Colourism refers to the discrimination against individuals who are of a dark skin tone, usually those of the same ethnic or racial group. In particular, beauty standards have been set ever since and this has caused many, especially women, to have a lower self-esteem.
‘Nyong’o didn’t experience discrimination based on her skin colour per se but based on how dark she was comparatively. She was a victim of one of the last openly accepted “isms”: Colourism, the preferential treatment of lighter-skinned individuals compared with their darker-skinned counterparts’ (Adegoke,2019).
'Lupita Nyongo referred to Colourism as ‘the daughter of racism’ (Adegoke,2019). I do not disagree with her because Colourism is an issue that many are failing to address, and this is causing many darker skinned toned individuals to feel inferior within their circle of life because of society’s way of viewing people who are darker.
The issue of beauty standards linked to Colourism is that people that are of a lighter skin tone are more appealing and accepted within society. I once saw an acting and modelling advertisement and it stated that applicants of any ethnic group can apply, however, applicants from the African ethnic group should be of a lighter skin tone.
Let us take it back in the ancient times of the Bible when Moses married Zipporah. Zipporah was a black woman from Cushite in Ethiopia. ‘We learn in Numbers that “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman” (Num. 12:1). A Cushite is from Cush, a region south of Ethiopia, where the people are known for their black skin’ (Piper,2010).
Therefore, the issue of Colourism existed and up until today in this current generation it has made many feel inferior. Young people have committed suicide because they felt they were not beautiful or light enough. Women are constantly bleaching themselves and many opportunities are only given to those who are not “too dark”, leaving the rest in a uncomfortable and unfair situation.
Colourism needs to be spoken about without shame or discrimination but addressed in a meaningful manner that enables people who are of a darker skin tone feel accepted and valued.
Credits to Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi for standing up and telling every young woman in the world that it is possible, even if you are dark skin, and more importantly, a black African woman.
Sources:
Article About Zozibini Tunzi as she talks about Colourism and Racism:
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