skin bleaching and the self-hate polemic

8/12/2019 Skin Bleaching and the Self-Hate Polemic

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BLEACHING AND SELF-HATE 1

Skin Bleaching and the Self-hate Polemic

Ab t!act

The "o"#la! e$"lanation fo! kin bleaching among Black %amaican i elf-hate& The conce"t of

com"le$ "e! onhood deb#nk the " 'cho"atholog' e$"lanation of kin bleaching& Com"le$

"e! onhood i an a#tonomo# ( m#ltidimen ional( n#anced and o"timal elf that di "la' t!ength(

)eakne ( !e ilience( ambig#itie and cont!adiction & Some of the kin bleaching lite!at#!e

f!ame the kin bleache! a elf-hating( !e t!ict identit' to a bina!'( a!g#e e!!oneo# l' that

the!e i onl' one )a' to be black and ilence the kin bleache! in "#blic di co#! e& The elf-

hate e$"lanation fo! kin bleaching in %amaica i info!med b' the doll t#d' in Ame!ica )hich

confo#nd the mino!it' of Black child!en* choice of a )hite doll )ith elf-hate& The elf-e teem

t#die in %amaica and Ame!ica !ef#te the elf-hate the i & The # e of com"le$ "e! onhood to

#nde! tand the beha+io! of the %amaican kin bleache! libe!ate them f!om the elf-hate

e$"lanation fo! thei! beha+io! and "!o+ide the alte!nati+e e$"lanation of mi ed#cation and

colo!i m&


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Skin Bleaching and the Self-hate Polemic

Int!od#ction

If 'o# a k the a+e!age %amaican )h' ome of thei! com"at!iot # e co metic and

de!matological c!eam and homemade "!od#ct to bleach the melanin f!om thei! kin( the likel'

an )e! 'o# )ill hea! i elf-hate ,Cha!le ( ../a( ..0( ..12& The!e i mo!e to the com"le$

"!actice of kin bleaching than elf-hate& It i t!#e that ome %amaican )ho bleach thei! kin

ha+e lo) elf-e teem a fo!m of elf-hate ,Cha!le .3.b2 b#t othe! kin bleache! engage in the

cont!o+e! ial "!actice fo! a !ange of !ea on othe! than elf-hate ,Bla'( ..45 Cha!le ( ..6a5

Ho"e( ..62& Thi a!ticle eek to libe!ate the %amaican kin bleache! f!om the "athological(

mono-ca# al ,one i7e fit all2 elf-hate e$"lanation )ith the notion of com"le$ "e! onhood&

%amaica i a fo!me! B!iti h colon' )hich gained inde"endence in 361 & 8+e! 6.9 of the

%amaican "o"#lation i of Af!ican de cent& :hite ( Chine e( Indian and A!ab dominate the

econom' and Black cont!ol the "olitical ' tem ,;obotham( ...5 Smith( 366.2&

It i im"o!tant to #nde! tand ho) !ace i "e!cei+ed in %amaica& The!e i the t!i"a!tite

legac' of B!iti h coloniali m in de cending o!de! of "!e tige( the :hite ection at the to"( the

B!o)n ection in the middle and the Black ection at the bottom ,;obotham( ...5 Smith 366.2&

The e th!ee !acial ection )ith thei! di tinct c#lt#!e mi$ b#t do not combine a the' o"e!ate in

the ocio-economic and "olitical in tit#tion in the co#nt!'& The


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The Black %amaican )ho bleach cannot ente! the B!o)n ection beca# e the' a!e

blocked b' membe! of thi ection( b#t de!i+e ocial benefit gi+en the high ocial tat# of

b!o)n kin and the "!efe!ence fo! b!o)n kin among ome %amaican & The %amaican )ho

bleach thei! kin come f!om all !acial g!o#" ( ocial cla e and le+el of ed#cation& Ho)e+e!(

kin bleaching i mo t noticeable among the )o!king cla "o"#lation beca# e of thei! black

