Pretty Brown Skin

For all my, but not limited to, pretty brown skinned people...

Ignorance is NOT bliss.

I didn't notice it, until I was sitting in a dark cinema, surrounded by the beauty of pacific nations and listening to the sounds of the Islands and rumble of their cheers. They collectively breathed in the fresh air of change as they saw themselves beautifully pictured on the large, white screen. Maybe I didn't notice it because lack of representation always favoured sitting with those who bore brown skin.

We have all heard that saying, "Ignorance is bliss". When I was little, ignorance taught me to assimilate into western cultures. Ignorance taught me to paint over the small intricacies of my being. Ignorance sadly taught me to not appreciate my pretty, brown skin, or the origins of it. As I grew, I tried to navigate the complexities of my identity. Let me tell you, it is very hard to do that when you are completely unaware of the beauty of who you are. Its hard when you have been subjected to the confinement of invisible walls and ceilings that limit your understanding. You cannot grow into your full potential when there is no representation.

There is room at the top for everyone! There is room for everyone to succeed and be their greatest selves!

My childhood was filled with many role models, but only after seeing people of colour on the screen or in social media did I realise that majority, if not all, of those role models came from European backgrounds. They were always young, stunning, and educated women with ambition, grace and poise. They had everything, and that's who I set out to be. I wanted to permanently straighten my hair, I didn't like my fuller lips, and didn't want to associate myself with my culture because of supposed (and very wrong) stereotypes. All these things would bring me closer to being that person. A clone, a photocopy, and a chance at enclosing the ever so small box we were trapped in. The effects of these presumptions are so harmful to young people with coloured skin because we are rejecting who we are, and the potential of who we could become.

No, this is not me devaluing any of those European role models' merits or achievements, it is simply me bringing attention to the fact that there is room at the top, or on the screen, or in educational institutes for everyone! There is room for everyone to succeed, to thrive and to see themselves represented!

Keep telling your story! Keep creating! Keep being the role model your younger self needed!

It may have just been a movie to you, but for me and mine- that small moment of victory where I, and many other Polynesian people, felt the supple kiss of our stories being shown, and truly seen in beautiful lights and potential of brilliance in storytelling.

Keep telling your story! Keep creating! Keep being the role model your younger self needed!

Your story and your growth is valid, and should be represented for you and for the people who succeed you.

Laurissa Xx

PS. Yes, "Pretty Brown Skin" by Diamond White was on repeat while writing this piece and the mysterious movie I spoke about in the writing above was Disney's Moana haha.