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'Colorism' is a form of discrimination that is an international phenomenon, where human beings are accorded differing social and/or economic status and treatment based on skin color. Colorism can be found across the world. The term generally is applied to non-white peoples who discriminate against members of their own ethnic group.
With colorism, usually lighter skin tones are preferred, and darker skin is considered less desirable. An example of this phenomenon in the United States occurs in African-American communities, where it is often called ''color consciousness''. In the U.S., the phenomenon also occurs in other populations, such as among Chicanos and other Latinos and Indian immigrants.
Also labelled as colorism, but rarely discussed, is the phenomenon of darker skinned people discriminating against lighter tones within the same ethnic group. This most often occurs in African-American communities. It seems to stem from residual anger from perceived historical discrimination against those with darker skin tones by those lighter skin who were often favored by white people dating back to slavery.

Contents

African-Americans

The "Blue Vein Society"

Books about colorism

Colorism outside the United States

Colorism in Indian Society

See also

External links

African-Americans

The "brown paper bag test" was a ritual once practiced by certain African-American fraternities and sororities who discriminated against people who were "too dark." That is, these groups would not let anyone into the sorority or fraternity whose skin tone was darker than a paper lunch bag. Spike Lee's film ''School Daze'' satirizes this practice.
While stated less explicitly, Colorism can be seen in instances on the NBC drama ''.^[1] On the show, a main character Baltimore Police Lieutenant Al Giardello, a darker skinned African American officer is discrimated against by his lighter skinned African American superior officers Deputy Commissioner of Operations James C. Harris and Colonel George Barnfather. Additionally, Giardello is discriminated against by African American women as his appearance is "too black".^[2]

The "Blue Vein Society"

Following the Emancipation, mulatto societies such as as "The Blue Vein Society" came into prominence. Its members were often well-connected free-born or freed individuals of mixed African, European, and occasionally of Native American blood. To be eligible for membership, one's skin color had to be pale enough that the "blue veins" on the underside of the arm were visible. Such restrictive organizations allowed its members and their offspring to meet, co-mingle and marry, thereby preserving what small privilege the mulatto elite had enjoyed before all slaves were set free. Uneducated, or economically disadvantaged mixed race individuals, even those whose skin color was technically light enough to qualify them for admission, were still rarely welcomed.
The original "Blue Veins" were said to have been organized in New England. Their primary objective was to establish and maintain "correct" social standards amongst a people whose social condition, by virtue of their white bloodlines and powerful family connections. Today, social clubs such as Links and Jack and Jill are said to serve the same purpose for the Black middle class; however, in the late 20th century, economic standing, social position or professional affiliation often provide entry into these organizations to those who fit the physical criteria of having light skin.

Books about colorism

★ ''The Color Complex'' by Kathy Russell & Midge Wilson (ISBN 0-385-47161-0)

★ ''Don't Play In the Sun'' by Marita Golden (ISBN 0-385-50786-0)

★ ''The Bluest Eye'' by Toni Morrison (ISBN 0-452-28219-5)


★ ''Flesh and the Devil'' by Kola Boof (ISBN 0-9712019-7-8)


★ ''The Blacker the Berry'' by Wallace Thurman (ISBN 0-684-81580-X)

★ ''Caucasia'' by Danzy Senna

Colorism outside the United States

Colorism also occurs in many eastern cultures where fair people are considered to be more superior, affluent, and powerful then those of a darker skin tone. In some Latin American countries such as Brazil, "race" is often more a matter of skin tone and social status than actual ancestry.
Colorism can be identified as a direct consequence of the social stratification of colonial societies, especially the ones affected by slavery.
The phenomenon can be identified in the Americas from United States to Caribbean countries to South America.
In the French West Indies, new born children can be deemed as "sauvé" (saved) when their skin tone is light enough to represent a chance at better social status.
The same patterns that discriminate dark skin are also applied to other physical features that are directly linked to African heritage: hair, face features, etc.

Colorism in Indian Society

In the Indian Sub-continent, light skin is deemed more beautiful, in both men and women. Indian actors and actress almost always have milky white skin, or use lots of makeup to made to look lighter. Actress Bipasha Basu who has darker skin than most other Indian actresses, has been made to look lighter through makeup and her pictures are airbrushed for the same purpose. Indians have many skin colors, ranging from white to black and everything in between. Many Indians think it's natural to consider light skin to be more beautiful than dark skin. Historical Indian caste differences as well as a long history of invasion and colonization may play a part in this prejudice.
However in Sri Lanka colorism was historically absent. But there are indications that colorism might spread to Sri Lanka as Sri Lankans have started to watch a lot of Indian films and teledramas.

See also

★ Colonial mentality

★ Skin whitening

★ Hutu & Tutsi

★ Human skin color

★ Blackness

★ Paper bag party

★ Black is Beautiful

★ Pigmentocracy

★ One-drop rule

External links

★ Dealing with Colourism: A Step Towards the African Revolution

★ THE PAPER BAG TEST, an editorial by Bill Maxwell about blacks discriminating against blacks, ''St. Petersburg Times'', August 31 2003, discusses the history of the test.

★ AUTHENTIC BLACKNESS...Magazine article inwhich Nigerian Scholar Chinweizu and Sudanese novelist Kola Boof document the African viewpoint of what is a "black" person and analyze colorism's effects on that criteria.

★ Black African Focus

★ [1]Homicide: Life on the Street: progress in portrayals of African American men- Article explaining Black on Black discrimination within Baltimore Police Department as seen on ''.
"The Face of Colorism (Black is beautiful....only if you're light-skinned)"
http://students.ou.edu/M/Craig.A.Marroquin-1/colorism.html
Origin of Rainbows: Colorism Exposed Documentary (http://www.colorismexposed.com)