Question 1

Lighter-skinned African Americans have advantages over their darker-skinned counterparts in earnings, education, and occupations.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that in the United States, lighter-skinned African Americans are often perceived as more attractive and are subject to less discrimination than their darker-skinned counterparts, which leads to advantages in earnings, education, and occupations. This phenomenon is known as colorism.

Question 2

Colorism has existed in the United States since the colonial era.

Accepted Answer

Colorism, or the discrimination and prejudice based on skin tone, has been present in the United States since the colonial era, particularly toward Black Americans. This has had significant impacts on social and economic inequalities within communities of color.

Question 3

Although popular in the early 1900s, skin bleaching products are rarely used today.

Accepted Answer

Skin bleaching products are still used today, although controversies surround their safety and potential risks. They are particularly popular in some parts of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. However, some countries have banned or restricted the use of certain skin bleaching products that contain harmful ingredients.

Question 4

In Brazil, even a person with relatively little African ancestry is still considered Black.

Accepted Answer

In Brazil, the concept of race is more fluid compared to other countries, and individuals with relatively little African ancestry may not necessarily be considered Black. The perception of racial identity can be influenced by various factors including socioeconomic status, physical appearance, and regional differences.

Question 5

In the 1920s, skin bleaches and hair straighteners formed a substantial portion of the cosmetics products sold in Harlem.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Many African Americans in Harlem during the 1920s believed that lighter skin and straighter hair would help them assimilate into white society and thus used these products to achieve that look.

Question 6

In Asia, colorism is a relatively new phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

Colorism has existed in Asia for centuries, often tied to class and cultural beliefs that equate lighter skin with wealth and status. It has become increasingly prevalent in modern times due to the influence of Western beauty standards and media.

Question 7

Asian Americans use skin lighteners in hopes of becoming White.

Accepted Answer

Many Asian Americans and people in Asian countries use skin lighteners primarily to achieve a lighter skin tone due to cultural and societal preferences for fair skin, which is often associated with beauty and higher social status, rather than specifically to become White.

Question 8

Skin-bleaching has become common among women throughout Africa.

Accepted Answer

Skin-bleaching has become a widespread practice among women throughout Africa, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

Question 9

According to Evelyn Nakano Glenn, light skin is a form of symbolic capital, which is more important for women than men.

Accepted Answer

According to Evelyn Nakano Glenn, light skin is considered as a form of symbolic capital that is more valuable for women than men in terms of social status and desirability. This idea is based on the gendered beauty standards prevalent in many cultures, where fair skin is often associated with femininity, purity, and attractiveness.

Question 10

India is the only country where men do not have a preference for lighter skinned mates.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Research has found that even in India, there is a preference for lighter skinned mates among men, particularly in arranged marriages where physical appearance is one of the main criteria for selection. However, this preference is not universal and varies across different regions and socio-economic backgrounds.

Question 11

Findings that darker-skinned immigrants tend to earn lower wages and have poorer health outcomes than their lighter-skinned counterparts is an example of skin-color stratification.

Accepted Answer

Skin-color stratification refers to the systematic hierarchy based on skin color, with lighter skin being privileged over darker skin. This can result in differential treatment and outcomes for individuals of different skin colors, as seen in the case of darker-skinned immigrants experiencing lower wages and poorer health outcomes.

Question 12

Colorism is a global phenomenon, with a long history and distinct manifestations around the world.

Accepted Answer

Colorism, or the preference for lighter skin and discrimination against darker skin tones, is present in many cultures around the world, including India, Latin America, Africa, and the United States. It has historical roots in colonialism, slavery, and caste systems, and persists as a form of prejudice and inequality today.

Question 13

One exception to colorism was slavery: because all enslaved people were considered "Black," skin color did not impact their status.

Accepted Answer

During slavery, all enslaved people were considered "Black" regardless of their skin color, so skin color did not impact their status.

Question 14

Colorism is perpetuated not only by Whites but also within different racial and ethnic groups among people of color.

Accepted Answer

Colorism is a form of discrimination based on skin color or shade, and it can be perpetuated by people of any race. It exists within various communities of color and reinforces harmful beliefs that lighter skin is more desirable or superior to darker skin.

Question 15

Unlike the United States or Latin American countries colonized by Spain, Brazil never had an official racial classification system that defined blackness.

Accepted Answer

Brazil did not have an official racial classification system like the United States or Spanish colonies, but it did have a complex social system with informal classifications based on skin color and ancestry.

Question 16

Whereas _______ relies on the belief that some races are better than others, _______ is the idea that, within races, lighter is better.

Accepted Answer

Racism is the belief that some races are superior to others, while colorism is the idea that lighter skin within a race is preferable.

Question 17

In the United States, Whites earn, on average, the most, followed by lighter-skinned Blacks, with very dark-skinned Blacks earning the least. This unequal distribution of resources according to skin color is known as:

Accepted Answer

Skin-color stratification refers to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities based on skin color. This is evident in the income disparities observed among different skin tones in the United States, where Whites and lighter-skinned Blacks have greater access to resources and earn more than darker-skinned Blacks. Color-blindness refers to the belief that race should not be taken into account, often leading to the invisibility of systemic racial inequalities. Racial segregation refers to the physical separation of groups based on race. Wage privilege is not a commonly used term and does not capture the phenomenon described in the question.

Question 18

David R. Dietrich refers to the United States as a _________, a society in which Blacks, Asians, and Latinxs have different social statuses according to their skin color.

Accepted Answer

David R. Dietrich refers to the United States as a "pigmentocracy," a society in which Blacks, Asians, and Latinxs have different social statuses according to their skin color.

Question 19

While scholars of colorism may disagree on the origins of colorism, most would agree that colorism:

Accepted Answer

Most scholars of colorism agree that it is a global phenomenon, affecting individuals of various genders, races, and ethnicities. The origins of colorism may be contested, but there is no evidence to suggest that it only affects females or that it began after the Civil Rights movement.

Question 20

Officially recognized as a distinct category on the U.S. Census from 1850 to 1910, _______ were the mixed-race children of Blacks and Whites.

Accepted Answer

Mulattos were officially recognized as a distinct category on the U.S. Census from 1850 to 1910, referring to mixed-race children of Blacks and Whites. Mestizaje, pardos, and mestizos are terms more commonly used in Latin America to describe mixed-race individuals.

Quiz 5: Colorism and Skin-Color Stratification