Colorism Crisis: 21% of Black Women Using Skin Lightening Creams! Shocking New Study Revealed

Is the Black community becoming color-obsessed? A startling new study finds that 21% of women, predominantly Black, are using skin-lightening creams. Join Dr. Hope Mitchell and Dr. Yaba Blay as they sit down with Marc Lamont Hill on theGrio to discuss this alarming trend and its implications. Why are so many Black women lightening their melanin, and what does this say about our society's beauty standards? Don't miss this revealing and crucial conversation.
This segment was originally broadcast on July 18, 2023.
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#ColorismCrisis #SkinLightening #BlackBeauty #MelaninMatters #theGrio #MarcLamontHill #DrHopeMitchell #DrYabaBlay #BeautyStandards #ColorObsessed #RacialIdentity #BlackCommunity #CulturalTrends #nightschool #officehours #mlh #marclamonthill

[@aprilswill9204]

Why are we acting like we don’t know why this is happening?

[@Sigma_stoic-uj9ts]

@@aprilswill9204 I don't know why, enlighten me plz

[@ABpluseAB]

Uhm because black people want to do it?

[@khaliraigh6199]

We have begun to recognize the need for representation but have failed to add affirmation and self-love to the equation.

[@D1Snr]

My mother was a colorist. Unfortunately it all stems from self hate and low self esteem. Im not sure why people judge themselves against European beauty standards

[@AminaPhilosophy]

“I’m not sure why people judge themselves against european beauty standards” Pay attention to media (movies, tv shows, Art, music, music videos, stories taught in schools at all levels, biblical references to darkness vs lightness). The latin based languages are ALL laced with negative connotations when it comes to Blk people, Blk skin and “darkness”. Blk people have been forced to speak the language and therefor the minds of europeans. Europeans worship their OWN image and h@te Blk people, therefor their culture which includes language is highly influenced/shaped by their negative regard for Blk people. Blk people have had a sort of brain transplant and now view themselves through the lens of a whyte persons. Blk women were largely immune to the self hatred until Blk men chose to weaponize whitesupremacy as a way to oppress Blk women and control our behavior. Blk men would compare BW to WW and tell BW to look and act like WW. They still do this type of triangulation today. When blk males get resources, instead of keeping the wealth among Blk people, they run away to disassociate from Blk people.

[@sytoniareid1676]

We refuse to talk about colorism properly and ground ourselves in its actual definition. It’s not reversible and it doesn’t go both ways. That’s part of the problem.

[@Baraka-z9f]

Exactly most of the time when this topic is brought up, it's usually to shame black men for some odd reasons. Never we talk about how black women are involved in it or how as collective we can consciously or unconsciously participate in it.

[@amandlax1604]

"Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet?" Malcolm X

[@CocoReem1]

I loveeee my melanin and I loves being black

[@loveusyendi.7621]

We need to stop dismissing mental health and trauma in our community. People suffer psychologically and do crazy things. Let's help each other❤

[@reliableandrew]

@@loveusyendi.7621 🌿🌹

[@Spanish-Armada]

According to word on the street, BM are the main perpetrators pushing colorism on their women.

[@nmhoskins]

Let's stop blaming white supremacy! Today, it is BLACK MEN who are the white supremacists in the black community. Black.men constantly say that they prefer light skinned or white women.over dark skinned women. Light skinned black women are more likely to be married than dark skinned black women. And this is a RESEARCH FACT!! The black community as a whole is colorist!! Light skinned women are treated better in this community than dark skinned women.

[@stefanossmitty3318]

I thought a few years ago with Miss Universe from South Africa and Miss Jamaica with her natural afro, both dark skinned women, would usher in a new sense of pride, but sadly, I was I was mistaken. The weaves, wigs, skin lightening, fake lashes, and BBLs seem to have increased in recent years, instead of decreased.

[@ignaciofuentes2642]

Plastic surgery is being pushed by the media. Look at the videos from the 80s and 90s. You don't see any plastic surgery on Black women. Fast forward to now...rappers get full body make overs before their first video even drops.

