COLORISM AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS Colorism and its effects Name:

What is Colorism? A both intra and extra-racial prejudice and favoritism bases on skin color Colorism is a skin color based discrimination where people with lighter skin are treated superior to dark skins. The problem of color stratification is identified across Latinos, Asian-Americans, African-Americans and many other races in the Un. Despite regarding dark-skinned people as more legitimate and authentic than those with lighter skins among the African Americans, light-skinned are still treated with privileges both within and without the community. Name:

Examples of the effects Colorism The practice of playing favors to lighter skins over the darker skins in the African Americans by the American community and other races is observable in many areas of life including the following; Privileges in employment opportunities and better payment to the lighter skin tone even darker skinned person performing the same roles. Lighter skin is favored over a black skin in the American marriage market. There is more discrimination to the black skin in education opportunities than the lighter skins. The light-skinned people are favorable to access better housing opportunities. Dark-skinned people have been using skin- whitening creams to appear more physically appealing. Research based observation indicate dark skinned defendants of African Americans ancestry have a higher probability of getting sever penalty than lighter skin of the same race on crimes of same equivalence. Name:

Where did Colorism come from in the African American Community? The problem of treating the light skin tone with an advantage among the African Americans is deep rooted history according to many works of scholars. It is traced back to the black slavery days in America. Black women were involved in non-consensual relationships with their White masters delivering light-skinned children that were ridiculed by the blacks but treated with lesser prejudice by the White slave owners who regarded them more superior to the ebony black slaves. The mixed-raced individuals found a middle place between the blacks and the whites; typically served lighter jobs compared to the native Blacks in the Whiteman’s farm and even allowed to join schools. Name:

An Investigation to Colorism A research-based analysis like the skin color versus criminal sentencing was conducted by Robert Defina, Lance Hannon, and Sarah Bruch and established suspensions in American schools were significantly related to the skin tone. The findings were published on the Race and Social Problems with the title The Relationship between Skin Tone and School Suspension for African Americans. Name:

An Investigation to Colorism Relationship between Skin Tone and School Suspension for African Americans The darker the skin color, the more likely the suspension. Boys are found to be more prone to suspension than girls across the lightening color of the skin. This translates to men being higher victims of colorism in the African American community than women. Name:

How to fight Colorism Name: Fighting the colorism starts with acknowledging its existence as several studies have pointed the same. People should speak out about the vice and redefine it from preference but discrimination. The Blacks should not be associated with drug use, ghettos, poverty and low life.   Name:

Conclusion Colorism is a negative influence in many areas of the African American life. It's practiced among other races in America as well. The discrimination and favoritism ought to be condemned and fought out to bring equity to all people regardless of how shady or light one's skin is just like racism. Name:

Works Cited Bodenhorn, Howard. "Colorism, Complexion Homogamy, and Household Wealth: Some Historical Evidence." American Economic Review, vol. 96, no. 2, 2006, pp. 256-260. Bodenhorn, Howard, and Christopher Ruebeck. "Colorism and African American Wealth: Evidence from the Nineteenth-Century South." 2005. Bryant, Patience D. The Impact of Colorism on Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities. 2015. "Colorism, Gender, and School Suspension – Inequality by (Interior) Design." Inequality by (Interior) Design, inequalitybyinteriordesign.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/colorism-gender-and-school-suspension/. Harrison, Matthew S., and Kecia M. Thomas. "The Hidden Prejudice in Selection: A Research Investigation on Skin Color Bias." Journal of Applied Social Psychology, vol. 39, no. 1, 2009, pp. 134-168.

Hunter, Margaret. "The Persistent Problem of Colorism: Skin Tone, Status, and Inequality." Sociology Compass, vol. 1, no. 1, 2007, pp. 237-254. Keith, Verna M., and Carla R. Monroe. "Histories of Colorism and Implications for Education." Theory Into Practice, vol. 55, no. 1, 2015, pp. 4-10.