Color Coded: A Cultural Critique of the Role of Color in African American Culture and its Effect on the African American Woman

As a race of people that have an extensive history of being enslaved and oppressed for several generations, African Americans have gained a myriad of twisted ideologies that have been passed down for generations. One that is very intrinsic to general mindset of the community is the belief that light skinned African Americans are superior to their dark skinned counterparts. Furthermore, this ideology has also affected the standards of beauty within the race and has altered the self-image, aspirations, and overall psyche of the black woman. This paper will explain how the base belief, that light skinned African Americans are a cut above dark skinned African Americans, is the product of countless generations’ worth of gloomy history that has managed to continue into the 21st century.

This subject is of particular to this researcher because of how it has managed to deeply affect an entire race of people to the point that their view of themselves has been skewed by events experienced by their past generations. It is also of interest because it provides insight into why some black individuals have undergone certain negative or preferential treatment throughout their lives due to the color of their flesh. This topic is of great magnitude because it will allow many people of the race to realize that their self-images and ideologies are much distorted.

“The Role of Skin Color and Features in the Black Community” by Angela Neal and Midge Wilson is a piece of work that not only explains how color and physical features play a role in Black America but also provides a historical account of how shades of skin became such an important factor. The article delves into previously uncharted territory by also analyzing how the Black woman is e...

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Works Cited

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Neal, Angela M. , and Midge L. Wilson. "The role of skin color and features in the black community: Implications for black women and therapy." Clinical Psychology Review 9.3 (1989): 323-333. Depaul. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

Parrish, C. (1944). The significance of color in the Negro community. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago