Colorism in the African American Community

Colorism refers to discrimination based on how light or dark an individual’s skin is as compared to others. Generally, colorism commonly known as shedeism is defined as the discrimination based on color or a type of bias in which individuals are given special treatment based on the social understandings associated to their color (Keith, Verna, and Carla, 6). Individuals with lighter skin are given special treatment as compared to people with darker skin. Colorism happens between various races and inside the same race. According to Hairston et al. (172), colorism started during slavery where lighter-skinned black individuals regularly worked in the houses while the dark-skinned individuals were relegated for field duties. Consequently, colorism has been identified to significantly impact women and men in their communities and at the workplace. Moreover, Hunter (183) elaborate that shedeism severely affects African American society which is mainly regarded as dark-skinned people. However, not only the African American society experience colorism but also Indians, Asians, and Latinas. Therefore, the essay primarily focuses on how colorism exists and its impacts on the African American community.

Main objective

To determine how colorism exists, and what it impacts primarily the African American society

Other goals

I. To determine the sources of colorism

II. To evaluate which gender is more impacted by colorism

III. To determine factors that enhance colorism in the communities across the globe

Research question

Does colorism exist?

Other questions

1. What is colorism?

2. How does colorism affect primarily the African society?

3. Does colorism only affects individuals with dark skin?

4. Which gender is more affected by colorism?

Results and Discussion

After slavery, employment, educational institutions, and various activities were mainly reserved for the white people while blacks were considered inferior. Opponents argue that colorism does not exist and it is just jealousy, coincident and a belief for others to feel inferior or superior. However, colorism exists and continues to affect the black community in many ways severely

Colorism started during the slave trade and had significantly impacted the African American community. For instance, one respondents outlines that “I think it came from the slavery time where everybody knew the lighter you are, the prettier and I think it stuck with our generation to generation” According to Keith, Verna and Carla  (7), Colorism continues to exists due to various factors such as stereotyping and media.

Stereotyping-Dark skin individuals are portrayed as ghetto and more aggressive than individuals with light skin

Media

–Twitter, Facebook, and media significantly promotes colorism since many beautiful features are associated with white-skinned individuals than the black people. For instance, the phone carrier deemed horrible is always represented by the dark-skinned ladies whose hair is not accepted and not attractive for the masses. In their study, Hochschild, Jennifer and Vesla Weaver (662) affirm that social media, music, and movies mostly engage white skinned people with few African Americans. As a result, social media serves as the primary factor promoting colorism among individuals of different races

Effects of Colorism On African American Community

Black community

The black society is severely impacted by colorism. Dark people are degraded because of their darker skin tone thus causing more disputes between the two cultures (Black and white communities). Colorism makes young women and men learn the disdain for a given skin tone for benefits and acceptance in the community

According to the survey, dark African Americans women (80%) are severely affected by colorism than men (19.89%). However, not only does colorism impacts the African American beauty values and standards, but it has also created the hierarchy and affects other races like Caucasians and Indians. Due to more preference for lighter skin, the lighter-skinned Africa females and males are more favored than the dark-skinned individuals. According to Harris (15), more inclination occurs on social media platforms such as Twitter (#TeamLightSkin and #TeamDarkSkin), Facebook and Instagram. Dark skin people face ostracism, discrimination, and hatred from lighter-skinned individuals. According to Hochschild, Jennifer and Vesla Weaver (652), White skinned African Americans get special services and treatment in employment and other social services.

Colorism Perpetuates the White Supremacy

Colorism is regularly thought as a challenge that exclusively afflicts societies of color. The origin of colorism is rooted in the white supremacy. Keith, Verna, and Carla  (8) elaborate that Europeans continue to prize flaxen hair and fair skin for centuries. For instance, in Asia, fair skin is associated with the symbol of more wealth and the dark skin symbolizes adverse poverty among the black community, whereas having blue eyes and being blonde indicates the status symbols.

Fosters self-hatred among the black community

Colorism results in self-hatred since nobody has control over his or her skin color. There is increased self-hatred among people of dark skin based on their experience on how they are being treated at work, school and in their communities. For instance, African Americans are given low wages with more working hours as compared to their lighter-skinned African Americans. Scholars with dark skin are discriminated in schools and colleges with majority of lighter skinned students.

