Colourism is the daughter of racism - Lupita Nyong’o
The word colourism doesn’t officially exist but Author Alice Walker made it relevant and gave it meaning.
Colourism is the prejudice against people who have a darker skin tone or the preferential treatment of those who are of the same race but lighter skinned. Skin colour will continue to serve as the most obvious criteria in determining how a person will be evaluated and judged.
Physical attractiveness, whiteness and youthfulness have acquired capital and value just as dark skin and hair texture have devalued feminine currency - Meeta Rani Jha
Its a very common phenomenon throughout all parts of the world where skin-tone plays a massive role in one’s value. My Indian friends always mention how being darker makes it harder in their culture to find husbands. Women with fairer skin tones are more preferable.
Colourism is a personal thing, by this I mean you choose to see colour, and have certain “preferences” like those people who declare they prefer lighskin babes over dark skin babes. And their reasons behind that being that dark skin women are masculine and less gentle compared to their counterparts. But that’s a discussion for another blog post...
Colourism can cause trauma at a systematic level. Although it doesn’t mean darker skinned people are deprived of opportunities, they are more disadvantaged. They’re discriminated against by the system.
You have to be aware of your light skin privilege first in order to understand it and how it makes the world move.
Tarie Speaks
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