Colorism in the workplace

Matthew Harrison, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, presented the first significant study of “colorism” in the American workplace.

For the first time, a study indicates that dark skinned African-Americans face a distinct disadvantage when applying for jobs, even if they have resumes better than the lighter-skinned black applicants.

In this study, they found that a light-skinned black male can have only a bachelor’s degree and typical work experience and still be preferred over a dark-skinned black male with a MBA and past managerial positions.

“Our results indicate that there appears to be skin tone preference in regards to job selection”, said Harrison. “This finding is possible due to the common belief that fair-skinned blacks probably have more similarities with whites than do dark-skinned blacks, which in turn makes whites feel more comfortable around them.”
“The only way we are going to begin to combat some of the inequities that result due to the beliefs and ideologies that are associated with colorism is by becoming more aware of the prejudices we have regarding skin tone, due to the images we are exposed to on a regular basis”
Society, he said, equates lighter skin with attractiveness, intelligence, competency and likeability, while we are often given a “much more dismal and bleak picture” of those who have darker skin.
“The more we challenge theses images and our own belief systems”, said Harrison, “the greater the likelihood we will judge an individual by his or her actual merit than skin tone”.

Posted by Neide Silva