We the wheatish people

Kerala’s top government official just showed us how to fight back against unfair ideas about skin color.

A few years ago, a famous skin cream called “Fair and Lovely” changed its name to “Glow and Lovely.” Did that mean India had finally stopped obsessing over fair skin? Not really. This week, Kerala’s chief secretary, Sarada Muraleedharan, reminded us that unfair treatment based on skin color is still very real.

Muraleedharan has a very powerful job—there are only 36 chief secretaries in the entire country! But even with all that power, she still faces rude comments about her dark skin. That shows how deeply this prejudice is rooted in society. Instead of ignoring it, though, she responded in the best way possible. She said black is beautiful, black is amazing—”I dig black.”

This isn’t just about one person. Many kids in India grow up hearing that lighter skin is better. Some are teased for being dark, even by their own family or classmates. Ads for fairness creams and words like “wheatish” in marriage ads prove how much people obsess over skin color. Even on social media, people were upset when actress Simone Ashley (who is of Indian origin) played an important role in Bridgerton because they didn’t like that she had dark skin!

That’s why people like Muraleedharan speaking up is so important. Imagine a girl being told not to play in the sun or being pushed to the back in a dance performance just because of her complexion. Seeing someone in a powerful position who looks like her can make a huge difference.

The worst part about colorism is that it often comes from those closest to us—family members, teachers, and friends. Many kids don’t even talk about it because they think they’re alone. But staying silent doesn’t make it stop. The only way to fight this unfair treatment is to call it out and be proud of who you are!