The Politics of Pigmentation

Ray Block Jr.

Fall Semester, 2020

Overview

  1. What is colorism?
  2. Why colorism matters
  3. Race, color, & politics (discussion of the readings)

What is Colorism?

What is Colorism?

Discrimination based on skin tone

  • “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color.” (Walker 1983, 290)
  • a.k.a.: “skin color bias,” “color complex,” “color struck,” etc.

What is Colorism?

Discrimination based on skin tone

  • More generally, reflects inequalities based on physical appearance
  • Product of racial hierarchies (privileges Euro-centric features over Afro-centric ones)
  • Global in scale (most cultures demonstrate color biases)

What is Colorism?

  • Distinguishes public from private identification

What is Colorism?

  • Public: how others perceive you
  • Private: how one perceives oneself
  • Huddle up: think of instances in which these perceptions can/do differ

What is Colorism?

  • assumes both types of perceptions can vary with social context (e.g., passing, status-based whitening/darkening, etc.)

Why Colorism Matters

Why Colorism Matters

The ubiquitous impact of color bias:

  • it shapes how we view ourselves and how others view us
  • it is (unfortunately) part of how we are socialized
  • it can even determine life’s opportunities and outcomes

Why Colorism Matters

  • Unlike racial bias (which can happen between groups),
  • colorism can also happen within groups.

Race, Color, & Politics

Race, Color, & Politics

Things to consider while doing the readings

  • Has colorism gotten progressively better or worse in the last couple decades?
  • What role do the media play in perpetuating colorism?
  • How can the media to help minimize the impact of colorism?