The Prevalence of the Issue of Colorism in the Society

Colorsim is discrimination against darker-tone individuals. Coloism is typically within the younger generation of today’s society. Colorism is an issue in today’s society people need to be more educated on it. The people of the society need to know what colorism is and how to stop colorist. Colorism is a very dark topic to talk about. When talking about this topic it can be a lot of controversy. There are a lot of people that don’t point out colorism or better yet people in general don’t like to talk about the topic.

Colorism is hidden from the world but yet so tossed around and used a lot. Colorism is a very touchy topic to talk about, and when it comes to actually talking about this situation it can be hard because people can be bias on this topic. There can be a lot of anger just even bringing up colorism. Because some people think that it’s not important or because it is they don’t want to admit that it is a very big issue in today’s society. There can be a lot of animosity thrown towards this topic from darker-tone people.

Discrimination in the workplace is mainly focused on how being a certain skin tone is favored over being another skin tone. Most people couldn’t recognize how darker-tone individuals are treated differently in the workplace. Believe it or not your skin tone will determine a lot for a person. Like for example, if a person is looking for a job people look at skin tone first. Why? Because in many ways people think that lighter-tone people look better and that they have a better appearance. Being treated differently in the work place can be very uncomfortable especially when it is because of your skin. Being an African American is tough enough, because of how African Americans were treated. Thelma says “colorism has been present since the days of slavery where lighter skin slaves were offered more privileges.” (Sardin, 2012) Colorism has been going on for years it’s just been set aside and not talked about. Society today has painted a picture to the younger generation that is your skin is lighter whether it be Caucasian or black it meant, that person is beautiful. No one has ever pointed out colorsim or has ever tried to stop it.

Being discriminated against can be a terrible and hurtful feeling. Darker tone African Americans have heard a lot about their skin tone and also not being good enough in today’s society. It is very hard for the dark skin community to be accepted in a world full of colorist. It’s truly hard to fit in when certain people don’t accept the way a person looks. Some think that if a person’s skin is a lighter complexion then that means that they look better.

Thelma Sardin says “for example, Coleman said women with light skin often face persecution for being “pretty” and women with dark skin face discrimination for being “ugly”.”(Sardin, 2012) It is not only the today’s society that isolates the darker tone individuals but it is specifically the African American Community, who treat the light skinned individuals like they are more than others. While light-skinned minority easily accepted into friendship groups. It is the dark-skinned people who have a harder time being accepted. It is very hard for today’s society to get over how everyone is different, and that everyone is not the same at all. The society is very brain washed. It is the younger generation of today who has the mind set of slavery days.

This type of situation is not only taught by society but it is also taught at home. Why teach your kid or kids that if their skin is brighter then that means that their better than the other half of society? People are so brain washed today that, it is making the dark skinned African Americans marry or date some one that is a brighter complexion, So that their kids would come into the world with good hair and bright skin. They need to know that every skin color is beautiful, and there is no need to think otherwise. James Bramwell said “self hatred” comes in many forms; when he was in high school a black girl told him that she only wanted to marry a white man so that her children would have light skin.” It is very sad that there were and are still young women and men that figure that if they marry someone that has a bright complexion or is skinny etc they make it seem like their kids are going to be absolutely perfect. Now it’s like they don’t accept themselves for who they are. It’s terrible that people aren’t being taught to love themselves for who they are.

James then goes on to say “our society has taught us not to accept differences.” (Bramwell, 34) Kids and adults are being taught by television that skin tone matters. Skin tone has to be a certain shade for it to be accepted. It can be discouraging to hear from others that individuals don’t belong. Terrible things have been said about dark skinned individuals. People say a lot about them whether if it’s at school work or at home. James Bramwell also added “Our culture is still being led to believe that having lighter skin somehow makes you a “better person”.”(Bramwell, 34) It seems like this will never end because colorism can affect ones mental health in several ways like for example it can cause depression, low self esteem, and risk behaviors.

These factors can start from a young age and can affect that person in the long run. Since colorism is taught and seen everywhere it would be very difficult to get those particular people colonist to stop being colorist. Some of these people don’t worry about how it can affect the person that they are calling out. This is very unjust and immoral of just how dark skin people are being treated something needs to think and readjust to how they talk to people and what they say.

Going back to slavery days where blacks divided into their own groups. African Americans were made to believe that the dark skin people weren’t good enough but the light skinned people were. This was truly a horrible situation to understand, why blacks decided that dark skinned people weren’t good enough. Matthew from “The Often Un-discussed “-ism” in America’s Workforce” says, “ Blacks created “blue vein” societies where other blacks were admitted only if their skin tone was light enough that their veins were visible.” (Harrison, 68) African Americans should be the last people to disagree with their skin tone. It is insane that African Americans don’t like their skin. But it all started from the slavery days when blacks were brain washed. As slaves lighter skinned people were told that they could only work in the house and not in the sun, and the dark skinned people were told to work outside in the sun. The lighter toned people felt they were better than the others. That is where slavery began. People never said to stop doing this or stop being colorist to your own skin tone.