Colorism: the dirty little secret

CC Stinson is a young African American woman with a very light skin tone. “Light, bright, damn near white!” was the jeer that Stinson heard every day from bullies as a child. The peculiar thing was that the girls making these racist remarks were also black, but of a darker tone of course. Now, as an independent film maker in Austin, Stinson along with Neobe Welis have produced a film bearing the same name she was called. The film delves into the topic of colorism. “Colorism is defined as internal discrimination based on skin tone, or discrimination within a race,” says Dr. Sherri Ben, VP of multicultural student affairs.
In Stinson and Welis’ film they interview many people from multiple racial and ethnic back grounds and finds that they have either heard of or in many cases experienced this form of discrimination. In 1992 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received 374 charges of color-based discrimination. In 2006 the EEOC received 1,241. In the film Stinson quotes Professor Joni Hersch of Vanderbilt University saying that “Light skinned immigrants to the US, have 8 to 15 percent higher incomes than immigrants that have the same characteristics but with a darker skin tone.” This reflects a major difference in how US society treats not just races but the people with in that race.
Dr. Laurie Fluker, of the Mass Communications department, grew up the lightest of her siblings. “I was spared of this [colorism] by my mother” says Fluker. In her family that was an area that was off limits for the basis of teasing. Fluker believes that the real problem of being of a lighter color is that you are excommunicated in a way by one’s on race. Fluker says, “If you have light skin, other blacks might think you have it better or are better.”
But at the same time, people who have lighter skin do seem to be thought higher of by their respected races. If someone asks an African American girl “who do you think is a pretty girl from your race?” their answer will almost always include Alicia Keys and Tyra Banks. If you ask the same question to a Latina girl her answer would probably include Jennifer Lopez or Jessica Alba. Colorism is not often talked about within discussions on racism. And it is certainly not limited to America. In India, according to BE Magazine, the major skin product that has dominated the market is known as Fair and Lovely, which contains lightening elements. “I do believe that it [colorism] is a dirty little secret,” says Dr. Fluker.
It makes one wonder, what ever happened to the James Brown quote, “SAY IT LOUD! I’M BLACK AND PROUD!”
The film “Light, Bright and Damn Near White” will be shown in LBJ on Wednesday at 7:00pm. The film will be followed by a discussion panel lead by Dr. Laurie Fluker and Dr. Sherri Ben. Students are encouraged to come to this panel. The panelists are conducting this because they feel that this is an issue that must be talked about.