Historical Roots and Contemporary Implications of Colorism

Colorism is the practice of discrimination where individuals with lighter skin are treated much better or more favorably than individuals with darker skin. This includes unfair judgement, attitudes, and behaviors towards specific skin tones amongst various races. Colorism is the result of racism in the United States; it believes in the idea that white standards of beauty are what the general standard of beauty is and should be. Although there is not much research on the existence of colorism in America due to the topic just recently being recognized as not only a social issue but also a psychological issue, there is now more research being conducted. However, I intend to discuss the effects of colorism on an individual’s self-esteem and their perceived attractiveness. I will also discuss the idea of colorism in American culture, giving detail into the background of where it came from and what it is. I will also portray examples of colorism through personal experience.

Skin color biases, also referred to as colorism, are biased judgments, attitudes, and behaviors toward an individual based on the color of their skin, lightness, and darkness in particular. The little amount of available research on the topic has examined a small select group of variables, such as mate selection, self-esteem, and attractiveness. Although that sounds promising, there is no single study on the differences between African-Americans across several topics, including their psychological aspects which include skin color satisfaction and self-esteem, sociocultural aspects which include media influence on appearance and discriminatory events, and developmental aspects which include ethnic identity and well-being. There is no research on differences in these variables between African-Americans raised in rural areas versus non-rural areas. To examine this, 218 African-American participants were asked to complete several assessments that would measure their perceived skin color, their rural status, and the psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects (Pinkston, 2015). Results showed that there were no significant differences in the variables between lighter and darker-skinned African-Americans and those raised in rural areas versus non-rural areas. However, results did indicate gender differences in skin color satisfaction and an interaction of skin color and rural status on media, which plays a big influence on appearance. Today’s findings suggest that despite the prevalent nature of colorism, there may be a few cultural factors present that help African-Americans overcome some of the adverse effects of skin color biases and discrimination. These factors include things such as racial socialization, self-esteem, and ethnic identity.

The origination of the practice of identification by race and creation of racial terms, such as black and white, has been attributed to European colonists (Wilder, 2010). This statement explains that American settlers in the early 17th century, the Chesapeake colonies of Virginia and Maryland, were rewarded with more land because they were able to work and cultivate the land. With the gift of more land to work, there was an intense need for more workers to work and cultivate the land. British indentured servants, who were the individuals who signed contracts to work for 4 to 7 years with a master who, in turn, would receive food, clothing, shelter, and their ticket to the Americas. They were imported and worked side by side with a small number of slaves from the Americas. Unlike the later African slaves, these indentured servants actually had limited rights, “including the ability to work land for themselves, to own property, including other slaves … to marry [and in some cases] earn or save enough money to purchase their own freedom” (Cheng, 2003). However, over time, competition for land increased and tensions grew. An argument with the governor led by a man named Bacon, a wealthy settler, started a rebellion in 1676. Bacon promised slaves and servants freedom if they joined his cause. Although the success and fire of the rebellion were short-lived, fear of a future rebellion resulted in an increased interest in free captured African slaves. Due to the African slaves not being Christian, they could be treated more poorly than their more fortunate counterpart indentured servants. A slave code was then developed through a series of Virginia laws that removed the limited rights of previous slaves and made African slaves the “primary workforce” for Virginia’s plantations (Cheng, 2003). Since the African slaves looked so different from the indentured servants, their looks, including the color of their skin, “not only marked their newly created subordinate position within Virginian society, it became the justification and reason for that position” (Cheng, 2003), thereby creating the idea of race distinction.

In conclusion, colorism stands as a pervasive issue rooted in discrimination, perpetuating biased judgments based on varying skin tones. Emerging from the shadows of racism, colorism manifests the belief that white standards of beauty dictate the general norm. While the recognition of colorism as both a social and psychological concern has gained traction, extensive research is still underway. This essay delves into the impact of colorism on self-esteem and perceived attractiveness, shedding light on its existence in American culture. The exploration of skin color biases reveals a limited body of research, prompting the need for comprehensive studies across psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects, particularly concerning rural and non-rural backgrounds. Findings suggest that despite the prevalence of colorism, cultural factors, including racial socialization, self-esteem, and ethnic identity, may contribute to mitigating its adverse effects on African-Americans. Tracing the origins, the essay highlights European colonists' role in the creation of racial terms and the subsequent development of color-based distinctions during the early American settlements. The legacy of indentured servants, African slaves, and the emergence of the slave code underscore the deeply entrenched roots of colorism, serving as a justification for racial stratification. In addressing the complexities of colorism, it becomes apparent that understanding its historical context and contemporary implications is essential for fostering a society that transcends skin color biases.