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E-mail a friendDoes Sammy Sosa's Skin Rejuvenation Matter?
Questions abound. People want to know why former Chicago Cubs player Sammy Sosa appeared several shades lighter at the Latin Grammy Awards last week (pictured right) than he did several months ago at a People En Espanol event in May 2009 (pictured left).
What the heck happened?His friend and former Cubs employee, Rebecca Polihronis, told the Chicago Tribune that it was a skin rejuvenation process.
Why does any of this matter?
Because historically, deeply entrenched racism and discrimination conditioned many people of color to believe that dark skin is bad. And therefore, lighter skin (and straight hair, and blue/green/light brown eye color, and thinner noses) are good.
So when Sammy Sosa goes off and rejuvenates his skin, people don't just laugh and say, "I think you overdid the rejuvenation! LOL. Lay off the skin treatment, Sammy."
Instead, people question whether his lighter complexion isn't the result of deep-seated self-hatred, especially since it appears he also wears green contact lenses. They compare him to Michael Jackson and ask, "Do you want to look white, Sammy?"
What do you think? Does Sammy Sosa's appearance have larger implications? Do you think the light skin vs. dark skin issue is still prevalent? Is it relevant? Share your thoughts below.