Racism and historical beliefs that favor the light skin color of the White people over the darker skin tones have enabled colorism to persist in today’s society. The preferential treatment of light-skinned black people over the dark-skinned has created a lot of disparities among African Americans. Although the issue of colorism is promoted by the societal preference for fair skin tone over darker skin color, the narrative is deeply rooted in the African American family setups. Even at a young age, children experience preferential treatment based on their skin tones and grow up knowing that a lighter skin tone is superior to darker skin pigmentation. A claim in Flake and Jason’s book The Skin I’m In demonstrates that colorism begins at an early age through the assertion, “I didn’t used to mind being this color. Then kids started teasing me about it. Making me feel like something was wrong with how I look” (42). Skin color gradation determines African Americans’ life chances and opportunities because it influences how these individuals are perceived and treated. Colorism affects the educational, relational, financial, physical, and psychological outcomes of African Americans.
Colorism adversely affects educational attainment among African Americans, which determines future success. Research indicates that dark-skinned black students experience many barriers in the school environment that adversely affect their educational outcomes compared to their light-skinned counterparts (Crutchfield 15). As early as kindergarten, African American children begin to show preferences for medium or light skin tones while negatively stereotyping the dark skin tones. This is affirmed by a statement in Flake and Jason’s book The Skin I’m In, which says, “He’s my color, but since second grade, he’s been teasing me about being too black” (4). Research shows that teachers are more likely to award better grades to light-skinned black students than dark-skinned ones (Crutchfield 15). Similarly, the light-skinned African Americans are likely to receive more academic support in terms of mentorship and educational resources, while the dark-skinned students are left out. Furthermore, increased disciplinary infractions such as suspensions that indiscriminately affect dark-skinned black students have been linked with less academic success. Therefore, institutional bias, less academic support, and disciplinary infractions contribute to a lower academic achievement of the dark-skinned students compared to their lighter counterparts.
Variations in skin tone considerably affect social relationships among black people. Among the African American women and girls, a light skin tone is perceived as more attractive than a dark skin tone. This perception is consistent with a statement from The Bluest Eye, which says, “The distaste must be for her, her blackness…But her blackness is static and dread” (Morrison 162). A study by Keyes et al. indicates that 74% of African American men prefer dating or marrying fair-skinned women, 22% prefer middle skin tones, while only 4% would have a relationship with dark-skinned women (678). Due to such preferences, dark-skinned women have fewer chances of getting married than their light-skinned peers. Additionally, African American women prefer dating fair-skinned men compared to those with a darker skin tone. Research deduced that 64% of black women would like to have a relationship with fair-skinned men, while 6% and 30% preferred men with medium and dark skin tones, respectively (Keyes et al. 678). Thus, it is evident that light-skinned black people are perceived to have a higher social value which adversely affects the social relationships of the dark-skinned black people.
Colorism creates employment inequalities among black people affecting their economic outcomes. Research shows that light-skinned African Americans are more likely to graduate from college and get well-paying jobs than their dark-skinned counterparts (Greenidge). This is partly due to the discriminatory practices in learning institutions, which may cause the dark-skinned students to drop out of school or register poor results, limiting their employment chances. Apart from the increased opportunities to acquire good jobs, light-skinned black people are more likely to earn more or hold more prominent job positions than their dark-skinned peers (Fitzgerald et al. 30). This is regardless of similarities in previous jobs or resumes. Such employment inequalities may be based on employers’ presumption that light-skinned black people are more intelligent than their dark-skinned colleagues. Reports indicate that the difference in salaries between light-skinned and dark-skinned men equals the pay gap between Whites and people of color (Greenidge). Dark-skinned men are increasingly at a disadvantage because they are often perceived as aggressive and violent, limiting their chances of being hired. Therefore, colorism predisposes dark-skinned African Americans to economic woes due to few employment opportunities or low pay.
The difference in skin tone significantly affects black women’s roles and representation in film. Even though the portrayal of African American women and girls has dramatically improved, the issue of colorism is still predominant, particularly in Hollywood. Research indicates that 80% of African American women characters are fair-skinned or have a medium skin tone (Tapp). Additionally, only 19% of dark-skinned black women were given leading roles in the past decade (Tapp). In another report, Thandiwe Newton publicly apologized to dark-skinned actresses for being given a privilege in film roles over them (Yancey-Bragg). Other films which have received criticism for targeting light-skinned black women characters include Bridgerton and The Harder They Fall (Yancey-Bragg). Similarly, colorism greatly affects black women in the music industry. The success of some famous black female artists, such as Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, can be attributed to their fair skin color (Khanna and Matsumoto 53). Hence, it is apparent that black women’s representation in the film and music industries is greatly influenced by colorism. This may explain why many African American women experience the urge to lighten their skin color to fit in these industries.
The skin tone variation may influence African Americans’ abilities to hold public office. A report shows that dark-skinned black people have fewer chances of being elected to public offices than their lighter peers (Keyes et al. 678). This is due to the perception that light-skinned politicians are more prepared than their dark-skinned opponents. The American National Election Study deduced that dark-skinned African American candidates were 52% less likely to be perceived as educated by the white voters than their fair-skinned contestants (Keyes et al. 678). Another research showed that black millennial voters were more inclined to vote for dark-skinned candidates than light-skinned ones (Lemi and Brown 259). In this case, young black voters perceive that political candidates with prototypical Afrocentric physical outlooks, such as dark skin and textured hair, are more hardworking and have more progressive policies than their fair-skinned counterparts (Lemi and Brown 259). Hence, the black millennials view the light-skinned candidates as less supportive of the Black Nationalist ideologies. Therefore, colorism affects black people’s ability to be elected because some people may view dark-skinned people as less educated hence unfit for office compared to their light-skinned peers.
