It don't matter if you're black or white...

" I AM NOT MY HAIR" ...."It DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE BLACK OR WHITE" these are the words to two songs that have been replaying in my head since last week's The Trend Show with Larry Madowo.Social media was a buzz with Vera's interview and her confident proclamation of her body being her business ( makes you think what she really meant by 'business') In all honesty, am no fan of hers, but the interview and all the comments made online about it, gave me a lot to reflect on which led to an interesting conversation with Rodney Onyango.His take on the matter gave me new perspective and i admit, it kept me from being too judgemental.For more of his ideas, check out his link The Spectator





Someone must really hate being black.50million! I could think of 50 million ways to spend that cash other than changing the colour of my skin.Anyway, who am i to judge when it's clear that we have different priorities, needs, wants and skin preferences.

It's not illegal, right? A bit twisted but not illegal.

But given the chance wouldn't you do the same? I mean, here you are at the pinnacle of your youth and this rich tycoon “boyfriend” of yours throws money at you like its growing from a tree, surely what else is there left to do with money but go for “skin lightening” AKA bleaching(at the end of the day that’s what it really is). Nothing wrong with wanting to shine bright and have your skin just a little be lighter.

I get it..all ladies want to look good,stay young and attractive.But when all that cash is  thrown around all for the sake of shining 'bright'  ,it makes you think twice.

Twice , three times and yet we both know the center of this society will not hold. We have veered off and I don't think our tendency is towards old tradition, our morals have become corrupted with foreign concepts that are slowly eroding what we once stood for so what does it matter if we lighten our skin ? Isn't lighter better by today's standards?

By standards you must be referring to the egoistic selfishness that's creeping into society. It's inevitable for society to play a role in shaping our lives , but in the end it all comes down to a personal decision ,and it's the ulterior motive behind this personal decision  that should make one think 50 million times about their decision.Being the fairest of them all takes more than changing the colour of your skin.

We are not simply a result of society’s manipulations, have we no sense of direction? At his core it is known that man is selfish in his ways, geared towards self preservation if nothing else so why should he pretend ? Give me 1 , 10 , 50 million reasons to believe that we are any different and just maybe my perception will change.

If self-preservation means being uncomfortable in your own skin, then we are slowly bringing the human race to extinction! If we can change ourselves with plastic and chemicals, what will be left of our species??

But isn’t the whole notion of being uncomfortable in our skin what drives humanity to be better, if we were simply content with the idea of what we have would that really suit our endless capacity to grow? Our natural imprint in my opinion dictates the need for change, for growth, for ambition. For this we need to be rattled enough to want more out of life, even if it is to simply change the colour  of our skin.

I can't argue with the need for change, but change should come with the absolute knowledge and appreciation of oneself first .Which is then  followed by true growth.Sure, put on that weave,add those eyelashes, tuck in that tummy and strut that toned/tanned/bleached skin, but at the end of the day it  should make you appreciate WHO  you are without all the 'enhancements'.