Skin-lightening is now considered an epidemic in Jamaica, reaching disturbing levels within recent months.
Even with the ubiquity of public health campaigns listing the risks and damages of the process, an alarming number of Jamaican residents still insist on bleaching their skin for what they perceive to be a more attractive appearance. While some Jamaicans believe that lighter skin will lead to a better life, others consider it a modern fashion statement and a way to appear attractive and favorable to the opposite sex.
The island’s obsession with skin-lightening gained national attention when reggae artist, Vybz Kartel debuted a startling and unsettling image of his new lighter look. His pride in the face of critics underscored the mindset of color prejudice within the Jamaican community that says that lighter is better.
That endless pursuit of lighter skin is causing Jamaicans to put themselves and even their family members at risk. In one particularly disturbing incident, a dermatologist in Jamaica encountered a patient who was bleaching her baby’s skin. Once the dermatologist told her to stop immediately, she became irritated and walked out of his office.
The effects of skin-bleaching are indeed highly dangerous. Harmful chemicals like hydroquinone and toxins like mercury can cause serious damage to the skin which cannot be reversed. The former is linked to ochronosis, a condition that leads to unsightly dark splotching. Doctors also blame skin bleaching for bunches of stretch marks across several Jamaicans’ faces.
Yet the threat of damage has not deterred many from bleaching their skin. In fact, some of the poorer people on the island have even resorted to using toothpaste or curry powder to give their skin a more yellow tint.
Health officials and some reggae artists are taking a public stand against skin-bleaching with radio advertisements, posters in schools and literature warning about the dangers of this process. In 2007, there was a similar anti-bleaching campaign called “Don’t Kill The Skin” which obviously wasn’t successful.
To be sure, the skin-bleaching obsession and color prejudice is not specific to Jamaica. Studies show that skin-lightening is prominent in India and Africa, where Jamaicans are said to get bleaching products on the black market.
In an allegedly post-racial society, it’s telling that light skin is still put on a pedestal in darker-skinned communities. This phenomenon shows that the roots of self-hate and idolization of whiter skin still run deep.
As a Brooklyn-born American with a Jamaican father, I was always taught to celebrate Jamaica’s rich culture and to honor our African ancestry. This cultural sense of pride clashes so violently with a desire to embrace European standards of beauty that it makes you wonder: are we prideful when compared to other blacks and islanders while still harboring an inferiority complex when it comes to whites?
No matter the underlying cause, the only way to tackle this problem is to address the color prejudice that’s alive and well in the black community. From rappers in pop culture who rap about preferring a “redbone” to even the exclusive usage of light-skinned models in videos and advertisements, there needs to be a collective dismantling of limited notions of beauty and a universal, renewed appreciation for darker skin tones.
With Jamaica’s new aggressive campaign to warn of the hazards of skin-bleaching, I can only hope this time around more people get the message on why skin-bleaching is dangerous—and the deeper message that they’re beautiful as they are.
-Tunisia Z. Wilson
Black skin is beautiful it comes in so many ranges. As all skin tones. I think light skin and dark skin is beautiful and I adore brown skin. Amerie is a fine example of beautiful chocolate brown skin or this one ethiopian lady I saw some time ago. There are so many tones and ranges out there. I think they are all beautiful.
But, lets face it, black skin is prone to hypermpigmentation. Many of us go two toned, acned up with scars or whatever and it can leave marks. Sometimes, you need help to correct and a fade cream is in order. There is nothing wrong with this. I think one should use a bleaching cream. But, to change your whole body is outrageous to me. I may admire a many of skintones because they are all beautiful in their own way. But I havent found one yet that I would want in exchange for mind. LOL
I love mines! At least when its acting right that is and I am not four different shades! Besides I know for a fact it is impossible to change your skin tone! A fact! Unless its with a vitiligo cream and who the hell wants to use that. I may pick with people and tease them and tell them they can because I am a trixster like that. I have mocked a group on the internet for it. I will admit. Shame on me! But, I enjoyed every minute of it. LOL Though it might have given the impression that is something desirable to do. But, I feel that a fool falls for it they should. That is what they get! That is a miserable way to live and be. LOL
I heard once two statements when you are light you are right or something like that. LOL. When you are brown you are down. If you are black get back. And, then I have heard that light skin is boring and black skin is too dark but brown skin is perfect lol…Now I think both comments are stupid!
You see many cultures selling lightening products. Asian skin and Hispanic skin is gorgeous. So, is white and black skin. Its the missing brain cells that are sickening to me. I remember watching a commerical for a tanning product and a whtie woman said lets face it light skin is dull. dark skin and tan skin is more appealing lol. I looked up to see if I heard her correct. LOL…
Whether you are white, black, or beige or off white, yellow, red or tanned (medium skin) like most races not white or black or that are a combination of both does not matter. If it is scaly, dirty, ashy or in poor health is the problem I see. I like healthy shiny, smooth skin.
