Colorist Microaggressions: Black Women's Phenomenological Experience of Race and Gender

Background and Purpose

The hallmark of the social work profession is a commitment to standing against racism and sexism. A nuanced approach to studying the effects of racism is racial microaggressions; those subtle, often unconscious put-downs by Whites towards minorities (Sue et al, 2007). However, absent from many social work discussions on racial microaggressions, are the effects of “colorism”. Colorism refers to discrimination based on skin color. Colorism disadvantages dark-skinned people, while privileging those with lighter skin. Research has linked colorism to lower incomes, lower marriage rates, longer prison terms, and fewer job prospects for darker-skinned people (Hunter, 2007). This study examined Black women’s experiences of colorist microaggressions.

Methods

Participants in the study were selected from a convenience sample of Black women between the ages of 18 and 72 years old in eastern Tennessee. Participants (n-67) self-identified their skin tones (i.e., light, medium, dark, and very dark), were assigned to eight separate focus groups (7 to 9 per group) with a facilitator who had similar skin tones. A semi-structured interview guide with six questions framed the focus group discussion. The majority of the participants were single and had a bachelor’s degree. The median age was < 27 years old and the annual income was $9,000 to $110, 000. Audiotapes of the focus groups were transcribed verbatim, masking names of the participants and names of individuals that were mentioned. Three moderators read each transcript and identified comments that represented discrete themes. The comments were separated into categories with thematic labels based on the actual words used by the participants. These categories were used to develop a final grouping of three broad themes: the relational, economic, and social factors that reflect the colorist microaggressions Black women experienced.

Results

The narratives shared by the women indicated their adoption of the notion that dark skin is negative. All of the dark-skinned participants reportedly had been described as stupid, mistrustful, ugly, and too loud. The light-skin participants described the dark-skinned women as menacing, tyrants, and vulgar. All of the dark-skinned women talked about rejection and or being stereotyped as promiscuous by males. Participants who were dark-skinned also reported family members who communicated lower educational expectations. The micro-insults, micro-assaults, and micro-invalidations these participants experienced implied that light-skinned women are thought of as beautiful, superior, and resourceful.

Conclusion and Implications

The usefulness of this study to the social work profession cannot be understated. Social work ethics requires a focus on discrimination of individuals based on any number of categories including race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and color. Social work practitioners should use the colorist microaggression framework as an assessment tool to further develop treatment goals for clients facing colorist microaggressions.

Hunter, M. (2007). The persistent problem of colorism: Skin tone, status, and inequality.

            Sociology Compass, 1(1), 237-254. 

 Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., &

           Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical

            practice. The American Psychologist, 62, 271–286.