Vybz Kartel hates himself and he wants others in the black community to do the same. The dancehall star made headlines last year when his complexion became lighter all of a sudden. After the noticeable change, Kartel revealed that he used special creams to bleach his skin.
Currently awaiting trial on murder charges, Kartel is now producing a line of skin care cosmetics called Vybz Body Brightener that will include skin lightening creams.
Kartel once spoke with Vibe.com about his decision to bleach his skin.
“When black women stop straightening their hair and wearing wigs and weaves, when white women stop getting lip and butt injections and implants, when bald men stop getting hair transplants, and when people stop getting nose jobs and cosmetic surgery then I’ll stop using the ‘cakesoap’ and we’ll all live naturally ever after. Until then F-– you all,” he said.
But Kartel’s choice to bleach his skin stems from a deeply rooted form of self-hatred that has permeated the black community for hundreds of years. Because blacks have been under white hegemony for so long, many blacks have idolized Caucasian images, while detesting black images.
Furthermore, white slave owners often created discord between dark and fair skinned slaves to minimize the chances of a slave revolt. As a result, that form of thinking was passed along through generations of black culture. Many dark-skinned kids are picked on by their peers at school, and some black fraternities and sororities have a history of segregating themselves based on skin complexion. The media has also historically centered on fair-skinned blacks in ad campaigns and in Hollywood.
The only way to stop this detrimental trend is to educate our kids and the misinformed on the beauty and power of being all shades of black. –amir shaw