There is nothing wrong with purchasing lightening creams to fix issues with skin. People sometimes get the misconception that because you are of black heritage and you are buying a fading skin cream. You automatically want to be something you are not. Besides who in the heck could afford to buy that for their whole person? That is alot of money to waste.
I mean I use to be in amoured with wanting a darker complexion like two female rappers back in the day. But, one of them has changed a bit. Still talented nonetheless. LOL And, I see one today that powders on too much. But anyway! It didnt work out that way. I didnt reach my goal lets say. LOL…When I was little I use take my mothers baby oil on my skin and play outside all day. After many years of doing this I did get to my brown complexion I am today. LOL…
I realize that what I am now is what I am going to be. Though, sometimes, my skin gets much lighter and sometimes it stays the same. Really. Because I intentionally darken myself I am not sure what I would be. Some people do the reverse. I do feel that when people tan they get even more beautiful. But, they are also as beautiful in their nature state.
I remember because I am too toned many years ago I was trying to darken my face because it sometimes gets way lighter than some parts of me. I use something now to prevent this. My mother is the opposite her face is way darker than her body, her body is the color beyonce her face is 3 different shades. LOL But, I remember when I wasnt using the product I use now and someone said to me that was darker skinned why dont you go to that tanning place and try out a tan. I said lol black people dont tan they get darker! LOL That person was black that said that to me.
What I said was a myth though. Everyone tans including black people. Most of us get darker in the summer or hotter months then get lighter in the colder months. If you go to the beach or live in a sunny state and then go to a more shady climate or place you are going to lighten to your original tone.
As a Jamaican born woman who has grown up in America, I have always been fascinated by those who choose to bleach their own skin. I have always been taught by my mother and my Jamaican family to love my dark skin.
Skin Bleaching has been a concern of the Jamaican government way before Vybz Kartel decided to Bleach out his skin, which is why skin bleaching cremes are illegal, hence the sales of these cremes on the black market.
We will never live in a post racial society, the United States is built upon racism, colorism, sexism, classism, and other inequalities that I have not mentioned. I think its too easy to generalize that Jamaicans in general bleach their skin.
I would ask the following questions, how much did Black market sales in bleaching cremes increase? Has the number of persons using bleaching cremes increased? If so by how much? How widespread is skin bleaching within Jamaican society? Who are the individuals who are bleaching their skin? break it down by gender, by class, by education. Of course the actual numbers will be inaccurate, however there are ways to compile more information about the sectors of Jamaican society who bleach rather than saying Jamaicans as a whole.
Also, it sad that mental slavery has not been abolished in a Black and ethnically diverse nation such as Jamaica. Colorism has afforded those with a lighter complexion privilege, just as it has done in the U.S. I think people “idolize” the economic, social, and educational opportunities that are perceived to be held by lighter people’s within Jamaica. If you ask individuals who bleach their skin, you might be surprised to hear that they feel proud to be Black. So its not so much wanting white skin, but wanting what that skin affords and symbolizes within the world.
Instead of focusing on the act of skin bleaching, lets shed light on a society that does embrace a pigmentocracy, that has an economy that needs to create more job opportunity for its educated youth so that the country doesn’t lose its young intellectuals to more developed nations like America, talk about economic development, stop deporting criminals that are American citizens back to Jamaica because their parents were born Jamaican, lets talk about the guns that flood into Jamaica from the U.S. Lets talk about the roots of the problem instead of the surface issues.
Yes, this stuff is deep.
In Jamaica, Black is beautiful. Address Colorism in the U.S., and rappers like Lil Wayne who prefers “red bones”. Skin bleaching exists in the U.S. too. And no Immigrants from other countries who reside here are not the only ones that bleach their skin. Address racism in the U.S. and how U.S. racism affects people of color in other countries.
I love Jamaica, and I’ll go home any day.
soooo…
It is a foolish and lost person who wants to irreversibly destroy the genetic advantage (melanin) that protects them from the sun.
As a black-canadian from Toronto, with jamaican roots, this is extremly disturbing to me. For some reason we all still internalize the messages that the media and others still perpetuate. Black women constantly hear that black men want “red bones, or yellow bones” and we rarely hear of a rapper speaking about his love for chocolate skin, or dark skin, comments like these result in skin bleaching and division between black women (and men) for example,when i was in junior high i’ve heard young girls speaking about how much they hate other black girls because “they light skin, and they think they cuter than everybody” .. when will the day come that both tika sumpter and mariah carey(for example) can be considered equally as beautiful despite the fact that one is lighter and has loosely curled hair? I must admit that the media is not only to blame, recently I’ve heard a family friend of ours speak about her disdain for her children’s new elementary school because quote: “there are so many dark children and they ain’t cute, there ain’t any cute kids at that school” (by cute she meant light-skinned, white, latino, asian or other, despite the fact that neither her or her children are light-skinned) I was in complete disgust when I heard the way that this forty-something was attacking the appearances of children no older than 11 years old for nothing less than their skin colour!!.. point being: we all need to smarten up and end the ignorance!! we are supposed to live in a “post-colour” soceity but race is still a large part of the way that we define our own worth and the worth of others..
