A Jamaican mother is facing criticism after it was exposed that she is forcing her 9-year-old son to bleach his skin. The 9-year-old boy bravely revealed that his mother has been bleaching his skin because she believes he is “too Black”. The alarming discovery was made by a teacher who noticed stark discolouration on the child’s face, lighter cheeks and darkened areas around the eyes. When asked what had happened, the boy replied simply that his mother was bleaching his skin.
The child shared that his mother insists on applying the cream despite his protests. “I tell my mother I did not want it anymore,” he told a TVJ News reporter. “But she said it’s too much ago to make the Black ones come off.” He also said his grandmother supported his mother’s actions to lighten his complexion.
The boy remembers the first time the cream was applied and recalls the smoothness of his skin. “When I touched my face, my face was kind of smooth,” he said. He explained that his mother told him she disliked his dark skin, indicating that the cream would enhance his appearance.
According to TVJ News, bleaching a child’s skin breaches several fundamental rights outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to be protected from discrimination of any kind (Article 2), the right to preserve one’s identity (Article 8), the right to protection from abuse and neglect (Article 19), and the right to enjoy the highest possible standard of health (Article 24).
According to the report, the teacher contacted the child’s mother, but the mother has not visited the school to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, classmates have also noticed the changes in his appearance. The little boy also noticed that his smooth skin was changing to a rougher texture.
Dr Romario Thomas, head of dermatology at Kingston Public and National Chest hospitals, condemned bleaching children’s skin and warned that bleaching products pose serious risks to children, whose skin is still developing.
He warned that the long-term effects include premature ageing, permanent discolouration, and even impaired healing. This young boy’s story has sparked concern and calls for intervention to protect him and others like him.