{"id":6184,"date":"2026-01-16T22:48:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/01\/write-of-passage-skin-qualified-style-approved\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T22:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:48:51","slug":"write-of-passage-skin-qualified-style-approved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/16\/write-of-passage-skin-qualified-style-approved\/","title":{"rendered":"Write of Passage: Skin Qualified, Style Approved"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-6184-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/160313028\/2081c90327e5c9f1f8876a6a024d030d.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/160313028\/2081c90327e5c9f1f8876a6a024d030d.mp3\">https:\/\/api.substack.com\/feed\/podcast\/160313028\/2081c90327e5c9f1f8876a6a024d030d.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>\u201cHer skin was very brown, but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness which could hardly be seen without delight.\u201d \u2014 That\u2019s Jane Austen purply prose describing Marianne Dashwood in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/sense-and-sensibility-jane-austen\/226656?ean=9780593622469&#038;next=t\"><em>Sense and Sensibility<\/em><\/a>. It\u2019s a passage I repeat in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/a-wager-at-midnight-vanessa-riley\/21582649?ean=9781420154863&#038;next=t\"><em>A Wager at Midnight<\/em><\/a>, where our Austen-loving hero sends these words to the woman he loves.<\/p><div id=\"vanes-464526545\" class=\"vanes-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 2px;margin-right: 2px;margin-bottom: 2px;margin-left: 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/fireswordandsea.htm\" aria-label=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?fit=1706%2C2560&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fire Sword &amp; Sea\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1706&ssl=1 1706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?resize=1365%2C2048&ssl=1 1365w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/FireSwordSea_HC-scaled.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"569\" height=\"853\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Vanessa on the set of Hallmark\u2019s Sense and Sensibility in a period reconstructed gown. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>This sentimental adoration of skin is an example of how, even in the olden days\u2014the 1800s\u2014it\u2019s used to interpret Marianne\u2019s style and good character, and another reason she\u2019s considered qualified to be a good wife.<\/p>\n<p>Where have we gone so wrong that the mere mention of skin makes everyone nervous? Why, when used in literature skin was once a symbol of beauty, in the present it seems linked to division? Why does its celebration feel shameful or wrong? Even those who claim to see no color are blind to the beauty that skin creates.<\/p>\n<p>Did you know that your skin\u2014the dermis\u2014is the largest organ in your body? According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult\u2019s skin spans 16-22 square feet. That\u2019s a quarter of an average bedroom. For me, that\u2019s half the room on my floor filled with reference books\u2014the ones I\u2019m pouring through as I write. Skin serves as a shield. From freckles, scars, and pigmentation to wrinkles\u2014it\u2019s a storyteller, an archive of our rich history.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More Than Skin Deep<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Skin is important. It\u2019s one of the first things anyone notices when you walk into a room. It\u2019s the reason people smile when it\u2019s glowing and radiant. It\u2019s also the reason I was followed around a store when I was young, Black, and in a place where those in power assumed the worst. I wasn\u2019t given the benefit of my character. I was condemned in a glance.<\/p>\n<p>And when people of like minds and shared ancestry congregate and uplift one another, some of those same forces rear their heads again. Now, they are uncomfortable. It makes me wonder\u2014what is it they fear? It\u2019s not 1865. It\u2019s not 1617. Our skin is here to stay, adorned as we please, and present in all public spaces.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, I\u2019m not just talking about external forces. I\u2019m talking about the harm we inflict upon ourselves\u2014the moments we buy into the false narrative that our skin makes us not enough.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Skin as a Reflection of Trauma<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Skin records our personal experiences and the imprints of ancestral resilience. It is more than just a covering; it is deeply connected to our emotions and environment. Studies show that trauma leaves a physical signature, not only in our nervous system but in our skin. Ever noticed your skin flaring up after extreme stress\u2014whether it manifests as dryness, scarring, acne, or rosacea? You\u2019ve experienced this connection firsthand.<\/p>\n<p>According to the National Rosacea Society, emotional stress is one of the most common triggers for rosacea. Research in dermatology and psychiatry links post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to various skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, and stress-induced inflammation. Scientists have found that those who experience chronic psychological stress have elevated inflammation levels, which can make skin conditions persistent and resistant to treatment.