Color Me Beautiful

Let’s play a game. Let’s identify words that go together in Caribbean and African American communities:

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Rice and Peas. Black and Ugly.

Yes, black and ugly. Black as in complexion, and ugly as in physical appearance. Somehow in our communities we have coupled black with ugly.  The consequence of that coupling is the idea that darker complexions are unattractive, inferior and undesirable. Moreover, it speaks to an age old issue – COLORISM. Colorism has its roots in slavery, where preferential treatment was given to slaves with fairer complexions while darker-skinned slaves worked the plantations or the more grueling arduous tasks. By definition, it is “prejudice or discrimination against individuals with darker skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.” Although the ideology is centuries old, colorism is a perpetual practice affecting the education, occupation and income of many. Further, it continues to be a hot topic addressed in several forums.

World renowned Dancehall artist and “Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta” star Spice, in her latest single, “Black Hypocrisy,” addresses in revealing and personal detail, the impact of colorism in her life and career as an entertainer.  Spice’s open and honest dialogue about the subject is timely and necessary given the impact and influence the media (including social media) has on the development and identity of children and young adults, and our collective consciousness.

Spice in July 2018 (left) versus her photoshopped image used to promote the release of “Black Hypocrisy" (right) published to Instagram @spiceofficial on 10/22/2018.

“I was told I would reach further if the color of my skin was lighter/ And I was made to feel inferior ‘cause society say brown girls prettier…”                   

SpiceOfficialVEVO on YouTube

Our silence about colorism, condones, validates and sustains it. Here is why it is imperative that we confront the subject and adjust our approach.

It preserves features of slavery and promotes disparaged economic outcomes

Although slavery has been abolished, the color caste systems remains in place, internalized both by people of African descent and Caucasian populations. During and after slavery light skinned blacks began to assume better socioeconomic status because of the preferential treatment they received (and continue to receive), because of their skin tone. A University of Georgia study conducted in 2006 revealed that employers prefer light-skinned black men to their dark-skinned counterparts. The study’s findings revealed that employment preference was given to light-skinned black males with a Bachelor’s degree and typical work experience over dark-skinned black males with an MBA and past managerial work history.  A Vanderbilt University study of 2,000 immigrants found that those with the lightest complexions earned on average 8-15% more than similarly qualifies immigrants of darker skin tones.

It fosters low self-esteem and self hatred

Since socioeconomic opportunities and success are influenced by skin tone, those with darker skin, upon recognizing the societal disadvantages associated with their darker complexions, are likely to experience negative psychological effects such as frustration, depression and/or lower self-esteem.

In extreme displays of disdain for darker complexions and self, some black people purposely reproduce with individuals of lighter complexion. The idea is that this will improve the likelihood that their children will be of a lighter complexion and this will ensure better life outcomes for them.

It promotes a narrow standard of beauty

Colorism serves to advance Eurocentric standards of beauty within black communities. Within or communities, girls of darker skin tones (men too) are under represented on TV Shows, magazines and promotional material. 

Even when promoting events that are predominately attended by members of black communities, such as Caribbean Carnivals, white or lighter-complexions models are used during promotion.  The next time Carnival comes around or you pick up a flier for a black event, pay attention to the hue of the promo-model.

Combating Colorism

1.      One way of promoting a strong sense of identity and resiliency is to educate black children about their history.  An understanding of racism and classism will further a child’s understanding of why no one’s complexion is innately good or bad.

 2.      Representation is crucial for self-esteem. For young people, seeing people who share their physical traits represented in different forms of media will improve the desirability of how you feel about yourself.  Black children should be exposed to toys, books and TV programs and video games which include characters with protagonists/heroes who look like them.

 3.      Be mindful of your interaction and communication with and around children as it relates to complexion. Here are some things to avoid:

• Ridiculing or putting a child down about their complexion. The mental scarring produced is sometimes irreparable.

• Telling a child not to play in the sun because they’ll get dark. This sends the idea that darker complexions are unfavorable.

• Mentioning complexion in a compliment, such as “pretty for a black girl,” “pretty dark-skinned girl,“ or “handsome black man.” The inclusion of complexion in the compliment suggests “in spite of the fact that…”

• Describing individuals according to their complexion. Terms such as, “red bone”, “yellow” and “chocolate” places too much importance on skin tone. Instead we can place more emphasis on traits that matter by describing individuals by their personality or talents.    

The main trait that continues to distinguish dominance and success in our world today is skin tone. We are born with our “natural” complexion predetermined by our genetic make-up, yet there is a penalty associated with those born with a darker hue. Unfortunately, the end of slavery did not mean the end of the color caste system.

Colorism in the black community is not a new concept, but it is not acknowledged as much as it should be. Perhaps, blacks see the fight against racial hierarchy as requiring their full attention, so much so that they either cannot see, or do not acknowledge the internal hierarchy of skin tone within our ranks and its effects on our collective consciousness.

 I think; therefore, I am...black without apology.

My black is beautiful, your colorism is ugly.