Redesigning the skin I am in: Carmen Jones at TEDxRVA
Transcriber: Chelsea Catlett Reviewer: Denise RQ Hello. My name is Carmen Jones. I am 20. And I hated myself. Buckteeth and a face decorated with acne. I used to say to myself, you ain't shit. Knees that were so ashy, skirts were never an option for me. Never wanting to look in the mirror because I was afraid of what I might see. I was shy, complacent, underestimated, and weak. Until that day when I got to start my first basketball game and I scored 2 points. Until that day when I received first chair in the orchestra. Until that day when I got up on stage and bellowed out the perfect speech. Until the day I won prom queen. I am the shit. (Laughter) (Applause) You see, I no longer had to wait for Jack Sprat or John Doe to tell me I was pretty in order to feel good about myself. Because I already know that I am a bad mama jama. (Cheering) I am a woman who knows my worth. I am a leader with an impeccable drive. I am a diamond, faceted with many cuts. I am beautiful. And not because of the length of my hair or the fluff in my skirt but because of my beautiful chocolate skin, dreamy eyes, and a heart that stretches for miles. I have simply redesigned this skin I am in, so that a compliment doesn't define who I am. I was that little girl who didn't appreciate her wild curls. And as the world becomes more obsessed with looks rather than what's inside, it is our job to teach young girls not to hate themselves like I hated myself. Because beauty is only skin deep. It is the grace in your walk, the style in which you talk, and the confidence that you are not afraid to rock that matters. We are beautiful people. My name is Carmen Jones. I am 20. And I love myself. (Cheering) (Applause)