This document discusses issues of self-image and identity among people of color. It notes that celebrities like Lil Kim have undergone physical changes due to long-standing messages about inadequacy, and that reality stars also alter their appearances when able to. The writer says these reflect deeper issues of "self-hate" discussed in works like those of Maya Angelou, and studies show black girls often feel less intelligent or attractive. The document advocates loving oneself in a judgemental world and making one's own choices rather than conforming to others' demands.

1. In lightof all the recentnewsinsocial mediaIfeltthe needtoshare my opinion.Whyare we so
surprisedatthe transformationof Lil Kim, she hasbeentellingusforyearsininterviewswhather
intentionswereinregardstoherappearance.Andyoucan’t blame her,if youhave beentoldsince you
can rememberthatyouare ugly,howcouldmoney andfame make youthinkany differently.If youlook
at a lotof realitystarsnowadaysas soonas theycan affordto do it,theychange somethingon
themselvessurgically.Whetheritisimplants,Botox,orwhateverelse. Please believe if youcanchange it
there issomeone outthere willingtodoitfor youfor the right price.Butall thisspeaksto a deeper
rootedissue.“Self-Hate”orwhatI like tosay‘The uglyblackgirl” do youthinkMaya Angelou would
have writtenaboutit,or Whoopi Goldberg’scharacterin“The ColorPurple”wouldhave beenso
significantif itwasn’tsome truthtoit. There have beenmanystudieswhere little blackgirlsthought
theywere more ugly,lessintelligentandall aroundlessthantheircounterparts.
From little girlswe are toldwhatiswrongwith us.We hearthingslike “yourhairis too nappy”or
“you’re prettyto be dark-skinned”or“yougot some goodhair, whatare youmixedwith?” itwasnot
until recentlythatIfeel thatpeople of colorwere embracedfortheirdifferences.Now youhave
everybodywantinghips,thighs,andbiggerbehinds.Spendingmoneytohave fullerlipsand darkerskin.
All the while the people youare tryingtolooklike are still tryingtoaccepttheirs.Whenyouhave been
toldthe same thingfor so longyoubegintobelieve itanditsometimestakesdivine interventionto
change your mind,nomatterwhat anyone says.People are soquicktojudge andhave no ideawhata
personisgoingthroughon the inside.
We live inaworldwhere Ibelieve youcan’twinforlosing,somebodywill alwayshave somethingtosay.
If you are confident,thenpeoplesee itascocky.If you are quietandreservedthantheyfeel like you
mustthinkyouare too goodto talk to them.We woulddrive ourselvescrazytryingtokeepupwiththe
demandsof otherpeople.Beforeyoupassjudgment,youshouldcongratulate someoneforchoosingto
standout and love themselvesinaworldthat istryingto change themand make themconformto it.
While itisnot alwayseasytobe confidentinwhoyouare itsbetterthan tryingto be like someoneyou
are not.It’stime to start lovingourselvesagain.Stopallowingotherstodictate whatyoudecide todo.
Because we onlygetone life andI don’tknow aboutyoubut I want tolive mine tothe fullest. Soif no
one else tellsyou. Youare beautiful andtrust me whenI say I am encouragingmyselfatthe same time.