Credit: Chocolate Covered Lies
INTRODUCTION
What is Colorism?
This exhibit defines the term “colorism” as “the favorable or unfavorable treatment of individuals based on the lightness or darkness of their skin color”, among people of the same ethnic or racial group. Colorism has its foundation “deeply rooted in white superiority, white supremacy, white privilege, racism, prejudice, and stereotypes,” and occurs interracially and intraracially.
Interracial colorism involves a member of one racial or ethnic group making a judgment based on the skin color of members belonging to a different racial or ethnic group (White vs. Black). More complex than interracial colorism, intraracial colorism involves a member of one racial or ethnic group making a judgment based on the skin color of members belonging to the same racial or ethnic group (Black vs. Black). “Historically people of color have been victims of interracial and intraracial colorism.”
