posted by Sam Richards
In my twenty years of teaching about race I think I can count on my ten fingers the things that I’ve heard or read that I thought were utterly and unquestionably “racist.” That’s a word that gets kicked around far too liberally and to which people apply far too many non-sensical definitions. Anything they don’t like, for example, is often called “racist” if it involves human physical or cultural differences in any way.
So here’s the technical definition of the word: believing that some person or group is superior or inferior than another person or group because of some identifiable physical characteristics that they cannot change (because they’re fixed, bodily features). That’s it. Simple. So people with curly or kinked hair are superior or better or preferable because they have curly or kinked hair. Generally there is some justification association with the identified characteristic (e.g., kinked hair causes increased blood flow to the brain and increased blood flow leads to greater intelligence). I’ve never heard anyone make that argument, by the way, although I’m sure that it has been articulated.
There is nothing in this academic definition that presupposes that less powerful groups–and in the West that would be black and brown people–cannot be racist because they lack the ability to limit the collective abilities of more powerful groups. It’s just a straight-up definition that can apply to anyone, even the most marginalized and disenfranchised people in any society.
So along comes the issue of skin whitening. White skin is better than brown skin is the belief spread round the planet. Why? Because it’s more beautiful. There’s rarely some sort of practical argument linked to this particular preference, aside from making the case that lighter skin will lead to greater opportunities in a society of people who hold dark-skinned people with distrust or even in contempt. That’s pretty practical given the many hundreds of studies that conclude that the darker the skin the more numerous the hurdles people face in every facet of social and political life.
Watch this CNN video about the proliferation of skin whitening creams. It’s so blatently “racist” (i.e., grounded in the belief that people with lighter skin are better than those with darker skin) that the defenders of the practice look foolish in their justifications.
So what to do? We can’t legislate this kind of activity. If people want to go so far as to bleach their skin, then who am I to stop them. Of course, what if they’re going to unknowingly do serious bodily damage to themselves? 
And what about the fact that people who play into this image that “white is better” make it more difficult for the people who are happy to live with the skin that was endowed to them by their creator–but who nonetheless suffer the consequences of racism that are strengthened by the perpetuation of this practice?
I sat at my computer debating about this issue. I know that skin whitening and tanning is wrong. That I know, but is this a racist issue? I feel like this is the definition of the grass is greener on the other side. White people are trying to become darker and dark people are trying to get whiter. I had no idea how world-wide this issue is. I ignorantly thought that this was just an American problem, the need to achieve idyllic beauty. What is idyllic beauty anyway? That’s the problem; there is no picture definition of beauty. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Just as people have different “types” when looking for a life partner, people have different opinions as to what is beautiful. In Victorian times, the paler the better. White porcelain skin was considered beautiful and what everyone wanted. Today, coming from an extremely pale person, I believe that tan skin is what is considered beautiful. Tanning salons are springing up faster then Starbucks are and laying out is becoming a common activity amongst most of my friends. Is the desired skin color simply a fad? Will my Casper hue come back into style soon?
I think Michael Jackson is a great person to relate this issue to. Born a black man, yet died a white man. Jackson changed his appearance so many times and so drastically that he was no longer recognizable. Changing his wide flat nose so many times over that rumors said it was no longer there. Why did Michael feel the need to change the way he looked? Was it a personal internal conflict or a need to fit into what society felt was beautiful? And when Michael Jackson started skin whitening was he considered a racist? After asking multiple people if they thought that Michael Jackson was racist for transforming his appearance, everyone initially said no. But after thinking about it many people changed their opinion. Although there really is no way to definitely say whether Michael was racist or not in my opinion, Michael’s need to have whiter skin was an internal conflict not a racist one.
Although I do believe there is a difference between a social issue and a racist issue. By running an ad, like the youtube video about the advertisement on CNN, that changes a society’s pressure to change one’s appearance to a racist ideal. Showing a campaign that specifically says, you are not good enough because your skin is to dark is racist. There is no way to debate it. No way to say otherwise. That is racist. How was that allowed to be shown? If the public wants skin whitening cream, like the companies say they do, then there is another way to go about advertising for it.
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I think that the idea that “white skin is better than brown skin” is a ludicrous idea, yet I think it is a concept that unfortunately governs the mindset of people around the world. It is mentioned that many studies found that people with darker skin face much greater social and political obstacles in life. I believe that the origin of these findings is rooted in the socially constructed idea that white skin is superior to dark skin in every way; this racist belief translates to superior beauty, superior intelligence, and every other factor of life. This concept has guided many historical events and has caused the enslavement and abuse of people in America and around the world. Consequently, this interesting issue of “skin whitening” has arisen and has become very popular.
