I can’t believe I neglected to bring notice to something I found to be very disturbing while in Ghana (although it’s better late than never). Every now and then I’ll catch a billboard ad or a commercial that advertises some product that helps to lighten the skin. I recall sitting in a hair shop and hearing a commercial for Carotone. “For younger, brighter” skin the commercial advertised, flaunting its happier, brighter women. Although it saddens me to see that these products are being encouraged and are easily accessible in shops, I can’t say that the black community in the U.S. is doing much better. Instead of creating a more European look for our naturally darker skin, we’ve directed more of our focus on changing our natural African hair. Every time I see an ad for a product like this, I think of all the times in Ghana when I was told that I had a pretty skin color, or was asked to switch my color with someone of a darker complexion.
One time I ordered food and sat down at a table to wait for it. The other seats were taken so I chose to sit down in the only chair I saw available. It just so happens that the chair I sat on was directly under the hot sun. The woman who was about to prepare my food said to me, “Why are you sitting under the hot sun?”. “Because I want to be as dark as you” I responded. She laughed hysterically. “Oh but I like your skin color”. “But your skin is so beautiful” I said. She insisted that I switch my complexion with hers, then laughed and walked away, wearing a confused expression on her face. It scared me that she didn’t trust my admiration, but it scares me even more that there are products that can turn these forms of mental self-destruction into a permanent reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment