Shades of Black: Learning to Celebrate Our Differences | By: Ms. Korpo M. Selay

Black. Light Skinned. Mixed. Those words are present in almost every African countries' social, academic, and political structures. Years of colonization and foreign aid by Westerners in Africa have created nations who believe in what it's called "White Saviorism." White saviorism is when white people do good deeds in the hope of covering up for what they did and are still doing in parts of Africa (and I don't mean opening up schools in different countries, I mean exploitation). This "White Saviofrism" has fostered a mindset of dependency among African nations and led many to think that White or anything close to White is better and superior. Apart from creating an entire generation of people who think of themselves as lower than people who offended them, it has led to colorism in Africa. It is, however, not the only cause of colorism as colonization itself plays a huge role.

Colorism is when people of the same race, ethnicity, or ancestry discriminate against each other based on the tone or shade of skin. It is seen in the political and social class structures in countries. Colorism causes a feeling of inferiority among people with darker skin and estrangement from those of lighter skin complexion in Africa. Thus, causing a divide between those identified as "Black Africans" and "Light Skinned Africans." During slavery, the enslaved people were exploited in many ways, not just in terms of work, as enslavers would often rape their slaves, which led to "race-mixing." This act gave birth to a new social hierarchy where people with mixed black and white ancestry had privileges over those with darker skin color. Over the years, this new social hierarchy developed and found its way into the establishment of most African countries.

Years later, colorism is still visible in many African countries. From the act of bleaching skin to specifically having kids by white people to bear mixed children with lighter skin color, Africans have developed a belief that everything "white" or close to White is better. Thus, people with a lighter shade of black skin often find themselves in a higher social class and are thought to be more attractive than those with darker skin. Africans subconsciously fetishize light-skinned people in ways that diminish a dark-skinned person's confidence about their skin color and their ability to feel comfortable in their skin.

There exist many instances where skin tone plays a role in how you're defined in Africa. From being labeled ugly in school because you are not light-skinned to constantly doubting people's intentions when they compliment you when you are light-skinned because you don't know whether it is genuine or the compliment is because you are light-skinned. What scares me? Most people in African communities are yet to realize the impact of colorism on their lives and small colorist acts in their daily activities. People have normalized such comments and acts that no one sees them as a problem. However, the damage they cause and are causing can not and should not be overlooked. Therefore, it's about time we start treating colorism like an actual issue.