Note: This post contains one count of explicit language; this is not to offend readers but to bring readers into the reality of my day-to-day life in the “developed” society that is America.

TWENTIETH-CENTURY

In 1990 A.D., my parents abruptly moved me from their homeland and stationed me in the American South. There, I was enrolled in a hyper-evangelical college prep school that doubled as a segregation academy.

On my first day of school, several of my beige-skinned classmates—and eventually, some beige-skinned teachers—made it known that I was subhuman.

During my first week of school, I was greeted with a “Fuck you, black girl” by a beige-skinned, dirty blonde-haired, blue-eyed and freckle-faced classmate who reiterated that “my kind” was not welcomed at a Christian institution.

(For the next few years, I would eat lunch with my homeroom teacher or alone in the girl’s locker room, because I could not stomach being continually degraded amidst a sea of beige-skinned bodies in the cafeteria.)

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

In 2025 A.D., not much has changed in terms of how I’m perceived or treated by most beige-skinned persons residing in the Segregated States of America.

It seems millions of U.S.-based Christians born of the beige hue—whether they identify as progressive Christians or conservative Christians—prefer to reside in a hyper-segregated society separated by skin tone until their death.

And, it seems millions of U.S.-based Christians born of the brown hue are increasingly internalizing or adopting the doctrine of skin tone supremacy.

So, I wanted to digitally locate those who worshipped the colorless G-d—and the Christ of Revelation 7:9—and connect through conversations about life, bias and unity.

Because, in my mind, there’s gotta be a healthier way to be human. Founded out of frustration and a desire for an integrated community of creative and curious Believers who welcomed deep convos, I created Hope and Hardships for earthlings who were starting over in life, battling bias and maneuvering trauma with Christ.

(Note: I recently moved out of a harmful household. So, this space is also for anyone who wants to witness the 200 mistakes I’ll be making this year, as I rebuild my life from scratch.)

Hope and Hardships will house two companion platforms on its website: Notes On My Life and The (Un)Biased Church.

Notes On My Life is where I’ll share my boring and bizarre stories re: my turbulent journey with Christ, plus my unfortunate adventures as a darker-skinned woman who’s stuck inside a biased bubble.

The (Un)Biased Church will serve as a story guide for forward-thinking, multi-hued, empathetic and compassionate Christians in media who want to:

• get comfortable talking about skin;

• better understand racialization, deracialization and the damaging or deadly consequences of skin tone bias;

• reimagine a Christ-centered leadership that challenges the gospel of segregation and better-ness; and

• create a complexion-inclusive community that safely welcomes the full humanity of darker-skinned women.

FYI, my joy deposits have dwindled in the last three years.

And my heavy heart is burdened with permanent potholes.

So, at the suggestion of my coach, I’m committing to dumping my pain and my perceptions on digital paper for the rest of the year.

If you’re into perspective-shifting insights or Soul-searching stories that don’t sugarcoat the reality of living in an upside-down world, then I invite you to sit at the Hope and Hardships table, where our skins don’t divide us—they bind us.

The hope is low. The hardships are high. The Love is higher.

Thank you for stopping by,

Your melanated neighbor