Whitewash (n). – A solution of lime and water or of whiting, size and water, used for painting walls white. In 2016, this is apparently used for not painting walls white, but celebrities of color as well. We’re used to seeing celebrities whitened on the cover of magazines because it is “aesthetically pleasing.”
We see this every day on the cover of magazines, in movies and on television. We are taught to love the way we look and embrace our differences. But, here’s the catch, you can only do so if you are white, or white passing. Even the biggest celebrities of color are subject to white washing. Recently pictures and tweets of Rihanna, who is woman of color from Barbados, were circulating with the caption, “Rihanna would look so much more beautiful if she was white.” In the photos, Rihanna was depicted with very pale skin, blue eyes, some still had black hair but others experimented with very light browns, blonde, and fiery reds.
Now, I whole-heartedly believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, that including how you think someone would look nice if they had this hair color, wore this outfit, etc. But completely white-washing a black woman is, yes, I’m going to say it, racist. Black women in the media, or any woman of color, have had to go through drastic matters for their art for years.
Saying a black woman would look more beautiful if they were white is not only erasing their entire race (and possibly their heritage) but also saying to us that, “Hey, you’re pretty despite being black, but you would look so much better if you were white.” Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. Rihanna is beautiful because she is black, not despite being it. Statements like these are the reason why it is hard for people of color to feel comfortable in their skin. If someone truly believes that one of the most beautiful black people that I’ve ever seen would be even more so beautiful if they had a lighter complexion is basically telling other women of color that you cannot be the same kind of beautiful as someone who is white.
Why is this harmful, you ask? Because despite the way things have been for our lifetime, people of color would like to be able to be held to the same standards as beauty as white people have. Blacks and any people of color for that matter, though not blatantly said, have been thought of to be less attractive. Think about it, how many people of color have had their skin lightened on covers of magazines? How many of times have you heard (including on social media) someone say that whoever would look better white, or with more predominantly white features?
Whitewashing isn’t just rude to the celebrity whose photo was taken; it’s hurtful to a whole community of people. It's one reason why little girls and boys grow up feeling like they aren’t as attractive as their white friends, and the reason why a lot of people of color who have darker skin feel they are not represented well in the media. Wouldn’t you feel less attractive if people told you that you would look better as a different race?