Intra-racial and intra-family tensions

In African American society, colorism leads to the light-skinned Americans denying darker skinned individuals access to form and join certain civic teams and sororities thus causing more discrimination. Moreover, colorism turns personal when it occurs in the family. As a result, it might result in parents favoring a given child over others due to skin color thus reducing the infant’s self-worth, thus breaking the relationship between a child and the parents, and enhancing adverse children rivalry among the black community. Consequently, according to the survey, society significantly promotes colorism as provided by some respondents “yes society promotes what is socially acceptable thus facilitates colorism.”

Promotes The Narrow Standards of Beauty

Colorism is linked to restrictive values and beauty standards. Different organizations and individuals embracing colorism value lighter-skinned individuals over the dark-skinned people. For instance, an actress like Keke Palmer, Lupita Nyong’o and Gabriel union continue to speak how they desire lighter skin since they think darker skin makes them unattractive. Colorism limits the beauty standards of African Americans while significantly promotes white skin culture.

Does colorism exist today?

Colorism continues to exist today in American and other nations across the globe. With the increased use of social media colorism has been extended from skin color to ethnicity and gender. For example, men are considered to value light skin women than the darker ladies. In his study, Hairston (178) affirms that the preference has resulted in a worsening of dark-skinned ladies’ self-esteem to bleach their skin to appear more desirable. Consequently, skin lightening has become more dominant among African Americans and Caribbean nations. For instance, in Jamaica and Africa, women use various substances to bleach their hair and lighten their skin. In India, common-skin bleaching mainly targets men and women with black color.  As a result, there are several firms that play a significant role in skin lightening and bleaching.

 According to Hunter (243), colorism occurs in employment sector, sports, and health care industries since the whites are given favors irrespective of their skills, age, and ethnicity. Furthermore, individuals with dark-color are associated with severe acts of crime such as terrorists. However, this is not true since white skinned people use technology to conduct crimes and associate them with the blacks.  Various social media platforms use white-skinned women to market multiple products and services while black women are rarely used in social networks. According to Hill (1452), Individuals with lighter skin are perceived to be prettier and more attractive than individuals with black color. Lighter skinned individuals can be to produce songs, movies and for advertisements.

 Black individuals are preferred to conduct more physical duties such as security guards and farmers. As a result, there are few black singers, actress, and socialists as compared to the white thus indicate the existence of colorism across the nation. However, the trend has started to change with social media increasingly promoting black color in various ways. In US culture, whiteness “the look” is considered as a significant norm and blackness is continuously associated with poor and lesser status (Hunter, 176). Moreover, the lighter an individual, the more power he or she holds a while, the darker a person, the harder life he or she experiences.

Colorism in Magazines, Movies, And Social Media

Colorism is increasingly occurring in the magazine and various social media.in his study, Hunter (183) outline that in media, lighter skinned women and men are seen in a better positive light, while the black people are given negative perceptions. In silent films, the darker-skinned women are assigned the ‘Mammy task’ or overly sexualized objects thus severely stereotyping against their activities. Magazines lighten the skin color of black women to make them appear more attractive. For instance, L’oreal lightens Beyoncé’s skin in the controversial makeup that made Beyonce appear as a real white.

In conclusion, in several various cultures and nations across the globe, skin color plays significant roles in the concept and perception of beauty. Light skin is preferable for many services and activities as compared to the dark skin. Although the lighter color is preferable, individuals with dark color are increasing getting their ways in the community due to change in technology and severe debate about racism and adverse discrimination against the African American community. Colorism mainly impacts the African American (74.19%) and Hispanic culture (9.1%). Additionally, society enhances colorism among individuals since it promotes what is socially acceptable among individuals. Therefore, colorism still exists and is continuously practiced by various races across the globe.

Works cited

Hairston, Tiffany R., et al. "Counselor Education Students’ Perceptions of Wellness and Mental Health in African American Men: The Effects of Colorism."Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development 46.3 (2018): 171-185.

Harris, Jeffrey. "The Fight Against Colorism in the Black Community."(2017).

Hill, Mark E. "Color differences in the socioeconomic status of African American men: Results of a longitudinal study."Social Forces 78.4 (2000): 1437-1460.

Hochschild, Jennifer L., and Vesla Weaver. "The skin color paradox and the American racial order."Social Forces 86.2 (2007): 643-670.

Hunter, Margaret L. "“If you're light you're alright” light skin color as social capital for women of color."Gender & society16.2 (2002): 175-193.

Hunter, Margaret. "The persistent problem of colorism: Skin tone, status, and inequality."Sociology Compass 1.1 (2007): 237-254.

Keith, Verna M., and Carla R. Monroe. "Histories of colorism and implications for education."Theory Into Practice 55.1 (2016): 4-10.