I also find it very interesting that in other parts of the world, skin whitening is extremely popular, while here in America, skin darkening is extremely popular. Millions of Americans spend hours in the sun, in tanning beds, or use tanning lotions to make their skin look tan and “more attractive.” I think it is very ironic that in other parts of the world, people are politically and socially inferior for not having light skin, while here in America, Caucasian people are dissatisfied with their light skin, and strive to have darker skin.
The skin whitening commercial shown that was broadcasted in Asia sends a very clear message that if you want to be successful in life, such as being attractive to women, then you need lighter skin to do so. Aside from the blatant ignorance of this idea for adults, it also brings up the issue of sending a detrimentally racist message to children. Before being socialized, children do not see the difference in other children’s skin color. They want to play in the playground with their friends; regardless of their skin color. Therefore, advertisements such as this commercial contribute to the cycle of racism and inequality. It is also noteworthy that the video shows how Indian men are now joining women in using skin whitening creams, perhaps bypassing “masculine” and tough expectations in favor of using a beauty product to whiten their skin. Just as in India, men in America are increasingly going tanning in an effort to look more “attractive” and tan.
The commercial shows beauty companies saying that “they are just giving the people what they want” by providing these possibly dangerous and definitely racist skin whitening creams. I believe that this idea of “giving them what they want” is simply a way to make money at the expense of fueling the vicious cycle of racism and inequality. If advertisements sent the message that all people are beautiful, then this specific issue of one skin color being “superior” to another would not be advocated as it is.
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Skin whitening products are just another result of society not being content with in their own skin. In Asian countries it is looked down upon to have dark skin. My mom is always scared that whenever I go outside that my face will get darker. In the Asian community, celebrities are praised for their milky white skin and named the pretty of the bunch. People would praise those actresses who have big eyes and lighter skin. Asian people dislike dark skin because it is a sign that you are of the lower class of society, who used to work outside on the farm and fields. The upper class stayed inside and was not exposed to as much sun as the lower class, so they were paler than the lower class. It is amusing to see the girls in the U.S. going to tanning salons religiously to keep their summer tan. Even with all the warning signs of developing skin cancer people still pay monthly fees in order to sit in a tanning bed to bake their skin and get some color.
We criticize the skin whitening CNN commercial on how can they think being white is better than dark, but here in America we have similar products. I disagree with Professor Richards with the commercial being racist. That commercial is just a reflection of the lifestyle of that country. It is just a cultural difference that people in other countries will not understand unless they are around it or exposed to it. Jergens has a bronzing lotion that gives you some color without even going to the beach or tanning salon. The lotion gives you orange hands for about a week.
The part about the word racist being thrown around was very interesting. I agree with Professor Richards that people do use the word too loosely. In a way people blame everything on race if something bad happens to them. If a person of another race is rude to them at the grocery store, the person automatically assumes that the person of another race is rude because they are racist. They do not take in account that the person was in a bad mood or probably didn’t even mean to be rude but it just came off that way. Another example is when a student receives a grade they are not satisfied with they blame the teacher for being racist because she/he is not the same race as them. I think we like to blame race as the biggest factor of bad things happening to our lives. We can never accept that sometimes it is our fault and not everyone is racist just because they are not the same color as you.
