magical, magnificent dark brown girl

When I was younger, like many dark brown kids, I wanted desperately to be white. Or at least a little lighter. Because even then, it was abundantly clear to me that the world would like me more – everyone would like me more – if I was. I wrote this little ditty for 7 year old me, hoping against hope to will herself yellow, for the 10 year old version of my sister, who'd hide from the sun at all costs, and for my 6 year old cousin, beautifully dark, totally vivacious, and blissfully unaware of what's yet to come.