The
Europeans penetration into the land of Africa did not only see the
acculturation and proselytizing of Christianity and democracy but also saw the
wanton looting of the rich mineral resources of Africa, slave trade, breakdown
of African values, and even the portrayal of black skin as inferior.
Many
Africans have for time immemorial suffered the constant abuse of being referred
to as “monkeys”. The worst culprits of such abuse are our sportsmen and women
who ply their trade in Europe and other parts of the world. Many African
players have in the past reduced to tears by slurs from on-field opponents and
spectators. Players like Mario Balotelli, Kelvin Prince Boateng, Samuel Eto, Julio
Cesar, Sule Muntari and many others have had their fair share of this racist
taunts.
Because of the constant racial discrimination that many Africans are often subjected to, there
has been a mad-rush by many Africans to look just like the white. Many therefore
resort to applying toxic creams that bleach their skins. This craze for a lighter skin is
dangerously recording an alarming proportion of which African women are the
worst culprits.
According
to the 2005 Ghana Health service report, approximately 30% of Ghanaian women
and 5% of Ghanaian men were actively bleaching. This statistic has shot-up, and
currently 50% - 60% of adult Ghanaian women are currently or have at one time
or the other actively used bleaching agents.
The
World Health Organization defines bleaching as the intentional alteration of one’s
natural skin colour to one relatively if not substantially, lighter in colour,
through the use of chemical skin lighting agents, either manufactured,
homemade, or the combination of the two.
There
has been proliferation of wide array of bleaching products or creams on our
Ghanaian market bearing names such as skin toners, carrot light, skin light,
lightening shampoo and other steroid soaps with enticing advertisement
featuring celebrities with the aim of attracting gullible Ghanaian women. Many
Ghanaians patronize these creams oblivious of their harmful effects.
The
greatest victim of skin bleaching was the late Pop star, Michael Jackson who
met his premature and untimely death. Reports indicated that the Pop star had
the upper layer of his skin peeled off,
destroying his skin ability to produce menalin that protects the skin against
ultra-violent rays and exposes the skin to blood cancer such as leukemia and
cancer of the liver and kidney.
Ghanaian
boxer Percy Oblitei Commey also suffered the same fate when he lost his
national super-featherweight belt to his challenger Smith Odoom in 2001.
International report indicated the boxer suffered several punches on his face,
opening deep cut on his right cheek, and his nostril bleeding with blood
because his skin was too light due to excessive bleaching.
It
is not uncommon to see many Ghanaian women including some men who have lost
their natural skin colour and have exposed their bodies to deformities such as
burnt skin, wrinkles, skin blemishes, damaged skin and red spots on
skin which is normally referred in our local parlance as “Nanso Obaa yi”.
The
devastating effect of skin bleaching leaves a lot to be desired and ought to be
abhorred rather than encouraged in our Ghanaian society.
Besides
the fact that bleaching is an endorsement of self-hatred and mental slavery,
most bleaching products and creams contain a toxic chemical ingredient called
hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is one of the worst ingredients used in personal
care products, and may disproportionately affect the colour of the user. This
product has been banned in the United States and United Kingdom.
Reasons
why people bleach their skins may be informed by several factors.
Cultural
influence precipitated by colonial mentality of beauty as determined by
Europeans is a major factor. The Europeans through their incessant racial abuse
has informed many African people that black skin is inferior. The Europeans
through beauty pageants, fashion, modeling, TV, Magazines etc were able to
promote whiteness as the benchmark of beauty, something many Africans are
blindly copying today.
Many
other African women bleach their skin because of marriage marketability. Many
African men are turned on by fair women and therefore many women would prefer
to bleach their skin to entice men. The Akan expression, “If a fair skinned
lady lies on bed and there are light-outs, the room brightens” has erroneously
gotten into the heads of many African women.
I
doffed my hat to TV3 on Monday 2nd September, 2013 when they discussed
extensively the dangerous effects of skin bleaching in their maiden edition of
the rebranded morning show “Newday”. Government must intensify efforts to
educate the public on the dangerous effects of this practice and also pass a bill
that would ban hydroquinone-based products that are dumped into our Ghanaian
market today.
Beauty
is not defined by only outer looks but the entirety of one’s personality and
therefore light skin cannot set the benchmark for beauty.
Black
is beautiful and until we begin to reason like Africans and take pride in
ourselves, we would continue to remain mentally imprisoned by this imperialist
tactics.
Writer:
Abdul-Karim Mohammed A.
University of Cape-Coast.
Email:
Abdulkarimmohammeda@yahoo.com
Blog:
Abdulkarimmohammedawaf.blogspot
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