A Guide to Overcoming Colorism

By: Monica Windom

Now i’m sure everyone within the black female community is aware of what colorism is. For those not familiar, let’s briefly catch you up! Colorism is the discrimination against darker skin tones and it happens typically within the same racial group. It once affected my views on myself because it made me feel I wasn’t good enough for my own race. It made me feel that my dark skin and kinky hair were not what society saw as beauty. I’ve learned that colorism is a global issue that affects millions of people like me. Luckily, I have overcome the negative effects of colorism and want to help you do the same! So, here are 9 steps on how to:

1. Don’t support music artists that are colorist/misogynistic:

Do not support those that praise one skin tone and not the other. Also, do not support those that generally speak badly against women or those that see women as objects and not actual human beings. Yes, the beat might be bangin’ but listen to the message within the song. Be mindful of the songs you listen to because the message within the song, subconsciously affects you!

2. Become an Advocate:

Generalizing all light skinned women as arrogant is ignorant. Generalizing all dark skin women as ghetto is ignorant. Be confident enough to break down the stereotypes thrown at your race by your own race. Break down colorist stereotypes by speaking up. If you see an ignorant person make a colorist joke, notify them that their opinion is wrong and is degrading to the black community as a whole!

3. ACCEPTANCE

Are you colorist? Meaning do you hold negative opinions against your sister of color? If so, then you need to change for the better. Eliminate all negative stereotypes you have for your sister of color and over come them by befriending all skin tones of women within your race. If you are light skinned and feel you aren’t accepted by the darker skinned women because of your lighter complexion, you’re wrong. Not all dark skinned women will reject you. Befriend as many darker skinned sisters and learn to understand their outlook on life. (This scenario is vice versa)!

4. Don’t follow societal trends:

If you are big in the social media community, you are aware that light skin vs dark skin is a trend that is displayed through memes, bio’s, etc. Don’t allow colorism to get into your psyche and affect the way you view yourself. If you are a dark skinned girl and notice the lack of women similar to your color in a “baddies of the month” picture on Instagram. Don’t beat yourself down because you don’t fit the standard for a beauty. (This scenario is vice versa). Understand that you are still as beautiful as the next sister of color. Understand that you won’t be everyones cup of tea. Just because one person doesn’t find you endearing, doesn’t mean the next person won’t! Which goes to the next step.!

5. Live for yourself

Love the skin that you’re in. Meaning love yourself and every bit of yourself. Be confident, know your worth, and don’t let any person tell you that you’re not the cats meow. Don’t live for men or women, live for yourself. Don’t live to impress others because people will never be 100% satisfied, live to impress yourself.!

6. SUPPORT Other Black Women

Why is it that we as black women don’t support each other? Is it because there can only be one token black girl? Guess what, there can be two! Ladies, support your sister of color! !

7. Educate Yourself

Be up to date on as many social issues regarding women of color. Be aware of cases of colorism, gender inequality, and racial inequality and overall forms of injustice so that you can better understand why society is the way it is. Within that, you can speak on those topics and possibly help change those forms of injustice. Which leads to my next step…!

8. Join anti-colorist groups

Join a group or groups within the black community that are aimed at uplifting all people of color. groups that will improve not only your outlook on colorism but also society at large. Joining the group will potentially open up new doors and new opportunities for you. !

9. Seek experiences outside of your racial community

Now that you are aware of colorism, know that it is a global issue that affects not only African-Americans but also Asians, Hispanics, and all other racial groups that have various skin tones. With the knowledge that you now have, befriend people outside of your race and learn their culture as well as way of life. While doing so, you’re breaking down any stereotypes that they probably have toward you or vice versa. Either way, you’re opening your mind and realizing just how diverse the world is. !!

Now that you’ve learned 9 EASY steps on how to overcome colorism, let’s try it out in real life. Apply these 9 steps to your everyday life and see just how your life will change for the better!