So I was lying in bed this morning trying to convince myself to get up, hit the shower, and hustle to work, when I caught an interesting segment on the Today Show.
My friends and I have been talking about this Sammy Sosa thing since it hit the news last week. I'm sure that everyone has seen the picture of his new "lightened" appearance. His official statement was that "It's a cream that I have, that I use to soften [my skin], but has bleached me some. I'm not a racist, I live my life happily." He also said, "What happened was that I had been using the cream for a long time and that, combined with the bright TV lights, made my face look whiter than it really is. I don't think I look like Michael Jackson."
From May 2009 & Nov 2009
Now. To each it's own. I've learned from friends of various ethnic backgrounds that skin bleaching in both indian and latin cultures is very common. The U.S. isn't the only place that has had color issues.
While talking about this at work a few points were brought up that I had to think about. How is this any different than women who wear foundation or false lashes to enhance certain features on their face? Or women who wear Spanx and Body Miracle suits to appear thinner? As a sidebar, it was a man who said this and he doesn't practice nor understand why we go through any of it. When it comes to Spanx and other foundation garments, I'm a fan for life! But I guess he has a point.
My biggest issue is why he doesn't just admit it and bring the issue to light. I mean really. To say that you use a cream to soften your skin and it just "happens" to have a bleaching agent in it. Give me a break. I can hook him up with some great estheticians that can make his skin look like butta. He can talk to Halle and Diddy. Their skin is always smooth.
It always reminds me of one of my favorite movies, Imitation of Life. It has to be a horrible feeling, not being comfortable in your own skin. I can't imagine what that feels like. I wonder what his family thinks. If it's a culture thing, maybe they are all for it. But I wonder if there are some that feel like he's ashamed of them. I don't think that it makes him a racist. Just insecure.
I love my caramel skin and am often amused when people of different shades or ethnicities walk up and put their arm next to mine to compare and say "wow, i'm almost your complexion." Yeah, ok. Get back in the sun.
I think that these people need better PR reps. Haven't they learned that the public can't easily be fooled. Things go away a lot quicker when you just own what you do. Or just say "It's none of your d**n business." In my opinion, it's not even the actual bleaching that makes him seem weak and insecure. It's his need to hide it and offer such a lame explanation. Again, either tell me the truth, tell me it's none of my business, or work on a great lie. Don't give me a lame one that just popped in your head. Put some effort into it. Show me you care.
What do you think?
In other news, the dress his wife wore below was fabulous!
Of course I had to seek out black lace looks that I love. Take a peek
