“Unfairly” lovely

I often hear Bangladeshis say: "Most Americans are racists." Interestingly, 50 percent of Americans also support the view that racism is a "big problem" in the country (according to a poll published in August 2015). This is hardly surprising since the United States has been at the centre of the race controversy for many years. It is one of the few countries that fought a civil war because of racial injustices. And today, black icons like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack Obama are part of the country's proud legacy. On the other hand, recent incidents where African Americans were unfairly arrested or shot by the police have reignited racial concerns. When Nina Davaluri, the Indian-American dark beauty, was crowned Miss America 2014, she was subjected to abusive racist comments on social media, reinforcing the fact that many Americans have deep-rooted prejudices against people of colour.

All this notwithstanding, I cringe when I hear South Asians talk about American racism. The truth is that Davaluri would probably never have won a pageant in South Asia since she is far darker than the current standards of beauty in the region. We, South Asians, are quick to rise up in arms against the discrimination that non-whites face in the United States. But have we ever acknowledged that we are perhaps equally, if not more, prejudiced against dark-skinned people? Our society perpetuates outlandish white standards of beauty and social acceptance that stem from years of colonisation and the rigid caste and class system. As an aside, let me mention that in a book that I am currently reading, The Mughal World, the author Abraham Eraly asserts that fair-skinned Muslim invaders were more easily accepted as masters in India because "a bias for fair complexion was part of the Indian psyche." The book quotes 17th century French traveller Bernier's observation: "the children of the third and fourth generation, who have brown complexion, are held in much less respect than the newcomers." Even today, many prospective grooms look for fair brides and employers give a slight preference to fair-skinned candidates since they are more likely to be accepted in leadership roles. The idea that fair is superior is so deeply ingrained in our culture that many of us don't even recognise it as a form of discrimination.

Fair skin is more than just an obsession in South Asia. The first comments that are uttered by relatives when they see a newborn are about her skin colour! As young girls, my sister and I (we are both not "fair") were often subjected to negative comments from social aunties who would wonder out aloud:  "Both parents are fair – what a pity the daughters are not…!" Needless to say, my self-image suffered quite a lot as a result of these remarks. Although with age I have realised that there is more to life than just skin colour, the subterranean psychological scars still surface occasionally.

So entrenched is our preference for fair skin that the cosmetic industry thrives on the promises of lightening a woman's skin colour in 10, 20 or 30 days. In 1978, the whitening cream Fair & Lovely was launched followed by a series of similar products. Many dark-skinned women resort to these beauty aids -- some even opt for a complete "whitening" makeover often suffering serious skin problems due to the chemicals used in the products. While the beauty industry cannot be blamed for our society's antipathy toward dark skin, the blatant marketing of whitening creams has made it more difficult to overcome the prejudice. Even an icon like Shahrukh Khan advertises for the "Fair & Handsome" cream. The ad features the star striding through screaming fans, pausing to give a dark-skinned young male fan a pack of the bleaching product. Women then start rushing up to the star and kissing him. He winks at the fan. The idea is clear: "Bleach your skin, and women will throw themselves at you." The "Fair & Lovely" ads for women also display a flagrant disregard for women's sensitivities since they clearly state that fairer skin will increase a woman's chances of making a suitable match!

In a society that attaches such a high premium on fair complexion, it is difficult to reassure young people that in the long run attributes like hard work and good interpersonal skills are far more important than one's skin colour. Indian actress Nandita Das has joined a "Dark is Beautiful" campaign where she is giving the younger generation a powerful message: being comfortable in your skin gives you a better sense of worth than trying to be something you are not. It may take decades, even centuries, for our society to overcome the prejudice against dark skin. But one needs to start at some point. And a starting point may be to accept and reflect on our own biases rather than point fingers at the west.

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The writer is a renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and a former employee of the World Bank.