this is so true! its so sad how we constantly hear black men say they want light skin light skin light skin but if you listen to other cultures they love ALL of their men. white men sing about loving blonde,red,brunette hair colors. hispanic men CONSTANTLY sing about how they love morenas/negritas (dark skinned/or black women) gueras (light skinned hispanic women) why cant black men do that? damn! : (
Saw this on bglh and now here…*sigh*…It really does sadden me when people dont accept themselves for how God made them:….to the point where bleaching becomes an option.
But…..Is Jamaica the only place that people bleach their skin?
Jamaica seems to be getting alot of negative attention. As a Jamaican, this makes me feel uncomfortable becuz I think this is very global. (Asia, Hollyweird…you name it)
I don’t want people to think that majority of Jamaicans have self hate or love to bleach becuz not all of us do. I am “dark skinned” and so are alot of people in my family and we don’t endorse skin bleaching. Alot of my friends and other people I know will tell you straight up, bleaching is something they look down on.
I am not dogging this essay. I know you have good intentions. But I just want to make it clear. Don’t want the rest of the world to have misconceptions.
This is soo sad. When will this self hatred end?
Bleaching your skin…Wow…Our skin is beautiful…Something has to be wrong with your mind to go to such drastic measures.
I live in Jamaica and i have a couple corrections
” Skin-lightening is now considered an epidemic in Jamaica, reaching disturbing levels within recent months.” :::::It’s been this bad for years now. The international media is just getting onto it,thats all.
Secondly Vybz Kartel is NOT a reggae artiste, he is a DANCEHALL artiste, never ever confuse the two (bob marley is rolling in his grave). The two are very different reggae is generally more positive and dancehall is the newer and significantly more materialistic of the artforms. They have similarties but more differences than anything else. Also reggae is mostly one drop (a kind of riddim) and dancehall has a faster beat.
I agree with everything else though…well said
I’m happy that someone from Jamaica actually commented on this article. I don’t ever go downtown but my friends tell me how horrible this has become. I cringe when I am at the stoplight in Halfway Tree and see the window wiper guys in sweaters and socks at noon with creams in their noses and ears. I love Jamaica but this is a sad thing we have going on. Good article though.
Once upon a time that was what pushed me more into Reggae/Dancehall than rap, the fact that the Jamaican culture celebrated their roots. All these dark skin people singing about their African roots and pride. Now all thats gone. I recently looked at a passa passa video and was amazed at how many Caucasins where in it. Since when has that happened? I whole heartedly agree that there are many Jamaicans out there who may look down on other West Indie people and African Americans, but when it comes down to it there are an increasing amount who are allowing rap culture and “white is right” mantality corrupt them much like some African Americans have. Skin bleaching has been an issue with people around the world for awhile now. I think its just shocking to us outsiders because when we think of Jamaica we think of people who are happy and content with being dark. Didn’t really think the old school slave mantality was screwing them up too.
“Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the color of your skin, to such extent that you bleach to get like the white man? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose, and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet?” – Malcolm X
I am not Jamaican. However “we” as a global people are holding HARD to being the gatekeepers of a white supremacist myth that will NEVER ever serve us. Not even the “light skinned”. This is how “we” continue to put whiteness on a pedestal. The media or any other “all powerful force” has no power at all unless we participate actively or passively. The way we talk to our children, treat family members or friends, and the language that we use to describe ourselves. The way that we use caustic hair straightening chemicals, or go broke for some “silky” hair on Fulton street. We have more power than we give ourselves credit for.
white people taught it and black people continued it.. i have never been insulted by my hair or skin by anyway of any other raise other then black
its like were on brainwash autopilot.
I find it quite hypocritical and a strong indicator of denial – when black women speak out against bleaching – but not weaves aka – “Imitation White Women’s Hair”
“this is so true! its so sad how we constantly hear black men say they want light skin light skin light skin but if you listen to other cultures they love ALL of their men. white men sing about loving blonde,red,brunette hair colors. hispanic men CONSTANTLY sing about how they love morenas/negritas (dark skinned/or black women) gueras (light skinned hispanic women) why cant black men do that? damn! : (”
Here we go again with black women’s selective interpretation of the world. SMDH.
Hair color – IS NOT SKIN COLOR FOR 1
THE LATINO MEN WHO SKIN ABOUT MORENAS/NEGRITAS – ARE INDEED BLACK!
