Why Are Black Celebrities Whitening Their Skin?

“What’s the difference between getting your nose done and changing your skin color?” said Banks during a bike ride. “What’s the difference between getting a hair weave and changing your skin color? Nobody was upset when I was wearing 30-inch weaves and tearing out my edges.”

Since posting the video on July 1, her statement has received more than 900,000 views , with many bashing her out for contradicting her previous comments on black culture.

While many people are bashing Banks for being honest. Rumors have been circling around the music and film industry that Banks is not alone. In fact, just last year rumors surfaced that Beyonce and Rihanna were whitening their skin because they were ashamed of their natural color.

Singer Mica Paris described Beyonce’s new appearance (emphasis my own), “Closer inspection confirmed the reason — not only was her skin paler than ever, but her features seemed more refined. Whether down to clever contoured make-up or a skillful surgeon’s knife, the bridge of her nose seemed slimmer, giving her face a more pointed appearance. And the overall result? Let’s not beat around the bush here: what with the tumbling blonde hair and all, the world’s highest-paid black music star of all time looked more, well, Caucasian.”

Paris also went on to accuse Rihanna of doing the same thing, “It’s the reason, in my view, that other stars, including the Hispanic Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez, appear to have reached for the skin-lightening cream,” Mica wrote. “I have no doubt that the widely held belief that to be darker makes you in some way inferior is to blame for this trend — something that undoubtedly harks way back to the days of colonialism and slavery, where the children born of affairs with masters were granted better jobs on account of their paler skin.”

Here are a number of black celebrities alleged to have bleached their skin: Diana Ross, Halle Berry, Iman, Lark Voorhies, Beyonce, Latoya Jackson, Lil Kim, Michael Jackson, Nomasonto ‘Mshoza’ Mnisi, Nicki Minaj, Rapper Trina, Sammy Sosa, Tamar Braxton, Tempestt Bledsoe, Trina McGee, Vybz Kartel, and Yvonne Nelson among others.

How do they do it?

Some sources indicate that they use chemical peels, surgery or lasers to whiten their skin. In fact, some strong creams such as Benaquin are used as well as drugs that can inhibit production of melanin. This will however require you to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that will protect your skin for dangerous UV and UVB radiations a role carried out by the melanin.

Skin-lightening has become a massive industry. According to a report by Global Industry Analysts in 2012, it was set to be worth $10 billion worldwide by this 2016.

Related:

• Quentin Tarantino Tells Black Critics: My Skin Color Doesn’t Matter

• #BlackPantherSoLIT: Black Panther Casting Announcement Goes VIRAL

• MAC’s Instagram Photo of a Black Model Sparks Racism Controversy

What do you think? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.