Intro: Racism is seen frequently in the media today, but it’s partner in crime, colorism, is frequently ignored. Colorism is the discrimination of varying skin tones, and unlike racism does not revolve around one particular race or ethnic group, however, usually people with darker skin tones are more affected. Though we can agree that colorism and racism are still very prevalent in today’s society it is difficult to come to total agreement on the effects it has and their severity. In one part of the world colorism provides segregation, suppression, and lost opportunities; however in others one may argue colorism provides necessary revenue. In Attitudes Towards Muslim Women in the West the author addresses this issue of race in modern day society through a social lens. She writes, “ the problem, of course, with ideas of “saving”other women is that they depend on and reinforce a sense of superiority by westerners.” This idea of western superiority is the same idea that fuels colorism. Western and white superiority caused the original social divide between white and colored skin tones, from here this inequality divided into light and dark superiority. Meanwhile, Joe Hill Street Art inspires a geographical perspective on the issue. His art argues that all issues can be seen differently from another location. This demonstrates the key disagreement people face on the topic of colorism; in one area on earth, colorism is essential, on another, it is detrimental. The information provided from the texts in relation to colorism can be used to ask, how does the persistence of colorism continue to impact society today? By analyzing this issue’s effect on African Americans historically, socially, within childhood, and throughout life I’ve found that colorism continues to impact society in a myriad of ways.
Colorism’s foundation: In colonial America black people were seen as barbaric, evil, and stupid. Most black Americans were enslaved and forced to work for unrealistic hours in harsh settings. However, the slave trade also brought a new aspect into American societal norms. Mixed race people such as mulattos, African Americans, and mixed race Natives became more common (Feagin). These groups also happen to be the defining factor in the creation of American colorist. “Many mixed race Blacks or mulattoes were afforded educational opportunities and more favorable jobs during slavery than darker-skinned individuals. It has been argued that visible White ancestry (more Eurocentric features in African Americans) became a basis for societal privileges prior to and after the abolition of slavery,” (Adams). Due to lighter skin many mixed race individuals were able to access a better education, better jobs, and overall more resources. This made the socioeconomic and educational gap bigger between lighter and darker skin tones. (Hall). Additionally, many multiracial people did not want to be associated with the hated darker skin tones, causing the segregation to expand further and overall developing the colorist that is prevalent in today’s society.
Hollywood representation of the average American tends to influence American beauty standards and culture. Recently Hollywood has been under fire for a lack of roles for black actors. Actors have been under fire for allowing magazines, books, and movie posters to lighten their skin tones “quote on book and Beyoncé” (cite) and corporations such as (casting call) have been seen releasing casting calls such as this one for Straight Outta Compton:. “A GIRLS: These are the hottest of the hottest. Models… You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too…
B GIRLS: These are fine girls….You should be light-skinned. Beyonce is a prototype here….
C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned…
D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone…”(cite). Both of these examples demean and devalue women whom have dark skin. Researchers such as Dr. Elizabeth Adams (talk about her) believe that it is this treatment of darker skin tones that causes beauty standards to focus on lighter skin tones, “Black women in the media who have been viewed as ‘sex symbols’ have typically been of light complexion, perpetuating the idea that Black women must be light skinned to be considered attractive/beautiful,” (11). Hollywood and the media continue to spread this idea (whether it's purposeful or not) that lighter skin tones are more attractive, which in turn causes darker women to be more and more insecure. In a study done by Bond and Cash 70% of college age women that they tested believed that the three lightest skin tones were the most attractive to men. Statistics like these prove the self esteem issues women of color face, which makes it easy to understand why women such as Beyoncé allow editors to change their skin tone and features. Many actresses and singers have also been accused of becoming “visibly whiter”, “Women and men of color have ever-increasing opportunities to alter their bodies toward whiteness.They can purchase lighter-colored contact lenses for their eyes; they can straighten kinky or curly hair; they can have cosmetic surgeries on their lips, noses, or eyes,” (Hunter). The media's portrayal of beauty mixed with self esteem issues causes people of colour to go through percent and dangerous procedures to alter themselves which causes more anxiety, more inequality, and more self hatred. The only way to end this meaningless cycle is to put to shame colorist casting calls and alterations like the aforementioned
Colorism and Childhood Development:
With the knowledge that children develop biases and opinions on skin tones at such a young age it isn’t hard to believe that racism impacts children greatly at these ages as well. Proof of this is most clear in three studies, one performed by Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer, renowned child psychologist, with help from CNN, another done by CP Porter, and lastly one done by Tangela L Williams and Denise Davidson.In each of these experiments white and black children were tested in order to discover their opinions and perception of other races, and in each it was found that the darker the skin, the worse the opinions were. Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer’s test mirrored Clark and Clark’s doll test performed in 1947, in the original test children were asked a series of questions about a black and white doll, such as: Which is the ugly child?, Which is the dumb child?, and Which child would you like to be more like?. In Dr. Beale’s recreation she asked 130 black and white children aged 4,5,9, and 10 the same questions about a range of five skin tones. The following is a excerpt from an interview with one of the children:
“UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show me the dumb child.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Dumb child? (*points to darkest skin tone*)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Why is she the dumb child?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because she has black skin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
Show me the bad child. (*child points to darkest skin tone*)
Why is he the bad child?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because he's really dark.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show me the dumb child. (*child points to darkest skin tone*)
Why is she the dumb child?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because she looks black-black.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show me the good child. (*child points to second lightest skin tone*) Why is she the good child?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because she looks whiter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show me the child you would like to have as a classmate. (*child points to lightest skin tone*)Why would you like to have him as a classmate?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Because he's white.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Show me the child who has the skin color most adults like. And show me the child who has the skin color most adults don't like.”(CNN) Throughout the entirety of the experiment results similar to these pop up, it is reported that among the tested five year old white children 77% said the two darkest skin tones were the dumbest and 66% believed the darkest skin tones were the mean children as well as the children most kids and adults disliked (CNN). In C.P. Porter’s test 9-11 year olds were asked to chose which was the more attractive skin tone between light and dark tones (Porter) A majority of the children chose the light tones stating it was more attractive and more likely to appear as desirable for the opposite sex (Adams). The last study, performed by Williams and Davidson focused on the characteristics that first and third graders associated with varying shades of skin colors (Williams & Davidson). The study showed that children usually copra late positive rains with people who have light skin and negative traits with those who have darker skin (Adams). Overall, all three of the aforementioned studies came to the result that both black and white children perceive negative connotation with darker skin colors, additionally they found that children with darker skin have significantly worse self esteem/ appreciation of their own skin color. Colorism has a profound effect on the delicate psyche of children's developing brains, however, this impact expands into additional areas of life once children reach adulthood.
COLORISM”S EFFECTS ON DAILY LIFE:
COUNTERCLAIM (ECONOMIC)
CONCLUSION: Colorism is one of the many disgusting forms of oppression that riddles our everyday life. It is deep rooted in our society and continues to have a large impact on American society as well as the lives from start to finish of African Americans within the U.S. . If we stop making excuses such as “colorism has economic benefit) and look at the facts of these issues we may be able to better the lives of People of Colour around the world as well as ensure a future in which we and our children can live side by side with any other human being, free of discrimination and oppression. We must not ignore the impact issues like these have or else we risk worsening them and our country’s future.