Day 32: Colorism & the Brown Paper Bag Test—A Legacy of Division
Colorism—prejudice or discrimination based on skin tone within the same racial or ethnic group—has deep roots in slavery and systemic oppression. One of the most infamous examples of this was the brown paper bag test, a practice that reinforced harmful hierarchies within the Black community.
Roots in Slavery
During slavery, lighter-skinned enslaved people were often given preferential treatment because they were typically the children of white slave owners. Many were forced into housework, while those with darker skin were sent to work in the fields, enduring harsher conditions. This divide was intentional—a tool to create division and prevent unity among enslaved people.
The Brown Paper Bag Test
Even after slavery, colorism persisted. In the early 20th century, some Black social organizations, churches, and sororities used a brown paper bag to determine acceptance. If a person’s skin was darker than the bag, they were often excluded from certain schools, jobs, and elite social circles.
Internalized Racism & Lasting Impact
Beauty Standards: Lighter skin is still unfairly associated with attractiveness, while darker skin faces more discrimination.
Opportunities: Studies show lighter-skinned Black people often receive better job prospects, media representation, and social advantages.
Division in the Black Community: Colorism fuels internalized racism, creating unnecessary barriers to unity and self-love.
Breaking the Cycle
It’s time to dismantle these harmful ideas and recognize that ALL Black skin is beautiful and worthy. Unlearning colorism means rejecting white supremacist beauty standards, uplifting dark-skinned voices, and embracing every shade of Blackness.
🖤 Black is beautiful. Period.