"h' icalit'& The fo!egoing doe not mean that b!o)n kin %amaican a!e not in the )o!king cla &

The ma=o!it' of the "eo"le in the )o!king cla )ho bleach thei! kin do not ha+e the financial

!e o#!ce to get the fo!mal>"!ofe ional bleaching f!om the de!matologi t o the' # e

homemade concoction and to$ic kin bleaching c!eam ,Cha!le ( .33b( .3 2&

In o!gani7ing thi a!ticle( the notion of com"le$ "e! onhood i o#tlined fi! t& Second( i

the o#tline of kin bleaching a a global "!actice follo)ed b' a c!itical !e+ie) of the t#die on

kin bleaching in %amaica in te!m of )hat the' !e+eal abo#t the "!actice& Thi!d( a lette! in the

Daily Gleaner i highlighted& The lette! locate kin bleaching in %amaica )ithin the mental

la+e!' "a!adigm& Fo#!th( the a!g#ment i "!e ented that the mental la+e!' "a!adigm i

info!med b' the cla ic doll t#d' in the ?nited State and I offe! a c!iti@#e of thi t#d'& Fifth(

the end#!ance of the di c!edited elf-hate the i i di c# ed b' foc# ing on the film( A Gi!l Like


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Com"le$ Pe! onhood

The !eal elf( )hich ha agenc'( i the co!e of the "e! on )hich i kno)n in m#lti"le

)a' & A #ch( "e! onhood i not managed( admini te!ed( and go+e!ned b' the ocialit' of the

tat# @#o ,Blackman( 36615


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Skin Bleaching

Skin bleaching i the # e of homemade concoction ( co metic "!od#ct and

de!matological "!od#ct to !emo+e the melanin f!om the kin o+e! time& Thi melanin !emo+al

"!oce i al o called kin lightening( kin )hitening and kin toning& P!eocc#"ation )ith kin

colo! i an ancient "henomenon and the!e a!e !e"o!t that kin bleaching took "lace in medie+al

E#!o"e( the Colonial Ca!ibbean( Colonial No!th Ame!ica and Colonial Af!ica ,Cha!le ( .3.a5

H#nte!( .335 %ablon ki( ..12& Skin bleaching in the contem"o!a!' e!a i a global "!actice that

occ#! in the


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"e!+a i+e among Black & ;aci m and ocial e$cl# ion can th)a!t o"timal identit' negotiation

and con t!#ction and lead to the !oa t b!eadf!#it " 'cho i 3 among Black )ho emb!ace

E#!o"ean ideal a the e"itome of ci+ili7ation at the e$"en e of thei! Blackne ,Hickling

H#tchin on( 3666( ...2&

The ma=o! "!oblem )ith the fo!egoing t)o a!g#ment i the !igid d#al black )hite

conce"t#ali7ation of identit'( )hich "athologi7e the o"hi tication of identit' con t!#ction( and

the !ange of !acial and com"le$ion c!ite!ia %amaican # e to fa hion an o"timal ocial elf that

the' # e to na+igate the %amaican ocio-c#lt#!al land ca"e in a " 'chologicall' meaningf#l )a'&

In othe! )o!d ( the!e i no one )a' to be black& Each "e! on c!eate hi o! he! +e! ion of Black

identit' f!om a #ni+e! e of Black identitie , hade of Black2 )hich the' # e to make en e of

the )o!ld&


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in the +ie) of thei! c!itic & :itho#t the kin bleache! * na!!ati+e ( )e mi the e ence of thei!

o"hi ticated and m#ltidimen ional li+e )hich "!o+ide dee" in ight into thei! conce"tion of

Blackne &

Acco!ding to ;o enbe!g ,3643( 36 62( elf-e teem i the !ega!d one ha fo! the elf&

Peo"le )ith lo) elf-e teem ha+e lo) !ega!d o! contem"t fo! the elf and "eo"le )ith high elf-

e teem ha+e high !ega!d fo! the elf& Se+e!al elf-e teem t#die ba ed on ;o enbe!g* definition

