The paler you are in most of Asia, the more socieconomic currency is afforded to you based off of your looks. Pale skin was seen in ancient China as a signifier of being able to stay indoors during the daytime rather than being outside working, and a pale complexion became synonymous with nobility and wealth in Chinese culture. Interestingly, the roots of colorism have different origins in different countries though pale skin, in general, was shorthand for classism, in China and South Asia. I pulled these articles on colorism in Asia to show the prevalence of it there. from Time Magazine: The Difference Between Racism and Colorism And make no mistake, white Americans are just as “colorist” as their brown brothers and sisters. Here in the U.S., because we are such a diverse population with citizens hailing from all corners of the earth, our brand of colorism is both homegrown and imported. It’s a term that defines racism in terms of skin color, favoring lighter toned skin, and it’s not limited to one race or one country.Ĭolorism is a societal ill felt in many places all around the world, including Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Africa. Pulitzer Prize author Alice Walker coined the term “colorism” in 1982 to mean the “prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on their color.” Combine these books with lessons on skin color and the beauty in all shades. Celebrate diversity with these videos and children’s books about skin color.
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