ANONYMOUS

I had to call for a family meeting on wife's head for trying those bleaching creams on my five year old child. I just couldn't fathom why a mother would do that to her child. I've known my wife to be very insecure but taking this a top notch was something that really hurt my soul. Her reason still makes me mad till date. She said it was because I was always chasing fair girls, that's why she started using it on herself and my child, that it'll probably make me take them more serious.

This is a woman that knew from the onset that I'm a flirt and I love women, especially fair women. They just turn my head upside down. I told her these things when we were courting and made it known to her that I cannot be with only one woman. What she did hurt me so much because I love my child to the fullest. If she was the one bleaching to impress me, I'll have no problem but bringing my child into it, it's just unfair.

RUVA, ZIMBABWE

To be honest, I'm a big believer of if you don't like it, if you can, change it. Skin bleaching is a big business here in Zimbabwe. I do not like the deep scrutiny that comes with people that bleach. I had a fiance to whom I was engaged to for about four years. I kept on wondering why he didn't want us to get married only for him to wake up one day to tell me 'it's over, and that he can't marry someone as ugly as I was for the sake of his daughter'. I didn't know which hurt more, that he broke up with me or that I was ugly. Sometimes, I stare at my throwback and still see the ugliness. I was truly ugly. Although, it doesn't take away the fact that he was an asshole. I do not like myself enough that's why I bleached, now I feel confident, how should that be anyone's business.

I know people like to shout melanin but do people really like melanin for what it is and how it looks. You start hearing things like dirty black and I do not like this shade of your melanin. Those things hurt and to be honest, many people are colorists. Some fair ladies are not as fine as people think they are, it's only colorism. I do not regret lightening up my skin. At least I brought the cream with my money and I didn't beg anyone.