Sulwe

by Lupita Nyong’O

“Brightness is not in your skin, my love. Brightness is just who you are.”

In this story a young Black girl, Sulwe, is made fun of and made to feel insecure because of the color of her skin. Her pain is felt by the reader as she tries various ways to become lighter in skin color. Through a dream, Sulwe develops an appreciation for her beautiful skin and wakes up with a new sense of confidence.

Story Read Aloud

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Talk About It

• How would you feel if people made fun of you because of your skin color? Explain the concepts of prejudiceCreating ideas about someone we do not know based upon something like skin color or gender. Prejudices are generally negative. More and racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More.
• Parents can share how it makes them feel to see Sulwe trying to rub off her skin or eat her way to lighter skin.
• Sulwe’s mom tells her that her beauty comes from within. Ask your children what they think makes someone beautiful. Encourage them to only talk about things that are not physical in nature unless it’s something like a kind smile. (It is also important to acknowledge the sad reality that to this day determinations about people’s beauty and goodness is made based upon skin color. Talk to your child about working to change that.)
• Have you ever called someone a name because of something about the way they look? (It’s important to reassure children that this question is about talking and learning and that they will not be in trouble.).
• Has anyone ever made fun of you because of how you look or made you doubt your beauty? If so, how did that make you feel?
• Why is it important that Day acknowledged to her sister that she didn’t know what it was like to be treated badly for being dark? (This is an amazing opportunity to talk about the importance of listening and honoring someone’s unique experience. That showing empathyFeeling for what another person has experienced or is feeling themselves. More doesn’t require first hand knowledge nor should it involve being quick to verbalize some way in which you can relate.)
• What do you think Sulwe was feeling when she woke up and greeted her mother with a big smile on her face?
• If you ever hear someone being teased or excluded because of their skin color (or anything else that is just how they are born), what can you do? Some examples: tell the other children that they are being mean and to stop it; stand next to your friend/peer and grab their hand; ask your friend/peer if they want to come play with you; tell an adult about what happened and that you would like the class to learn about racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More and why it isn’t okay.

Explore More

• Write or type out the word BEAUTY in a list (choose a letter style that can be colored in) and come up with a phrase or sentence for each letter. For example: B – Believe in yourself; E – Everyone is special; A – A – Actions matter; U – Use kindness every day; T – Treat people the way you want to be treated; Y – You are beautiful just the way you are.
• Turn the list of qualities you identified earlier of what makes someone beautiful & turn it in to a poster, poem, or song. Share it with others.