)e!e cond#cted in %amaica ,Cha!le ( ../a( ..0( ..12& The e t#die fo#nd that the kin

bleache! in %amaica )e!e d!i+en b' mi ed#cation of Black %amaican abo#t Black c#lt#!e(

hi to!' and achie+ement and colo!i m )hich "!i+ilege light- kinned %amaican o+e! thei! da!k-

kinned co#nte!"a!t &


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com"le$ion and !aci m i the ideolog' )hich di c!iminate ba ed on !ace& ;aci m and colo!i m

in the contem"o!a!' e!a a!e legacie of E#!o"ean coloni7ation& Peo"le )ith light kin not onl'

ha+e ocial ca"ital )hich gi+e them ocietal benefit b#t al o !acial ca"ital beca# e the lighte!

one i ( o! become )ith the aid of kin bleaching( the nea!e! one i to the )hite !acial ideal& The

fo!egoing #gge t that the kin bleache! in %amaica alte! thei! "h' icalit' to get the benefit of

ocial and !acial ca"ital and not beca# e the' hate them el+e ,H#nte!( 366 ( .. ( ..4( .332&

De "ite the !e ea!ch e+idence that !ef#te the elf-hate the i ( the mental la+e!'

"a!adigm ha been "o"#la!i7ed in %amaica b' ;eggae icon ;obe!t


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t!eatment of black d#!ing la+e!'( and it legac' of infe!io! label ( gi+e high ocial tat# to

light kin %amaican )hich lead to an infe!io!it' com"le$ among black & The infe!io!it'

com"le$ o! lo) elf-e+al#ation ca# e Black %amaican to bleach thei! kin& Thi a!g#ment

igno!e the fact that the!e a!e a "letho!a of facto! , e+e!e child ab# e( long te!m #nem"lo'ment(

and a t!a#matic di+o!ce and o on2 in the "o t- la+e!' en+i!onment that a!e #n!elated to la+e!'

that can ca# e lo) elf-e teem ,a fo!m of elf-hate2 among ome Black %amaican &

The #""o!te! of the elf-hate a!g#ment locate it gene i in Af!ican Ca"ti+it' on

Plantation in the Ame!ica & Thi a!g#ment igno!e the fact that a a g!o#" the ca"ti+e Af!ican

on "lantation in colonial %amaica con tantl' !e i ted thei! ca"to! on the "lantation th!o#gh

"a i+e !e i tance ,feigning ickne and t#"idl' and o on2 and acti+e !e i tance ,!#nning

a)a'( +iolent !ebellion and o on2& The e fo!m of !e i tance #gge t that the ca"ti+e Af!ican

had a +e!' t!ong 'ea!ning fo! "e! onal and collecti+e f!eedom and a +e!' t!ong "!efe!ence fo!

and attachment to thei! o)n !acial g!o#"& The Af!ican in the "o t-emanci"ation %amaica ,3 /

on)a!d 2 di "la'ed t!ong moti+ation to achie+e economic inde"endence and "olitical ca"ital

!athe! than elf-hate ,B!aith)aite( 364 5 Patte! on( 36165 :ilmot( 36 2& A a matte! of fact( the

Af!ican left the %amaican "lantation in d!o+e in 3 / and the "lante! had to im"o!t

indent#!ed labo!e! f!om India and China to a+e the colonial econom'& If the Af!ican hated

them el+e beca# e of la+e!' the' )o#ld ha+e ta'ed on the "lantation and contin#ed to )o!k

fo! thei! o""!e o! at Emanci"ation& The!e i no e+idence in the )o!k of Ca!ibbean hi to!ian

that the ca"ti+e Af!ican )ho !e i ted thei! en la+ement beca# e the' belie+ed the' )e!e f!ee

