Skin Bleaching: Big Business in Africa

Heavy Cost of Light Skin.

Here is a preview as well as some of the comments people had to say about this growing issue…

By: Joan Baxter

The use of bleaching creams to lighten complexions seems to have reached epidemic proportions in Mali, despite widespread education campaigns. Women who refuse to bleach often find themselves regarded as second class citizens.
A woman who did not bleach her skin said she is often not offered a chair at baptisms, and is asked to make herself scarce when group photographs are taken at marriages.

How does everyone feel about this…being that it’s a huge issue nowadays?

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Male, 22, Los Angeles, CA

Just sad that any society would have a perception like that.

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Female, Age Private, Kansas City, MO

Self hate just like some in the US….strong feeling for an African country to emulate the beauty standatds of whites…

To read full article visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/718359.stm

For full comments on this topic (blackplanet.com)visit this url : http://www.blackplanet.com/forums/thread.html?thread_id=50213

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For more articles on this issue visit:

www.counterpunch.org/mire07282005.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6232343.stm

For more interesting information visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_mentality

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_is_Beautiful

Not enough info (wink)…here are some books:

The Color Complex by Kathy Russell

Don’t Play in the Sun by Marita Golden

Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman