Nollywood actress, Linda Osifo has recounted how she considered bleaching her skin due to racism she experienced while living in Canada.
Recall that the thespian was born in Benin City, Nigeria, and moved to Canada at 16.
She told media personality Chude Jideonwo that she was frequently called a monkey by people of her own shade.
According to Linda Osifo, the racism she suffered was traumatizing because it came from “within.”
She explained that when someone who is around you, who you are always kinda seeing every other day says it, it hurts more.
Chude had asked: “You talked about wanting to bleach your skin because when you grow up people would call me a monkey (sic). [Did] this literally happen?”
Osifo replied: “Yeah. It happens absolutely. And it happens from your shade too, you know. So, that’s why it’s even more of a weird thing.
“I always feel that those who get bullied, don’t get bullied by outsiders. It’s from within. Because if somebody else says it, you may not care but if somebody who is around you, who you are always kinda seeing every other day says it, it hurts more.
“This was when I was a teenager in Canada. The positive aspect of moving [back] to Nigeria, was seeing more of individuals who look just like me.”
She added that relocating to Nigeria made her appreciate herself more.
