Auntie, you want me to bleach my skin?!

An Auntie are aunts that are the best at spoiling you, but they can also sometimes can be the worst! They can be nosy, gossipy, and armed with every other ridiculous opinion under the sun. Aunties are masters of throwing subtle shade. It’s always a competition when it comes to Aunties, especially when it comes to the title of who makes the best curry. Aunties are the first to comment on how fat you have gotten, but be the first to give you a big steaming plate of food and expect that you eat all of it.

Aunties can be critical of physical appearance and sometimes give you the worst makeup and hair advice ever. Auntie, perms are not in anymore! (UGH!)

Example: While getting ready for bed one evening, my Auntie gave me a tube of “Fair & Lovely,” a skin bleaching cream for my face and body. She told me that I would look prettier if I was a little lighter. I was offended by what she said, but I was a teenager and wanted to be prettier, so I used the nasty lotion on my face and skin. I remember it smelled terrible and even burned a little as I was putting it on; I ended up washed it off immediately thinking – “is it possible to be unfair and lovely?”

I didn’t learn about colorism and how it is a symptom of racism until I was older. Learning that truth helped me embrace my darker skin color in a way that I was not able to before. Projected beauty standards are everywhere. Ideal “fair skin” nonsense is even present in Bollywood movies - they often use special lighting to make the actor or actress appear lighter.

As a future Auntie (because it’s inevitable for Desi girls everywhere), “Fair & Lovely” cream will never be found in my home and hopefully people stop buying their products soon. Although, their website seems to be fraught with lots of evidence that colorism is alive and well.

It is important that we teach and practice self-acceptances - we are all lovely no matter our skin tone. Despite the bad habits of some Aunties (which is really just internalized oppression), Aunties give the best hugs, guaranteed non-stop laughter, and amazing food.