Areesha Ayaz
The 21st century has been a revitalizing era in various aspects, the world has witnessed overwhelmingly impressive inventions, achievements and attainments in human history. Every day the news is barraged with headlines reporting mind blowing accomplishments taking place around the world. One such accomplishment is the recent mission Mars 2020. While all this suggests that the world is getting ahead of time and advancing in numerous ways, we must not forget the fact that the world, including our community, is still entrenched in toxic and problematic thoughts and ways that have no basis in the 21st century. Obsession with white skin and stereotypes associated with black are still very much alive and hindering the progress of this nation and world as a whole. Black community and people who do not fit the fake ‘‘white skin oriented beauty standards’’ are facing misfortune and progressive lack professionally, academically and emotionally. They are deprived of their right to self-determination, basic respect and recognition. Likewise, black complexion has been facing backlash in Asia, most importantly in Pakistan and India, where dusky skin tones are apparent. People in these nations bolster the white skin complex through hoarding tons of fairness creams making the market of whitening products successful with every passing day. Not only this but south Asian rishta culture is the cherry on the top, it is another force that strengthens the obsession with white skin.This uncanny mania for white skin is evident in media glorifying white skin, ever growing bullying around the world, American movement for black, venomous South Asian Rishta culture and success of whitening products indicating major indulgence of people in hazardous usage of whitening and bleaching products. The present world might be in a delusion that it is advancing and successfully innovating the best in the history of the human race, but the reality is that true innovation is not only confined to extensive machinery or enormous buildings or finding life on the moon. But it is creating a world, where every human being in spite of his/her color or race progresses and achieves greater things without facing any hindrance owing to his/her race or color. These issues are very much prevalent around the world to verify the gospel, that the modern world is not entirely independent of toxic mindset. The world is still stuck in the shackles of hate. Hence it has to wake up and work to cultivate a land that the coming generations will cherish not only for its mind blowing inventions but also for the social values it puts forward. Skin color is not the definition of beauty nor the certificate of character. Every human deserves love, care and respect, no matter what his/her race or skin color is. In light of law, everybody stands equal in front of law, biasedness shouldn’t be involved in law related matters, and systematic actions should be taken against the criminal without even giving a second thought to their race. To make tomorrow safer, the world must wake up and strangle the evils of today.
