Colorism
Notes: Race is a Social Construct
Out of the millions of people who populate the Earth, the majority of our genes are the same. There is no biological evidence that our genes can identify a particular racial group; thus, there is no such thing as a white or Black gene. All in all, race is a man-made classification system to explain the physical differences amongst humans. Over time, this social construct has evolved into a tool for discrimination and oppression.
Notes: Even When There is No Race, Race Becomes An Identity
Although the various races in humanity are not biologically real, they are undeniably socially real. The American psychologist Beverly Daniel-Tatum once conducted a study where she asked people of African descent, “Who am I?” The most prominent characteristic brought about was Black. Considering this, Daniel-Tatum’s study proves that people who are not in the “default (racial) setting” tend to identify with their “minority (racial) quality” before other characteristics due to longstanding societal pressures. Unfortunately, we live in a world where physical characteristics (skin color, hair texture, eye color, etc.) are the first things a person notices about you; therefore, race becomes an individual identity positively and negatively.
Colorism
A term coined by Pultizer Prize-winning author and activist Alice Walker in her 1983 narrative, In Search of our Mothers’ Garden, which refers to prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their skin color. Resulting from the institutions of colonialism and slavery, where the greatness of an Anglo-Saxon heritage was continuously preached, colorism has evolved into a psychological battle to favor lighter skin over darker skin.
Notably, colorism is a by-product of racism. Like racism, colorism uplifts white beauty standards and perpetuates the notion that glory lies within proximity to whiteness. Historically, lighter-skinned enslaved Africans would be allowed to work in the house and serve their white enslavers due to their “digest-ability” and “attractiveness.” In contrast, darker-skinned enslaved Africans had to work in the fields, out of view of the house and their potential guests. Moreover, colorist discriminatory practices later arose, such as the paper bag test, where individuals had to be lighter than a brown paper bag to be accepted into certain societies or work positions.
Today, colorism still exists throughout the corporate world, the justice system, and popular culture. Some examples include:
- Lighter-skinned women are sentenced to approximately 12% less time behind bars compared to their darker-skinned counterparts
- Employers prefer lighter-skinned candidates regardless of their qualifications
- The skin bleaching industry is worth an estimated $8.8 billion (2022)
Términos recomendados alternativos
Recomendación
We are using capitalization to recognize a larger, interconnected community of Black people with its own cultural, historical, and social significance.
Fuentes
Otros términos relacionados con su búsqueda, que también están presentes en el diccionario: