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STEMS FROM TRADITIONAL RACISM



PROMINENT AMONG ALL MINORITIES IN AMERICA
but MOSTLY AFRICAN AMERICANS

 

COLORISM: prejudice or discrimination based on the relative lightness or darkness of the skin

 

generally a phenomenon ocurring within ones own ethnic race

TRADITIONAL RACISM VS. COLORISM
COLORISM in the BLACK RACE

"THE HIERARCHY EMPLOYED IN COLORISM IS USUALLY THE SAME ONE THAT GOVERNS [TRADITIONAL] RACISM: LIGHT SKIN PRIZED OVER DARK SKIN AND EUROPEAN FACIAL FEATURES AND BODY SHAPES ARE PRIZED OVER AFRICAN FEATURES AND BODY SHAPES" -ANGELA HARRIS

 

 

 

Light skin has been generally favored over dark skin in the African American community.

 

It stems from the history of slavery and segregation in American society.

 

Light Skinned Slaves: Housework

Dark Skinned Slaves: Outdoor Work

 

Colorism also includes:

Hair Texture

Body Figure

Facial Features

"We [African Americans] internalized the racism we experience and since we generally associate white skin with beauty, lighter skin is also associated beauty. Then we internalized it."-Dark Girls Film
 
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