People of color discuss the impact of 'colorism' l GMA

Summary

The video script delves into colorism, a form of bias based on skin tone within communities of color. It discusses the phenomenon's roots in historical events like colonization and slavery, and its lasting impact on wages, education, and self-perception. The script highlights initiatives like the Beauty Well Project, which aims to combat colorism by redefining beauty standards and promoting representation. It calls for early intervention through education and safe spaces to foster empowerment and challenge ingrained biases.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Colorism is a form of bias based on skin tone, affecting communities of color within the same ethnic groups.
• 🏆 The term 'light privilege' is used to describe the preference for lighter skin tones over darker ones within these communities.
• 🌍 Colorism is a global issue, affecting not only African Americans but also Asian Americans and other groups of color.
• 📊 Studies have shown that there are wage disparities based on skin tone, with lighter-skinned individuals often earning more.
• 🧐 The concept of 'model minority' among Asian Americans is used to distance themselves from other people of color to gain favor with white people.
• 🌈 Dr. Joy De Gru suggests that colorism is rooted in proximity to whiteness, with lighter skin being associated with positive attributes.
• 💔 Colorism can have long-lasting effects on mental and physical health, contributing to multi-generational trauma.
• 🚫 Anti-colorism organizations, like the Beauty Well Project, work to end stigma and discrimination against darker-skinned individuals.
• 📚 To combat colorism, it's important to teach people about their identities, history, and to redefine beauty standards.
• 👧 Empowering young girls and providing safe spaces for people of color to share their experiences can help overcome insecurities and biases.
• 👶 Addressing colorism at an early age involves reforming school curriculums and including diverse representations for children to identify with.

Q & A

What is colorism and why is it significant in the context of the video script?

Colorism is prejudice or discrimination based on skin tone, with a preference for lighter skin over darker skin. It is significant in the script as it discusses the impact of colorism within communities of color and its effects on various aspects of life, such as wages, employment, and self-esteem.

How does colorism manifest itself within the same communities of color?

Colorism can manifest as 'light privilege,' where individuals with lighter skin are often perceived as more attractive or successful. It can also lead to internalized biases, where darker-skinned individuals may feel less valued or attractive within their own communities.

What is the term 'model minority' in the context of Asian Americans and colorism?

The 'model minority' term refers to the mindset where Asian Americans distance themselves from other people of color by positioning themselves as the most hard-working and law-abiding minority in the country, often to gain favor with white people, which is a form of colorism.

How does colorism affect wages among African Americans?

According to the script, a study shows that hourly wages among African Americans rise as skin tone lightens, indicating that lighter-skinned minorities are often viewed as more intelligent by employers, even with identical education as their darker-skinned counterparts.

What is the connection between colorism and multi-generational trauma?

Colorism is linked to multi-generational trauma because it is rooted in the historical devaluation of darker skin, which has led to self-hatred and a desire to distance oneself from darker skin tones. This internalized racism can be passed down through generations, affecting mental and physical well-being.

How does the Beauty Well Project in Minnesota aim to combat colorism?

The Beauty Well Project works to end the stigma against darker-skinned people of all races by empowering individuals to embrace their identity and culture, and by providing a platform for dark-skinned individuals to speak out against discrimination.

What are some statistics that highlight the impact of colorism on darker-skinned individuals?

The script mentions that darker-skinned girls are three times more likely to be suspended from school, and darker-skinned drivers are more likely to be arrested or pulled over, illustrating the systemic bias against darker skin tones.

What can be done to combat colorism within communities of color?

Combating colorism involves teaching people about their identities and history, redefining beauty standards, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and promoting representation of people of color in all fields to empower and uplift these communities.

How can individuals of color overcome their own insecurities and biases related to colorism?

Overcoming insecurities and biases requires creating safe spaces for individuals to share their experiences, empowering them from a young age through mentoring programs, and ensuring representation in various fields to show that people of color can succeed in any area.

Why is it important to address colorism at an early age?

Addressing colorism at an early age is crucial for preventing the internalization of biases and for fostering a sense of self-worth and identity in children. It involves reforming school curriculums to include diverse perspectives and ensuring that children see representations of people of color in all areas of life.

What role does representation play in empowering people of color and combating colorism?

Representation is empowering because it shows people of color that they can succeed in various fields and are valued members of society. It helps to challenge and change beauty standards and biases, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society.

Outlines

00:00

🏼 Colorism: The Bias Within Communities of Color

The first paragraph introduces the topic of colorism, a form of bias based on skin tone, which is prevalent within communities of color but seldom discussed openly. The segment honors the late producer Dasha Riley for championing the coverage of this issue. It discusses the concept of 'light privilege' and how colorism is not just about different ethnic groups but also within the same racial communities. The impact of colorism is shown through various societal aspects, including wage gaps and perceptions of intelligence, which are linked to skin tone. The paragraph also touches on the historical roots of colorism in proximity to whiteness and its lasting effects on mental and physical health, as well as the efforts of organizations like the Beauty Well Project to combat stigma and discrimination against darker-skinned individuals.

