Oral Communication Skin Bleaching

Can you imagine someone changing the colour of their skin, just to fit in with the trend and to feel accepted by society? The topic I will be discussing is skin bleaching. “Skin bleaching refers to people’s use of homemade, cosmetic, and dermatological products over time to remove the melanin from the skin”.

One would question why persons carry out this procedure. This is an issue that may have arise due to the adversity that black folks use to face in slavery days. There was a sense of humility and shame for having a darker skin tone. Back in those days, coloured people were viewed as inferiors.

They weren’t allowed freedom, the ability to read and write; among many things they were restricted from. In other words, they didn’t have white privilege. “Slavery stripped Black people of common human rights, tore apart societies, and is one of the worst events to ever happen to a group of people”. (NewsOne Original/ The 10 Worst Events That Happened To Black People/ Slavery).

Because of this, some black people are ashamed of what society might think of them and the criticism of white folks. This leads them to use products that will help to achieve a lighter skin tone, by eliminating the melanin, to be acceptable. I definitely oppose to this so called solution, which is skin bleaching.

First of all, the system have brainwashed black people into thinking that our skin tones make us less of a human being. People in both the past and modern day are being killed for the simple fact that they’re black. In America, black men are viewed as criminals and they are targeted. It has been imposed on black people that they are of a low status and whites are superior. Because of this, many feel the need to change their complexion with the use of products, so that they can feel like they belong.

“Historically, lighter skin has been seen as a symbol of beauty”. (Jamaica Gleaner/ 20120808/ health). This statement makes reference particularly to females. In Jamaican society, men are often attracted to the ‘brownings’. It’s a desirable preference and may be seen as being biased.

Having a lighter skin will more likely get a Jamaican man attention, while being black makes a woman goes unnoticed. Also, in advertisements and branding of hair and skin products, light skin women are often used to portrait an image that will allure consumers to buy. Marketers often say that a black woman don’t fit into their criteria to represent the brand. So basically, they’re saying she isn’t beautiful because of her colour.

Even a young black girl is exposed to this type of discrimination and preference. They were often given white dolls to play with, instead of the black ones. A matter of fact, black dolls weren’t manufactured in abundance. Unconsciously, they were brainwashed into thinking that the features of a white doll, such as: the long silky hair, blue eyes, straight face and nose were the only kind of beauty and feel as if they were not, because they didn’t look the same.

This type of denial leads to personal issues such as self-hate and low self-esteem, which are the main reasons why some persons bleach. It’s a psychological thing where an individual is not pleased with their physical appearance and they feel the need to change or alter their looks.

Some turn to toning or whitening their skin to feel comfortable. This is a form of solution to feel better on the inside and somewhat create self-love and acceptance. “Does self-hatred sound too strong a term? What else is one to conclude when you have someone like South African kwaito star Mshoza proudly stating that she started undergoing skin-lightening and plastic surgery because she was tired of being ugly?” (African Identity/ Who taught you to hate your (dark) skin? – Siji Jabbar, 27 February, 2014).

Many persons undergo skin-lightening procedures with the main aim of wanting to be beautiful, without considering the side effects it may have. One of the effects are premature aging of the skin. “Some skin-lightening creams contain hydroquinone, a bleaching agent that suppresses the production of MELANIN, thus reducing the skin’s natural protection against damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and causing hazardous effect.

(Effects of Bleaching Cream on the Human Skin, Adamspee, 4 September, 2011). Black people go out of their way to be accepted, while destroying themselves physically. Opening up to receive diseases, serious health conditions, intense irritation etc. Is bleaching worth the risk?

On a 2013, All Angles two part episode, titled “Skin Bleaching in Jamaica”, they interviewed many persons in the inner cities stating why they bleach. Many persons agreed to it. A woman stated that when in interviews, she feels ignorant but when she’s at parties, she feels comfortable because the spotlight is on her. This shows that bleaching has an impact on how person’s react, based on the occasion. These persons are living in denial, because they subject themselves to feel low when addressed by society.

Self-destructive things like this are being done for the simple fact that a person is black. Society have influenced this trend of teaching individuals from a younger age, when they’re more vulnerable, that being white is acceptable and being black is not. Many persons grow up with the mindset that a lighter skin tone is better and because of this they feel forced to fit in with the trend. Society taught us to hate ourselves and this started in slavery days. The solution should not be skin bleaching, but to learn how to accept, value and love ourselves as we are.