17 Comments
Jan 19, 2022·edited Jan 19, 2022Liked by sabrina

“Li nwar me so leker kler.”

“Tone sombrer, mett la creme.”

Coming back to Mauritius after a few months in London, my mum was like “tone vine kler bien zoli”

And been even told by a boyfriend I very much regret dating for more than a year, that his sino-Mauritian parents would be embarrassed by me and they wouldn’t like my friends (mix of ethnicities), because under any circumstances even if I have some Asian blood too, not that it matters really, did I look like a sino-Mauritian. I was “Enn fam nwar”. He said he loved me and my gorgeous skin colour is what attracted him at first. But that same skin colour doesn’t fit his parents ideals and he doesn’t want to hurt them (???). I would be an embarrassment, a stain in other words. If I had been white though like his sister’s husband, that would have been welcomed.

All those and more, I’ve heard so many times. It’s crazy how skin colour affects people and their thinking. They would rather diminish others than step up themselves and reflect on their own behaviour and perception.

Your article was beautiful to read thank you for sharing.

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When I was told my daughter was turning brown like her dad 🤦🏻‍♀️ When she was bullied by a white kid at school about her skin colour, when I see brown people lightening their skin then talk about being natural 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

So many fake people being glamourised and promoted when all they are doing is promoting body shaming. Local and international!

Thank you for this. Went directly to my heart ♥️🙏🏼

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Jan 18, 2022Liked by sabrina

Oh this is so true !!! I met a ‘mauritian’ in Bordeaux who was just like this. He called himself A Mauritian when he didn’t even experience living in Mauritius. I remember being soo so angry . It’s quite disturbing seeing people live like this but like I often say those fellow mauritian “plis francais qui francais et plis blanc qui blanc” 🥲

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Jan 22, 2022Liked by sabrina

Great article. I had the opportunity to reflect on colorism in Mauritius a couple of years ago when I did a research for work to enter the beautiful sector in India and the US.

One of the best selling product for a company like Unilever is Fair and Lovely, their skin whitening product in India ( and south east Asia). There, having light skin is opening the door for more career opportunities (even in Bollywood) and opportunities to progress in the society: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/25/unilever-rename-fair-and-lovely-skin-lightening-cream-inclusive-beauty

In the US, it was interesting to learn that the background of colorism goes back to slavery, where slaves with lighter skin tones were in the house and dark slaves in the fields. Light skins got the opportunity to read, get an education...better job. This divide is still visible today: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/apr/09/colorism-racism-why-black-people-discriminate-among-ourselves. This is so visible in Mauritius amongst the kreol but hope that one day we will see beyond this division and will allow us to move forward with the reparations for slavery conversation.

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Jan 20, 2022Liked by sabrina

Ça m'a beaucoup "éclairé" :) de lire "Le malaise Créole etnnic Identity" de Rosabelle Boswell. Cette recherche de "purity" et ce rejet de "hybridity" est expliqué. J'ai réalisé que c'était bien plus complexe que d'avoir la peau claire. Mo mem mo enn Créol milat 🤪En ce moment, je vis à Pailotte où j'ai acheté une maison. Et bien tenez vous, toutes les semaines j'ai la chance que ma voisine "Nani", m'insulte. "Créole pa konn viv" et le dernier en date c'est "créole CACA". J'ai été à la police plusieurs fois. Rien de concluant. Son petit fils m'a traité de "pitin" etc. Oui je suis mauricienne. Non je ne bougerai pas de là. Maurice c'est mon pays au même titre que n'importe quel mauricien. Si vous voulez venir manifester devant ma porte, let me know 🤪 En attendant, je lis du Mandela et du Luther King pour me donner du courage. Nous donner du courage à ma petite famille de créoles🙂

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Jan 18, 2022Liked by sabrina

After a few days in Mauritius, I got my Mauritian tan back and my own Mum told me I looked prettier on the first day I came 🤦🏾‍♂️

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Jan 18, 2022Liked by sabrina

If I was in that situation, I'd be so uncomfortable. Like who the hell saw that Mauritian girls are not pretty ? I lived in mru for 20 years and I saw many girls who are comfortable in their skin. How ironic to be a Mauritian who doesn't appreciate the multicultural aspect of our island.

Also, I wouldn't appreciate it if my bf said that girls in my country aren't pretty ...

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Jan 17, 2022Liked by sabrina

Sadly it doesn't even surprise me anymore 😔

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