#2: Why Do We Put on Lotion Daily?

In part 2 of this series, I'd like to touch on something that I've personally been asked several hundred times, dating back from the first time I ever had a sleepover at a white kid's house when I was little: "why do you have to put lotion on?" Well, for those of you who were curious and asking that very same question, let me explain...

Black people are fearful of many things. These include the NYPD, getting turned down for a loan, all white juries, a worldwide watermelon shortage, and the states of Texas, Mississippi, and central Pennsylvania. One thing we also fear no less than the previously mentioned things, unbeknown to non-Black (and Brown) people, is being ashy out in public.

Why are we so afraid to go out in public if we're ashy? Because we'll get clowned! (Aside: being "clowned" means to be ridiculed endlessly.) An example of something one could say to us would be:

"Your feet look like you've been kickboxing a sack of flour"

among others. Please see image #1 for an example of an ashy black man. Notice how unattractive this is?

Now, how do we Black folks remedy this problem? That's right, lotion! There are many kinds of lotion, you really can't go wrong with any of them. Check out image #2 to appreciate a sista with some well-moisturized skin. Notice the beautiful glow on that mahogany-complexioned skin!

Aside from the avoidance of being clowned, lotion serves a long-term, practical purpose. Daily moisturizing can curb the natural aging process of the skin. This is why, say, a 75-year-old Black woman can look like she's 60 while a 75-year-old white woman looks, well, 75.

I hope you have all learned something new about Black people. Til next time...