A year ago
"We celebrate our African culture with its vibrant colors, the rhythm of the drums, and the rich traditions passed down from generation to generation. We are proud of who we are and where we come from, and we shout from the rooftops that we will not let our culture be erased or forgotten. Many people wave the banner proudly, demanding that we preserve our traditions and way of life. However, some of these same individuals can be found drunkenly stumbling down the streets of Western excess, clinging to the very things they claim to abhor. They wear African prints as a badge of honor, yet secretly yearn for the fairer skin of their white counterparts.
This is the great paradox of our time. We cry out for the protection of our culture, yet we are quick to embrace the very things that threaten its survival. We revel in the music, art, and stories of our people, yet we also covet the material possessions and superficial trappings of Western society.
Perhaps the greatest irony of all is the insidious practice of skin bleaching. We buy into the notion that our black skin is inferior, that it is something to be ashamed of. We slather on chemicals and creams, hoping to erase the very thing that makes us unique and beautiful. We spend millions of dollars each year on a toxic industry that profits from our self-hatred and insecurities.
But how can we claim to love and protect our African culture when we are so intoxicated by the Western lifestyle? How can we preach about the beauty of our black skin when we purchase chemicals to bleach it and wear off our precious melanin?
Skin bleaching is a dangerous and damaging practice that has been normalized in our society. We have been taught that lighter skin is better, more beautiful, and more desirable. This has created a dangerous cycle of self-hatred and an inferiority complex. We see our beautiful black skin as a curse, something that needs to be erased, something that we need to change to fit into Western beauty standards.
The effects of skin bleaching are not just physical, but also emotional and psychological. It can lead to skin cancer, skin infections, and permanent damage to the skin. However, the damage to our self-esteem and sense of self-worth is even more devastating. We are told that our black skin is not good enough, not beautiful enough, and not worthy enough.
It is time for us to wake up and realize that we cannot claim to love and protect our African culture while actively destroying it. We must embrace our black skin, celebrate its beauty, and reject Western beauty standards that have been imposed upon us.
We call upon all people to take action, stand up against the dangerous practice of skin bleaching, and embrace our African culture and heritage. We must start with ourselves, accepting and loving our black skin, and then spreading that love to others. Let us celebrate our culture, our skin, and our identity with pride and dignity. Let us create a world where black is beautiful and where our African culture is cherished and celebrated
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