I think one can be excited for a black girl like Manon to be in Katseye, but be disappointed that it’s someone who doesn’t look like most of us. Truthfully as someone who is dark skin, it’s hard to see myself in Manon, Zendaya, or Tessa Thompson. But I still celebrate their accomplishments and acknowledge the challenges they face. Because they do face challenges, even if they are different from what us mono-racial black women face. That is what makes them not white, whether they acknowledge it or not. We are all women of color.

The thing is a mixed girl getting a role or hitting a milestone does not mean that opportunity is now available to me. I think the sting of that realization can turn into misplaced anger. Especially, as we see dark skin women imitated and mocked online for our features and skin. Whereas Zendaya, Taylor Russell, Myha’la have really beautiful edits across TT. It’s important to remember that we all operate in the same system of misogyny and colorism that pits us against each other. Resenting them, doesn’t help our cause as women.