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The Consequences of Colorism

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The Melanin Millennium

Abstract

Colorism is a form of discrimination based on skin tone that routinely privileges light-skinned people of color and penalizes darker-skinned people of color. Slavery in the USA and the Americas and European colonialism around the globe help explain the historical roots of colorism in the USA. Research on skin tone stratification demonstrates that, with few exceptions, light skin tone is privileged and rewarded in many different social settings. In fact, with increased access to racial capital and media technology, it is not unreasonable to suggest that skin tone is more important than ever.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mills College, Oakland, USA

    Margaret Hunter

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  1. Margaret Hunter
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Correspondence to Margaret Hunter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Michigan State University, Baker Hall 254, East Lansing, 48824, Michigan, USA

    Ronald E. Hall

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Hunter, M. (2013). The Consequences of Colorism. In: Hall, R. (eds) The Melanin Millennium. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4608-4_16

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