It is interestinng that brownskin has utterly failed to remark that virtually every woman on this 'proud-to-be-black' list has either chemically straightened her hair OR is wearing a weave (or both!). Why is skin lightening theself-hatred quantifier whereas hair texture alretation is acceptable? Are all those white women who curl up their hair expressing self-hatred? What of tanners? Do white women who lighten their brown hair to blonde harbour a hatred of brunettes?
Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, Iman & Queen Latifah are ALL examples of black women whose complexions have gotten mysteriously lighter over the past 2 decades. Hmmmm....is it due to depletion of the ozone layer or...possibly...skin lightening. Queen Latifah wears a long blonde hair-weave as does Iman (sometimes).
There definitely ARE many beautiful people with varying skin tones from Nicole Kidman to Denzel Washington & all tones in between. Nobody here has ever stated that ALL dark people should lighten their skin OR that they would ALL look better with lighter skin. Those of us who DO want to lighten our skin (& ARE doing so) should be treated with the same respect as tanners, hair curlers or straighteners, tinted contact wearers & extensions-wig & weave wearers. The last 2 categories are by no means exclusive to black people. Many white women (P.Hilton)who have brown eyes use blue or green lenses. Oprah wore hazel contacts (& straightened hair) for over a decade. Then, her eyes went back to dark brown, her hair obtained a weave & her skin turned almost yellow! These statements are not meant to be judgmental, but to be supportive of people's right to alter their appearance as they desire w/o all the judgment, sociology & moralism in the world to descend upon them.
The 'regulars' here at skin lightening do not strike me as pathetic desperate self-haters lacking in good sense or intelligence. There hasn't even been a whiff of racism here either as we are comprised of everything from whites with sun damage, melasma, freckles they'd rather not have, age spots or unevenness to very dark people whose complexions may not flatter their features. There are Asians, Middle Eastern people & South Asians too. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Atheists & Pagans share knowledge, encouragement & mutual support. How many forums unite such a diverse crowd as we do here every day? EVERYONE is welcome & there is no 'ideal' skin tone for all.
Odd how the critics who chide us seldom return to read & respond to our comments. They show up, post some condescending lecture (that always reveals the fact that they didn't do a lot of reading before posting) & then VANISH! We argue our point with polite but unassailable LOGIC & that is hard to refute!