Previously, I used to hear ‘black is gold’, perhaps, that saying isn’t true today in South Sudan or maybe it still holds the same meaning to a few people. However, judging by the level of skin bleaching in this country one can easily conclude the phrase black is gold is an archaic word.
In South Sudan, bleaching is a fashion, lifestyle, or beauty. That’s why there’s a rise in the number of women and girls bleaching and in countries such as Nigeria, Congo, Ghana, and Tanzania men bleach their skins.
This is done in the name of beauty, because to them, black is ugly or it is synonymous with ugly.
It is human to aspire to be presentable and look good, beautiful, handsome, pretty, or fabulous, however, it’s equally ignorant and naïve to inflict self-pain, sickness, and diseases in beauty’s name.
What kind of beauty is found in bleaching one’s skin? And what if your skin reacts to bleaching chemicals will it be wrong if people conclude that you bought sickness and disaster to yourself?
I believe the book of life teaches about self-love, so, can one exercise self-love via an induced beauty?
Why correct God? He created you and me in his image. Why are you removing your color; don’t you know you’re beautiful and unique as you are? Don’t you know that all man-made chemicals have adverse and life-threatening effects?
My bible teaches me that you and I are fearfully and wonderfully made. That God took time to form and design us. More so, He took God 9 months, 40 weeks, or 280 days.
God made sure you’re different, unique, and your skin type is unique, your height is perfect, your weight is reasonable, and your look is pleasing. Why corrects the creator?
So, why change your skin type? By the way, why do you think the other race is better? And what makes you think that all men have the same taste and preferences?
And if you’re a guy, what makes you think that ladies have the same taste and preferences for brown guys?
Who said men’s heads spin only for brown or white ladies?
A tea girl…
It’s a culture here in Juba to find men of all walks of life visiting tea joints. Those are social places where men kill time and talk politics. It is at such joints that men laid traps for their prey.
Anyway, the other day I was at one, and there we were served tea by a well-mannered girl. She looks polished in manners but had a few spotty skin colors; she was a victim of bleaching.
She looks chocolate garnished with a lighter face, a mother of one but with a baby face. Her legs disappoint due to a deformity inflicted by bleaching cream. She had a few spotty blacks and brownish skin.
Anyway, after a few sips here and there from a handless glass cup, I threw a question at her jokingly, “Aisha, I gently called her name, you look beautiful and well-mannered why bleach your natural skin?”
She warmly smiles… followed by a pause …, then came a question, are you new in Juba? She asked
Me: No, I am a South Sudanese, I responded
Her: Of course, you’re. I think you’re a Shilluk, right? I can see some Shilluk’s marks on your face, she commented.
We both ended up laughing.
Her: we bleach for you; South Sudanese men prefer lighter girls. So, we do it for you.
Me: What do you mean by us, lakin?
Her: Ya brother, don’t pretend you know it. She asserted.
She went on and on justifying why South Sudanese girls and women bleach. However, I didn’t want to anger her. So, I changed the discussion.
Thanks, God my friend interrupted us. He ordered ‘jabana’, a dark coffee garnished with Tangawizi.
However, I was left thinking about our discussion with Aisha. I started asking mental, but why should some inflict pain, harm, or even spend money to please a man or a girl? How logical are Mary’s arguments?
Don’t get me wrong here. I am not judging you, you’re free to choose. However, do not it to please another person. You’re unique and special, so love yourself.
