Let's Talk Colorism

Opinion by Wedline Charles

Colorism is a big topic in the African American community. The preference of lighter tone over darker tone skin has been prevalent since forever. Even today, with the amount of representation of African Americans in the media today, it’s not the exact representation we need.

Let’s dig into some history

During slavery it was known for lighter skinned slaves to stay in the house, while the darker skinned slaves worked outside in the fields. This anti-black imagery has been implanted with the African American community.

The paper bag test was a way to hire and bring in black people. The person has to be the same color as the paper bag or lighter to be accepted, while darker skins were further put down. Lighter skinned people were hired, and more respected than the dark skinned.

Even on tv entertainment, the portrayal of a black person would be the use of black face. With using black face and putting on a scary act with it, this caused a fear and hatred in darker colors.

Now just there is white privilege there is also light skinned privilege.

Let’s look at today

In today’s media African Americans are more represented, but is it representing.

In the movie Wreck it Ralph, Princess Tiana, a dark skinned Disney princess was made in a lighter complexion in the movie. They even changed the texture of her hair to a loose curled lighter pattern.

In black sitcom shows, the romantic partner of the black man is always seen as a light skinned woman. In the show Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the character Vivian Banks was played by dark skinned actor was played by Janet Hubert, but then was changed to a light skinned actor Daphne Maxwell Reid.

In the acting industry, light skinned, or mixed black women have been praised rather than dark skinned. Women. Famous actors that contribute to this are: Zendaya, Yara Shahidi, ChloexHalle, Beyonce, etc. The successful and well-known black women in this industry are either mixed or light skinned. Singers like Michelle and Kelly who was in a group with Beyonce in Destiny’s Child, aren’t even acknowledged as Beyonce. This is also seen in the now disbanded group 5th Harmony, doesn’t get as much notice as her other group members.

Even today’s tv shows that are supposed to be based on black people, don’t even have a full black cast. The popular show black-ish talks about a mixed black family, and the struggles they go through.

In the makeup industry, there wasn’t much shades for darker women or men. It was not until Fenty Beauty by Rihanna launched her 40-50 shade makeup, including many skin tones. Now ever since then more makeup companies have opened up to more shades.

This long history of division between these two tones cause internal discriminations between the black community, and not only that but countries around the world. Other countries put a high standard on having a lighter skin as well. It even goes as far to selling whitening cream to bleach the skin as well. Dark skin shouldn’t be discouraged but should be encouraged because every shade has its beauty.