Skin tone stratification results in poor physical health outcomes among black people. Colorism has been linked to various cardiovascular ailments such as hypertension and high blood pressure among African Americans (Monk 41). Additionally, skin tone stratification among the black community has been connected to obesity, with dark-skinned African American women being more likely to be obese across their lifespan than their light-skinned peers (Monk 41). The cause of poor health outcomes among dark-skinned African Americans has been associated with their perceived discrimination and low socioeconomic status (SES) (Hargrove 383). Perceived discrimination causes an allosteric load, thus predisposing dark-skinned black people to hypertension. In regards to SES, colorism affects access to opportunities and resources. As such, light-skinned black people are most likely to have better incomes than their dark-skinned counterparts. This implies that fair-skinned African Americans are exposed to low risks and have adequate resources to access healthcare services when need be. Alternatively, the dark-skinned black people are more exposed to diverse life stressors, and due to their low income, healthcare accessibility becomes a greater challenge. Therefore, perceived discrimination and socioeconomic status cause health disparities among African Americans.
Colorism has adverse effects on African Americans’ psychological health outcomes. Dark-skinned black people are exposed to many life stressors than their light-skinned counterparts. They are discriminated against, which limits their employment and relational chances. The extent of discrimination against dark-skinned black people is demonstrated by an assertion from Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, which states, “The master had said, ‘You are ugly people.’ They had looked about themselves and saw nothing to contradict the statement; … every glance” (27). Darker-skinned men show increased microaggressions than their fair-skinned counterparts due to existing stereotypes that they are unintelligent, violent, and dangerous (Keith et al. 235). These life stressors expose dark-skinned African Americans to depressive symptoms (Louie 1). However, the psychological deterioration is greatly experienced by dark-skinned women compared to men. Colorism triggers low self-esteem among dark-skinned African American women because they feel unattractive and not good enough as their light-skinned counterparts. The dark skin tone among black women places them in quadruple jeopardy because they are affected by issues of race, gender, class, and colorism (Hall 72). Dealing with these stressors has pervasive impacts on dark-skinned black women, particularly depression.
The light-skinned African Americans also experience the deleterious impacts of colorism. Although light-skinned black people enjoy substantial privileges which are still unattainable to their dark-skinned counterparts, they face intraracial discrimination. Being mixed-race or light-skinned exposes African Americans to stigma where their self-identity is questioned (Khanna 150). The lack of a sense of belonging can be stressful and cause loneliness among this population. The ethnoracial ambiguity associated with the light-skinned African Americans creates anxiety and the desire for darker skin to gain acknowledgment as members of the black community. Research indicates that some light-skinned black women wish to have children with a dark skin tone so they would have a greater sense of identity and not be questioned about their race (Monk 3). As a result, some light-skinned African American women may prefer to marry dark-skinned black men so that their children may have a dark skin tone. Thus, colorism affects the mental health of the light-skinned black people because of the internal conflicts surrounding their identity and the lack of a sense of belonging.
The adverse impacts of skin tone gradation on African Americans extend to the criminal justice system. Skin tone variations among black people influence the incidences of police stops, arrests, and sentencing (Monk 2). Dark-skinned black people, particularly men, are more likely to be profiled as criminals and hence have higher rates of being stopped by the police or arrested compared to their light-skinned counterparts. Even at a young age, dark-skinned black students have a higher risk of being sent to prison compared to their light-skinned peers (Keyes et al. 678). Colorism has been identified as an influential factor in determining the criminal outcomes of African Americans. A study by Monk indicates that sentencing decisions are influenced mainly by stereotypes about the level of danger associated with an individual and the possibility of recidivism (4). Therefore, dark-skinned black people are more likely to be given longer sentences than their light-skinned counterparts because they are perceived as more violent and likely to commit crimes after serving their prison terms (Keith et al. 237). It is evident that skin tone influences policing and criminal justice punishment among African Americans.
Colorism is more impactful for black women than it is for men. Colorism is highly gendered; it influences African American women’s lives more than men’s. For example, a fair skin tone is regarded as a form of social capital for women (Khanna and Matsumoto 53). This is because beauty and attractiveness are essential elements of SES success for women. The light-skinned black women are more likely to acquire more economic and social resources than their dark-skinned counterparts (Reece 54). Similarly, light-skinned African American women have increased chances of marrying men with more economic and social status due to their perceived attractiveness compared to dark-skinned women (Hargrove 373). Due to the societal preference for a lighter skin tone, many black women and girls have turned to bleach chemicals to lighten their skin to enjoy the privileges given to light-skinned people. However, some bleaching agents may contain dangerous chemicals which may pose adverse health impacts, including damage to the liver, kidneys, and the brain (Akinniyi 448). Thus, the effects of colorism mostly affect women more than men because women are more concerned about their physical appearance.
In conclusion, skin tone stratification continually shapes African Americans’ life experiences and opportunities. Colorism affects all critical elements in the lives of black people, including education, employment, relationships, and physical and mental health outcomes. The lack of educational and employment opportunities adversely affects the financial outcomes and socioeconomic status of dark-skinned black people. Additionally, the skin tone gradation affects social relationships among African Americans because fair-skinned individuals are regarded as the preferred mates, limiting the chances of dark-skinned African Americans, particularly women, to get married. Similarly, due to discrimination and inequalities caused by colorism, dark-skinned black people experience a lot of life stressors resulting in adverse health conditions like hypertension. Equally important, skin tone variation negatively impacts black people’s mental health due to perceived discrimination, limited opportunities, and a lack of identity for mixed-race individuals. Moreover, colorism affects the African American’s ability to hold public offices as well as the arrests and sentencing of the black people. Lastly, the impacts of colorism significantly affect black women more than men, which has triggered African American women and girls to lighten their skins to gain acceptance in society.
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