UPDATE: I just saw this video. Warning...it's brutal! But another interesting example of what is happening around the world. Is "de-racialization" really happening? Should we be more concerned about it? Is this really just a result of globalization like the doctor said? It's about 48 minutes long but very interesting. Tell me what you think.
I have seen this now on various sights and I have to say, it turns my stomach a bit. I am not surprised at this point that anyone would want to lighten their skin, straighten their hair, and change their eye color. But this photo was so striking to me that it literally took my breath away. He's been catching a lot of flack for it over the web and I can see why now. Here's what he had to say: "It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed. . . . I use [it] to soften [my skin], but [it] has bleached me some," he admitted.
I think what bothers me most about this is that he thinks he looks better. How is that possible?? I am not hating on him, really I'm not. It just never fails to amaze me that, in the pursuit of a more "euro" beauty aesthetic, people will so alter themselves, no matter what the end result. It's like, cause my eyes are green and my skin is light I must be more beautiful now. Yes green eyes are beautiful on some people and light skin is nice on other people but so are dark chestnut eyes and mocha skin. It's all beautiful. I fear he has made a mistake and it might be too late to correct.
Scientists out there- can his skin ever go back? I mean, if he stops bleaching it, will it eventually slough off enough and be replaced with new cells of his original color?
I know I should live and let live and probably not waste time caring but at the same time, I can't help but think about the little brown boys (and girls) who look up to him because he's a big baseball star, and they see this and think something must have been wrong with him before.
Think that's crazy? Read this and this and this (especially if you love the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty stuff).
It truly is sad. I had heard about him looking lighter but had no idea just how MUCH lighter! It also makes you wonder what he would say to a partner if they had kids and his genetic makeup caused the kid to come out with his "true" skin color? We as a society are becoming so superficial with people dying to remove fat and taking chemicals to do all kinds of things to our bodies...
ReplyDeleteSaddening.. I'm truly appalled.
ReplyDeletewow. in my opinion he looked much better before the bleach but he'll probably be treated better by his community. at least that was my impression travelling in Cuba earlier this year with a Spanish surname and skin that started off triguena in shade and got darker by the day and with it, darker looks/reactions from light skinned locals.
ReplyDeletenot only did he bleach his skin and have contacts, he had a dang conk. it looks like an oil slick on his head trying to keep those naps straight.
ReplyDeletewhy would you use skin bleach to make your skin soft...that's the worst thought out lie i've ever heard
his wife must really not care about him if she let him do that foolishness
Yes, I thought it was quite disturbing. It's hilarious that he would take us all for fools, when he even straightened his hair to look like a lighter skinned hispanic man. This is sooo sad, but skin color, hair texture, and race is a subject that is not discussed much in the latin community, but it is very underlying, but the issues are there. I currently live in Puerto Rico, where I work as a hair stylist and estethician. I asked my co workers what is a non derogatory word for KINKY hair in spanish, and they told me that to their knowledge there was NOT a "Politicaly Correct" term for kinky hair in the spanish language, because everyone uses derogatory words for people that have kinky hair. It's crazy over here when it comes to how hidden the race lines are in Latin America. On one hand you will here Latin Americans say Oh yeah well there are black people in my family, or my grandmother is black, but if you look on the telenovelas or Miss Universe Pagents, you RARELY see anyone darker than caramel on the shows. Blond hair and bllue eyes over here is definetly seen as most beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIUt is sad... Dominicans have a very very bad color complex. Dark skinned ones are treated to hate their skin out their, and hate their curly hair. Which introduces the Dominican blow out and perms.
ReplyDeleteSelf-hatred runs deep! To be fair, skin bleaching is present in numerous ethnic groups, so this didn't surprise me in the least. I guess we (or I) sometimes feel that celebrities or the rich should be above the psychosomatic hang-ups that sometimes come along with not being white; I mean after all, the rich have beaten the hierarchical nature of the human race, right? Wrong! At first glance the picture bothered me, actually it angered me, but then I realized that Sammy is human just like everyone else. Not sure what his hang-ups are but bleaching his skin is his coping mechanism.
ReplyDeleteSosa went from a good-looking man to a self-hating freak.
ReplyDeleteHispanics in general have a preference for a more European look...even the one's who were born and raised in the US. It's extremely in-grained much like racism is here and it will never go away. I feel sorry for him, but I don't hate on or blame him. I can imagine what it must have been like for him growning up. His wife probably is one of the people to suggest he do this, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteIn a world where anything is now possible, he chose to do this? I hope he is happy now
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is, skin lightening is only becoming even more popular in places in Africa and India, where almost all models are light-skinned.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I thought he was pretty average looking to start with, but now he just looks strange with the bleached skin, green contacts, and conked hair. And since when do people use bleaching cream to soften their skin? That's what regular facial moisturizers are for! He's not fooling anybody.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused. It it just his face or his whole body has been bleached? What happens when he wants to wear a pair of shorts or a t-shirt?
ReplyDeleteWow. Those links at the end were eye-opening and the video was just plain sad. Needless to say I don't see myself buying any Dove products in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad, sad, sad, sad and somewhat comical; He looks like a clown minus the red lips, big, red nose and eye make-up in the new look! When more people grasp the words of Marcus Garvey "Free ourselves from mental slavery" we will see this type of behavior disappear. This is the opposite of Europeans who tan themselves to look "healthier" and more "attractive". God bless the people who are happy with the way He made them and may He help those who aren't to appreciate themselves for what he made them to be.
ReplyDeleteWHAT!
ReplyDeleteThis is sad.. Why did he do that.
I think your natural hair, skin.. Or let me say it like this.. The natural way you are, are the most beautifull way!
What have he done to him self, why can he not just be happy with the way he was before.
Now he look kinda fake. :(
let me say it like this.. wend your mother saw you she must have say aaaaaaaaaaaaa my god went your mother saw you she must have say aaaaaaaaaaaaa my god who the he are you , you not my child/////////////?
ReplyDelete