<\/p>\n<p>A Poster for Healthy Skin &#8211; Source: Canva and Vanessa Riley<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Our bodies hold trauma in tangible ways. People with alexithymia, a condition where emotions are difficult to identify or express, often experience physiological symptoms, including hyperactivated nerves, increased heart rate, and reduced oxygen flow to tissues. The skin itself becomes more electrically sensitive, reacting intensely to stress. These biological responses serve as reminders that our reactions to the world around us don\u2019t simply disappear.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trauma and the Legacy of Our Ancestors<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Recent genetic research reveals that trauma is not just a singular present experience but one that echoes across generations. The concept of intergenerational trauma suggests that stressful events\u2014war, famine, oppression, and internment\u2014can shape gene expression and affect descendants. Studies of Holocaust survivors and Dutch famine victims show that their children exhibited altered stress responses and health patterns.<\/p>\n<p>Throwing on my science minded writer&#8217;s hat for a moment, I must make it clear, trauma doesn\u2019t change our DNA sequence, but it does influence which genes are activated or deactivated\u2014like an editor making notes in the margins of a manuscript. These epigenetic markers can be passed down, creating a biological legacy of resilience or vulnerability. However, just as these changes can be inherited, they can also be rewritten, properly edited out of existence. Healing, self-care, and community  can reprogram these genetic expressions, offering paths of restoration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Power of Ancestral Survival<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Every cell in your body is a testament to survival. Your ancestors endured hardships\u2014some enslavement or forced migration, all subject to colonization. This legacy affects both the oppressed and the oppressor. Both absorb the hate and lies, whether through feelings of false superiority or the fallacy of expecting to be exploited.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Back to Our Skin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Research from Yale and the Mayo Clinic reveals that every human carries an ancestral roadmap at the cellular level. This means that the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us are not just stories\u2014we carry them in our blood, our bones, and our skin.<\/p>\n<p>In the year of our Lord 2025, it\u2019s time to step back and see that we are wonderfully made. Even if our history or ancestry has endured the worst, and even if our ancestors have perpetrated the worst. Knowing true history isn\u2019t about guilt; it\u2019s about recognition\u2014returning honor to those who were hung from the arc of injustice.<\/p>\n<p>Legendary civil rights organizer Ella Baker often asked, \u201cWho are your people?\u201d It wasn\u2019t just a rhetorical question; it was an invitation to recognize the power of lineage. It wasn\u2019t a call for atonement but a call to do better by those upholding supremacy and to do right by our neighbors, all of our neighbors&#8211;the ones who don&#8217;t worship, love, socialize or believe like you. And especially those who don&#8217;t look like you, possessing your skin\u2014the one thing on the list that&#8217;s impossible to change.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More Than Skin Deep: The Significance of Firsts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We live in a world where women, Black people, and people of color are still achieving \u201cfirsts\u201d\u2014the first to graduate from certain institutions, the first to hold specific leadership positions. I was one of the first, if not the first, Black woman to graduate from Stanford University with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. In 2001, only four Black women graduated with a doctorate in physics. I have the honor of knowing one of them.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, despite how hard we work\u2014how much harder we labored to gain our placements\u2014someone will look at our brown skin and assume: affirmative action, lax standards, different (easier) tests. And, of course, we are counted as &#8216;Didn\u2019t Earn It&#8217; hires. Some believe DEI initiatives are keeping them from breaking into traditional publishing\u2014without considering the possibility that their writing simply isn\u2019t good enough. They don\u2019t realize that calls for historically disenfranchised groups don\u2019t mean the majority is ignored. When people realize that there are enough seats at the table, maybe they won&#8217;t be so insecure. Maybe then, they can relax.<\/p>\n<p>For Becky or Karen, I can tell you two things can be true at the same time. When I started out, I remember being told by an agent\u2014one with, let\u2019s just say, <em>racist tendencies<\/em>\u2014that I wasn\u2019t good enough, and my only hope of publishing was as a co-author. She was wrong. But that manuscript she reviewed? While it had a unique style filled purply prose and uncontrolled flourishes, it <em>was<\/em> trash. A wise person learns, adapts, and tries not to make the same mistakes. That too is baked into my skin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Hide Your Beauty<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Maya Angelou once said, \u201cThe variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight, brown and pink and beige and purple, tan and blue and white. I\u2019ve sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land. I\u2019ve seen the wonders of the world, not yet one common man.