"The tendency to perceive or behave toward members of a racial category based on the lightness or darkness of their skin tone" (Maddox and Gray 2002:250).
Discrimination against those with darker skin.
According to Hochschild and Weaver, "Americans both within and outside a given racial or ethnic group attribute more favorable traits to lighter-skinned members of that group" (2007).
Colorism doesn't operate only in America against African Americans, but in many countries across the globe and in different races and ethnicities.
Colorism doesn't operate only in America against African Americans, but in many countries across the globe and in different races and ethnicities.
Skin color matters.
In a study conducted by Hochschild and Weaver, they found that "the light-skinned have social and economic advantages passed down by their lighter ancestors and that the light-skinned are directly advantaged by their appearance as the phenomenon of colorism would predict" (2007).
"Colorism operates in the political realm in much the same way that it does in the socioeconomic realm; dark skin amplifies racial inequality" (Hochschild & Weaver, 2007).
In an experiment where the race of the political candidate was manipulated and all other factors kept the same, light-skinned candidates were preferred over their darker skinned counterparts. The "blackness" of one's names also affected the preference of the survey respondent. Skin tones, over and above racial groups, leads Whites to penalize darker skinned candidates. (Weaver, 2010).
"Colorism operates in the political realm in much the same way that it does in the socioeconomic realm; dark skin amplifies racial inequality" (Hochschild & Weaver, 2007).
In an experiment where the race of the political candidate was manipulated and all other factors kept the same, light-skinned candidates were preferred over their darker skinned counterparts. The "blackness" of one's names also affected the preference of the survey respondent. Skin tones, over and above racial groups, leads Whites to penalize darker skinned candidates. (Weaver, 2010).
Secondary marginalization.
"Black racial identity is premised on recognition of primary marginalization, whereas skin color differentiation is a form of secondary marginalization" (Hochschild & Weaver, 2007).
"Despite colorism with regard to their preferences and outcomes in all arenas of life, blacks' political attitudes do not vary by skin color because mobilization around primary marginalization trumps mobilization around secondary marginalization" (Hochschild & Weaver, 2007).
To read more about the skin color paradox, click here.
"Despite colorism with regard to their preferences and outcomes in all arenas of life, blacks' political attitudes do not vary by skin color because mobilization around primary marginalization trumps mobilization around secondary marginalization" (Hochschild & Weaver, 2007).
To read more about the skin color paradox, click here.