The Riki Martin, Mario Lopez looking latino men – are not checking for black women like that as a rule.
Then ontop of that you act like there are no black men out here who are checking for black women.
I’m sorry – I’m tired of black women with their ugly girl arguments that they try to file in the self hate box.
I’m tired of seeing black women try to compared a dark skin 5 like India Arie to a light skin 10 like Somaya (latina) Alicia Keyes, Leona Lewis, or KD Aubert – THAT’S NOT COMPARABLE – and then jump up and say AHA!!! You black men prefer lighter and brighter.
Black women never present a dark skin 10 like Jill Maria Jones – they always go for the dark skin girl that they know even they don’t want to look like.
Yes keep blaming it on BLACK MEN – as opposed to black women internalizing all the images that they’ve seen in the media growing up – wanting to be that – faking it the best they can – helping to promote these LIGHT WOMEN cause they wanna be that – seeding VERY STRONG MESSAGES TO YOUNG BLACK BOYS – that u don’t want (this!) you want (THIS!)
U wear weave – what’s he supposed to think when he comes across the real thing? How many of yyou women want a Fake Louie Bag?
The other issue that I have is that most black women have convinced themselves that everything is a color issue.
Only a minority of people of any given group are what we would deem beautiful or handsome.
If a white girl is ugly she can’t do like a black girl and run to the color issue – “IT’S BECAUSE I’M TOO WHITE!” imagine that.
But black women CAN! – A girl can not be cute or that cute or just plain ugly and she can run to – “OH IM NOT ULGY! THESE BLACK MEN JUST LIKE LIGHT SKIN WOMEN!”
Every time without fail those black women who are particularly unattractive wish to run to that and throw all black men under bus in the process.
You wanna see black women get really messed up in the head – ROLL THRU WITH A BLACK STALLION – DIME CHICK. A Cynthia Bailey or Jill Marie Jones.
They got no where to go – See if ur with a dime non black chick – they run right to self hate – OH IT’S NOT THAT IM NOT CUTE – IT’S JUST THAT HE’S SELF HATING
What she gotta say when the brotha roles up with a dark skin dime ? THEY GOT NO WHERE TO GO! But – damn I guess I’m just not that cute.
I’ve seen BW get more messed up in the head seeing a black man with a blatantly beautiful dark skin woman – than be with a black man with a blonde hair blue eyes becky!
Why!!! Because they can’t as easily DISMISS – the DARK SKIN BLACK WOMAN.
Their brothas just like light and brights – JUST WENT OUT THE DOOR WHEN THE STALLION WANTED IN THE ROOM.
They say the darker the berry the sweeter the juice. With that said there are a lot of juciy people in the carribean. In fact, some extremely juicy ones! There are a few brownin as some would call themselves (silly) and then their is the occasional white meat. It is odd to me that when so many whites fled the island one may forget that just 40 yrs or so ago the isle had a great share of whites and asians. Hince quite a few jamaicans with asian last names and exotic features.
It is weird that the island is predominately black and that they would have such levels of insecurities. Since, so many are into that blackism to africa stuff that many believe in. Excuse me if I call it blackism for lack of better name. Since, I am not sure what they call that movement.
It is not naturally possible to change colors via cosmetic cream unless you get whatever sammy sosa (not knocking sammy either I dont know him personally but he doesnt seem to be a bad person for whatever issues or ideals he has) was using or go get some vitilgo cream and spritz it over you. When alot of people on that island suddenly start looking like Bob Marley then its time to say, “Hey Mon”. LOL
You can turn from midnight to golden sunlight overnite nor can a over the counter toxin do it for you unless you want to have botched skin.
You cant turn from midnight to golden sunlight overnite i meant to say.
These pics were gruesome.. I am Jamaican and Trinni. I am currently bleaching my skin. But, I know what I am doing…. I research what I am doing and I am careful as humanly possible. I don’t know if this was said but… Look around you <>. Who is praised more? Who gets treated better? Whooo I ask you? Let me let you think about it…. You know the answer very well and you didn’t need to think. Its lighter people and I just started bleaching late last month w/ no regrets. I just cant wait to be lighter and be treated fairly and live my life w/ less stereotypes…
sigh to the comment above and how come we can get all up in a roar and see the damaging mental and physical effects of changing our skin color via skin bleaching, yet we do not see the similarity in the physical and mental effects of burning our scalps aka getting a perm? What is the difference?
sigh for telling the truth u say…. well i will hopefully be one less nicca
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This issues is so deeply rooted in history. It started with “maser” preferring the lighter skinned slave to the darker one. I think society/the media has a lot to do with this, it perpetuates and celebrates lighter skinned african americans. Why? Because people are feed this image of what black beauty is. You are not beautiful if you don’t look like, Halle Berry, Tyra Banks or Jada Pinkett-Smith and that simply is not true!!!!!!