To not get the problem with skin whitening?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Just seen a video with a singer Dencia 'defending' her decision to lighten her skin and the interviewer suggesting that it means she's uncomfortable being a black woman. Provided the product is safe to use, I don't see why someone lightening dark skin is any different ethically to a pale person using fake tan, or someone putting a dye on grey hair.

[TwittyMcTwitterson]

Just to reiterate, I'm by no means saying ginger people face any similar persecution for their hair colour as black people for skin colour.

It is simply something 'looked down on' for no reason. But is a general opinion of white people that ginger is less appealing than any other colour.

[MistressDeeCee]

Gimmestrength30 I know exactly what you mean. Being black is just too 'political' sometimes. & thats mainly caused by other people's stereotyping and generalising.

For instance - you can't even just simply get on with life as a mother, for instance..you have to warn your child about what they'll face out there because you just know, if you don't make them aware they're viewed as different often in a negative way as a black child, then someone else will surely let them know, and it won't necessarily be in a good way either. Even if you don't want to, you have to drop that knowledge right into their childhood to try to minimise their shock when the time comes. People who say life/love doesn't see colour are doing so from a position of privilege.

There are so many instances it would be tiring to go into them all.

[MistressDeeCee]

how many times did I type 'instance'>! Sorry...!

[ChocolateSnowflakes]

Gimmestrength you don't need to apologise, but it's a shame that society has made you feel as if you need to 'blend in'

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Yanbu. In these days of crazy cosmetic body modification anything goes.

[ChocolateSnowflakes]

property not to be rude! but have you read the thread at all? And you still don't see why OP is BU? It's not about crazy modification and anything going, it's about the negative connotations - historical and current, that having dark skin holds.

[ChocolateSnowflakes]

I don't know why my iPad changed my comma to an exclamation mark there...

[TwittyMcTwitterson]

I was going to ask the same.

Property, this really is a must read

[LittleTurtle]

Black women sometimes have an uneven skin tone - where some parts are darker than others. The skin lightners were there to permanently address that problem. So dab a bit on the darker parts to make you have one unique colour all over (this applies to face and body, knuckles, etc.). It is not because black women are trying to be white. Someone may decide that they would like to have a nice golden all round colour without using a concealer that will rub off etc. Think Janet Jackson in the Again video. To me they are not trying to be white, maybe trying to look like a sunkissed Island babe, more like.

Sure, some will misuse the product and overuse the thing all over. But that is the exception rather than the norm.

Black women also like changing their hair in general, mostly for the fun and diversity it brings. No more than any white woman who may decide that they actually look better with blonde and stick by it. Or put in extensions like Pamela Anderson, cause lots of hair suite them.

No political or self hate agendas here. I think it's a insult to black women to assume otherwise to be honest.

If a white girl, pumps poison botox to her lips, bums etc. then goes and risk skin cancer in the sunbed or direct sun all day, then puts some hair extensions. No one assumes she wants to be Naomi Campbell.