand, where you can be everything and still fit in nowhere. Despite all of that, we've learned to love ourselves and both sides of our culture. We shouldn't have to choose between either side. We love watermelon and cassava pie as much as we love malta and tostones. Something needs to change, and change will only come once we stop focusing on the trends.
God created us all in his image, so whether we're Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, etc., we need to start treating each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34 NIV).
*’ an English-speaking person