[@Lori-db8vl]

This is primarily among African and Caribbean immigrants - not so much Black Americans. I can guarantee you that! I've worked with Nigerian women who are deep into this. They've literally come into work like 10 shades lighter and strutted around like peacocks.🤦‍♀️

[@misshiggi8662]

@@Lori-db8vl Exactly! I don't see this as a problem with mainstream Black Americans, maybe celebrities...

[@Ayinde65]

@@misshiggi8662 Black Americans just have children with lighter skin individuals.

[@user-ys7mo8sz4v]

African Americans for the most part have not been bleaching their skin but black people from other countries and cultures are very much into this..I hope and pray that it doesn't start happening here

[@Ayinde65]

@@user-ys7mo8sz4v African Americans have been using Ambi for decades, and it's primarily the media which originates from North America and Europe (For example, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and all of the mixed celebrities which the diaspora is exposed to has created a different standard of beauty) that is consumed by Africans worldwide. Don't forget the hip-hop videos from the 80's and beyond that featured light skinned women. These images were very influential. I have books by a few African photographers such as Seydou Keïta, Malik Sadibe, and Sanlé Sory and the standard of beauty was very much non Western. Even the Nollywood movies from the 90's and early 2000's featured more natural and darker skinned women as leads. However, it's very different today with every woman (and men) either bleaching or wearing false hair.

[@chocolatekisses849]

@@Ayinde65 ,,,,,so do Africans and carribean people. You can't be serious.

[@greenbyrd3665]

This is incredibly sad but unfortunately understandable. Dark skinned black women are routinely turned away from clubs, and they are consistently fed messages subliminal and otherwise that their color is not seen as beautiful or feminine (particularly by other black people).

[@stefanossmitty3318]

Yep! When you see virtually all black athletes with a blonde on their arm and some even have yacht parties explicitly excluding dark skinned women, it’s easy to understand. I remember even Gilbert Arenas making fun of Lupita N’yongo’s complexion a few years ago.

[@myab1471]

Just say it Black Men!!

[@loveusyendi.7621]

It's not understandable at all. This screams insecurity

[@backtalk9343]

@@loveusyendi.7621you gotta use your brain sweetie. This ain’t it

[@backtalk9343]

@@loveusyendi.7621 you watched a video that educated us all sweetie are you clinically slow ❤️

[@YoungBillyKatastrophe]

Black = Melanin Melanin has positive health benefits, particularly in terms of protecting against harmful UV radiation and facilitating normal fetal development. Melanin's role in absorbing UV radiation allows for normal folate synthesis, which is crucial for DNA repair, replication, and genomic integrity. Additionally, melanin production involves processes such as DNA synthesis and repair, cellular metabolism, and gene expression regulation, all of which are influenced by folate levels. Thus, melanin's ability to regulate these processes contributes to overall health and potentially protects against conditions like cancer by promoting proper DNA repair and gene expression. Melanin itself can also act as an antioxidant, scavenging these free radicals to prevent them from causing harm. So, in addition to its role in absorbing and dissipating UV radiation, melanin can indeed contribute to the protection of cells by scavenging free radicals The protective qualities of melanin rely upon its ability to absorb harmful UV-radiation and transform the solar energy into harmless heat through a process called "ultrafast internal conversion". By this method, melanin can dissipate more than 99.9% of the absorbed UV radiation as heat.

[@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND]

Wrong! Brown equals melanin

[@teddydavis2339]

I find that black folks are more concerned with skin color than Europeans. As a black person, I've had more comments make about my African features than any other race. Many African Americans hate anything black or related to Africa. I'm glad that someone is talking about this.

[@peterporkeresq.2817]

Because they won't say it to your face doesn't mean they don't think about it or subconsciously take it into the way they view or relate to you. Of course, only Black people would be comfortable enough to say it to your face, that doesn't mean they are the ones who think about it the most.

