What is Colorism?

Colorism is "prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group."

In the black community, people trace this issue back to the days of slavery when slaves were separated by skin color. The slaves with lighter skin worked inside the house, while the darker slaves were in the fields. This practice brought us the terms "house negro” and "field negro”. The slaves in the house were often treated better than the field slaves. They had better clothing, better food, and sometimes were even able to receive an education. It is not hard to see how feelings of superiority and inferiority could have arisen from this.

Beginning in the early 1900s, the paper bag test was used to compare individuals' skin color to that of a paper bag. If you were darker than the bag, you were denied certain privileges. The irony of this is that other black people were performing the test. The paper bag test determined whether you were admitted into universities, hired for jobs, or allowed into a party. Lighter-skinned individuals even formed special groups after slavery that excluded dark-skinned people. These groups were called "Blue Vein Societies."

Unfortunately, black people have internalized this trauma and carried it through hundreds of years. We have long suffered at the hands of systemic racism and its perpetrators while also battling our internal traumas. Most dark-skinned people can recall a time when their skin color made them the butt of jokes. We have all heard insults like "tar baby," "blackie”, "dark butt," "crispy," "blue-black," "burnt," and the list goes on.

While the paper bag test is not openly used in current times, it is still used subliminally. Studies have shown that light-skinned people are less likely to be convicted of crimes and usually receive shorter sentences than dark-skinned people. Skin tone has still been shown to affect hiring practices. Colorism even makes its way into our romantic relationships. When you are consistently made to feel like you are less than others because of your skin color, it makes sense that you may begin to resent it.

So, what is the answer to this issue?

The first step is for everyone to admit that colorism exists and that it is an issue. After that, validating people's stories and pain is important, even if it makes us uncomfortable. Do not tell a victim they are just insecure or "shouldn't worry about what people think." We have to challenge these problematic ideals and those who uphold them. We cannot allow people to hide behind the word "preference" when choosing to discriminate based on skin color. There is a vast difference between a preference and a requirement. You can prefer white cars, but if you receive a black Ferrari with all the features, you won't turn it down, right? The same thing applies here.

A lack of unity blocks progression, and we have to do better. If you are light-skinned, it is okay to acknowledge the privilege you have. It isn't your fault, but it is your responsibility to bring attention to situations where that privilege oppresses. It doesn't diminish your beauty or greatness to do so. If you are dark-skinned, keep telling your stories. Do not allow people to gaslight you about your experiences. You are not imagining it, and you are not insecure for bringing attention to it. And please know that you are not beautiful despite your skin. You are beautiful, period.