"eo"le hated them el+e & In the " 'chological lite!at#!e "eo"le )ho hate them el+e a mea #!ed

b' elf-e teem te t a!e not able to !e i t o! fight thei! o""!e o! beca# e the' ha+e +e!' lo)

!ega!d fo! them el+e , ee fo! e$am"le( Beckle ( 36 5 B!aith)aite( 3644( 364 5 Cald)ell( 366 5


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C#!tin( 364 5 D#nkle'( .3/5 Neblett( Shelton Selle! ( .. 5 Patte! on( 36165 ;obotham(

36 5 ;o enbe!g Simmon ( 36435 ;o enbe!g( 36 65 T)enge C!ocke!( ...2&

De "ite the fo!egoing hi to!ical e+idence( the "o"#la! elf-hate a!g#ment in %amaica

, the legac' of Af!ican ca"ti+it' 2 find #""o!t in the "o"#la! academic )o!k on elf-hate( the

doll t#d' cond#cted in the ?nited State ,Cla!k Cla!k( 360.2& It i im"o!tant to note( that thi

)ell kno)n )o!k did not mea #!e the elf-e teem of the "a!tici"ant & The elf-hate finding of

the doll t#d' a!e "o"#la! in the Af!ocent!ic di co#! e in %amaica& The finding of the doll t#d'

ha+e al o been di c# ed on "o"#la! Af!ocent!ic !adio "!og!am )ith national a#dience in

%amaica #ch a Running African and The Cutting Edge &

The Famo# Doll St#d'

In the famo# doll t#d'( the !e ea!che! ga+e Black and :hite child!en Black and :hite

doll & The child!en )e!e a ked to elect the doll that looked like them& The !e #lt !e+ealed that

69 of the Neg!o child!en f!om the no!th and 3 &19 f!om the o#th made anti-Black tatement &

In the total am"le onl' 3 9 of the child!en made negati+e tatement abo#t Blackne ,Cla!k

Cla!k( 360.2& The finding of the doll t#d' )e!e inte!"!eted to mean that !acial eg!egation in

the ?nited State lead to( among othe! thing ( feeling of infe!io!it' and lo) elf-)o!th among

Neg!oe & Thi a!g#ment )a a "a!t of the ocial cience tatement in #""o!t of !acial

de eg!egation in the landma!k ca e B!o)n +& Boa!d of Ed#cation ,Cla!k( Chein Cook( .. 2&

A clo e !eading of the doll t#d' #gge t that the ma=o!it' of Black child!en did not

ho) a "!efe!ence fo! :hitene & The mall mino!it' of the child!en in the am"le that e$"!e ed

a negati+e attit#de to Blackne i # ed to gene!ali7e to adole cence and ad#lt in the la!ge!

Af!ican-Ame!ican "o"#lation& It i "o ible that the Black child!en )ho elected :hite doll


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co#ld ha+e been ociali7ed b' thei! "a!ent )ith a bic#lt#!al f!ame of !efe!ence to na+igate the

Ame!ican !acial land ca"e and th# the child!en )e!e act#all' di "la'ing ea!l' c#lt#!al

com"etence )ith Af!ocent!ic and E#!ocent!ic en+i!onmental tim#li ,C!o ( 36632& The

co#nte!fact#al i al o igno!ed beca# e the :hite child!en )ho elected Black doll )e!e not

inte!"!eted a hating them el+e & The Black child!en might ha+e elected the )hite doll beca# e

of the "o"#la!it' of the e doll in the ociet'& E+en if the Black child!en elected the :hite doll

beca# e of the high tat# a ociated )ith the e doll( thi doe not a#tomaticall' mean that the

child!en inte!nali7ed the lo) tat# that :hite a ociated )ith thei! !acial g!o#"& Child!en a!e

mo!e !e ilient than )e think ,C!o ( 36635 Gold tein B!ook ( .3/2&

The inte!"!etation of the !e #lt of the doll t#d' )a a conflation of elf-hate )ith lo)

