Talk:Colorism

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The brown paper bag test is not quite the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but it's definitely in the top five.

-Patrick Beverley

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 86.131.25.191 (talk • contribs • WHOIS) .

Contents 1 Does this phrase actually exist? 2 Directionality Issue 3 The color caste system exists everywhere! 4 Missing Asia

[edit] Does this phrase actually exist?

Is "colorism" actually a word thats used in any substantial context (e.g. in the study of racial prejudice), or is it just a word that was made up by Americans with a black/white racial mentality and hasn't actually been taken up in any popular or academic context? Either way, shouldn't the history of the word be noted in the first paragraph, considering it's a term that would have most people frowning in confusion? 118.138.220.68 (talk) 00:46, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Directionality Issue

I just wanted to note that colorism has no set directionality (Comm term...I know the word "directionality" does not actually exist) as stated on the article page. Especially in the African American community, colorism discriminates against both darker skinned and lighter skinned people. Through out different periods in Black history you can see the fluctuating of what's considered "beautiful" or "acceptable."

                                                                                      --R. McBride

Colorism in Indian Society

In India light skin is deemed more beautiful, in both men and women. Indian actors and actress almost always have milky white skin, or use lots of makeup to made to look lighter. Actress Bipasha Basu who has darker skin then most other Indian actress, has been made to look lighter through makeup and her pictures are airbrused for the same person. Indians have many skin colors, ranging from white to black and everything inbetween. This attitude has been engrained and many Indian's think its natural to think light skin is more beautiful then dark skin. The cause of this is probally related to European colonialism in the 18th, 19th and 20th century. There is also a possibility that the Indian caste system plays a part in this colorism.

i have added the above to the article, i think this should be apart of it, please add information to it if any of you have any.

[edit] The color caste system exists everywhere!

Fair skin is valued more than darker and fairness is equated with beauty. In the US this is an outgrowth of the plantation politics where African women were raped by their masters', and the offspring were treated relatively favorably: They were often allowed to work in the house. Their fair skin was considered less offensive to white people than natural skin tones of the original Africans. He may have also felt compassion for his offspring. White women, of course, struggled to face brown children that looked like her husband. This contributed to a rift between Black and white women, both competing for crumbs within patriarchy. Nonetheless, the tragic mulatto image evolved, allegedly because they were rejected by both Blacks and whites. Legally, these people are Black. As their fair skin was preferred by whites, it is plausible that resistance built from Blacks, yet ultimately whites enforced a fierce color code that rendered these people Black.

In India, many speculate that a similar set of politics evolved during the colonial era, though some believe that the color caste has existed here since the Aryans invaded and conquered/colonized the sub-continent.However, this theory has been rejected by many historians and scholars. Hindu Gods from the south with dark skin are often portrayed as blue/Black God and fair skinned in the North. "Fair and Handsome" is the country's most widely sold skin cream and promises fairer skin, increased popularity and job opportunities in weeks, just like its female counterparts "Fair and Lovely." Matrimonial pages in all India dailies are all ridden with 'fair' listed along caste and professional pedigree as qualities brought or sought by potential brides and grooms. And lastly, it's a rough life for a brown skin Black man in northern Indian!

When Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty appeared on UK reality TV show in 2007, Big Brother, the abuses heralded at the wealthy, fair skin princess was dubbed as racist, which sparked a short but mighty media feast in India on the topic. Arguments started by accusing Brits of racism, but quickly reflected upon homegrown racism, which many consider to be the ORIGINAL racism, but undisputedly the most extensive and extant. --Diepiriye 04:51, 3 April 2007 (UTC) -Diepiriye S. Kuku-Siemons, MPH [1]

True. This is also comon in East Asia among Japanese and especially among Koreans. Dreammaker182 (talk) 02:17, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Missing Asia

I think there should be a section or paragraph that talks about colorism in Asia. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Silverspark (talk • contribs) 15:32, 4 March 2008 (UTC)