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I cannot really judge those that use skin whitening cream, because that would be completely hypocritical of me. I love to tan, not the “fake-bake” kind, the “under-a-real-sun” kind. So what is the difference between me tanning under the sun and someone trying to whiten their skin? It is the same procedure, but in opposite directions. When I walk around Penn State over the summer on a bright sunny day, I see both half-naked males and females all oiled up, covering up the HUB lawn to get some color. How is that any different from Kumar in India using a skin whitening cream? We all try to reverse what we were originally born with, whether it is curly hair by straightening it, or white skin trying to darken it. I am starting to think that we just want the opposite of what we got, whether it looks good or not. I do not know the real reason to why Micheal Jackson wanted to become whiter, whether it was for medical reasons or for racial issues, but I do know that it was scary looking! What people don’t understand is you were born with the best features for you body, being beautiful is a completely different topic. I have a friend that tans way too much for her own good, she gets that orange tan each time she tans, but that does not stop her from tanning! While I gaze at her horrible fake tan, I wonder sometimes, Does this girl own a mirror? I know this may sound extremely cliché, but I truly believe that beauty glows from the inside. When I meet a beautiful girl that lacks the ability to hold a sustainable conversation, I do not find her as pretty anymore- same goes for a guy. A beautiful mind overpowers a beautiful body, because unlike the body, a brain never wrinkles. In the CNN video, they explain that the whitening creams are completely racist. But I honestly do not understand how that is considered racist. They are not trying to go from one race to the other, they are just trying to get a little lighter. If whitening creams are racist, than damn it tanning is racist! And its twice racist than whitening creams. You can actually get a disease from tanning, whitening creams on the other hand has no major side effects. You are actually suffering in a tanning bed- you sweat, count down the seconds, get claustrophobic, and so on.. Whitening creams on the other hand are easy, you simply apply it on your face. So before attacking what products one uses to merely step a shade or two lower, close down all tanning salons, ban beauty magazines, and feed skinny models!
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I think the video about the Indian men that try to using the whitening cream is funny. Because men usually don’t care about their skin that much, but in the movie Indian men are care about their own skin. Even the whitening cream makes their face look white but what about their hand, arm, and their whole body? Are they going to put the whitening cream on the whole body too?
For man, I don’t think they need to uses the whitening cream to make their skin look white. Because even they use the whitening cream to keep their skin look whiter, but it just for while. And if they want to have lighter skin, they going to have to use it for long periods to keep their skin lighter. Well, unfortunately if they stop using the whitening cream, their skin might turn into different condition that they don’t expect. For example, if a man using the whitening cream for his skin to getting white, and the whitening cream are not use for one day and then his skin going to be white. It will take for couple months to get the light skin they want, but after their skin gets lighter I think they should stay always from the sun; because the sun might burn his white skin. If the skin has burn and turn into his nature skin color, he will have to use the whitening cream again. When he is using whitening cream it will take time as well as money wise.
However, I think “Get white skin and life will be better” from the message being sent out to Indian men. CNN’s Sara Sidner reports are really racist. Not only get the white skin and your life will be better! How it will be better when your skin get too white? How the Indian men think that white skin is better than the brown skin? Do they want their future wife love their white skin or love them? Well if the Indian men don’t care that their wife is love them or love their skin color, they can do whatever they want. But if they want their future wife love them but not love the white skin from the whitening cream, I will recommend to them that don’t ever try to use those whitening cream, because most of true love is not come from the look outside, but it all come from the inside of each lover. For example, if you are using the whitening cream and as the same time you are going to marry to a young and beautiful lady that you really love and she is love you too. Later, you guy is living happily together and you are think that you don’t need to use the whitening cream product anymore because you had found the haft of your life. But the result of stop using the whitening product make you and your wife separate because you have find out that she was fall in love with your white skin not with you. So I think life is still better without whitening cream.
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The skin whitening product is not only very racist but it also shows that many people are insecure about the color or culture they were brought up in. It also seems as if the men who are buying this product are trying to appeal to women of different culture or ethnicities because why else would they want to change the color of their skin? In my opinion I don’t get it and it doesn’t make sense because there are features that middle eastern people have that no matter how much lighter their skin color is they may still very well be identified as middle eastern individuals. The thing that amazes me the most is that huge companies some of which are very well known are even beginning to sell this product which gives their corporation a bad name and image. I think that this product is very racist and sets off this idea that white people are better or more attractive. I am a white male and I just think this product is ridiculous and racists as anything. Your race is something that is very much a part of you and should not be able to be changed and by putting this cream on you to make your complexion more white is just insane and I don’t think I would be very happy if I saw my friends or people of my race using products to make their skin a different color just to be more appealing. I would also be interested in seeing what other races have tried this product just to get an idea how prevalent it is in other societies or if it is just mainly middle eastern individuals using this product. I strongly believe this product is very racist and the companies who marketed or sell this product should be ashamed of themselves. In today’s world it seems as if everyone wants to be perfect and they will take any measures necessary to make sure they look good or that their flaws are removed. What ever happened to being satisfied with who you are? I just don’t get why people insist on trying to be perfect, most times it just makes them look more fake and shallow. This product is almost like if they came out with a product for white people or brown people to try and look blacker, So hey heres this cream that will make your complexion darker so people may think you’re an African American. No its just stupid not only would you look silly trying to be another race but it’s a disgrace to your culture. Your clearly saying that your not happy with your current race or ethnicity. So all in all I believe this product is crazy and by far the most racist thing I have ver seen.
