Dambudzo Marechera's Black Skin What Mask

During the time of British Imperialism, the empire subjected many countries to British culture and customs to the extent that the initial country’s culture was nearly stripped away. It is important to understand that people with dark skin were frowned upon. Dambudzo Marechera explores the effects this has on people of color in his short story, Black Skin What Mask. In it, the narrator accepts his appearance, and unlike his friend, he picks his own identity over the natural instinct to fit into society because he is a witness to his friends self-destruction. The narrator therefore overcomes human nature’s need for social acceptance.
The ways in which the narrator and his friend view the importance of skin color vary, thus creating two perspectives on the same issue. As soon as the story begins, it is know that the narrator is aware of how different he is from the

societal norm from the first sentence, “My skin sticks out a mile away in all the crowds around here” (Marechera 281). In contrast, he watches his friend, and even judges him to an extent when he expresses the pain of “watching him trying to scrub the blackness out of his skin” (Marechera 281). Anyone in the narrator’s position would feel at least slightly offended to see someone trying to get rid of his or her culture. By spending time with his friend, the narrator refuses to replicate his friend’s harmful behavior. Clearly, the narrator does not hold his appearance on a pedestal. He is then able to say, “I’m all right as I am,” (Marechera 282) contradicting societal expectations. The friend’s disgust for black skin is described by the narrator as one’s possible reaction to being “touched by a leper” (Marechera 283). The friend believes dark skin is unacceptable and spends his time trying to fit into his society’s culture instead of accepting himself as he is. Although both characters face the issues their appearance creates for them, the narrator doesn’t find it as important, and is able to accept himself.
Because of the narrator’s acceptance of his skin color, he keeps his own identity instead of the identity that society forces unto him.

Throughout the story, the narrator decides to avoid his friend’s actions and accept himself. He doesn’t accept his friend’s offer to borrow a suit, the type of clothing society approves of. The narrator has a choice to make by the end of the story. As expected, the narrator chooses to be sent down, over of being a “voluntary patient” (Marechera 285). Assuming he is mentally stable, the narrator is rebelling against the society that believes there is something wrong with him. His actions are reflected in today’s society. Individuals strive to express themselves more freely than they had in the past, consequently being proudly standing out from the crowd. To deal with societal rejection, the narrator consumes copious amounts of alcohol, to the point that his friend complains to him of his drinking habits. Instead of fighting for a place in the exclusive society, he gives up and is then forced to accept himself whether or not society approves of his physical

appearance.
In contrast to the narrator, his friend obsesses over his appearance and attempts to destroy at least part of his identity in order to fit in. He attempts to “scrub the blackness out of his skin” (Marechera 281), and to “purge his tongue” (Marechera 28) so he can (wash) away his culture, a part of his identity. The narrator witnessed his friend’s disparity and does not want to copy the same self-destructive habits. Another situation where the narrator’s friend attempts to be accepted is when he plans to “send a Christmas and New Year card” (Marechera 283). Because the narrator accepts himself, he tells his friend, “He doesn’t have to like anyone, and neither do you” (Marechera 283), reinforcing his (self-acceptance). The hatred the narrator’s friend has for black skin color is not limited to himself, but to people of color around him – the same kind of hatred that the society would give to anyone that is different. The friend’s obsessive behavior regarding his appearance prevents him from coming to terms with who he is.
No matter how much the narrator’s friend would try to lighten his skin, or mimic Western habits, he would never be happy because he will never accept himself as he is. His perception of the importance of appearance forced him into destroying his true identity in order to adopt a new one. The narrator learns from the despair his friend is feeling, and is able to find some sort of peace with his identity instead of succumbing to the pressure to adhere to collective norms in his society.