[Miniryu]

I remember when the whole controversy was out: did Michael Jackson dye his skin white? My first question was: If he did, how did he do it? I mean, in this book I had to read in High chool Black Like Me (great book, btw), a white dude runs an experiment. He goes down into the deep south and journals his experiences. Then he dyes his skin black by treating it with radiation, then noticed the different way people treated him as he repeated his exact behavior that he had before. Radiation makes sense when turning darker, but what do you do if you want lighter skin? Do you litteraly use bleach?
I have been curious about this, since I noticed that it started way back in the early 80s with Thriller. Notice how he gets progressively lighter with each album. There was even a change between Dangerous and History! I get the sense from this that it was a type of treatments he recieved over time.
Last of all, my cousin claims Prince has dyed his skin since he first hit the scene in 78. I refuse to belive that, but he does seem darker.

[gorickey]

[Axo1ot1]

I thought his skin color changed because of some dermatological treatment he had for a skin disorder.

[mitchell_pgh]

I'm guessing it's something that requires a prescription.

[lngtones]

[voyageur]

Southern belles used to use lemon juice to lighten their skin....so maybe MJ is just using a more acidic peel?
Or maybe they've injected antibodies to melanin?

[phoenixboy70]

Originally posted by gorickey:

hehehe. that's the first thing that came to my mind as well.

[Mark Tungston]

Originally posted by Axo1ot1:
I thought his skin color changed because of some dermatological treatment he had for a skin disorder.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA



Let me sell you this cool bridge I own in Brooklyn....


HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

[DeathToWindows]

to look like that thing, one would have to destroy all melenin production in teh body... cool trick

[MacGorilla]

lets see your black, looking to be white, you have white children....hmmmmm.....

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by gorickey:

Yeah, the media describes him as "bleaching" his skin all the time. But how does one go about it? Do you just put some bleach on a sponge and start rubbing it into your skin? I am wondering if this is a treatment that is widely available or if it is an option available only to Michael because of his wealth.

Among people of colored skin, having lighter skin is kinda like a privilage- if this treatment was available to the public, I wonder if many people would be trying it, if only to lighten their shade a little bit.

[awaspaas]

Topical hydroquinone inhibits melanin production. I think I've heard of azelaic acid being used for this too, if I recall.

[Powaqqatsi]

Didn't he have some sort of skin transplant ?

[ryju]

"Nooo that's ignorant you're ignorant it's a skin disease don't be ignorant!"

(south park)

[TheDisaster]

Originally posted by Miniryu:
Among people of colored skin, having lighter skin is kinda like a privilage- if this treatment was available to the public, I wonder if many people would be trying it, if only to lighten their shade a little bit.

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by TheDisaster:

Are you a person of color? Are you aware of issues like these? Have you ever seen a child try to scrape the outer layer of their skin off because they don't want the color? I have. There is a reason a lot of the black community dislikes Mr. Jackson and doesn't support him other than his freaky antics.

If you are going to roll your eyes at least explain why you are doing it.

[waxcrash]

Originally posted by Miniryu:
Among people of colored skin, having lighter skin is kinda like a privilege�

I thought it was blacker the berry, sweeter the juice.

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by waxcrash:
I thought it was blacker the berry, sweeter the juice.

Howard Stern brought this topic up recently on his show when Chris Rock was the guest star. Howard was trying to be an asshole by doing so- I just wanted to point out that I wasn't trying to do the same, I was hoping for some legitimate intellectual discussion.

[scottiB]

Originally posted by Miniryu:
Among people of colored skin, having lighter skin is kinda like a privilage- if this treatment was available to the public, I wonder if many people would be trying it, if only to lighten their shade a little bit.

While I wouldn't call it a priviledge, there is a certain social stratification in African-American culture based on skin shade--the lighter, the more desirable.

I thought it was blacker the berry, sweeter the juice.

That saying is in response (well appropriated from berry picking) to those social mores and is the title of a rather famous (and tremendous) Harlem Renaissance book: The Blacker the Berry...

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by scottiB:
While I wouldn't call it a priviledge, there is a certain social stratification in African-American culture based on skin shade--the lighter, the more desirable.



That saying is in response (well appropriated from berry picking) to those social mores and is the title of a rather famous (and tremendous) Harlem Renaissance book: The Blacker the Berry...

More recently this saying has been applied to skin color, quoted by Tupac in his 1993 song Keep Ya' Head up. The song is dedicated to black single mothers.

[KrazyEvilGoat]

He had an operation which did something, thus making his skin white. He didn't have a skin transplant and he didn't bathe in clorox.

He claimed it was for a skin disorder. Frankly he's the scariest white guy I've ever seen.

[Saul Goode]

There IS a skin disorder that causes that. There is no treatment or cure.

The problem is, this disorder creates bad pale blotches all over that look like hell. So doctors usually prescribe injections that accelerate the lightening process so you at least look even all over.

Does MJ have this problem? I don't know and NEITHER DO YOU, but it is real.

[Mrs_Vod[k]a]

currently the most famous black entertainer


currently the LEAST famous black entertainer


could we extrapolate from this that there is a heirarchy in the entertainment business where the fairest blacks are at the top? or did i just want to post that picture of beyonce?

[Saul Goode]

Originally posted by Mrs_Vod[k]a:

currently the most famous black entertainer

[img] or did i just want to post that picture of beyonce?

I personally won't question your motives!

Got any more?

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by Saul Goode:
There IS a skin disorder that causes that. There is no treatment or cure.

The problem is, this disorder creates bad pale blotches all over that look like hell. So doctors usually prescribe injections that accelerate the lightening process so you at least look even all over.

Does MJ have this problem? I don't know and NEITHER DO YOU, but it is real.

Just for your information, the condition is called Vitiligo, it is not that uncommon. Look it up on a medical site.

I think the suspicion is not caused over the change in Michael's skin color, but the elements of body dismorphia that accompany it. If the guy never had plastic surgery, had a normal upbringing, and was not a minority in a country that hates minorities, then I would take his word without questioning. Notice how Lisa Marie Presley never denied the suggestion that Michael did it to himself on the Opra inverview in the early 90s, and I would think she should know the truth.

[Miniryu]

Originally posted by KrazyEvilGoat:
He had an operation which did something.

No sh!t Sherlock. What that "something" is is exactly what I was wondering. The "Topical hydroquinone inhibits melanin production. I think I've heard of azelaic acid being used for this too, if I recall." suggestion sounds good to me.

Who suggested a complete skin transplant? That is ridiculous! Can you imagine what that would look like? My friend has a small skin transplant he recieved when he was severely burned- I can't imagine what it would be like to have all of your dermis replaced. You may find MJ scarey or ugly, but a skin transplant? Be real.