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Our skin tells the story of survival, of fire refining gold, of bronzed DNA etched with both power and pain.<\/p>\n<p>Ignore the noise. Your achievements are not anomalies; they are milestones on a journey paved by generations of sacrifice and resilience.<\/p>\n<p>Psalm 139:14 reminds us, \u201cI am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.\u201d We are the work of His hand. Our skin\u2014our very being\u2014is a living archive of triumph. We are made not merely to survive, but to thrive in our circumstances, our skin. The legacy endowed in us qualifies us to dream and build and rest\u2014with passion, compassion, and undeniable style.<\/p>\n<p>If you wish to dive deeper into the wonders of skin and pride and human nature, I recommend the following:<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/i-m-still-here-black-dignity-in-a-world-made-for-whiteness-austin-channing-brown\/10231416?ean=9781524760854&#038;next=t\"><strong>I\u2019m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Austin Channing Brown \u2013 A personal and insightful memoir on navigating race and faith.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/all-about-love-new-visions-bell-hooks\/8888106?ean=9780060959470&#038;next=t\"><strong>All About Love: New Visions <\/strong><\/a><strong>by bell hooks \u2013 A discussion on love, self-worth, and community in the face of societal pressures.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/skin-a-natural-history-nina-g-jablonski\/6561600?ean=9780520275898&#038;next=t\"><strong>Skin: A Natural History <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Nina G. Jablonski \u2013 A fascinating look at the evolution and cultural significance of human skin.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/my-grandmother-s-hands-racialized-trauma-and-the-pathway-to-mending-our-hearts-and-bodies-resmaa-menakem\/6454227?ean=9781942094470&#038;next=t\"><strong>My Grandmother\u2019s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies <\/strong><\/a><strong>by Resmaa Menakem \u2013 A deep dive into how trauma is held in the body, particularly in the context of racial identity.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And If you want to learn more about the powerhouse behind the scene activist Ella Baker, try <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/ella-baker-and-the-black-freedom-movement-second-edition-a-radical-vision-barbara-ransby\/21334840?ean=9781469681344&#038;next=t\"><em>Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement<\/em><\/a> by Barbara Ransby about Baker\u2019s pivotal role in the civil rights movement and her enduring legacy of grassroots leadership.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes include a list of the books mentioned in this broadcast. This week, I&#8217;m highlighting <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mjudsonbooks.com\/\"><strong>M. Judson Booksellers<\/strong><\/a><strong> through <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/shop\/mjudsonbooks\"><strong>Bookshop.org<\/strong><\/a><strong>. You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vanessariley.com\/\"><strong>VanessaRiley.com<\/strong><\/a><strong> under the podcast link in the About tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thank you for listening. Hopefully, you\u2019ll come again. This is Vanessa Riley.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><p>Vanessa Riley&#8217;s Write of Passage is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>This is a public episode. If you&#8217;d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#038;utm_campaign=CTA_2\">vanessariley.substack.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"rop\"><small>Originally posted 2025-04-01 13:10:00. <\/small><\/p><div id=\"vanes-3058242998\" class=\"vanes-after-content vanes-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 3px;margin-right: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;margin-left: 3px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Listen to the Write of Passage Weekly Podcast\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?w=1080&ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1 819w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?resize=768%2C960&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" width=\"540\" height=\"675\"   \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cHer skin was very brown, but, from its transparency, her complexion was uncommonly brilliant; her features were all good; her smile was sweet and attractive; and in her eyes, which were very dark, there was a life, a spirit, an eagerness which could hardly be seen without delight.\u201d \u2014 That\u2019s Jane Austen purply prose describing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,793,9,620,756,694],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-stories","category-politics","category-recommended-reading","category-syndication","category-technology","category-tv-and-film"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/b7a239e9a9780136fb0e09ca19d48340.jpg?fit=1200%2C1600&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6184\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}