[@bria1660]

Yes, colorism is an issue among Blacks but Asians are also obsessed with skin color and are big consumers of skin lightening products.

[@kirascullark5224]

Lies

[@tf5655]

And Africans.

[@Charlie2timez]

Oh no, they’re concerned too, they just deny your job application or your bank loan 😂 so you care more about black ppl making jokes or getting a dream job, teddy? It’s all an issue, leave it to an African to focus on black ppl.

[@ignaciofuentes2642]

Bro...see this is why we have to disaggregate, the term Black. Black Americans don't bleach. Other people of African descent do. How exactly did they define "Black Women" in the study?

[@PhillyGirlLivefromthe215]

I was looking for something regarding, who was polled or surveyed. I don’t know any American Black women, who have ever bleached 🤔

[@azuz1698]

Oh African American women absolutely do, from celebrities to regular people. What do you think those obsessed with lightening their “hyperpigmentation” means? What do you think hydroquinone is being used for? This is a global issue of course and other Africans as well as Asians also bleach themselves.

[@user-dv3kq3rm4h]

Really? What are Kelly Rowland, Meagan Good and deelishis? Even Beyonce is MUCH lighter than she used to be, ain't nobody gonna tell me she's naturally Shakira's complexion, even with her Creole mama. Both and many more Black American women are bleaching in this BBL fake Barbie era- not to the extent of Africans but still, it's being done.

[@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND]

​@@PhillyGirlLivefromthe215only dark spots

[@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND]

Alkebulan people aren't our people...

[@2013lovemy]

I don’t believe this. Not in the US. I wanna know where this survey was done. Also, did they count the cream that’s just used for spot correction/skintone evening. Wouldn’t be surprised.

[@Starting_anew]

Yeah I’m also skeptical of this study.

[@Hello-iz9hl]

Lol me too cause when I go around town lol I don’t see this have to be a minute amount

[@jasminscarbrough2596]

I bet you the vast majority of that 21% Africans from the continent

[@Starting_anew]

Hundreds of women? That’s a small sample. I don’t accept this statistic. It sounds slanderous.

[@Hello-iz9hl]

@@Starting_anew right lol that’s not a lot if you look around or go around it’s definitely not the majority

[@zeeluttybara5127]

Brilliant interview, wish it was longer.

[@blessed3779]

That 21% is BW from Africa and the Caribbean, BA women do not play that colorism stuff and not using no skin-lightning, which is a billion dollar business world wide because Asian and India countries are using it too SMH

[@Oatestree]

I have never changed my skin color but it’s very much real

[@martinl7612]

And that just the folks who admit to use it...

[@rogueish28]

For me the lightskin/darkskin thing started with slavery, it started with the yt man... The gag is however that it is something that has been passed down through generations within the black community, making it a generational trauma that needs to be healed... Skin is beautiful in every shade...

[@83hanzy1]

Our sisters out here like Sammy Sosa

[@geminate3997]

In America?

[@beatsbydizzy8932]

Self-hate is real, I love all of my blackness, why would I want to look like the most Evil people of this planet.

[@user-dv3kq3rm4h]

I'm confused, the lady in the yellow dress literally looks like she bleaches herself? Her skin has that rough texture with dark patches. Also, if she as a BW who is mature has botox in her lips, which she clearly does, then she would also beach her skin for vanity. This is disingenuous, wrong panellist.

[@annfrierson6325]

Can you discuss the pros and cons of of project 25 …what will the policies will mean to education, pensions, environment, etc… that can put a warning label on skin lightners

[@HUeducator2011]

There are no pros to project 2025. I will say they have been planning this as early as the 2000 election and the latest since 2008

[@tonynembhard5167]

I remember being an undergrad and seeing Dr Yaba all the time on the 8th floor of Gladfelter Hall, she had to be working on her masters. Little did I know that Mark Lamont was there as an undergrad too. I wonder if we ever crossed paths at the SAC. 20 something years later they collab. Temple U!!

