Abstract

TENAI, Noah K.. Appreciating the image of God in all humanity: Towards a pastoral response to skin lightening as image enhancement to exit dark skin. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2016, vol.50, n.1, pp.1-8. ISSN 2305-0853.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.1989.

The practice of skin lightening is prevalent amongst dark-skinned people globally. Various current studies that map this practice and that seek motivations behind the practice are examined. It is observed that through shrewd marketing, dark-skinned people are offered a promise of a better quality of life, obtained by a lighter skin, through the use of skin lighteners. In spite of the severe health risks involved, the promise is ostensibly irresistible to some dark-skinned persons. A pastoral response is offered that affirms the full personhood and complete humanity of dark-skinned people as fully human and whole in their dark skins.

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