Colorism -The Light-Skinned Opinion of One Woman
Colorism is prejudice against people who have a darker skin tone — and/or the preferential treatment of those who are of the same race but…
Colorism is prejudice against people who have a darker skin tone — and/or the preferential treatment of those who are of the same race but lighter-skinned.
In 1983 Vanessa Williams makes history and becomes the first black Miss America…no, was allowed to become the first Black Miss America. I’m not taking anything away from my girl Vanessa, but I am sure that others both light and dark had the qualifications but were not given the chance, but I digress. This was a big moment for me. Please note that I am not saying that I am as beautiful as the much respected Vanessa but statements like “she does not represent blacks” hit me like a dagger, I am closer to her color than any other. If she does not represent black neither do I. However, the absolute worst part about that statement is that it was repeatedly said to me like I should not be offended like you were not speaking to a light skin black woman. It was said so cavalier.
There has been a lot of discussion on this topic as of late. I have been watching Red Table talk (I love), and other TV shows and much of the narrative is about how darker skinned women have been treated by white America and even lighter skinned blacks. Since there is such a revolutionary house cleaning going on with race relations in America, we the Black community need to clean our own house as well. I won’t make this a woe is me essay from a poor light skin woman but I will say that I feel that some of the narrative has been a bit one sided.
I agree that light skin women tend to have it a bit easier with the white community as a whole. Perhaps, it has to do with the fact that they think we are more palatable (that sentiment is ridiculous but certainly a good possibility). I’ve personally experienced little peril when dealing with white America in my job or my social activities. And yes mostly I was the only black person in the room so I most likely benefited from my skin tone. And yes, I have heard it repeated “you are not a normal black person” and I never had the courage to correct that comment. I guess what I am saying in a long winded way is, yes I agree that my skin tone may have helped me in the white world but it hasn’t helped me with my own people.
Understand that I am very aware that this divide was by design and the privilege would go all the way back to slavery as most of the lighter skinned slaves were the master’s children so favor was shown. And even in our recent history in entertainment and in corporate America, light-skinned women may be getting the shine that should be spread across all shades of black. This dates back to the plantation and the trauma that it holds still in our existence. However, it continues to provide a divide that we should be smart enough to recognize by now.
Although I grew up in a black neighborhood, I never fit in. I didn’t even really encounter a white person until I went to college, so where could these feelings come from? They came from my very own community. As a light skin person, I know that I am not white; I know that I am black, but when your own community favors a dislike just because you are light skin that too has a major effect on you and your well-being. Just saying that the trauma can go both ways. I heard things like; “you think you are white” (by the way I am light skin but trust me you know that I am black), I was jumped (attacked, not white girl attacked but really attacked hence the word JUMPED) several times by my darker counterparts and constantly told that “you think you are better than me.” It made for a very insecure teenage girl. I guess that was just part of my “light Skin Privilege. I know what I am saying is not going to go well, but I do feel that this side needs to be addressed.
I am sure that I was not the only light skin girl that experienced this kind of thing. I know that I would walk into a room and I knew immediately the women/girls that were going to have an issue with me. I changed my personality to be somewhat of a kiss ass just so that I would be liked. I went out of my way to show the darker-skinned girls how great I was just so they would accept me, but without fail through my formative years there would almost always be a turn and I would find myself cutting out of school early to run home before so I would not beat up. I remember a specific time when a group of girls followed me home from school. I ran into my house and when my mother came out to ask what was going on, they proceeded to request that my mother send me out so that they can hang, and here is the quote…” my high yellow ass up in the tree.” There goes that ‘light-skinned privilege’ again.
Now I am a grown, professional, and educated woman that understands that these girls were also in their formative years and much growing and wisdom were needed for them to understand their behavior. Understanding that gives me closure. Kids can be some of the meanest people that you meet in your childhood. Learning makes you better and I know that most of those girls are better and know their worth as women now.
I want you to take away that within our community we are both guilty of making each other feel less than. I am hopeful that anyone reading this essay takes away that we need to have empathy and understanding on both the dark skin and light skin side, as the trauma presents in different ways. Lastly, I hope that what I have communicated sparks a much-needed conversation that is truthful and honest. I hope that this division that was not caused by us, will end with us.
Written by Annalisse Stanley & Shaunte Young