The Enemy Within

African Americans have long been the targets of nefarious attempts to harm our race in one form or another. There have been all-out attempts to exterminate Blacks from existence, to eradicate our culture, to no avail. But the most dangerous and destructive of these practices is colorism.
Colorism is the practice of favoring those of lighter complexions over those with darker complexions. Colorism excludes those with darker hues of skin from opportunities in favor of those who are of a fairer shade, regardless of education, skill, talent or overall ability.
Colorism is another toxic residue of slavery that plagues Black America. One need only trace this legacy back to the plantations in the South to realize this truth. Slave owners raped Black women creating mixed-race children and though they had no problem having been seen with their captives or bearing children with them; they absolutely refused to acknowledge their parentage. Those children ended up as servants in their master’s home. And so it was that the practice of “Colorism “ became ingrained in the American subconscious and continues to be perpetuated in our society today. All over America this product of racism is practiced and is unique to this country.
Throughout our culture you can spot the effects of colorism, for it’s rare to see an individual with a darker skin tone in a position of authority. This practice of discrimination is seen in politics, television, movies, health-care, all industry and even in individual households. So brainwashed or ignorant about colorism, some parents have been known to give preferential treatment to their fairer-skinned children, leaving their darker-toned siblings feeling less loved and sometimes unwanted. This causes generational divides that fracture family relationships, that are difficult and, in some instances, impossible to mend.
https://www.litwi.org/blog/colorism-among-the-black-community
I come from a long line of proud dark-skinned folks, but going back generations there were some fair-skinned people, particularly on my mother’s side of the family. Even today she makes a point of telling folks that her grandmother’s mother was a Caucasian (As she put it, “she was white.”).
I don’t think that my mother is any less proud of being a darker melanated woman; because she was always very attractive; but I’m certain that society sought to disregard any talents that she possessed. This disenfranchised her in many areas. My mother states, “I vividly remember instances where I was passed over for promotions in favor of someone whose skin was lighter than mine and hair was straighter than mine. This was for Civil Service positions, where you’re supposed to be judged on your merit and not your looks.” Like many of her melanated sisters, my mother chose to embrace her blackness…to own the power of being darker-skinned.
An old childhood rhyme describes colorism and was internalized by many in the Black community:
“If you’re Black, stay back,
If you’re brown, stick around,
If you’re yellow, your mellow,
If you’re white, you’re all right.”
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-colorism-2834952
To be fair, there’s colorism in most cultures around the globe, but the United States initiated and perfected the art to such a degree that a lot of Blacks consider it normal. This causes internal strife and deep divisions within the African American community and further adds to an already destructive cycle of racism.
African Americans need to take a good hard look at the albatross of colorism and examine the true purpose. It assures that as a people, we remain separated from one another by an unspoken hierarchy created by colorism; allowing those in power to continue enslaving us within systems of institutional racism.
Being a darker-skinned woman, I’ve always known that I had to be more prepared than my lighter sisters, realizing that I had a triple handicap. First, I’m a female in a male-dominated society. Second, I’m African American and third, I’m a dark-skinned African American female. I’m proud to be all three.