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After reading some of these posts I think I am going to have to disagree with a lot of people and say that there is nothing wrong with the skin whitening cream as a product itself. If people want to have lighter or darker skin then they should be free to make this choice. However, the problem is with advertisements like the one that Sam posted, which basically says if you have lighter skin it is better looking. This is complete and total racism at its worst. I do not think there is anything inherently wrong with the product itself, but clearly the way that it is being marketed is just blatant racism. I think that if people want to become lighter skinned or even darker skinned then they should have the choice to, however, there should not be any pressure to change your skin color to look more beautiful. In advertisements like the one posted there is a clear connotation that white is better and this is racist advertising that is morally wrong. It puts pressure on people to change the way they look and no one should feel like they have to lighten their skin color to look good.
The message in this ad was that in order to look good and get the girl you have to look white and that puts an unfair pressure on people. No one should feel that they have to bleach their skin in order to look good and to fit in. Commercials like the one that was shown on CNN should be banned because the ad is blatant racism; however, I do not feel like the product itself should be banned. If people make their own free choice to lighten their skin color then they should be allowed to if they want to. However, the companies whom sell these products have to be very careful in the way in which they market their products. They have to make sure that they are not spreading the message that white is beautiful and dark is ugly. They should just market the cream for what it is, which is a chance for people whom want to lighten their skin to do so. Not a product that makes you look more beautiful, but rather a product that just lightens your skin. They have to make sure that they are not making any correlation between light skin and beauty, but are rather just advertising their product for what it does. When you start advertising beauty as light skin you have crossed the line and entered an area of extreme prejudice. I think that the product itself is a fine product, which is good for people who are insecure about their skin color, however, the marketing department needs to do a much better job.
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I am still shocked by how popular this skin whitening cream is in other countries, and I’ve never even heard of it until this class. I obviously knew Michael Jackson lightened his skin, but since that was so drastic I figured it could only be done medically somehow. I want to say that I think it is awful that so many Indian and other brown-skinned people are using this cream, but at the same time I’m a person that’s gone to a tanning bed before and it’s technically the same idea. I wanted to make my skin darker to look better for a special occasion, and people that are dark-skinned want to look whiter because they think white people are the most beautiful. I think the idea that white skin color is the best looking skin color is extremely racist, and I hope society soon starts turning the other way around and accepting who they are and what they look like. Yes it’s good for people of different races to like and envy one another, but at the same time people should be proud of who they are in their own skin and in their own culture.
However, what I can say is ridiculous is the CNN video of the whitening cream commercial. The message is clear that Indian people shouldn’t be happy with the skin color they were born with. By definition, that is certainly racism. Also, it seems from this clip that the men are just as bad if not worse than the women when it comes to their appearance. Plus, bleaching your skin every day cannot be good for you. I really don’t know what else to say besides it shouldn’t matter what skin color you have! There’s plenty of bigger things in life, and appearance is taken way too seriously.
And the part about “the darker the skin the more numerous the hurdles people face in every facet of social and political life,” is true obviously because it’s backed up by many studies, but I do think that we are slowly moving past this form of racism. I think almost everyone, black, white, brown, etc. will agree that there will always be some sort of racism in the world. People will probably always make some sort of comments, but as far as job opportunities go, I really think we are starting to see more culturally diverse employees. Perhaps the election of Barack Obama is a great start to what could be a brighter future. More people of color, and women as well, are finally making it to the top as far as education, careers, and even political positions go. Unfortunately though, we still do hear many cases of a highly qualified person of color not getting a job because of the white middle-class male who also applied.