05:01

📚 Addressing Colorism: Education and Representation

The second paragraph delves into strategies to combat colorism, emphasizing the importance of teaching individuals their history and identity to redefine beauty standards. It highlights the need for safe spaces where people can share their experiences without fear. The paragraph underscores the significance of early empowerment, particularly for young girls, through mentoring programs and diverse representation across various fields. Representation is portrayed as a powerful tool for empowerment, helping young people visualize their potential. The discussion also extends to how to address colorism at an early age, suggesting reforms in school curriculums to include diverse perspectives and promote understanding and acceptance of all skin tones.

Keywords

💡Colorism

Colorism refers to discrimination based on skin tone, with a preference for lighter skin over darker skin. It is a central theme of the video, highlighting how this bias affects various communities of color. The script discusses colorism's impact on wages, perceptions of intelligence, and even traffic stops, showcasing its pervasive presence in American society.

💡Light Privilege

Light privilege is a concept that emerges from colorism, where individuals with lighter skin tones are often perceived as more attractive or are given preferential treatment. The video script uses this term to illustrate the internalized bias within communities of color, where lighter skin is sometimes seen as more desirable, as exemplified by the phrase 'she's pretty for a dark-skinned girl'.

💡Proximity to Whiteness

The notion of 'proximity to whiteness' is a concept that suggests the closer one's skin tone is to white, the more favorable treatment and opportunities they may receive. This idea is deeply rooted in colorism and is discussed in the script as a factor contributing to the bias against darker skin tones.

💡Asian American Model Minority

The term 'Asian American model minority' is used in the script to describe a stereotype that positions Asian Americans as the 'hard-working' and 'law-abiding' minority, often used to distance themselves from other people of color and gain favor with white people. This concept is tied to colorism as it involves a preference for certain racial characteristics.

💡Racial Trauma

Racial trauma is a form of psychological distress that results from experiences of racism and discrimination. The script mentions Dr. Joy De Gru, who studies this phenomenon, particularly in the context of colorism. It is related to the long-lasting effects of colorism on mental and physical health.

💡Anti-Blackness

Anti-blackness is a specific form of racism that devalues and discriminates against people of African descent. The video script discusses how anti-blackness is linked to colorism, with darker skin being associated with being less human, leading to multi-generational trauma and self-hatred among individuals with darker skin tones.

💡Beauty Well Project

The Beauty Well Project is an organization mentioned in the script that works to end the stigma against darker-skinned people of all races. It represents the efforts to combat colorism by promoting acceptance and empowerment of individuals who face discrimination based on their skin tone.

💡Representation

Representation in this context refers to the visibility and portrayal of people of color in various fields, including media and professional environments. The script emphasizes the importance of representation for empowering people of color and combating insecurities and biases, as it provides role models and a sense of belonging.

💡Safe Spaces

Safe spaces are environments where individuals can openly discuss their experiences without fear of judgment or repercussions. The script suggests creating safe spaces for people of color to share their experiences with colorism and racial trauma, which is crucial for healing and understanding.

💡Mentoring Programs

Mentoring programs are initiatives that pair experienced individuals with younger people to provide guidance and support. The video script highlights the importance of such programs in empowering young people of color, helping them overcome insecurities and biases by providing positive role models and support networks.

💡School Curriculum Reform

School curriculum reform is the process of updating and improving educational content to be more inclusive and representative of diverse experiences. The script calls for reforming school curriculums to include and educate young children about the issues of colorism, as a means to address and prevent it from an early age.

Highlights

The issue of colorism is a significant struggle within communities of color, often not discussed publicly.

Producer Dasha Riley championed the coverage of colorism, an important yet under-discussed topic.

Colorism is prejudice based on skin tone, favoring lighter skin over darker within the same racial communities.

The concept of 'light privilege' exists, where lighter skin is seen as more attractive or advantageous.

Colorism is rooted in the proximity to whiteness, with lighter skin being associated with positive stereotypes.

The impact of colorism is seen in wage differences among individuals of different skin tones within the same racial group.

Lighter-skinned minorities are often perceived as more intelligent by employers, even with the same education as their darker-skinned counterparts.

Colorism can lead to long-lasting mental and physical trauma due to societal imposed standards.

The anti-blackness ideology suggests that darker skin equates to being less human, causing people to distance themselves from it.

Organizations like the Beauty Well Project in Minnesota work to end stigma against darker-skinned individuals.

Statistics show darker-skinned girls are three times more likely to be suspended from school.

Darker-skinned drivers are more likely to be arrested or pulled over by law enforcement.

Combating colorism requires teaching people their identities and history to redefine beauty standards.

