Struggles of being a dark-skinned woman

Black people are usually looked down up on all over the world because of their skin color. In Kenya, dark-skinned women go through a lot trying to fit in to the society and trying to impress other people. Here are some of the struggles that a dark-skinned woman faces in Kenya.

1. Not beautiful enough. At one point, I heard a man telling another woman that she was too pretty for a dark-skinned. I tried to figure out what that guy meant by that statement and the only thing that I came up with was that he though dark-skinned women are not that beautiful. For a dark woman who has no self-esteem will be greatly affected to learn that she has to be light-skinned to be beautiful.
2. Not easily noticed. When a light-skinned girl and a dark-skinned girl walk together, the light one is usually easily noticed. You will hear men say ‘cheki yule yellow yellow msupa’ or ‘that browny is fine!’ Seriously, I wouldn’t be noticed by a man while walking with a light skinned chic? How crazy is that?
3. Try all sorts of makeup to be lighter. Why is it that dark women use products to make themselves lighter, but you will never hear light skinned chic using products to make herself dark? This is because the society we are in has taught us that being light-skinned equals to being beautiful, but that is not the case at all. Being dark-skinned is natural beauty.
4. Denied job opportunities. I think this happens to be one of the craziest of all. How do you deny me a job for being dark-skinned? Some time back, a Kenyan radio presenter was denied a job because of being dark-skinned despite having all the other qualifications. The boss simply told her that the company was looking for light-skinned woman. I just don’t understand this, period!
5. Dark-skinned girls cannot put on colored clothes as they will look ridiculous. Last week when I was in a matatu, there was this dark chic that was dressed in a green dress, a yellow blazer and was carrying a navy blue handbag. I thought she looked awesome, but then there were two chics who sat next to me and this is what they said, “aki checki yule mdem vile amevaa, aki si anakaa mbaya kwani hana kioo ama chali wa kumshow. Anagekua ka light-skinned angekaa poa but hiyo color yake nyeusi imemuharibia fashion.” I think you can figure that out for yourself.