Well I can understand what you have been going through. We all do it. Seek acceptance and approval from our piers. It is difficult...

There is only ONE way out and it is likely the last think you want to do but you asked and I will share it.

You are looking outward. You will never find what you are looking for there. It is like chasing rainbows after a rain. You chase it and chase it but it just moves away from you. Or you catch it BUT that that you thought it would bring only lasted for a moment and dissappears.

Your example: now wanting to be made fun of and to be accepted. How natural we all want that...

In this world - no matter what we are are made fun of. It can't be stopped. BUT this is NOT your issue. Your issue for this NOT to bother you, not to hurt inside...

Yes?

FEAR is the great KILLER! fear to be laughed at. fear to look different... we all have fears...

1) as you are now at this very moment you are 100% ok just as you are. The false concept of good and evit is Bull Shit! Religious programming DESTROYS MANY!

The golden rule really is = I will be fair = I will meet folks 1/2 way. I will defend my 1/2 with my very LIFE! I will NOT be walked on. I will not be made fun of!
I pitty he who tresspasses on me!!!

wow that doesn't sound spiritual... How can we love others if we do not love ourselves? How can we respect others if we do not respect ourself? We will be walked on for life UNSESS we do not allow others to do so. It is your choice - stand up or get walked on.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL - either you stay meek and get walked on of you choose to stand up EACH TIME and say NO I will not allow you to do this to me peroid.

Only in doing so will you build the respect for yourself - and learn to love yourself - then and only then - what other think of you become muted. For you are no longer looking for acceptance in others for your self image...

Facing your fear is the SCARIEST thing to do but surprisingly easy IF you don't sit around thinking about - feeding the fear. No just act quickly trying NOT to over react to the situation that you are in.

Ok blah blah blah I blabbed to much

Know that we are all connected by a common thread - I can feel more and more are waking up to this and it is exciting indeed!

I don't think you're going to get much help on here for this. This is the "Lonley" forum and even though you might be lonley, it's not going to help your skin issue. I disagree with the other posters and the hippie responses. You can love yourself all you want but when you're walking down the street and people are making fun of you, it's not going to help you stop being lonley. Obviously you're not going to magically be popular because you "love yourself".

Skin Cancer Forum ? Uh you probably don't have skin cancer.

Just sounds like you need a dermatoloigist. One familiar with african american skin issues.

If you don't find any help on Curezone than look for some more internet forums. Surely there's forums out there with other african americans having the same color and complexion issues you are. You can't be the only one.

And stop comparing yourself to WackoJacko. He's a whole nother wackjob and you probably don't look anything like him.

It is difficult to do, but if you could decide to simply ignore and forget those people who are judging you on your looks, then you would be better off. They cannot stop you from going to college - and in college you will find a lot of unique people that you will fit right in with.

Also, you have to change the mind of that one person who is judging you based on your appearance the most - YOURSELF.

It is said that we have THREE IMAGES:
- the way we see ourselves;
- the way others see us;
- the way we really are.

With that in mind, maybe other people are not as judgemental about your appearance as you think they are. Maybe it is mostly that you think they are judging you based on your appearance, and you even look for clues to see if they are, which could be leading you to amplify your negative perception of what others are thinking.

Go to college - the weirdest and most unique people are there. Your unique face could be a benefit rather than a problem there!! What would this world be like if we were all the same? - it is our differences that makes the world wonderfull, and you have a difference that very few people do.

Thankfully, MJ brought the concept of "dark people's skin bleaching" to public attention, and now we do not think it is so bizarre because we understand it. I accept!!

I'm sorry, but you've got some real jerks in your life there fella. Okay in junior high lots of kids make mean remarks about anything, even some in high school - but on a job?

I am going to pray for you to find the solution. Of course it makes you feel self conscious, plus you have a load of bad memories.

However...just thought I'd mention a lady that I knew who worked as a secretary in the school system where I used to work. She was African American and had very patchy looking skin on her hands and face. Some of the patches of skin looked African American/brown, and some looked Caucasion/white.

Sometimes people would ask one another what the condition was, but I certainly never heard anyone make fun of her or say anything about her except that she was a really good secretary. People respected her. She was married and had children. No doubt she also got teased in the past. To me - don't know if it was my imagination or not - it seemed that there was something in her eyes waiting to see what one's reaction was to her skin coloring. But she did rise above it. In the long run, no one really cared! That's how it's 'pozed to me in the adult world.

Maybe it helps to be in a helping profession, don't know, but again, those people who say unkind things... Shame on them. It is of course not your fault in anyway. You aren't doing anything wrong. There is nothing wrong with you, of course, just something wrong with the way they have behaved.