I don't think there is necessarily a racist element to skin tanning. Tanning your skin just means you, personally, think that darker skin makes you look more attractive. You might think that certain people would look better with other skin tones. Even if you think that everyone would look better with tanned skin, that's still just an aesthetic preference that may not be linked to social discrimination.

Another thing to note is that getting a tan doesn't mean you want to look like people from a race that has naturally darker skin. Most white people who get tans aren't trying to turn themselves into Hispanics or Indians or Africans. They're just trying to look like white people who have a tan.

This argument goes the other way too: more than once, I've heard white people lamenting that Asians have a racial inferiority complex and want to become Caucasians, citing the fact that skin-whitening treatments are very popular in Asia. As an Asian who likes pale skin, I have to say that that is simply untrue. Most Asians who use skin whiteners just want to look like Asians with pale skin, because pale skin has long been considered an aspect of beauty, like slimness or lustrous hair. They don't want to look like white people, and suggesting that they do actually comes across as rather patronising.

As to the self-esteem issue... I don't believe that altering your appearance means you lack self-esteem. I think it's quite natural and healthy for people to want to "look their best". Heavy reliance on makeup, clothing, or cosmetic surgery may indicate psychological problems, but it's not a very reliable indicator. In fact, some people with very low self-esteem take the other extreme and simply don't bother to improve their appearance, because they don't think they're capable of creating a good impression on people anyway.

Physical health problems with tanning is certainly a concern, but this is more a matter of practising moderation rather than simply not tanning at all. People do need a certain amount of sunlight to be healthy.

Personally, I wouldn't get a tan, because I don't think it would look good on me. But I don't have a problem with other people getting tans, as long as they take some reasonable safety measures while doing it.

I didn't know which side to choose. But, if you wanna tan you should just do it. If you are going to think of what this color might do to your racial feeling you are just thinking Crap. You don't have to think of color ever as a racist ideal.

Neither side was worthy of using as a response, but I chose this side. I am of American Indian descent, so I tan easily and stay darker through the winter. I will pull off my shirt to work in the yard or pasture to stay cooler and because I enjoy the sun. There is no better source for vitamin D than the sun. As far as damaging your melanin, melanin acts as a sunscreen and protects the skin from ultraviolet light. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. It provides some protection against skin damage from the sun, and the melanocytes increase their production of melanin in response to sun exposure.