>My point with the egyptians -
>is only to show that
>Black people dont need "white"
>influence to think this way
>and I dont want to
>allow the idea that if
>not for their actions we
>would never think such things
>much less take advantage of
>each other.

I'm assuming that since this seems to be a more recent phenomenon,you can make a very strong case for skin bleaching as being one of the many consequences of colonialism.


>If anything the condition of lightening
>is not so much to
>acheive "whiteness" but to escape
>Blackness- you cant necessarily resolve
>that by accusing racial oppression
>cuz there is also a
>large contingency of light skinned
>Blacks that played right along
>with colonialism and the privelege
>of being light skinned (see
>the Octaroon communities of the
>early south and the isalnd
>of Goree and it authorities)
>and civilizations that preceded it
>by centuries.

Yes, definitely. Unfortunately, colorism found its way into the class system and the systems of social status.

>Otherwise- My intention here was to
>play more devil's advocate. I
>think you're right on point
>with your statement but what
>does it have to offer
>people who use these products
>reasonable- those who dont risk
>skin cancer on either side
>of the issue?
>
>If a dark skinned man avoids
>the sun to avoid getting
>darker- is this indicative of
>manipulative racial oppression or excusable
>activity similar to what is
>considered reasonable among "white" people?

You know, you can't really answer that question. There are no real right/wrong answers. I would say, see what that man also does, how he acts, what he says in regard to skin color. If he SIMPLY thinks he's cuter without being darker...then that's him. My initial reaction to someone doing that would probably not be that this is a non-socially influenced decision.

>Where is the line drawn between
>beauty consciousness and racially motivated
>self depracation?

What is beaut ?

>Are we intimating that we shouldnt
>be beauty conscious at all?

I don't think that "beauty" is that necessary of a concept as we make it out to be. I save a whole lot of time not worrying about being cute if I don't want to (which is most of the time).

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