Sunburn: A Cautionary Tale

black-woman-at-beach.jpgWhen I was younger, I was fan of saying to my more melanin challenged friends when they offered me sunscreen, “I don’t need that! I don’t burn, I’m black!”

Oh how very wrong I was. It’s not that sunburn is all that different when you’re black, it’s just way more embarrassing. And way less attractive.

The first time I got burned by my hated enemy the sun was in Hawaii. Proof that you should screen up even on cloudy overcast days. The day albeit warm, was gray — but those wicked rays got me anyway. I didn’t know what it was at first. My shoulders itched and burned. I thought I was having some allergic reaction to something in the Hawaiian air. My mom took one look and said, “Ha! You got sunburned!”

The second time it happened I was in Africa and that was even more unbearable for different reasons. After that I decided that the sun and I just aren’t friends.

The point of this isn’t about my own embarrassing stories or the beginnings of my war with the orb of fire. Just to point out some differences. Although a sunburn is pretty much the same in all races (pain, redness, itching, burning, and peeling) that end part is kinda different. See, when you get to the peeling bit it’s alright because like 75% of the people on the beach are suffering from the same thing. But when you’re black it’s like they’ve never seen that before and people start asking you what’s wrong with your skin.

Or if it’s really bad like my sister is prone to get on her face, then the new skin that comes up isn’t exactly the same color. In fact it’s more pink, less brownish. Very unattractive. And it stays that way. For weeks.

Sunburn can ruin your whole bare shoulder summer, black friends. It really, really can. It’s like our dirty, dirty secret that I’m telling you here.

Black people totally burn.

One Comment on "Sunburn: A Cautionary Tale"

  1. Aria says:
    Wed, 19th Aug 20095:22 am 

    I’m black and grew up on the south side of Chicago. As a child I played from morning to night with my friends and siblings all summer long. I have NEVER needed sunscreen nor have I or anyone in my family ever had a sunburn. My children who are now college students have NEVER had a sunburn. We are the lightest to the darkest shades of brown. Bottom line melanin is our natural sun screen. The more we’re exposed to intense sunlight the darker our skin becomes. It’s like going from SPF 20 to SPF 50. When the intensity of sun exposure decreases the skin lightens a few shades. As an RN for nearly two decades none of our patients admitted for skin cancer were black/african. Blacks can stay out in the sun as long as we want our skin darkens to protect us, it doesn’t burn or peel. Those who are bi-racial and/or very light, i.e. lacking melanin may very well burn when exposed for prolong periods of time.

Tell us what you're thinking...




COVER STORY

It’s a Twihard-Knock Life It’s a Twihard-Knock Life

WTF? So you can sleep with Edward?? When I was waiting outside of the Scholastic... 

Bar Fails: These Offenses Deserve a Penalty Fee Bar Fails: These Offenses Deserve a Penalty Fee

Easy on the soda water, homegirl. A couple of days ago three bars at Penn State were... 

It’s All Fun and Games Until You Live Together It’s All Fun and Games Until You Live Together

"I'm smiling but if she doesn't take out the garbage soon I'm going... 

Read More Posts From This Category

HAHA

I Kissed A Girl…And I Wanna Do More I Kissed A Girl…And I Wanna Do More

Like Katy Perry, and probably many of you, I kissed a girl. And I liked it. More... 

Coupled. It’s the Little Things That Count Coupled. It’s the Little Things That Count

I remember watching Say Anything with my sister when I was a kid and wondering if... 

Ask A Dude: I Refuse To Be A Friend With Benefits Ask A Dude: I Refuse To Be A Friend With Benefits

Hey Dude, I’ve done the Friends With Benefits thing, and, to say the least,... 

Read More Posts From This Category