>There's a difference in the power
>dynamic surrounding these practices. Africans
>lightnening their skin is a
>result of Eurocentric thought imposed
>by colonialism and a culturally
>dominated world market.
>
>Europeans wanting to be "darker" carries
>a different (although related) historical
>weight. They want to be
>"tan" but not TOO dark
>... just dark enough to
>capitalize on racist fantasies of
>dark=wild. Yet, as dark as
>they get, they will never
>be mistaken for black. They
>know that they can be
>"exotic" yet still white in
>the end.
>

I agree with that statement 100 percent, but for most white folks tanning, can be a healthy partice when done in moderation... but I have seen a few white chick(en head)s who wanted to have that exotic look, so they used the tanning lotion, one looked purple the other orange, effin wierd lookin is what it is! hey the #1 reason why I tan is so I won't burn, durrin the hot ass new-england summers, the sun burn is what causes cancer, not the tan!