!acial elf-e teem( )hich ha no em"i!ical #""o!t& A c!itical !e+ie) of the landma!k t#die in

the ?nited State bet)een 36/6-361. and 361 -36 . on the !elation hi" bet)een Black *

"e! onal elf-e teem ,a t!ait of "e! onal identit'2 and !acial elf-e teem ,the e+al#ation of one*

!acial g!o#"2 indicate that "e! onal and !acial elf-e teem a!e !elated a im"o!tant "a!t of the

total elf-conce"t( b#t the e t)o com"onent of the elf a!e not co!!elated ,C!o ( 36632& Thi

finding #gge t that a "e! on can lo+e hi o! he! !ace ,ha+e high !acial elf-e teem in the ocial

identit' domain2 b#t ha+e lo) elf-e teem ,a fo!m of elf- hate in the "e! onal identit' domain2

and a "e! on can ha+e high elf-e teem and hate hi o! he! !acial g!o#"& The!efo!e( e@#ating

Black child!en* !e=ection of a black doll in an e$"e!iment )ith negati+e "e! onal e+al#ation

of the elf , elf-hate2 and lo) e+al#ation of the Black ocial elf ,!acial identit'2 a!e "#!io# at

be t ,Cha!le ( ../a5 C!o ( 36632&

De "ite the c!iti@#e of the elf-hate the i ( and the a+ailable co#nte! e+idence( the elf-

hate the i and the methodologicall' fla)ed doll t#d' i "e!+a i+e( a e$em"lified in i!i Da+i *


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film( A Gi!l Like


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of Black in te!m of h'"e!ten ion( t!e and docto! * !ecommendation fo! ca!diac

cathete!i7ation and o on b#t not thei! elf-e teem ,Beatt'( ..45 %one ..15 Sh#lman et al(

36662&

The h#ge bod' of elf-e teem !e ea!ch cond#cted in the ?nited State al o !ef#te the

elf-hate the i among Black & ;ecall that lo) elf-e teem i a fo!m of elf-hate& The finding

f!om ome of the elf-e teem t#die a!e !e"o!ted belo)& The finding f!om a meta-anal' i

!e+eal that :hite ha+e lo)e! elf-e teem than Af!ican-Ame!ican b#t highe! elf-e teem than

othe! mino!itie #ch a A ian ( Nati+e Ame!ican and Latino ,T)enge C!ocke!( ...2&

Af!ican- Ame!ican child!en a!e le likel' than E#!o-Ame!ican child!en to allo) othe! "eo"le*

"e!ce"tion of thei! ethnic g!o#" to infl#ence thei! "e! onal elf-e teem ,Cald)ell( 366 2& The e

finding co!!obo!ate the ea!lie! finding that Black and :hite ha+e com"a!able elf-e teem

,;o enbe!g Simmon ( 36432&


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The fo!egoing c!itical !e+ie) that Af!ican-Ame!ican a a g!o#" do not #ffe! f!om elf-hate i

imila! to the finding of the kin bleaching t#die in %amaica that the Black kin bleache! a a

g!o#" do not #ffe! f!om elf-hate ,Cha!le ( ../a( ..0( ..12& The e finding do not mean that

ome Black %amaican kin bleache! a!e not elf-hate! & Ho)e+e!( )e ho#ld not a #me

beca# e ome kin bleache! ha+e lo) elf-e teem ,Cha!le ( .3.b2 thi mean that lo) elf-

e teem ca# e kin bleaching beca# e co!!elation i not ca# ation ,Cha!le ( ../a2& Ne$t( i a

di c# ion of com"le$ "e! onhood to "!o+ide an alte!nati+e e$"lanation fo! the beha+io! of the

Black kin bleache! in %amaica in tead of the "o"#la! and #n #b tantiated elf-hate e$"lanation&

Com"le$ Pe! onhood An Alte!nati+e E$"lanation

8""onent of kin bleaching in %amaica mo!e often than not c!itici7e the Black kin

bleache! f!om an Af!ocent!ic "e! "ecti+e ,B!o)n-Gla#de( ..42& The o""onent of kin

bleaching a!g#e that the!e i onl' one health' Black e$"e!ience-the Af!ocent!ic e$"e!ience that

acco!d high alience to Blackne & Thi "e! "ecti+e igno!e the fact that Black a!e o"hi ticated

m#lti-dimen ional "eo"le )ho do not e$"e!ience blackne in the ame )a' and to the ame

e$tent& It i im"o!tant to note that the!e a!e a !ange of Black identitie , hade of Black2 that

Black # e to con t!#ct thei! !acial identit' and o"timall' negotiate e$"e!ience ,C!o ( 36632&

The ill#minating co#nte!fact#al i al o igno!ed beca# e :hite )ho alte! thei! "h' icalit' b'

b!aiding thei! hai! and tanning thei! kin a!e not +ie)ed a #ffe!ing f!om elf-hate o )e ho#ld

not a #me that all kin bleache! hate them el+e ,Cha!le ( ../a2& The !ange of !ea on fo!

kin bleaching !e"o!ted ea!lie! ,Bla' ..4( .335 Cha!le ( ..6a( .3.a( .33a5 Do!man( .335

Ho"e( ..6( .335 H#nte!( .335


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"e! on & The e %amaican bleach thei! kin fo! e+e!al !ea on #n!elated to elf-hate ,Cha!le (

..6b2&

Com"le$ "e! onhood al o tate that the kin bleache! ( like othe! Black ( ha+e e+ol+ing

and #ni@#e #b=ecti+e el+e that filte! c#lt#!al !ealit'& Some of the kin bleache! in thei!

"!oce of becoming Black can be "laced in the "!e-enco#nte! tage of Black identit'

de+elo"ment )ith a mi ed#cated identit'& Peo"le in the "!e-enco#nte! tage of black identit'

de+elo"ment a!e "h' icall' black b#t not " 'chologicall' black& The e "eo"le ha+e lo) alience

to)a!d blackne o! lo) !acial con cio# ne beca# e the' ha+e been mi ed#cated b' the

ed#cation ' tem( the ch#!che and the media abo#t the achie+ement of thei! !ace& The!e a!e

Black )ho e !eligion o! "!ofe ion( among othe! ocial identit' catego!ie ( i mo!e alient and

meaningf#l in thei! li+e than thei! !ace )hich doe not #gge t a !e=ection of Blackne & Lo)

alience to)a!d Blackne i not nece a!il' 'non'mo# )ith anti-blackne and>o! "!o-

)hitene ,C!o ( 36632& The fo!egoing mean that !ace i not cent!al in the li+e of ome Black

%amaican b#t not ab ent& The e Black )e!e ne+e! ociali7ed to be !adicall' Black b#t the' a!e

ha""' )ith them el+e and li+e meaningf#l and )ell ad=# ted li+e & The e nominal Black !ef# e

to be managed b' the Af!ocent!ic tat# @#o of !adical Black in %amaica ,Cha!le ( ../b5


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Some kin bleache! mo+e be'ond thei! nominal Black !acial identit' and t!ongl'

identif' a membe! of thei! !acial g!o#"( )hich i e+ident in thei! high !acial elf-e teem co!e

)hich i com"a!able to the !acial elf-e teem co!e of non-bleache! ,Cha!le ( .3.b2& 8the!

kin bleache! al o !ank Black in %amaica a ha+ing high ocial tat# ,Cha!le ( ..02& Igno!ing

the com"le$ li+e of the kin bleache! lead one to "onde! the eeming cont!adiction and

ambig#itie & The e kin bleache! ha+e high !ega!d fo! them el+e and thei! !acial g!o#" b#t the'

a!e alte!ing thei! Black "h' icalit'& Ho)e+e!( com"le$ "e! onhood a!g#e that it i "o ible that

the kin bleache! emb!ace mode!n blackne )hich +ie) B!o)n kin a a hade of Black

,Thoma ( .. ( .. ( ..02& Some kin bleache! in Af!ica al o !e"o!ted that kin bleaching!eflect mode!nit' ,


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"!i+ilege ( beca# e the' a!g#ed that :hite !aci t in %amaica ha+e hi to!icall' o""!e ed Black

,Cha!le ( ..02& Hi to!ical fo!ce a!e im"o!tant in #nde! tanding the con cio# ne and

moti+ational loci of com"le$ li+e beca# e hi to!' "!o+ide the mac!o t!#ct#!e of the c#lt#!al

"!actice )hich the elf filte! ,B#d)ig( ...5 Ca!ba#gh( Be!!' Na!mika!i-Be!!'( ..12&

Some of the kin bleache! in %amaica engage the domain of dancehall m# ic )hich !e+eal

the contending +al#e o+e! kin colo! in the ociet'& The kin bleache! dance ha""il' to the

E#!ocent!ic ong that "!omote kin bleaching and the Af!o-cent!ic ong that c!itici7e the

"!actice ,Ho"e( ..6( .332& ? ing the conce"t of com"le$ "e! onhood( it can be a!g#ed that the

kin bleache! ha+e integ!ated in thei! li+e the contending +al#e abo#t kin colo! that i

!eflected the dancehall& Thi integ!ation gi+e cohe!ence( "#!"o e and meaning to the li+e of

kin bleache! a the' na+igate the colo!i7ed %amaican land ca"e ,


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,:a!ne!-Le)i ( ../2& The!e i a !ich t!adition of !adical Blackne in %amaica& The ma e and

Black intellect#al #cce f#ll' lobbied fo!


19/27


)hich #""o!t the "!actice of kin bleaching ,Cha!le ( .3.a2& Skin bleaching i an old and

global "!actice )hich al o occ#! among "eo"le )ho did not e$"e!ience la+e!' and E#!o"ean

coloniali m ,%ablon ki( ..12& Thi fact doe not mean that the b!o)n com"le$ion con en # of

ocietal in tit#tion that "!i+ilege light com"le$ion %amaican o+e! thei! da!k com"le$ion

com"at!iot and infl#ence kin bleaching i #n!elated to %amaica* colonial "a t ,Cha!le (

..6a2&

The kin bleaching "henomenon in %amaica i linked to Af!ican ca"ti+it' #nde! B!iti h

coloniali m th!o#gh colo!i m and mi ed#cation !athe! than elf-hate& ;ace and com"le$ion

became ma!ke! of ocial "o)e! and )o!th in the ' tem of ocial cont!ol in the colon'

,Hen!i@#e ( 36035 Patte! on( 36162& The infl#ence of !ace and kin colo! contin#e in

"o tcolonial %amaica ,Smith( 366.2& Com"le$ "e! onhood demand of # that )e look fo! the

e$"lanation of kin bleaching in the colo!i m( )hich "!i+ilege light- kinned %amaican o+e!

da!k- kinned %amaican ( in the mi ed#cation of %amaican abo#t Af!ican hi to!'( c#lt#!e and

achie+ement and the coe!ci+e colo!i7ed in tit#tion in the c#lt#!e that "!o+ide ocial ad+antage

to light com"le$ion %amaican ,Smith( 366.5 :ood on( ..02& A""!oaching the kin bleache!

f!om the "o ition of " 'chological deficit of elf-hate mean that )e a!e t!i+iali7ing thei!

com"le$ li+e b' telling the kin bleache! that the' a!e t#"id and d' f#nctional& The kin

bleache! )ill contin#e to igno!e the a#tho!itie )ho t!' to ed#cate them abo#t the medical(

de!matological and ne#!ological effect a ociated )ith kin bleaching( if the a#tho!itie fail to

