Love My Colors looks like a powerful book. Can you tell us about your motivation to write it?
Growing up, not loving my skin color, praying and living in the anticipation, that every morning when I woke up my skin would be lighter. Bullied at school, for the color of my skin, and what I wore to school, not having a father figure in my life, my mom working extremely hard to give me the best education. People complimenting my light skin cousins, right to my face and looking at me with disgust and saying, “Why is she so black?” Trying to make friends with light skin people, so that society would accept me. The first time someone told me that I am beautiful was in Canada and it was a white person. That had me search deep into my soul and question my hate for my skin color. I realized it something that stems way back in slavery and the norms of the society. You see, society has placed me and other dark skin people in this box, if you are not light skin you aren’t beautiful.
The metamorphosis of getting to love my skin by uncovering the box and walking out of it, has not been an easy task, but the incidents that have occurred, have shaped and molded my life and have given me the courage to step boldly in society, unapologetically and to work hard at my dreams. Not letting the negativity of naysayers’ sip into my bones and contaminate how I feel about my complexion. Not afraid to look at myself in the mirror and admire my dark melanin. I try to encourage young girls and boys and everyone from every ethnicity, nationality, culture that you should love yourself, because deep beauty comes from loving self, and your skin color was given for a reason, so you need to find out your purpose and think positive, because whatever negativity you perceive about self can be detrimental to your growth.
What will readers get out of your book?
I would like my readers to know that the society you were born into, will always change, so don’t get into the box society has labeled for you. You cannot change the color of your skin, but you can definitely change your circumstances by changing the label on the box and making the world a better place.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Love My Colors?
About 40 to 50 percent of the novel is my life, I can relate to the character pain, suffering, joy and sadness, wanting to be recognized, not liking her skin color. Living truthfully in the moment, of being the character. It took the character a long time to realize, someone perception of you doesn’t have to become your reality.
What do you like to do when not writing?
As a Dietitian, I enjoy helping others make better food choices. I like hiking in the summertime, reading fiction, non-fiction and motivation books to help keep me grounded. I have recently taken up acting, and find it rewarding to feel someone else emotions. Also, like helping to uplift others, to love self and don’t wait for the world to love you.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
You tube channel Beauty of colors. https://youtu.be/4uXwoyKtfx4
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