Written By: Nelly Alili

Skin bleaching is a sensitive topic that many prefer we don’t talk about. My first experience with colorism was in high school, but skin bleaching cemented the belief in me that lighter complexions are better. 

My experience with colorism was very direct. In my first year in high school, I met girls that would make derogatory comments about my skin. They would openly say, “thank God I’m not as dark as Nelly,” or would ask, “Am I as dark as Nelly?” I’d also see girls scrubbing their faces a little harder, staying in the shower a little longer, or completely avoiding the sun. They would tell me those were the secrets to having light complexions. All the attacks on my skin color were unprovoked and all the advice was unsolicited.

Fast forward to when I was going home for my first midterm. I remember nearing my neighborhood as I was walking  from school and just noticing all these ladies that suddenly had very light skin. But the light complexion wasn’t as pure as what I was used to seeing. This light complexion was orange, this complexion came with green veins, dark knuckles, dark knees, dark lips, and most couldn’t stay in the sun without an umbrella.

That was when I became aware of skin bleaching practices and it dawned on me that light skin is [considered] better than dark skin. Because people that I grew up seeing with perfect dark complexions were now doing extreme things to become light[er] skin. Slowly, I started noticing that my light skinned aunts and mum’s friends had that orange kind of light skin complexion. 

Skin bleaching stems from colorism. Skin bleaching is literally killing something that is beneficial to you, melanin, mostly with harmful products, for light skin. The mass availability of skin lightening products in our markets reinforce colorism.

Most times people say, “skin bleaching is a personal issue, it’s not that they dislike their dark skin, they just wanted change.” There’s a grain of truth in their sentiments. Studies have shown that skin bleaching isn’t more of a self-hate issue as it is as a result of cultural colorism.

I believe the genesis of something is of importance. Skin bleaching originates from colorism, and colorism is born of the idea that lighter complexions are better. Furthermore, like the ladies in my neighborhood, most local people use very toxic products for bleaching. These products contain very high amounts of mercury and hydroquinone, which are illegal in most countries.

So, what’s the solution to end the practice? I believe the most viable solution is to address the colorism in our society. We have to tackle the problem from the roots, not the fruit. Skin bleaching is the fruit.  African countries like Rwanda, Ghana and South Africa have banned skin bleaching products, but this isn’t really helping, because these products still find their way into the countries. Like Anthony D'Angelo once said, “when addressing problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.”

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