Complexion, Chapter 1 Summary

Richard's family is a mix of different colored complexions. He notes that the lighter complexions are more acceptable. Both Richard and his older sister have as dark a complexion as black people. Richard's sister was teased for her dark complexion. After growing up and having children, she found it a relief that her children had light complexions. Richard was also teased because of his complexion. He would overhear women call dark skinned children ugly and unwanted. Many homemade remedies were made to keep a child from looking so dark. Richard receives racial slurs that are few in number, but impact him even into adulthood. Dark skin often meant that someone was poor. Poor people worked in the sun and got dark from doing work in the heat. Richard was surprised to meet a black friend of his sisters, who was not...