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Within the world skin color plays a big role in many of our lives, even within one particular racial group. Hating and undermining different types of complexions bring racist thoughts and ideas to a new level. By hearing many conversations, looking into the media, and listening to music, I have noticed that many people think “white is right.” Within the black community there are two sides which both lead to this idea. Light skin and dark skin people feud because what we are taught and surrounded by. In a current song that is played on the radio the lyrics state “I want a long-haired thick redbone” as these words process in our mind listening to the whole song, that is what Lil’ Wayne is stating is beautiful. Being surrounded in a society where people think the lighter you are, the prettier you are, reinforces our thoughts on beauty. This idea is in our society because the light skin people are thought of as closer to the white people. On the flip side of the situation, within the black community there is controversy where lighter skin people are thought of as not being black enough because they are closer to the white people. With many people feeling this way this also reinforces that being lighter is thought to be better because they are thought of as closer to white people. With this thought within our society puts white people on top because everyone is trying to be like them or people don’t feel pretty enough because they are not like them, which creates more racism on a completely new level. Making white people seem as if they are superior to everyone else, where if you do not look like them it breaks racial groups down even further which can create some sort of hierarchy or caste system. Another thing that I noticed within the black community is that people compare more than just skin color to associate with beauty. People also get relaxers in their hair to get straighter hair and nose jobs to get thinner noses and so on. Everything that we are cosmetically doing to ourselves to create “beauty” puts down our culture and praises the white culture more because we are showing them that we want to be and look like them. Making these cosmetic changes to ourselves also brings ethnocentrism into play because we our using the white culture as a guideline to show us what beautiful is, making people that do not look like them thought of as inferior. Also another negative thing that this ethnocentrism is doing is making the darker you are looked at as a negative thing. The more it is looked at as a negative thing the more people begin to hate what they look like and not accept themselves or anyone who is dark skin. Making dark skin seem like a negative thing one phrase that is commonly heard is “your pretty for a dark skin girl.” This statement shows us how society looks upon dark skin people and how it is a shock to be beautiful and dark. With people feeling as if there is some type of criteria to be pretty creates more racism in the world than we already have.
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Over the Top Racism
I too think the term racist gets thrown around way to much. Once there seems to be a disagreement about something along the lines of cultural differences, people tend to toss the word around. When it comes to alterations of a person’s physical appearance whether it be through plastic surgery, a different kind of hair style (straight hair to kinked hair), or in this case skin whitening, I do not believe it to be racist at all to change. I do not think it’s that people feel lighter skin is better, I think it works both ways. People simply want to do what makes them look best to attract people of the opposite sex. Although I believe that the alterations are not a bit racist, I feel as though the people that go through those types of procedures are a bit hypocritical. For the purpose of argument it is fair to say that whites are prejudiced against anything that is not accustomed to their skin color and way of life, and blacks are prejudiced against the white race. Now since these people are racist towards each other, why the hell do they strive to attain the physical qualities of one another? White people are trying to be darker or tanner, and blacks and brown people are trying to be whiter through the skin whitening process noted in the article. Also the hair thing, black women, who tend to have kinked hair, want it to be straight like a white woman’s. For me personally, trying to be like one another kind of brings us to a common ground. Hey, if we can not agree on anything why not settle for the easiest thing we can agree on and change about ourselves, our looks. I do understand where Sam is coming from when he states, “many hundreds of studies conclude that the darker the skin the more numerous the hurdles people face in every facet of social and political life.” Aside from that I think it is all a matter of what a particular person feels would make them look the most appealing to someone of the opposite sex. Take the commercial for example. Not once do you the man going for an interview for a job or something along those lines. Instead, they are showing a man using skin whitening cream to “get the girl”, not the job. To me this supports my stance claiming that it is only a means of personal satisfaction and confidence. I may be the only person that feels this way but people do these types of things for their own reasons. Maybe they honestly do believe that being white is better, but maybe it is just something that will make them more appealing to that certain someone.
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In my opinion the concept of skin whitening is ridiculous. This also goes with the concept of tanning and white people not wanting to be as white or pale as they would be naturally. I’m not sure where this all started or if it really even works like people claim it does. I don’t understand how it could work but that’s beside the point. At first when I watched the commercial I thought…How can these companies make these skin whitening creams? But really it isn’t their fault in the end. Companies are going to produce products that will sell, can anyone blame them? And if skin whitening cream is what people want, then they are going to make it. I think it is sad that one – people think that white skin is prettier or better and two – people aren’t confident enough in their own skin and skin color. Of course, it is others that have made them think that way. The commercial is and the concepts in it are absurd. But these concepts come from the media and that is what people listen to now more than ever. We are so concerned on what is going on in the media and so “peer-pressured” to follow commercials and what is on them. A perfect example of this coming from the media would be that of Michael Jackson. Regardless of what really happened – skin bleaching or a disease which made his skin lighter – I think it made many people want that too. Or at least, made people curious about is what starts all of this to begin with. I do not think one shade of skin color is better or more beautiful but I do think for example that I look better tan. But I think a lot of people could agree that they feel the same way about themselves. If people want to buy skin whitening cream or go tanning then what’s it to anyone? They are only changing their own bodies and therefore only hurting themselves. That is why I don’t think companies are wrong for producing the product. They are just wrong in how they went about advertising it. They were completely wrong about it. These companies could have gone about the advertisement in a very different and non-racist way. It is just the same for tanning companies. They aren’t making a claim that people should go tanning because tanned skin is more beautiful. They are just saying that going tanning with make your skin tan. That is why there is no deal about any of those commercials, although tanning is probably worse for you. So why do we want to change our skin color when we know in doing it we are harming ourselves?
