7 Moving Quotes From Dark-Skinned Women Who Are In Love With Their Melanin

The beauty of dark-skinned women has been atrociously understated for centuries. But fortunately, there’ve been a handful of celebrities and artists who have publicly reclaimed the regality of their brown skin, most recently “Chewing Gum” actress Michaela Coel.

In an interview with Vibe published Monday, the actress not only declared an appreciation for black womanhood ― despite the setbacks it may present in Hollywood ― she also shared the pride she takes in her skin tone.

“I’m black, I’m dark and I’m f**king beautiful,” Coel said. “My skin is gorgeous, I love myself, people with good eyesight love me too, and the rest of the world can f**k themselves. I’m gonna have a little dark-skinned party over here. I’ll have a good time!”

In honor of Coel’s unabashed self-love, we’ve rounded up other empowering quotes from dark-skinned actresses, poets and musicians who take nothing but pride in their melanin:

(Disclaimer: Determining who qualifies as dark-skinned can be subjective. Most of the following quotes were excerpted from interview segments where the women were discussing the societal implications of being dark-skinned.)

1. “The one thing I feel is lacking in Hollywood today is an understanding of the beauty, the power, the sexuality, the uniqueness, the humor of being a regular black woman.” ― Viola Davis, ESSENCE

2. “I cannot run away from who I am and my complexion or the larger society, and…