Being a dark complexioned black woman myself i’m actually surprised that i haven’t been looked down on too much about my complexion. My family/extended family have never even to this day spoke any negativity about dark skin in our own family or even outside of it. I’ve never had any “intense" insecurities personally over my skin either. I do however remember when i was younger (maybe around 2nd to 3rd grade,) once saying to my mother that i wished i was fairer. Not white, not pale, but a couple tones brighter than my original dark complexion. And as a reply my mother always was the one to make me feel valuable regardless of my wishes. And she has always been right. Ever since, to this very day, i’d never wish to change my skin. Although i won’t say the aspect of my skin has not been completely ignored. Twice I've had confrontations by people about it. In elementary school a boy told me i was “burned by the sun." In high school a girl cracked a joke while in class. I remember my photography came out dark by accident, and then she asked if i was photographed anywhere in it to make it that way. None of these comments ever broke me down however. Although i’m not saying that the comments were acceptable. I have forgiven the comments. But that does not mean the memory will be erased for me, or any other dark complexioned women who have had and still have it way worse.