Frameworks & Theories
The Legacy of Dr. Ronald E. Hall
"Colorism is prejudice based on skin color whether you are dark complected or light complected. The difference being people who are lighter complected have advantages in some areas, but they have disadvantages as well. It’s not that one group is discriminated against and another is not it’s just that lighter complected persons have a different set of colorism issues which gets interpreted many times as an advantage. ' (Hall, 2022)
Colorism is a global issue impacting those of African, Asian, Latinx, Native and European descent. "Its only differentiation among the various locations pertains to the cultural nuances by which it is expressed" (Hall, 2022). Having travelled to over 25 countries, Dr. Hall has collected "quantitative and qualitative data from all racial groups, including African-descended Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asians" (Hall, 2022) pertaining to skin color issues.
The Bleaching Syndrome
Defined
"The internalization of physiological and/or sociological pathogens relative to the denigration of dark skin and other stigmatized qualities which disrupts the normal development of a conducive psychological frame of reference.” (Hall, 2023, p. 113)
Components of the Bleaching Syndrome
Subsequently, the Bleaching Syndrome is also a metaphor not limited to skin color but may include a broader, more inclusive range of native identity characteristics such as surnames, hair texture, geography, eye shape, speech patterns, marital patterns, dress styles, social preferences, religious persuasion, political preference, and culturally significant pastimes. (Hall, 2023, p. 116)
ReferenceHall, R. E. (2023). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Colorism: Beyond Black and White. Routledge.
"The internalization of physiological and/or sociological pathogens relative to the denigration of dark skin and other stigmatized qualities which disrupts the normal development of a conducive psychological frame of reference.” (Hall, 2023, p. 113)
Components of the Bleaching Syndrome
- (a) Psychological according to internalized ideals; (b) Sociological according to the behavioral reactions to those ideals en masse; and (c) Physiological according to the extent of personal somatic alterations applied by the victims.
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Subsequently, the Bleaching Syndrome is also a metaphor not limited to skin color but may include a broader, more inclusive range of native identity characteristics such as surnames, hair texture, geography, eye shape, speech patterns, marital patterns, dress styles, social preferences, religious persuasion, political preference, and culturally significant pastimes. (Hall, 2023, p. 116)
ReferenceHall, R. E. (2023). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Colorism: Beyond Black and White. Routledge.
Global Colorism
Colorism Defined
Critical Skin Theory (CST)
Critical Skin Theory (CST) examines how light-skinned individuals often assume societal, economic, and political dominance over darker-skinned populations, perceived as inherently inferior regardless of their racial, cultural, or national backgrounds. This ideology situates dark skin at the lowest tier of a constructed human hierarchy, legitimizing unequal power structures.
Critical Skin Theory (CST) examines how light-skinned individuals often assume societal, economic, and political dominance over darker-skinned populations, perceived as inherently inferior regardless of their racial, cultural, or national backgrounds. This ideology situates dark skin at the lowest tier of a constructed human hierarchy, legitimizing unequal power structures.