momma, I wanna be light-skinned

Growing up in the south, I witnessed the damaging polarity of inter-racial bias within my own African-American community. I experienced the struggle caused by these divides that have been perpetuating since the days of slavery. The remnant left by the hands of white slave owners whose sole purpose was to control the black race, has a modern day name Colorism, coined by the author Alice Walker in the early 1980's. Colorism has proven to be a powerful catalyst in the dissension of African-Americans. Each generation has its own account of the damaging effects of discrimination and degradation experienced within the black race. Consequently, these effects have left many feeling inadequate, hurt, and trapped in a false reality that lack the reward of acceptance and social adequacy. I have seen the personal struggle and journey of the author. This life changing body of work entitled, "Momma, I Wanna be Light-skinned: My Journey to Acceptance", gives a detailed account of the author’s personal bouts with sufficiency. It sets the stage for this much needed discussion, not just with the reader, but within herself. Reliving this painful past has been arduous but necessary in starting the journey to healing and accepting her own God-given uniqueness and beauty. Not every person has identical discriminatory experiences. Some may have experienced social isolation and prejudice in other forms. Others may have been ridiculed for having different beliefs. Perhaps weight was the object of scrutiny. Maybe some were singled out for being too-light skinned. However, in "Momma I Wanna be Light-skinned: My Journey to Acceptance", the author bravely and transparently narrates her journey to wholeness by establishing a new paradigm of self-perception. A perception not formulated by the opinion or approval of others but by introspection. Whatever occurrence that retarded your development and left you in a broken state, the author shares her new found positive outlook in hopes that you too can begin your own journey to acceptance.