What does colorism mean?
Colorism is prejudice or discrimination directed at people based on the shade of their skin, most often manifesting as a preference for lighter complexions over darker ones — even among members of the same racial or ethnic community. Unlike racism, which operates between different racial groups, colorism frequently works from within, shaping hiring decisions, casting choices, marriage prospects, and everyday social treatment. The term was brought into wide circulation by the writer and activist Alice Walker in the early 1980s, who argued that skin-tone bias could outlast formal racism itself. Today, colorism is widely discussed in media studies, sociology, and public discourse, particularly in relation to advertising, film, and the global market for skin-lightening products. Understanding the word matters because it names a form of bias that broader anti-racism frameworks can overlook.
nounPrejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same racial or ethnic group.
- Discrimination or prejudice against people with darker skin tones, especially within the same racial or ethnic group.
- More broadly, any preferential treatment based on gradations of skin tone, favoring lighter complexions over darker ones.
"The film industry has faced growing criticism for its colorism, with lighter-skinned actors long favored for leading roles."
"Colorism persists in many societies where lighter skin is associated with beauty and higher social status."
"She wrote a candid essay about confronting internalized colorism within her own family."
Rarely used; the word is almost always treated as an uncountable mass noun referring to the phenomenon as a whole.
"Scholars have examined various colorisms across different cultures."
The term 'colorism' was popularized by activist Alice Walker in the 1980s — she coined it to name a prejudice that racism's end alone wouldn't cure: bias within communities of color against their own darker members.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colorism
'Colorism' derives from 'color,' ultimately from the Latin 'color' (hue, complexion), combined with the suffix '-ism,' which denotes a practice, system, or attitude. It emerged in American English in the twentieth century and was notably popularized by Alice Walker in her 1983 collection 'In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens,' where she used the term to describe intra-racial skin-tone prejudice. Related words sharing the Latin root include 'chromatic' (via Greek 'chrōma') and 'discolor.'
Related word forms
How colorism is actually used
The term is used primarily in sociological, academic, and journalistic contexts, though it is increasingly common in everyday discussion of beauty standards and media representation. While closely related to racism, it carries a distinct meaning and is often discussed in relation to communities of color. The spelling 'colourism' appears in British English sources.
Easily confused with colorism
Racism is prejudice based on race as a whole, whereas colorism is discrimination based specifically on skin tone, often occurring within a single racial or ethnic group.
A colorist is most commonly a professional who applies hair color or an artist who specializes in color; 'colorism' refers to skin-tone prejudice, not to this person or profession.