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ABSTRACT
Colorism, a form of discrimination prevalent in many African American and African communities, and whereby lighter skin tones are preferred while darker ones are considered less desirable, has affected African Americans as well as Africans in many ways. Through the influence of slavery and colonialism many Blacks, especially women, have come to believe that they are "ugly" and therefore can be "beautiful" only when they have lighter skin. Drawing on Frantz Fanon's theory of racial alienation as expressed in Black Skins, White Masks, this paper explores the phenomenon of racial self-loathing in the black community as it is portrayed in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and looks at ways by which Fanon's "true disalienation" can be achieved so that this attitude of racial self-loathing which leads black women in the United States and in Africa to bleach their skin will be minimized. Ways must be found to decolonize the mind and foster self-esteem among Africans and African Americans who experience the tyranny of European standard of beauty.
Key words: African Diaspora, Racial Alienation, Disalienation, Racial Self-loathing, Eurocentric Standard of Beauty, Slavery, Colonialism.
INTRODUCTION
The famous South African musician Nomasonto Mnisi said in an interview, "I've been black and dark-skinned for many years, I wanted to see the other side. I wanted to see what it would be like to be white and I'm happy. [...] Yes, part of it is a self-esteem issue and I have addressed that and I am happy now. I'm not white inside, I'm not really fluent in English, I have black kids. I'm a township girl, I've just changed the way I look on the outside."
Nomasonto Mnisi's attitude is not unique, however. I was surprised and shocked when I read a report of the World Health Organization on the number of women who bleach their skin in Africa. According to this report, 77% of Nigerian women, 59% of Togolese women, 35% of South African women, 27% of Senegalese women, and 25% of Malian women use skin lightening products on a regular basis" (UNEP, 2008).
I was surprised and shocked because for me, while one could understand the historical reasons that might lead women to bleach their skin in countries where Blacks are the minority, Africa -...