Papers On Colorism In Schools

Colorism

Some argue that social injustices don't exist in the black community or in education. They claim that within the black community there is a black privilege, having pride in your race without fear. They argue that black privilege is real and is used in the black community and education, to eliminate injustice within the neighborhoods and the school system. I strongly disagree, how can anyone have pride in their race and discriminate against the people in that race. Colorism is a very serious matter in schools and in the black community. Light skin vs dark skin dates way back when black people were enslaved. Light skin people were considered closer to white and therefore were treated differently from those of the darker complexion.

Colorism is a psychological battle within the black community. Colorism or shadeism can be practiced interracially or intraracial. Affecting people in the same community and people in the same race. People of a lighter skin tone are treated more favorably than those with a darker skin tone, known as light skin privilege. Being a black women and growing up in a predominantly black community I have experienced colorism. As a dark skin female, I have been told that darker women were unattractive and insensitive. Carrying the stereotype that dark skin women are ghetto, loud and unattractive. I have always felt like the light skin females in my community had the upper hand in dating as well as in everyday life situations. My cousin and I would walk into a store and because she is light skin she would be treated differently from me. She would get free candy and compliments all the time. Whereas I, her dark skin cousin would get a smile and a simple hi. I believed this to be colorism because my cousin was light skinned they considered her the cuter

In a place you wouldn't expect, teachers and students are forced with the harsh reality. That light or fare skin is ultimately better than people of a darker skin tone. "In spite of these broad commonalities, educators are urged to amplify their understanding of the particulars of colorism across race." (Keith Pg. 6) Students are ashamed of having a dark complexation. This is because they are constantly teased with prejudicial treatment. As a teen I had to deal with boys not being attracted to me because I was of the darker complexation. They would choose the girls who were light skin or white because those were the girls who were considered pretty. This is a form of colorism, impacting a student education and wellbeing. Teachers can also contribute to colorism, there is always a student who feel the teacher have favoritism. The teacher may like Julia because she is Puerto Rican with straight hair whereas discredit Maya who is dark skin with an afro. Students are getting kicked out of school more and more based on how they look. "a study published in 2013, found that among the students sampled, African-American girls with the darkest skin tones were three times more likely to be suspended from school than African-American girls with the lightest skin tones. [1]" (Hannon 2013). Teachers are also victims of colorism they are denied jobs and treated poorly because of the color of their skin. "Previous literature has examined colorism