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This new skin whitening cream will add catastrophic damage against the fight to end racism. People in the East are willingly advertising and buying these whitening creams to change their appearances. What will society think when some cultures are spending their own money on a product that will make them look like another race. Absolutely no good can come of this product.
This activity of making, advertising, and selling the product is completely legal. It is however completely destructive to society. People on one half of the globe are putting another people on a pedestal. Commercials are advertised on television to influence people to look white. Being white is envied by eastern culture, and now that there is a physical solution to looking white, people are acting on it. What are white people to think when people of other color skin, are spending money on a product, made and advertised by white people, to make them whiter?
The CNN video shows that the boy with darker skin is at a disadvantage. He feels less equipped to be a success in society, based on the color of his skin. The cream though will change this. With beautiful, envied white skin, all of the boy’s worries will be erased. This message is horrific. Asians, the billions of Asians, all feel less accepted in society, and are told they are inferior. The advertisers, and producers of this cream should be labeled racists, and reprimanded for their actions.
Our society is headed in the wrong direction. It seems that racism keeps popping up decade after decade in many different forms. Just as the United States has created equal rights, and is currently battling existing racism, new issues of racism are popping up on the opposite side of the globe. There was some thing that happened that caused people in Asia, to want to have lighter skin. Something in television, movies, music, or somewhere, something happened to cause billions to want lighter skin.
How should white people react to this? How are they supposed to feel: Proud? Well, I think it’s racist, and arrogant, to feel your skin color is dominant over another skin color. There is nothing in Biology that can prove certain races are “better” than others. The white community, spread throughout the globe, should not accept this advertisement of skin whitening products. The people behind this product are disgraceful. Now the people of the white community has some sort of chip on their shoulder. They roam the Earth thinking they are better than others. They can think this way, because other races feel the same thing. When they purchase this product, they are not only disgracing anyone of the same skin color, but also hopping on this bandwagon that White skin is better.
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When I read this article it reminded when professor tewksbury who taught comm 412 (culture aspects of mass media) showed us a commercial that promoted a skin whitening lotion in which a young woman is trying to get a job but cannot get one because she is “dark”. Her solution, is to use Fair and Lovely (skin whitener) to get the job.
The whole idea of having to go through such extremes to become light skinned to be accepted in today’s society is at best, stupid. If you were born dark, light, yellow, purple, etc etc. deal with it accept you for who you are and screw what other people have to say. At one point the belief of a woman being light skinned will get her very far in life because of the dominant white features she would posses. I think that many woman still apply that theory when it really shouldn’t. I have personal experiences where my friends asked me to get them job applications out here in State College because of the way most of the employers would look at her based on her appearances. The first thing they notice is that she is brown skinned and the majority of the shops have told her that they are no longer hiring when clearly there is a huge red sign outside that says now hiring. When she would tell the manager that they have the sign outside, the managers response is, you can fill out an app and we’ll call you. The next store we go to she asked me to go in and asked for an app because I am a light skinned latino. She often complements me on how multiracial I look since I supposedly can pass as a Jewish, Arabic, Italian, Puerto Rican or Dominican man (I’m half Colombian and Ecuadorian), and how it is easier for me to land a job than someone who is dark skinned. It sucks that society still silently revolves around this racial dividend, its 2009 and times are changing for the better.
