Interesting post..... Skin bleaching has become quite a hot topic recently, its not just Somalis that do it....astonishingly the trend is all too common across the world. The Asians, Africans even Japanese do it. I was listening to a programme on the radio this week and they were talking about how the Jamaican government is taking measures against this, trying to educate people against the risks of using those chemicals. It was a really shocking report and they actually made a link between slavery and the use of those chemicals. The same link was also made by a South African.
Apparently, those who bleach their skin believe that they will have a better life with a lighter skin. Turns out, during slavery the 'coloured people'(those of mixed blood) were treated better than the pure Africans. In Jamaica, for example the mixed ones lived closer to the slave master and had a better life than the other slaves. In south Africa the coloured ones lived in a different area and were treated better than the other Africans. So the hierarchy was white, Asian, coloured, black.
The theory is, the black people after centuries of slavery are still suffering from its affects. The pursuit of lighter skin is an act of self loathing, inferiority complex and as a result of racism. Bleaching one's skin is confirming the age old racist belief that white is better than black. Those who bleach their skin probably don't realise the impact their actions are having not least to their health. Those products should be banned. I was shocked to hear some people even use toothpaste to lighten their skin.
Somalis are just like the other Africans and Asians, self loathing and inferiority complex is leading them to inflict injuries on their skin and health. It is truly sad!