Introduction
Colorism and racism are very similar, but have one major difference. Racism is discrimination based off of one’s race, regardless of their complexion, while colorism is based off the actual skin tone, as opposed to racial or ethnic identity. Colorism is more likely, than not to benefit those of lighter skin tone (Hunter, 2007).
Colorism may be presented in two forms: interracial colorism and intraracial colorism. Intraracial colorism is discrimination based off an individual’s skin tone within the perpetrator’s racial group. Interracial colorism is discrimination based off an individual’s skin tone outside the perpetrator’s racial group.
Colorism is said to be the byproduct of racism and it perpetuates the idea that being White or closer to White is superior. While colorism exists in other parts of the world this particular work will focus on colorism in the U.S within the black community.
History of Colorism
Colorism in the U.S dates back during slavery times when slave owners would have sex with the slaves and the slaves would birth lighter skinned children. Slave owners would then use the skin tone of the slaves as a type of hierarchy. Slaves with the lighter skin would work indoors completing, relatively easier, domestic tasks and in rare occasions they would receive …show more content…
Dark skin is often portrayed as savage, irrational, ugly, and inferior, while white skin or light skin is portrayed by the opposite: civility, rationality, beauty, and superiority” (Hunter 2007). In an experimental research, Blair, Judd, Sadler and Jenkins found that the more “Afrocentric” a person appears the more susceptible they are to be perceived by African American stereotypes (Blair, Judd, Saddler, Jenkins 2002). Stereotypes and notions like the ones mentioned are enough to discourage an employer from dark skinned African American and hire more light skinned African
Colorism and racism are very similar, but have one major difference. Racism is discrimination based off of one’s race, regardless of their complexion, while colorism is based off the actual skin tone, as opposed to racial or ethnic identity. Colorism is more likely, than not to benefit those of lighter skin tone (Hunter, 2007).
Colorism may be presented in two forms: interracial colorism and intraracial colorism. Intraracial colorism is discrimination based off an individual’s skin tone within the perpetrator’s racial group. Interracial colorism is discrimination based off an individual’s skin tone outside the perpetrator’s racial group.
Colorism is said to be the byproduct of racism and it perpetuates the idea that being White or closer to White is superior. While colorism exists in other parts of the world this particular work will focus on colorism in the U.S within the black community.
History of Colorism
Colorism in the U.S dates back during slavery times when slave owners would have sex with the slaves and the slaves would birth lighter skinned children. Slave owners would then use the skin tone of the slaves as a type of hierarchy. Slaves with the lighter skin would work indoors completing, relatively easier, domestic tasks and in rare occasions they would receive …show more content…
Dark skin is often portrayed as savage, irrational, ugly, and inferior, while white skin or light skin is portrayed by the opposite: civility, rationality, beauty, and superiority” (Hunter 2007). In an experimental research, Blair, Judd, Sadler and Jenkins found that the more “Afrocentric” a person appears the more susceptible they are to be perceived by African American stereotypes (Blair, Judd, Saddler, Jenkins 2002). Stereotypes and notions like the ones mentioned are enough to discourage an employer from dark skinned African American and hire more light skinned African