Are male celebrities of color facing an identity crisis?
Credit: Christer Rønning Austad | ©www.sxc.hu
The buzz is aflutter over recent photos of baseball star Sammy Sosa with extremely pale skin. The former right fielder claims that the way he now looks is a result of a skin bleaching cream used to keep his skin soft and smooth. But fans and spectators alike are skeptical of Sosa's odd appearance, wondering whether the new look is due to ordinary skin care practices—or a suffering self-image. This wouldn't be the first time a celebrity has come under examination for such an issue. But this recent development has highlighted a seldom talked about trend within African American culture (though Sosa is from the Dominican Republic.)
Black Men: The Skin They're In
Michael Jackson, perhaps the most famous black entertainer of all time underwent incessant public scrutiny for his ever-changing appearance. While many of the true reasons for his surgeries and cosmetic treatments have been somewhat legitimized, the world ultimately seemed to accept Michael and his eccentricities.
Perhaps eyebrows have been raised because Sammy Sosa's new physical façade is rather unexpected. Another theory about his surprising change is rooted in the fact that black men in the media aren't typically pressured to alter their outer appearance to fit any particular standards.
Hollywood's Ladies of Color
Plenty of industry sources have been accused of "colorizing" African American women in the media. Just recently, urban gossip site Mediatakeout.com accused Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey of this practice in new hit film, Precious. The claim is that while the darker-skinned characters are extremely problematic, the heroes are all bi-racial actors (Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, and Lenny Kravitz.) Whether this is coincidental is up for debate. But Mediatakeout's implication is made loud and clear.
Black Men: The Skin They're In
Michael Jackson, perhaps the most famous black entertainer of all time underwent incessant public scrutiny for his ever-changing appearance. While many of the true reasons for his surgeries and cosmetic treatments have been somewhat legitimized, the world ultimately seemed to accept Michael and his eccentricities.
Perhaps eyebrows have been raised because Sammy Sosa's new physical façade is rather unexpected. Another theory about his surprising change is rooted in the fact that black men in the media aren't typically pressured to alter their outer appearance to fit any particular standards.
Hollywood's Ladies of Color
Plenty of industry sources have been accused of "colorizing" African American women in the media. Just recently, urban gossip site Mediatakeout.com accused Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey of this practice in new hit film, Precious. The claim is that while the darker-skinned characters are extremely problematic, the heroes are all bi-racial actors (Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, and Lenny Kravitz.) Whether this is coincidental is up for debate. But Mediatakeout's implication is made loud and clear.
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