It’s officially summertime! Aside from the bugs, summer is hands down the best season. It gets dark late so you’re able to have fun even longer, and the sun just makes everything much better. Since summer is upon us, please refrain from thinking and saying these stereotypes to your black friends.

1. Why are you putting on sunscreen, you don’t need it?

This is literally always the question I get as soon as someone sees me slathering on my 100 SPF sunscreen. People with dark skin are less likely to get skin cancer or sunburn, but that does not mean that it can’t happen to us. Also, I choose to use such a high SPF sunscreen because I like to be on the safe side.

2. Put sunscreen on so you don’t get darker.

Sunscreen does not prohibit someone from getting darker. The purpose of using sunscreen is so that you are protected from the sun’s rays.

3. Stay out of the sun so you don’t get darker.

Even though my dark skin is beautiful, I still enjoy laying out in the sun and sunbathing. I’m not afraid to get darker, in fact, I embrace it. So the next time you see me laying on the sand under the sun, don’t tell me to find shade.

4. You can tan?!

This is everyone’s response when I tell them I get darker in summer. Believe it or not us dark skinned people CAN tan. We actually tan very well, and easily because our skin absorbs the sun and heat. Out of my entire friend group, which is comprised of people of all nationalities I tan the fastest, and my tan lasts the longest.

5. Your hair obviously gets curly when it's wet.

Every person’s hair is different. Just because I’m black, doesn’t mean my hair gets curly when its wet. To be honest, it doesn’t. If you see me putting up my hair when I go swimming, it’s because I want it up.

6. You must be afraid of water since you can't get your hair wet?

The truth is I love water, and I love getting my hair wet. Black people can get their hair wet, and if someone doesn't want to, then it's a personal preference, not a racial thing.

7. I'm almost as dark as you.

Out of all the summer stereotypes I've encountered, this one is by far the one I hate the most. No, you are not almost as dark as me and probably never will be. Stop putting your arm next to mine and comparing it to my skin tone. It isn't a competition, so stop giving yourself skin cancer and sunburn to be my color!

8. In summer I get way darker than you.

Yeah no.

9. Why are different parts of you different colors?

It has to do with not all of my body being exposed to the sun all year round. Some parts are just darker simply because they receive sunlight often.

10. You're black so you can't swim, right?

Okay, history time! During the time where slavery was predominant, black people were unable to swim in public pools because of segregation. That doesn't mean no one has taught us how to swim since then. I just can't connect the dots when it comes to being black, and not knowing how to swim. If a person doesn't know how to swim it's because no one taught them, not race.