Colorism and Its Origins

1 hour credit: What is colorism? What is the difference between colorism and racism? How does colorism impact the black community and solidarity? In this training you will explore colorism, its origins, and how it persists today. Dr. Robert Reece defines the term colorism and its pernicious effects of the phenomenon. He discusses why the issues of colorism have been largely unaddressed in the United States even within activist organizations and especially in legislation. The first section of the training is focused on the history of colorism in the United States. He explains the origins beginning with America’s plantation system and the calculated shift from exploiting color differences to ignoring them. The second half of the training examines how those historical problems persist today. By the end of the course you will learn some policy considerations to mitigate the impact of colorism. Objectives The successful participant will define colorism. The successful participant will compare how American courts have addressed color and race over the 18th and early 19th centuries to how courts view color today. The successful participant will summarize the main arguments of the plaintiff in Plessy v. Ferguson. The successful participant will explain the connection between Plessy v. Ferguson and one-drop rules. The successful participant will analyze why colorism takes a backseat to racism in contemporary America.