Actress Gabrielle Union opened up to Ebony Magazine recently with a letter to her younger self, hoping to inspire women and girls going through hard times, dealing with things like colorism and low self-esteem.
From her letter:
“Your deep Mahogany skin may not resemble that of the others in your family, but it’s just as gorgeous and you’re just as worthy….One day you’ll appreciate how much your brown skin shines in the moonlight, glistens in the sun and ages ever so slowly…”
“Don’t let that pesky low self-esteem creep in and fool you into believing that you don’t have value…don’t allow it to crush your will or dampen your spirit…Never worry about LOVE….real love will find you….an incredible love with an incredible man….there is a beautiful rainbow at the end of your storm…”
“…Don’t let other people’s needs, wants, desires, fantasies, hopes or dreams dictate your choices and decisions. Follow your own path, and don’t worry that you’re being selfish or disloyal…”
Rich, poor, famous or not, light or dark, short or tall, COLORISM and self-esteem don’t discriminate. Let’s embrace our stories and the stories of others so we call can learn from painful pasts and move forward! And to read the rest of Gabrielle Union’s letter, check out October’s Ebony Magazine, in stores this coming week!
Dr. Kiara Shanay Lee 