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Ever since I can remember, I’ve been obsessive about my body and the way I looked. I questioned myself. Was I too fat? Was I not muscular enough? Am I not pretty enough? Now, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands instead of wallowing in my guilt. I want to look better. From now on, im the artist and my body is my canvas. I’ve decided to give up all things sweet. The only day I’ve allowed myself to indulge myself is on Sunday because lord knows everyone needs a break. Im drinking my last bottle of soda as we speak, and it’s a Coke; the worst drink you could possibly drink in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Im choosing to live healthier because I want to look in the mirror and like what I see. I don’t want to stare at myself with a frown, and pick out every flaw that is apparent. I want to accept myself. I know a lot of people feel the same because the media forces us to want to be a certain way. They’ve defined beauty for us and all most of us want is to be beautiful like Zoe saldana, Beyonce, Shay Mitchell, Halle berry, Alicia keys, and other strikingly beautiful people that we see every day on our TV. I’ve grown up in this world with a stigma. I am a young African American woman and my skin is dark. In grade school, even at a young age, my peers judged me because of my skin color. I had a best friend who was light and around others, it was as if I didn’t exist. I don’t think that’s right. In high school people would say to me, “you’re pretty, for a dark skin.” It was as if my entire generation thought that dark skin females could be beautiful. They’d say, “you don’t have black hair.” Well what is black hair? Is it because my hair isn’t coarse like you’ve expected of me? we need to stop basing our opinions on stereotypes and just LIVE. We are quick to assume the worst. Dark skin is beautiful. Have we not learned from Michelle Obama, Gabrielle union, Megan Good, Kerry Washington, and Kelly Rowland? All dark, all beautiful. But we won’t change. It’s just how things are.

Zoe saldana. There has been so much criticism about her playing the role of Nina Simone. People say it’s because of the way she looks and a big issue was about her skin and her hair and her black features, which saldana does not have. It isn’t about the look, and I believe that’s what makes the casting of saldana so great. Beyonce said it best in her documentary. People focus too much on how singers and other celebrities appear in the public eye instead of how well they do their craft. Nina Simone had a beautiful voice and that’s what people should focus on. Saldana represents the beauty of her voice, being so beautiful herself. Also, saldana is a great actress. She captured the emotion of the part she plays so well. Watch her in any of her movies and you’ll see. In avatar, although she is a computer generated creature, she draws you in with her expressions, her voice, and her actions. She amplifies intensity and she amplifies emotion. That is what qualifies her to do Nina Simone justice.
-Unheard Truths