by Elias A. Yabarow
Friday, January 01, 2010

So what’s the difference between light skin and dark skin Somalis? Nothing. It saddens to me see that as Somalis, we’re gradually adapting a very Westernized culture when it comes to the perception of beauty. Maybe it’s a question of location, and some of us try to imitate the inhabitants of the land in which we live in. Maybe if we all lived in Ghana, roasting our skin would be the cool thing to do. I think it’s ridiculous to see our people ignorantly perceive each other simply based on an individual’s skin tone. Furthermore, I find it absurd to see some of our women judged based on their shade, rather than their charismatic personalities. I truly believe that those who conceal their natural features do not lack beauty in any way, but self-esteem. Its 2009, and if your bleaching your skin ladies and gentlemen, c’mon son!

Somali girls

But in all sincerity, I know that the overwhelming majority in our community acknowledge the existence of this disease, although we may not own up to it. Of course I know a few people that don’t see shade of a person, but the reality is that many of us do, especially when it comes down to the opposite sex. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve heard “she’s beautiful, but she’s dark skinned. Or, “Warya, she was 5’5, light skinned, with a nice smile…did I tell you she was light skinned?” And surprisingly, I’ve heard this from people whom I’d thought would never say. They say light travels faster than sound. I guess that’s why some people seem bright until you hear them speak.

Just by addressing this, I feel that we as a people we are losing the values and beliefs of our culture, as the days go by. It’s obvious that mainstream media has a huge effect on our perception of “beautiful”, but to see this reiterated in our community, especially is the youth, is disappointing. Its even more disappointing seeing others mistreated or wrongfully critiqued based on their skin tone. Those people who think skin tone matters seriously need to wake up. If skin tone mattered, why isn’t President Shiekh Sharif light skinned? No, if skin tone mattered, why do we have an African American President? I hope this address clarified just a bit of the ignorance that exists in our community. Beauty is a lot more than just shade, and if you can’t see that, you’re a lot more than just colorblind.

Elias A. Yabarow
eyabarow@gmail.com

fiqicigaal @ 1/3/2010 11:32 AM EST  Stick Thanks for the info. As for me and Hawd, we have our differences and that is normal. Other wise, life will be boring and monotonous. And as long as we all agree to disagree, it will be fun.

sahra somali @ 1/2/2010 10:38 PM EST  stick, aboowe waad mahadsan tahay, adiga gacaliye iyo fiqi sida aad waxa somaliya dhiba u neceb tihiin iyo dhowr qof oo kale like nomadic and moreayaan jeclahay no matter the way one look.lets keep that way.and the beauty is inside the person.very proud to be somali.

Stickorcarrot @ 1/2/2010 6:54 PM EST   Gabdhahan haddii aad google taktid, ka bacdina image oo aad "Somali girls" ku qorto, sawiradda ugu horeeya waaye ee Soo baxa. Laakiin sawirka suu ku yimid faah faahin ma leh http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=Somali+girls&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g2g-m3 http://mathildasanthropologyblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/somali-girls.jpg

Stickorcarrot @ 1/2/2010 6:42 PM EST   War waxay dhaheen "music is universal language" I reject they should have said "Love" is. Mal meeshaa inta rag isugu timid ee aan mar qur ah eray xun is oran ka warama? Yaa is lahaa Fiqi iyo Hawd baa malxiis isu noqonaya oo "hint" isa siinaya LOOOOOOOOL It is refreshing to see once not at each other...congrat guys. As for Sahra; she did pas the test. Look the quality she used when she gave Fiqi the affirmative response. Not YOU ARE HOT..."smart and bright" is the words she used. That should be the way, thanks Sahro. But for Gacalka, I think you find him good because perhaps you are politically on the same side LOL... Bob Well said. Waa gabar jinni leh bay Soomaalidu oran lahayd #2 on the left. Sheikha That gal has mischievous look. Ma taas baa sababtu? Wadajir Waa mahadsantahay saaxiib. Are you from Wadajir AKA Medina? Or you took this name meaning Solidarity? If you are from Wadajir, perhaps we are from the same background and share local values. Thanks again for your kindness. @ thirteen 1984 National Geographic photographer McCurry took this gal's picture (Sharbat Gula). in 2002, he went back and found her married with kids. She let him took one picture. Here is the two pictures side by side http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Photography/Images/POD/a/afghan-girl-before-after-127438-sw.jpg This is one of the most famous pictures for NG.

xiis @ 1/2/2010 5:57 PM EST  having light skin keli ahi ma aha qurux, lakin waxy dhamaystirtaa quruxda inteeda kale,quruxda teeda ugu wacanina waa shakhsiyada qofka ee wanaagsan. Aniga Gabadha labaad ee midigta ayaa iigula quruxbadan.