Part 2 of 2 (To read part one, click here.)
There are many stories that illustrate the practice of colorism, which is the bias of judging a person based upon complexion.
In America, the infamous ābrown paper bag testā was used to eliminate those of darker skin tones from being admitted into institutions, organizations and even social events.Ā
Prominent Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has recalledĀ his introduction to theĀ customĀ in 1960, when he was anĀ undergraduateĀ student at Yale.
āAs a classmate explained it to me, a bag party was a New Orleans custom wherein a brown paper bag was stuck on the door. Anyone darker than the bag was denied entrance,ā said Gates.
MusiciansĀ exposedĀ hatred and racial discrimination throughĀ candidĀ lyrics. Big Bill Broonzyās 1949 tune titled āBlack, Brown and White Bluesā stated āIf youāre white, youāre all right, if youāre brown, stick around, but if youāre Black, oh brother, get back, get back, get back.ā
Today, colorism continues, even inĀ the form of Black-on-Black discrimination.
Lynsey Johnson remembers being brutally bullied and teased for her dark skin.
āIn high school when the teacher would turn off the lights, my classmates would say things like āI canāt see Lynseyā and āAll I can see is her eyes,āā she said. The comments stung, she recalled. āIt put a damper on my self esteem and I didnāt like the way I looked.ā
Today, Johnson has gained confidence in herself with theĀ help of friends and celebrity role models.Ā
āIāve begun to embrace it and Iām happy the world is starting to embrace itĀ (darker skin tones). You have people like Lupita and Naomi Campbell who areĀ absolutely beautiful,ā she noted.
However,Ā Johnson said, thereās still a need forĀ beauty products for women of darker shades. For example, brands such as theĀ CoverGirl QueenĀ Collection have a broad range ofĀ shadesĀ for women of color,Ā others such as Neutrogena do not cover the full spectrum of American beauty.
One phrase Johnson is fed up with hearing is āYouāre pretty for a dark skin girl.ā
āIt drives me up the wall because why canāt I just be pretty?Ā IāveĀ used that to fuel my āIām pretty anywayā confidence.Ā SometimesĀ Iāll even hear āYouāre pretty for a Black girlāĀ and that really makes me mad,ā stated Johnson.
Darian Bailey, Chicago native,Ā believes people are turned off when they see those of a darker hue.Ā āI think men get stereotyped more than females andĀ IāmĀ not sure why that is,ā said Bailey.Ā āIf a cop pulled over a dark skinned manĀ and a dark skinned woman, I feelĀ as ifĀ the man would be searched first because they are usually seen as more of a threat.ā
He believesĀ Black people continue to face workplace discrimination, and that itās even more difficult forĀ those of a darker skin tone.
In past occasions, prominent African-Americans suchĀ as President Barak Obama, HalleĀ Berry, Kelly Rowland and O.J. Simpson haveĀ had their skinĀ digitally altered to appear lighter.
Like Johnson and Bailey, Elizabeth Benitez, who is white and Pilipino believesĀ dark skin individuals are gaining confidence and are seen as strong andĀ resilient.
āYou always hear āSheās pretty for a darkĀ skin girlā but you never hear āSheās pretty for a light skin girl.ā At the same time Iāve noticed thereās more peopleĀ todayĀ who think others are pretty because they have a darker skin tone,ā explained Benitez.
Johnson admires the broad spectrum of colors within the Black community.
āBlack is all different shades and thatās theĀ thing aboutĀ usĀ I think isĀ really amazing.Ā ItāsĀ one of the reasons we are such a melting pot. I look at myself andĀ think, āLynsey,Ā I know youāreĀ not just Black,Ā because you have high cheekbones that comes from white people and a slender nose. Iām not sure what my hair is,ā laughs Johnson who sports fine strands.
āThere is just different things you can pick out and know youāreĀ not fully Black. When people ask what I am,Ā I sayĀ āIām everythingā but associate myself with Black because thatās my dominant feature.ā
Johnson said she believes the world wonāt advance until society embraces all of humanityās diverse skin tones. āPeopleĀ should look in the mirror and really look at what God hasĀ given them,ā said Johnson.Ā
āThey can see themselves as beautiful. If they can search where they come from, then they can be more confident. People need to recognize othersĀ asĀ beautiful for who they are and not compare themselves to the idea ofĀ āacceptanceā or ābeauty.āā