Creating safe spaces and listening to individuals' experiences is crucial for overcoming insecurities and biases related to colorism.

Mentoring programs and representation in various fields can empower young people of color to overcome colorism.

Reforming school curriculums to include discussions on identity and representation can help address colorism at an early age.

Transcripts

now a closer look at a struggle many

americans face

the bias of skin tone it's called

colorism

and it's an eye-opening topic and

covering it was championed by a member

of our gma team

we recently lost producer dasha riley

yeah this is such an important story and

deja felt that it was really important

to shine a light on this problem that is

so

recognized in communities of color but

rarely discussed publicly deborah

roberts is here

with more on the story good morning

deborah

good morning cecilia and michael and i

have to say that i am humbled and

honored to bring forth

one of the last pieces that dasia

produced for us

once again a provocative issue many that

i've had an opportunity to explore with

her over the years and

this one shining a light on bias around

skin tones not among different ethnic

groups but within the same communities

of color

some call it light privilege

she's pretty for a dark skinned girl

their parents will call me negro

which means black in spanish it's been

an open secret for generations

there's this like fetishization of light

skin it was always black or white

you know don't get too black colorism

prejudice based on skin tone

and a preference for light skin over

dark the unfortunate phenomenon spread

across all groups of color with an asian

americans this model minority mindset to

distance yourself from other people of

color

by positing yourself as like the most

like hard-working and law-abiding

minority in this country

in a way in order to kind of like gain

favor with white people

dr joy de gru who studies racial trauma

says colorism is rooted in proximity to

whiteness

the whole notion that white is the best

the correct the most intelligent the

most

right about everything and as you move

along

the color spectrum of the darker you are

the less important beautiful viable

capable all of those things that the

society has imposed upon

us based on that notion of of supremacy

it's impact woven into american society

and can affect every aspect of life

take a look at the differences in wages

for a dark-skinned african-american

a brown skin and a light-skinned

african-american

the study showing hourly wages among

blacks literally

rising as skin tone lightens

lighter-skinned minorities

viewed as more intelligent by employers

even with identical education as their

darker skin counterparts

experts say these examples of colorism

have long lasting effects of both mental

and physical trauma the anti-blackness

started with this whole idea that the

darker you are

the less human you are and so everyone's

distancing themselves

from that i think multi-generational

trauma is evident

i hated the way i looked i just wanted

to like

scratch the dark skin out of my face one

time

i was in the bathtub and i wanted to

stay in longer so my skin color could

get lighter i just thought that's how it

works

anti-colorism organizations like the

beauty well project in minnesota

work to end the stigma against

darker-skinned people of all races

who face discrimination from society as

well as their own communities

i know i was not alone i know i'm not

the only dark skinned girl that has been

bullied

you know so we need more dark skinned

girls and boys

just to speak out

colorism sparking a lot of conversations

lately even highlighted

in a best-selling novel the vanishing

half here are some statistics that dasia

was able to uncover

darker skinned girls three times more

likely to be suspended from school

darker skinned drivers more likely to be

even

arrested or pulled over a big problem

that we obviously need to do a lot of

work on

cecilia it is deb thank you and we're

going to start right now by talking

about it that's the first step so let's

bring it emira adway from the beauty

well project in minnesota an

organization

that empowers people to embrace their

identity and culture amira good morning

to you thank you so much for being here

to talk about as we say this really

important topic this is something that

exists for latinos this is something

that exists for asian americans

african-americans so many groups of

color

what can we do to combat this

good morning thanks for having me um um

colorism is so much embedded in cultures

it's something that

i started uh with colonization

those countries that experienced

colonization and

and and also uh communities that have

experienced uh um uh slavery

and so it's deeply rooted in cultures we

have to

uh teach people their identities we have

to teach people their history we need to

redefine beauty standards

because that is a huge uh issue that

impacts

these communities we need to empower and

uplift communities of color

no doubt in the mirror how can people of

color overcome their own insecurities

and biases yeah this is

this is so much trauma i mean uh this

this has been going on for years and

years and years so people are dealing

with so much trauma so much pain

and so they need safe space we have to

create

safe space for them we have to listen to

them

a lot of times people don't disclose

what they're experiencing unless they

have safe space

so we have to create these safe spaces

for them we have to empower

a very early on we have to start

empowering young girls

that's why it's so important to have

mentoring programs

young people have to see representations

in all field

for example journalism they have to see

people of color

in all of these places that really

represent them

that representation it's so empowering

and and and that helps with their

mentoring and that

helps them see that they can do whatever

they want that's why we say

representation matters so much so let's

talk about the next generation because

we want them to do better quickly if you

will

how do we address colorism at an early

age

yeah early age during early childhood

it's so important

to intervene and that is when we

really need to reform school curriculums

we need to include

young young kids in the school

curriculum curriculums

well hey there gma fans robin roberts

here thanks for checking out our youtube

channel

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