No Scrub: My Black Skin Makes Me Beautiful

No Scrub: My Black Skin Makes Me Beautiful is deeply personal. It stems from a painful, real-life experience that my daughter, Ariana, faced in preschool. At a school where 98% of the children were white, my four-year-old Ariana, with her beautiful Black skin, stood out. One day, her classmate Jessie made an innocent yet heartbreaking remark. Jessie told Ariana that if she scrubbed her hands with soap and water, she could become white, just like the other children.

As a father, hearing this broke my heart. I was devastated that my little girl, at such a young age, had to endure this. Later that evening, after Ariana told me about the incident for the third time, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer. I broke down. The pain of knowing my child felt different, and perhaps even excluded, was overwhelming. Upon being notified by Ariana about this incident for the third time, I immediately contacted the school and filed a message expressing my deep concern. (See the email I sent to the school here).

In the days that followed, I searched online and at the local library for a book that could help explain what had happened, something that could guide the conversation in a meaningful way. But I found nothing. That’s when I realized it was time to create what we couldn’t find – a book that would help not only my daughters, but every child, to embrace and celebrate their identity.

A page from No Scrub where Jessie asks Ariana to go to the bathroom to wash her hands with soap so they can turn white.

After talking to Ariana and her twin sister Alexis about who they are and how some people at their school may think about them, we made a choice as a family. We decided to turn this distressing, unfortunate moment into a powerful teachable experience. So, we sat down and wrote the first draft. My little girls were my sounding board, and their feedback helped ensure that the book’s themes and messages were clear and empowering. Only then did I embark on a more thorough research process to shape the final version of this book.

Ariana’s proud declaration – "My Black skin makes me beautiful" – is the heart of this story, a reminder to every child that they are perfect just as they are, and that they should never allow anyone to place their identity over and above that of anyone else. 

The book also comes with discussion questions for parents and guardians to help guide meaningful conversations with children, as well as a lesson plan for educators to bring the story’s powerful message into the classroom.

Alexis Kiambi (right) and twin sister Ariana Kiambi holding copies of No Scrub.

This book is not just a story—it’s a reflection of our experience, and it’s a tool for parents, guardians, and educators to help children navigate these conversations. We hope that Ariana’s story will spark conversations in homes and classrooms and that it will inspire families everywhere to celebrate the beauty in diversity. 

Please feel free to share this story on social media, and help spread the message that every child deserves to feel proud of who they are.

See the email that Ariana’s daddy sent to the school to report the incident.

Also, see the response the family received from the school director and regional manager.