A few weeks ago, I watched a Tyra Banks show about skin bleaching. Women of color around the world will often apply lightening creams to their skin if they think it is too dark, but this episode focused specifically on Black women in the United States who use skin lightening creams. What surprised me was not the topic, which I had already heard of, but the way that the show was set up. Much like a confessional talk show where people are being blamed for sensational and immoral acts, these women were vilified for the choices that they made about their own bodies. I was taken aback by how angry people became as if they themselves were being attacked by the women onstage instead of the other way around. During a commercial break, the Tyra show asked people to call in to the studio if they were offended on behalf of their race by what these women were doing. Don’t get it twisted.

The women onstage did not go back in time to create the brutal centuries-long systemic racism that values fairer over darker skin. Where is the hotline to call in if you are offended by the way that people of color have been denigrated and denied our full rights since the founding of the country? Ms. Banks did not address the issues of systemic racism in the U.S. at all, much less get into how the areas of the world where these creams really thrive - Africa, the Caribbean, India – are mostly countries that were colonized by Europeans. Obviously if power and status are associated with a physical trait that can be passed easily genetically, then that trait will become desirable. I was surprised that no one voiced the connection on the show, but until we do and then examine the effects on our psyches, individually and nationally, we will continue to blame women for the decisions that they make which impact their health. No one makes their decisions in a vacuum.

Many of the guests on the show described being treated negatively their entire lives because of the shade of their skin. People who have grown up with a sense of self-esteem, (which comes from nurtured by friends, family, and society) are more likely to feel comfortable going against the grain and having the confidence to create their own beauty ideals. The women on the stage were trying to be beautiful in the only way they knew how, much like women who dye their hair blonde or those who go on harmful diets in order to lose weight. No one questions these practices, although one is racist and the other extremely harmful to women. (A naturally blonde woman has to be White and therefore the most beautiful women are by definition, White) A wise social reformer pointed out that there is no way that we can grow up in an environment as sick and twisted as the United States – with all of its multiple oppressions and materialism – and not come away with some sort of infection. In other words, no one escapes unscathed or without coping mechanisms, no matter how unhealthy. While the skin creams that women use for lightening are potentially cancerous, it is also harmful to act like the problem is entirely in their heads and that they would benefit from a giant dose of “go girl” feminism.

Now I have to give Tyra some credit. She invited a doctor to talk about the possible health dangers of these “blemish creams”. I say possible because there has really been no research done on the products per se; they are simply known to contain harmful ingredients. Mercury can cause membranous nephropathy, which is a kidney disorder. Acne, eczema, and fungal infections are also risks. (For a complete list, visit http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2004/march/skinlightening.htm) It was apparent, however, just by looking at these women’s faces, many of which were scarred and raw in appearance, that “blemish” creams are not a viable beauty aid so much as a psychological salve.

Although it was upsetting to hear, in the year 2009, that many Black women still feel the need to apply dangerous chemicals because they think of white people as prettier, bleaching creams are more a symptom of the problem than the actual issue. When people don’t value their bodies, it is because they don’t value themselves. Now that the President is Black and the first family is of color, I expect the sale of bleaching creams to go down as people of all races see that brown skin can garner status and respect. Light skin, like blonde hair or a size 2 body, was never inherently beautiful. It was just a way, biologically determined and completely beyond our control, of being easily classified by others who could then determine what group a person belongs to (Whites, young people, etc,) and how much respect they should be given.

We do not yet live in a utopia where everyone is considered equally beautiful and the pursuit of beauty does still devour a good deal of everyone’s time, but the face of ideal beauty is growing to include more and different people. Michelle Obama has been embraced as a strong, beautiful fashion icon and her daughters, who could not have bought a doll with their skin tones fifty years ago, are now idolized by millions of little girls. We are living in a time when we can make up new standards of what is attractive – based on who is in power and what they look like– or finally decide to embrace everyone’s beauty.