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"Hot Like Fire" by Aaliyah

...hotter than a summer day in California / got me feelin' like a Sundae and I want ya...

I was watching CNN and Anderson Cooper (who does want to marry me...haters) reported that a new study tanning is just as dangerous and carcinogenic as cigarette smoking. I feel as though I already know that and I am a little surprised that this wasn't common knowledge. It's like when George Michael and Rosie O'Donnell came out of closet. Were there really people who didn't know? What is wrong with you?

Especially George. You most definitely had to know that was coming. Wake me up before you go-go...and those tight, tight shorts? Come on. George is as gay as I am African.

So tanning may lead to cancer, like everything else does. Like I said though, shouldn't we have already known that?

I have always found the phenomenon of tanning to be a bit peculiar. White people want to be darker and Black people want to be lighter (This can be extended to all peoples of color. Cultures of colored folks around the world reveal evidence of the importance of complexion).

I remember learning in high school history classes that in Europe, people with money did not work outside and were therefore pale. It (complexion) became a class indicator. Those who were pale were obviously wealthy, spared from the physical labor and visual evidence of working under the sun. Poor folks were tanned.

Now, a tanned complexion is an advertisement of sexiness, sophistication, and even health (although it has always been obviously unhealthy to me).

I have seen some girls tanned to the brink of Negrodom. From a distance, they look mixed. I wonder where the shift took place, when being "darker" became attractive.

White girls lay in a tanning bed and get cooked all day. Black girls rub in bleach cream to peal away a few shades. I guess none of us are really satisfied.

Why is this news? I thought we already established that tanning beds were bad.