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here is the video for the fair and lovely product –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9tcXpW1DE
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My gut reaction to this event was that it was horrible, and at the same time a rude awakening. In this day and age, I believe that many people consider the racist problems that persisted throughout the twentieth century to be largely abated; however, this sad event clearly begs to differ. Furthermore, this assault also demonstrates that minorities are not the only victims of race related crimes. It was also interesting that the normal civil rights leaders did not immediately show up in Buffalo demanding for civil justice rather they were quiet. I do not believe this is fair. Obviously in the past the majority of hate crimes were inflicted upon African-Americans and other minorities, but this does not give leaders such as Sharpton an Jackson the right to turn a blind eye to race motivated crimes against members of a different race. Not only do I believe there act of inaction hypocritical, but, also potentially counterproductive. As the premier civil rights leaders the in the United States, it is there duty to voice concern over this event. Suppose, that this event prompted a group of white males to return the favor on another black male in a retaliatory attack, then not only would another unfortunate soul fall victim, as well as the increase in the likelihood of racial fervor and future injustices spurring racial animosity. Preaching against the evils of racism should not involve favoring one race, and accusing another race. It should consist of acknowledging that racism perpetuates itself from both sides to the other, even though it may not occur equally. Just look at the racial events that unfolding in Jena, Louisiana. Sharpton and Jackson were not missing in regards to voicing their concerns over this matter. So why were they able to justify their absence from this horrid occurrence of events in Buffalo? If the aforementioned leaders do not recognize that racism exists in both fashions then I do not believe that the racism problem will ever be fully alleviated.
In a different, light I do praise the preach in Buffalo who took a stance against this injustice for many reasons. I also recognize that people did step up to the plate in order to deal with ordeal, even though it may have taken them awhile, but the important thing is that their presence is felt. Also a couple of a other questions I want to pose, is when racist events like this ocurr do they serve to better quell racist actions or do they increase them. Regardless of who the victim is, I feel as if it would be a natural reaction of members of his family and friends to immediately blame members of the participating population, even if they were not directly involved. This is why that I believe that it is not only important for civil rights leaders and other community leaders to demand justice, but for them also to spread the message that increase hate and prejudice will do nothing to prevent similar acts as this in the future. Additionally, they need to relay the message that such emotions and feelings should not be attached to a group of people.
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Oh Come on! That’s Racist! … Or am I just that American I don’t understand?
The video CNN made about the recently growing market for skin whitening cream in India is a pretty telling view into a world I would say very few Americans know about. It’s unfortunate that the focus of this video is on the newfound outlet for Indians’ growing disposable income in the form of the cream they can now buy. It exposes a lot about how multinational companies treat the developing world and the strides made in the quality of living by those countries. There are probably a number of things that we could talk about that are improving for India and its people as a result of this new wealth. Instead, here’s what we are forced to look at because of the perverted games companies play when an opportunity comes about where they can prey on these people and their altered financial situation.
What I’ve omitted from my argument until now is the position of the people who actually buy the skin-whitening cream. These people, probably, actually find that their self-esteem rise when they use this product, to a degree. That’s a difficult thing to understand from the standpoint of not only someone who is white but also someone who has grown up in America. Most likely, Americans see this and instantly feel disgusted. What fails to be noticed is how these people react when a relative or friend says, “wow, you’re skin looks white! Are you using a skin-whitener?” While that feeling of elation a person of color feels at that moment may be engineered by the companies who produce the agent, it is a positive feeling regardless of its origins. We could say that this kind of practice by companies is wrong but the argument to that position is an easy one to make; ‘it makes people happy.’ Like I said earlier, regardless of origin, this is a pro for the product.
Is it fair to judge where people’s happiness comes from, so long as it’s legal? For instance, people drink alcoholic beverages, in large part, to enjoy themselves. But alcohol is not only something that can negatively affect one’s overall health. It can impair judgment in critical situations, make a person lose control of their senses, and is an addictive substance. We only have to look at the Joe Dado case; if he had not been drinking that night would he have fallen down those steps? And alcohol is advertised all over the world! That means in both India and America. But it is probably not advertised in the undeveloped world. But what if a country in the undeveloped world were to suddenly come into wealth due to say, a recent excavation of oil? Would there be advertisements for beer? I’d say it’s probable. What about skin-whitening cream? I’d say that that is definitely a possibility based on the evidence of this video.
So I guess that question that immediately comes to mind if we’re trying to make a conclusion on this subject is whether it is morally right for companies to advertise in this way. And now, I don’t even really know what to say after making the counter-argument I just did. What’s worse: advertising and selling alcohol; a substance that kills people, or promoting white skin color as a way to a better life? The skin-whitening cream, as far as I know, hasn’t killed anyone. Or even look at cigarettes. Are they worse than the skin-whitening cream? Cigarettes kill people. Maybe it’s just how we’re looking at it, from our American perspective. Maybe we have no idea what the wonders of this cream are and what it has done for all the people who have used it. Maybe there’s some guy out there who got a great-paying job and he thinks that at least some of it has to do with him having whiter skin than he used to? Are we supposed to tell him that he’s buying into one of the most ludicrous and perverted scams in world history? Or should we let him live his happy, healthy, more fulfilling life now? At least he’s not a drunk or smokes three packs a day. Honestly, I think that we as Americans just need to let go. We don’t control everyone or have the best opinions out there.