#nde! tand that - ,a2 the kin bleache! a!e com"le$ "eo"le )ho ha+e agenc' and m# t be

!e "ected( ,b2 the c#lt#!al no!m and +al#e that infl#ence thei! beha+io! ,Cha!le ( .3.a5 de

So#7a( .. 5 Le)i ( ..42&


20/27


Thi a!ticle ha cont!ib#ted to the kin bleaching lite!at#!e b' "!o+iding com"le$

"e! onhood an alte!nati+e )a' of #nde! tanding ho) ome black %amaican make en e of and

!e "ond to the di c!imination and o""!e ion the' e$"e!ience in colo!i7ed %amaica& Im"o!tantl'(

!athe! than "lacing the blame on the inne!-" 'cholog' of the "eo"le )ho bleach thei! kin( the

a!ticle "oint to the inte!action of the e "eo"le )ith thei! ocial )o!ld& A ma=o! limitation i the

fact that com"le$ "e! onhood )a e$"licated in the a!ticle # ing "#bli hed !e ea!ch e+idence

!athe! than f!om field data ba ed on the o"e!ationali7ation of com"le$ "e! onhood& The

o"e!ationali7ation of com"le$ "e! onhood )ill be done in f#t#!e !e ea!ch&

Concl# ion

Thi a!ticle offe! a c!iti@#e of the "o"#la! elf-hate e$"lanation fo! kin bleaching in

%amaica& Com"le$ "e! onhood i a # ef#l " 'chological con t!#ct to libe!ate the kin bleache!

f!om the mental "atholog' e$"lanation of thei! beha+io!& The elf-hate e$"lanation i a one- i7e

fit all e$"lanation that t!i+iali7e the li+e of the kin bleache! a com"le$ "e! on b' a!g#ing

that the' ha+e a mental di o!de! and igno!e the "o)e!f#l ocietal infl#ence on thei! beha+io!& A

la!ge "a!t of the e$"lanation fo! kin bleaching can be fo#nd in the hi to!' and c#lt#!e of %amaica

that "!omote mi ed#cation and colo!i m among Black %amaican the!eb' infl#encing thei!

beha+io!&


21/27


The location of the !ea on fo! kin bleaching olel' )ithin the "e! onalit' of kin bleache!

ma k not onl' mi ed#cation and colo!i m b#t al o the !acial di c!imination Black e$"e!ience

in %amaica&


22/27


;efe!ence

Al-Saleh( I& Al-Do# h( I& ,36642&


23/27


Cha!le ( C&A&D& , ../b2&Skin bleaching and the decon t!#ction of blackne & 4dea7 ( ( -0

Cha!le ( C&A&D&, ..02&Skin 6leaching. race and %olitical identity in Jamaica & ?n"#bli hedman# c!i"t&

Cha!le ( C&A&D& , ..12&The cro$ning of the bro$ning+ Skin bleaching and the re%resentation of black identity in the context of dancehall music &


24/27


C#!tin( P&D& ,364 2&T$o Jamaicas+ The role of ideas in a tro%ical colony. /3812/39: & :e t"o!tG!een)ood P!e &

Dail' Gleane!&, ..12& 6leaching concern co%s sil er %en & 3


25/27


H#nte!(


26/27


;obotham( D& ,36 2& The de+elo"ment of Black ethnicit' in %amaica in ;& Le)i and P& B!'an,Ed&2Gar ey !is $ork and im%act ,""& /-/ 2& %amaica ?ni+e! it' of the :e t Indie (ISE;&

;obotham( D& , ...2& Blackening the %amaican nation The t!a+ail of a black bo#!geoi ie in aglobali7ed )o!ld& 4dentities ( 4( 3-/4&

;o enbe!g(


27/27


:inde! ( %&( %one III( %&P& Higgin (

skin bleaching and the self-hate polemic

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