Bright

1.

Bright is an American slang term for light-skinned people of Black & white ancestry. It’s not a compliment.

From an early age, I understood how bright applies to me, to my skin, to the face I show the world. I’m fair for a Black girl. Powdery-pale, especially in winter.

It’s hard to love bright. The sly, knowing way its lone syllable sidles up. Bright gets too close too soon, thinking it knows all about me. To be frank, there’s a mean smile in the word.

Light, bright, & damn near white, goes the rhyme. Fuck those light brights, goes another.

I’m a college professor. As soon as I enter the classroom, as soon as I put my books on the lectern, as soon as I begin speaking, those who don’t like bright don’t like me, & I can feel it.

So what?