[@julian65886]

Let's not forget Joy Reid from MSNBC which is a perennial blonde.

[@beyourself2444]

I've seen her with darker hair... Maybe you mean Mary J Blige

[@julian65886]

@@beyourself2444: Joy Reid has blonde hair most of the time.

[@SweetChinMusix]

Low self esteem is the biggest problem in women these days stop comparing yourself others

[@Clearskysofnight]

That is a simple statement to a very complex issue. When you are a young girl and you see only fair skin girls are called pretty, they get the opportunities , when you see fair skin are always selected . No amount of self esteem can form a barrier of the pain they have to endure

[@SweetChinMusix]

@@Clearskysofnight yeah that’s exactly you need to realize that you’re beautiful the way you are if you change something in your face or body that will never look good, this thinking creates low self esteem and is the main cause of this problem, stop comparing yourself with others always look those who are less beautiful than you

[@ManMan31994]

@@Clearskysofnight Get the "opportunities" for what? To be video vixens and IG models? Shouldn't these women have better role models than this?

[@loveusyendi.7621]

​@@ClearskysofnightYes it is very simple. Look in the mirror and smile at yourself and start loving yourself. Once you step out of that door radiating confidence, nothing can touch you. Simple psychology

[@AminaPhilosophy]

@@loveusyendi.7621If it’s simple psychology, why are trillions of dollars invested into the beauty industry which has traditionally excluded Blk people? Commercials about skin care and hair care feature white pple. If you pay attention, you will notice that there is an entire system in place to consciously and subconsciously break the spirit and pride of Blk people. There is nothing simple about psychological warfare. You should really educate yourself on this topic.

[@jaiyabyrd4177]

Is this discussion about FBA Women or African Women in America❓ Cause I don't believe this

[@moeketsitsie1017]

Kindly tell us why you don't believe.

[@D1Snr]

You're in denial.

[@beyourself2444]

But Sammy Sosa looked like a fool and a clown after bleaching...

[@Swarthy144k]

I like how he has the different colours in the thumbnail of the video 😂

[@HUeducator2011]

I wish yall discussed the sociological impacts of having dark skins. 1. Education outcomes 2. Medical treatment/health outcomes 3. Judicial system outcomes 4. Marriage outcomes It goes beyond “beauty” there are real ass quality of life differences for dark skin African Americans

[@LadyOO]

@@HUeducator2011 beauty has every bit to do with all of those things.

[@rashaadgreene]

Hell! We just want to be seen in the dark!

[@ladama3201]

Marc seems so uninterested and insincere 😂

[@annfrierson6325]

Stop plucking…this can lead to hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone/color!

[@BLUEYGILA]

i think its like that with everyone, white people want a sun tan, my wife is indonesian and she always doing the white cream, i give up telling her its silly, haha

[@miaa7097]

Bring back natural hair

[@NylondaJazzSharnese]

Present and accounted for as indicated by my like 🖤

[@thesunflower-samurai4705]

Never talks about real tangible issues .......😂❤😂

[@riiraa881]

What issues are 'tangible'? I think you might need to look up the word.

[@AminaPhilosophy]

@@riiraa881Who’s going to tell him? 😂😂😂 If they lack the foresight to realize how this issue directly affects them, who are we to try and help them see? 😂😂😂 Maybe this will become tangible once they are passed up for job opportunities and romantic partnerships due to them being “too dark”.

[@thesunflower-samurai4705]

@@riiraa881 no .... rethink politics . Look that up 🧡

[@agendaxpushers1322]

Colorism dont matter. If elitists with College Degrees can dismiss the loss of jobs, "Black Jobs", In our community to defend migrants why should anyone give a damn about BW issues???

[@astroprotector]

it ain't just elitists, it's common joe shmoe blacks who are against the notion of "black jobs" just to be on the anti-trump bandwagon, literally biting their nose to spite their face! smdh

[@loveusyendi.7621]

Colorism only matters to those it affects personally. Keep your head high with confidence and doors open for you, regardless of your skin tone