If someone asked me have I ever experienced colorism in my life, I would say no, because I haven't. I have, however, noticed a few questionable things related to color in my life.

My elementary years were full of entertainment and exploration. From what I remember, anytime I watched a music video from a singer or rapper, most of the female models were of lighter skin complexions or entirely different races altogether. I HONESTLY do not remember a video that included even half of the model cast being a darker brown complexion. Hopefully, someone can understand me when I say this. For a long time, when I pictured myself being in a film, music video, or TV show, I would always see myself as being light-skinned, even though I am a brown skinned. I am not sure if this was because of what I saw through the media or what. But, you have to admit, there is something off about a young child like myself not identifying with their own skin tone.

In 2013, rap duo 2 Chainz and Pharrell Williams released a music video for their song "Feds Watching". I remember watching it for the first time; it was shocking and refreshing. Why? Personally, it was my first time EVER seeing a music video that included a significant amount of dark skin women. There were a lot of people who noticed as I did, but I felt like even to this day no one has given the individuals in charge of casting for this video proper recognition.

More recently, actresses including Zendaya have acknowledged that they are aware that they experience favoritism in Hollywood over their darker skinned peers. Over the years, there have been documentaries released that explore the uncomfortable topics of colorism and discrimination around the world.

More recently, rapper Tory Lanez claimed that while shooting a music video, a director swapped out a darker skin model for one of a lighter tone. A video of the alleged incident surfaced on several social media platforms. Lanez can be seen demanding the dark skin model be placed back in her original spot. Soon after, people from the set claimed that Lanez was fabricating the incident. While I do not condone making false claims about situations like this, the situation did once again bring about a conversation that needs to be had. I have heard TONS of stories from well-known people and even "regular" people that have endured being discriminated against for being darker.

Stop the madness.