Examples Of Colorism In I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
“Wouldn't they be surprised when one day I woke out of my black ugly dream, and my real hair, which was long and blond, would take the place of the kinky mass Momma wouldn't let me straighten? My light-blue eyes would hypnotize them ...”
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
Colorism is a standard of discrimination by which people with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin. Colorism mirrors white supremacy in that those with lighter skin are awarded privileges their dark-skinned counterparts aren't, strictly based on skin color. I first became familiar with the idea of shadeism during my first summer at Sadie Nash Leadership project. We watched several documentaries and the concept really touched my …show more content…
Does racism still exist in America? That will all depend on your definition of racism. Some will say, racism is a very strong word to use. This will be because they are speaking in terms of the racism we learn about in schools. This is the racism that involves whipping, and chains, and derogatory comments, and cotton picking. These people are referring to the times when racism was explicit, and the use of words like Nigger were no big deal ( although in today’s society it is considered nothing more than a derogatory term of endearment among African Americans, another issue to be raised when dealing with the issues of prejudice and unfairness). I speak of the times today, when racism is implanted into our minds implicitly, with the use of Barbie dolls, media, and social norms. There have been a lot of injustices and discriminations occurring throughout the years in America, but not many are hidden so obviously in the way shadeism is. That is what made me so interested in this topic. The obvious unfairness people receive from other people because the color of their skin, the racism, the injustice, all so perfectly disguised that we brainwash each other, and absorb the nonsense so easily. Now I must say that despite this notion, America remains a hypnotized society where skin color and race still
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
Colorism is a standard of discrimination by which people with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin. Colorism mirrors white supremacy in that those with lighter skin are awarded privileges their dark-skinned counterparts aren't, strictly based on skin color. I first became familiar with the idea of shadeism during my first summer at Sadie Nash Leadership project. We watched several documentaries and the concept really touched my …show more content…
Does racism still exist in America? That will all depend on your definition of racism. Some will say, racism is a very strong word to use. This will be because they are speaking in terms of the racism we learn about in schools. This is the racism that involves whipping, and chains, and derogatory comments, and cotton picking. These people are referring to the times when racism was explicit, and the use of words like Nigger were no big deal ( although in today’s society it is considered nothing more than a derogatory term of endearment among African Americans, another issue to be raised when dealing with the issues of prejudice and unfairness). I speak of the times today, when racism is implanted into our minds implicitly, with the use of Barbie dolls, media, and social norms. There have been a lot of injustices and discriminations occurring throughout the years in America, but not many are hidden so obviously in the way shadeism is. That is what made me so interested in this topic. The obvious unfairness people receive from other people because the color of their skin, the racism, the injustice, all so perfectly disguised that we brainwash each other, and absorb the nonsense so easily. Now I must say that despite this notion, America remains a hypnotized society where skin color and race still