Beauty is only skin-deep, then why does the color of that skin matter so much? Why does it create dividing lines within one's own race, community, and even the family? From birth, Jinnie was darker than her siblings, and relatives unthinkingly punished her for it. She learned early that those with lighter skin-tones in the black community were considered smarter, prettier, and more worthy. The race war was just as fierce within the black community as it was between blacks and whites, but in more subtle ways, with fewer options to find success. Despite the constant obstacles, Jinnie earned scholarships, left home, and entered a new world, where the age-old battle of skin-tone continued. She blossomed as she learned that designations such as "blue-black" and "pitch-black" didn't automatically mean failure. Her outer beauty increased as her inner beauty grew stronger. However, it wasn't until she discovered the battle in her own heart, mind, and soul, and trusted in Christ's power, that she found peace, healing, and victory in the most vital war of all.
