Who is Very Dark Man?

Very Dark Man, otherwise known as Martins Vincent Otsay, is a Nigerian social media personality and activist who rose to fame for his dark complexion. While dark skin is completely natural and beautiful, Very Dark Man’s biography sheds light on colorism issues in Nigeria and his efforts to promote self-love.

Growing up in Benin City, Edo State, he struggled with bullying due to his exceptionally dark skin tone. Even within his own family, he faced colorist remarks and preferences were often shown to his lighter-skinned siblings. However, through perseverance and becoming a voice for dark-skinned people worldwide, Very Dark Man has become one of Nigeria’s most famous celebrities and an icon of promoting diversity.

A Humble Beginning

Very Dark Man was born on July 29th, 1990 in Benin City to parents Johnson and Blessing Otsay. He comes from a working-class background as the last born in a family of 6 children. His father worked as a farmer while his mother was a homemaker. Very Dark Man has always maintained a close bond with his parents despite facing difficulties due to his dark complexion from a young age.

As one of the darkest members of his family, he experienced neglect from relatives who believed lighter skin was superior. His siblings, some with lighter pigmentation, received preferrential treatment which caused him loneliness and self-esteem issues as a child. Very Dark Man credits his parents for their unconditional love and support, though even they occasionally made colorist remarks without comprehending the psychological impact.

Facing Hardships and Discrimination

Very Dark Man’s skin tone made him a frequent target of bullying by other children who called him hurtful names. As he grew older, he continued dealing with discrimination and microaggressions from elders in his community due to entrenched biases against dark-skinned people. The prejudice even extended to his education and career path.

Despite scoring well academically, he struggled to secure scholarships and opportunities that were easily available for lighter peers. Very Dark Man had to work multiple odd jobs through his college years like farming, deliveries, and freelance writing to pay tuition fees as his family couldn’t provide much financial help due to large family size and modest means.

After graduating from the University of Benin with a degree in Mass Communication, he took up reporting roles with local newspapers. However, he faced constant doubts about his abilities from colleagues and supervisors who believed a dark-skinned person couldn’t match the intellect and talents of lighter individuals. Due to the biases, he often had to fight for assignments and felt frustrated with the discrimination plaguing his professional growth.

Leveraging Social Media for Activism

In 2015, at a low point in his career and facing discouragement from prevailing colorism, Very Dark Man joined Instagram to share photos of his daily life and commentary on social issues facing Nigeria. Though initially intended as a creative outlet, his posts emphasizing self-acceptance and dark skin pride resonated strongly with many facing similar struggles.

Through candid reflections on dealing with discrimination since childhood and spreading messages of embracing natural beauty, his profile grew rapidly attracting nationwide attention within months. In 2017, Very Dark Man was featured on a national talk show where he powerfully recounted experiences with deep-rooted prejudices against his dark complexion in Nigeria.

The emotional episode left many in tears and opened their eyes to realities of colorism that were previously ignored or normalized in society. It marked a turning point that catapulted Very Dark Man’s Instagram following to over 1 million, establishing him as the leading voice for promoting diversity and self-love for people of all skin tones, especially the darkest phenotypes commonly underestimated.

Icon of Dark Skin Pride

Leveraging his exponentially growing social media influence, Very Dark Man dedicated all efforts towards empowering the people and communities most impacted by harmful biases against darker skin through impactful advocacy campaigns and initiatives.

In 2018, he launched the viral #DarkisBeautiful movement where millions worldwide shared photos proudly embracing their natural appearance. He also gave impactful TED Talks highlighting the psychological toll of colorism and need for inclusiveness regardless of pigmentation.

In 2019, Very Dark Man organized Nigeria’s inaugural Dark Skin Pride parade attended by thousands celebrating blackness with zeal. The overwhelming response showcased growing acceptance of messages promoting diversity that were increasingly resonating with society.

That same year, he published a bestselling memoir ‘Proudly Dark’ sharing his journey of overcoming prejudice and finding self-worth beyond superficial biases. The book became an anthem for many facing similar dilemmas and further cemented his status as an inspiration for self-acceptance.

Very Dark Man continues partnering with influential international media outlets like BBC, CNN, and Oprah spreading awareness of challenges faced by dark-skinned communities and need for addressing entrenched prejudices through open conversations at all levels of society. His global platforms advocate changes addressing lack of representation and more opportunities for marginalized groups across industries from media to politics.

Vocal Proponent of Inclusiveness

As one of Nigeria’s most prominent influencers promoting diversity and challenging the status quo, Very Dark Man regularly collaborates with skincare and cosmetics brands to accelerate their journey towards inclusiveness regarding darker complexions in marketing campaigns and expanding shade ranges catering to the entire spectrum of natural phenotypes in Africa and around the world.

He also works extensively with NGOs, government groups, and educational institutions driving initiatives aimed at correcting historical misperceptions and stereotypes through spreading culturally-sensitive information especially among youth. Very Dark Man stresses the importance of protecting self-esteem from an early age by facilitating open discussions addressing toxic socialization impacting perceptions of beauty and worth.

Through years of dedicated advocacy, Very Dark Man has succeeded in catalyzing broader conversations and enabling acceptance of issues commonly ignored due to ingrained socio-cultural conditioning. His influential platforms continue empowering people to reclaim their identity and find pride in embracing natural aesthetics regardless of superficial biases perpetuated superficially for generations.

Very Dark Man remains an inspiration for persevering with compassion and positivity even in the face of significant prejudice and adversities. His powerful journey emphasizes character over superficial attributes and reassures people their worth isn’t defined by opinions of superficial biases altering self-perception and limiting dreams, but through believing in oneself and making the most of opportunities that come one’s way.