Since the birth of fake tan in the early 1900’s, individuals have been mesmerised by the illusion of colour they can create from an artificial pigment that the sun could bring about naturally. The power to control one’s skin tone was finally established. Whether you are pale or lightly coloured, some of us are drawn to the beauty of being a darker tone.
Having read further, you may have guessed that this post will comment upon the hidden and undermined effect of colourism, who can be a colourist and why colourism is deeply ingrained in the eyes of the oppressor.
Firstly, without too much of a history lesson, let’s touch on aspects of humanity where the notion of lighter, has been seen as better. Slavery. Black individuals were sought to be evil and inhumane. They were labelled by theists as creatures that God cursed with dark skin. Southern Asian cultures like Indians often referred to darker tones as the “untouchables” almost as if being near or touching them would infect one’s health.
So far, we know that this issue goes beyond the impact of slavery which was abolished around 1833, therefore it has been culturally ingrained within generations.
The media holds the substantial power to influence the minds of today’s youth. They are told that certain shapes, sizes and COLOUR are needed in order for social acceptance, solid relationships and promising self-worth. Whether you are black, brown, white or mixed you must be the best ‘light’ version of your race. Colloquial forms of abuse have come about as a result where’lighties’ are seen as superior amongst the group and that ‘blik’ individuals are beneath them all.
Fake tan tells us another message, darker skin is beautiful. Dark skin is beautiful if it is not permanent. We can see that being a colourist, and a racist is strongly linked. One may claim not to be a racist but then they think a certain shade of skin is too dark or makes them look dark as if it were wrong to be anything besides light. I am not saying fake tan users need to be stopped but we need to stop this mentality of purity and beauty to be only seen in a white light.
I was a colourist. I was a victim of colourism. I wished that I was born white. I wish I was born light. I wish I was born into a society where being born at all was precious in itself. I wish that colourism is a thing of this present moment and that future generations question why it ever was a problem.
I do not condemn skin bleaching or the use of lightening creams, one’s pursuit of happiness is not something I want to stand in the way of but I digress, loving yourself in your own skin has to be the only starting point of your happiness.
Thanks for reading, apologies for the delayed post.
Shambolic Behaviour 