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The blog article I took a look at for this week involved the process of skin whitening. The first time Professor Richards brought this up in class I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea that major skin care companies are pushing products that will help a person turn their skin white. The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. I for one think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and who is to say that white skin is any better than darker skin? I agree that people with white or lighter skin have easier lives than people of color do to the fact that they don’t have the kinds of racial hurdles to overcome. I don’t believe that just because you have white skin that makes you superior to another race of people. Anyone who thinks that is absolutely insane. While watching the video I was shocked learn that the sale of these skin whitening products have gone up 100 percent. I can’t believe that major skin care companies are all pushing their own skin whitening products all over the world. From watching the commercial in the video I was blown away by what I saw. It basically shows two friends, one who has white skin and another who has very light brown skin. The white guy gives off a clear impression to his friend that he is so damn happy with the color of his skin, and you can be just as happy as I am if you use the same product I did. This commercial finishes out with that same white friend getting on a motorcycle with a girl wrapping her arms around him. This commercial is so unbelievably racist it’s not even funny. It clearly conveys a message that if you are a white person your life will be awesome and you can get anything you want in life. These kinds of commercials make people of color feel like they aren’t good enough or inferior because of the color of their own skin. I know if it were the other way around with a skin darkening cream and I viewed this I would feel the same way. The problem is that society has warped the way people think in regards to this kind of thing. People see how white people seem to have all of the cards stacked in their favor in life, and people of color want those same kinds of opportunities. If we didn’t have this problem in our society the world would be a better place because of it. People of every color should be happy with who they are and value their individuality. They shouldn’t feel inferior because of what the media and society portrays. If this world consisted of nothing but white people I can guarantee you that this world would be one hell of a boring place.
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As a person of white skin, it is intriguing to hear about the advertisements and the practices of people in other countries around the world like in India that are trying to get “whiter” skin. While over here, in America, like me, my sisters, and the rest of world that has white skin are trying to get darker, through tanning outside in the sun or with tanning beds. I find it ironic and almost insulting for companies like Nivea and many more to advertise such offensive commercials to the greater public in America let alone other countries like Pakistan and India. When Sam first brought this topic up in class, I thought it was a joke, I really did not believe this was going on around the world. I found it outrageous and funny that such a product was even listed on the market for people to buy. When it finally sunk in, I really thought about how sad it was that such a product was even being allowed to be distributed on the market. I understand that to some extent these companies are only trying to please those consumers that ask for it, but I do not believe they should be promoting “white” skin, or saying how one society should be or look like. I really think the whole idea is ridiculous and very insulting, I wish that they would ban such commercials. Especially after watching the commercial that was presented in the CNN segment, I really felt weird about such a promotion and it made me question how societies in India and Pakistan really feel about such a commercial. I understand that they interviewed a person in the India Parliament, but does she speak for the greater majority or only for a few people? I am intrigued to understand how such a product was even able to come into existent, whether it was something brought up through Western influence or was it by those that live in India or Pakistan. In the end I am divided on this topic, in one hand I believe there should not be such a product and on the other hand this product may have been asked for by the greater public. I wonder if allowing such a product, does this promote the “white” skin as being “superior” or what ideas come from people buying such a product. I feel like in our society people are always trying to relate to the idea of what beauty is suppose to look like and move towards such a standard, like relate their appearance to those models in the magazine. We have white people trying to bake themselves in order to become tanner, while we have dark skinned people having the idea that being lighter is more beautiful. I think as a society we come to realize through such processes of whitening and darkening our skins, we learn that we are never happy with what god gave us. It is hard for me to sit here and realize that such commercials about lightening skin is allowed, but then when we relate such an idea to those tanning lotions, we never stop to think that they might be the same thing. It is funny how when you look at other societies, how easy it is to criticize their ways, while our society is doing just the same. This topic is something more than just blatant racism of that sort, but maybe deals with more the inner part of all human beings: never satisfied with their appearance and in turn always trying to change it.
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