ENDURING THE STRUGLLES OF RACISM

Although slavery ended over 150 years ago, the effects of this mentality remain today. Research shows that darker-skinned African Americans are disproportionately disadvantaged in many areas. For example, one study found a hiring advantage for lighter-skinned African Americans, even when the resumes of dark versus light skinned applicants were identical (Harrison & Thomas, 2009).

Colorism and Beauty

These biases are particularly salient for African American women, as the American ideal of beauty is primarily Eurocentric. Women who have lighter skin, straighter hair, and more European facial features are preferred over those features considered more historically African. Thus, many Black women wrestle with their physical appearance and whether they meet the dominant culture’s female ideal. They may straighten and lighten their hair to be closer to the Eurocentric standard. Black women put more time and energy into their physical appearance, which may be in part to compensate for being considered less attractive than White women.