Question 1

According to the idea of hypodescent in different U.S. states, a person could be considered Black if:

Accepted Answer

Hypodescent, also known as the "one-drop rule," was a legal principle in some U.S. states that assigned minority racial identity to individuals with any amount of ancestry from that group. This means that even if a person had only one great-grandparent or even one great-great-grandparent who was Black, they could still be legally considered Black. Therefore, any option that includes at least one of these scenarios is correct, which leads to the answer being D - all of the above.

Question 2

Due to the prevalence of skin-tone stratification, lighter-skinned slaves were more likely to be freed, leading to a class of freedmen. These lighter-skinned Blacks eventually formed the core of the Black elite in the United States. This history explains how:

Accepted Answer

The passage clearly states that skin-tone stratification led to a class of freedmen who were mostly lighter-skinned, and that this group eventually formed the core of the Black elite in the United States. This demonstrates how skin color has been linked to social status in the African American community for centuries. The other options are not supported by the passage.

Question 3

The findings from Melville Herskovits' study of Blacks in Harlem in the 1920s mirror the findings of Parameswaran and Cardoza's research in modern day India. Both studies show that men preferred to marry _________ partners.

Accepted Answer

Both studies highlighted a preference for light-skinned partners, reflecting societal biases towards lighter skin tones. This preference is influenced by historical, cultural, and social factors that associate lighter skin with beauty, status, and desirability.

Question 4

Skin-whitening creams' prevalence in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the United States is evidence of a _____________, in which light skin is privileged and people strive to become lighter.

Accepted Answer

The prevalence of skin-whitening creams in different regions of the world indicates a global color hierarchy, in which lighter skin is privileged and viewed as more desirable. This phenomenon is not limited to a specific culture or gender group, making it distinct from patriarchy or beauty queue. Diaspora refers to the dispersion of a certain group of people throughout different regions, and is not directly related to skin-whitening creams.

Question 5

Which group faces the most pressure to lighten their skin?

Accepted Answer

Women, particularly in Asia and Africa, face the most pressure to lighten their skin. This is due to beauty standards that emphasize lighter skin as a sign of wealth, health, and success. Women may face societal pressure to lighten their skin in order to improve their marriage or job prospects.

Question 6

Skin-bleaching products are popular even in countries known to be "proud, Black nations". When asked why they use these products, most respondents provide a reason that involves:

Accepted Answer

Most respondents provide a reason that involves looking better.

Question 7

Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America in 1983. Her light skin is perceived as more beautiful, despite the fact that she belongs to a disadvantaged racial group. She can be considered to have:

Accepted Answer

Vanessa Williams is perceived as more beautiful because of her lighter skin color, which is a form of privilege that lighter-skinned individuals have in society. This privilege is known as skin color privilege.

Question 8

The concept of __________ explains how sexism and racism interact to create an order of women from the lightest to the darkest, where the lightest get the most resources and the darkest get the least.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The concept of __________ explains how sexism...

Question 9

In colonial Latin America, the child of a Black slave and a Spanish settler would be called a:

Accepted Answer

Mulatto refers to a person of mixed white (typically European) and black (African) ancestry, which fits the description of a child born to a Black slave and a Spanish settler.

Question 10

Korie Edwards, Katrina M. Carter-Tellison, and Cedric Herring's study of marriage among non-Whites in urban areas, found that for ________ , dark-skinned men and women were less likely to marry than their lighter-skinned counterparts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Korie Edwards, Katrina M. Carter-Tellison, and Cedric...

Question 11

Which of the following demonstrates how colorism continues to affect the lives of African Americans?

Accepted Answer

All of the options provided demonstrate how colorism affects African Americans. The darker an individual's skin, the more likely they are to face discrimination and negative outcomes in various aspects of life, including the criminal justice system and employment opportunities.

Question 12

Margaret Hunter explains that beauty, like colorism, is an ideology and can be used as a tool to maintain _________, male dominance in a society.

Accepted Answer

Margaret Hunter specifically mentions male dominance as the aspect of society that can be maintained through the use of beauty as an ideology. Therefore, the correct choice is patriarchy.

Question 13

A study found that in strip clubs, light-skinned Black and Latina women's attractiveness and sensuality were viewed as "exotic" and they were able to earn more than darker-skinned Black women. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of erotic capital, which refers to an individual's ability to use their physical attractiveness or sexual appeal to achieve social or economic benefits. In this case, light-skinned women are viewed as more desirable and exotic, which allows them to earn more money in strip clubs than their darker-skinned counterparts. Social capital refers to the resources and connections an individual has based on their social networks, ethnic capital refers to the cultural knowledge and resources that come from being part of a particular ethnic group, and cultural capital refers to the cultural knowledge and valued characteristics that give an individual social status and access to resources. While these concepts are all related, they are not directly applicable to the scenario described.

Question 14

Research on Asian American, Trinidadian, South African, and Hispanic women who use skin lighteners showed a similarity amongst all groups. This similarity was that:

Accepted Answer

The article states that although all the groups associated lighter skin with beauty, they did not want to become White. This eliminates option B. Furthermore, the article does not provide evidence to suggest that they only use skin lighteners on occasion or that they all started after being teased about their dark skin, ruling out options A and D respectively. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 15

Rondilla and Spivak found that Asian Americans associate lighter skin with all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Rondilla and Spivak found that Asian Americans associate lighter skin with high class, beauty, and intelligence, but not with hypersexuality.

Question 16

Mestizo is part of the skin-color hierarchy in ____________ and refers to _________.

Accepted Answer

Mestizo is a term used in Latin America to refer to people of mixed Spanish and indigenous ancestry, and it is part of the region's skin-color hierarchy. The other options do not accurately describe the definition of mestizo or its cultural context.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true about racial segregation and inequality in Brazil?

Accepted Answer

Although Brazil has never had laws that mandated racial segregation, racial inequality still exists along color lines. This inequality is a legacy of Brazil's history of slavery and colonialism, which created lasting economic and social disparities between white and non-white Brazilians. Discrimination against Afro-Brazilians and other minorities remains a significant social issue in Brazil.

Question 18

In which regions of the world is colorism present?

Accepted Answer

Colorism is present in various regions of the world, including areas with majority White populations (such as Europe and North America), areas with majority Black populations (such as some African countries and the Caribbean), and societies that have caste systems (such as India). Therefore, option D - "All of the above" - is the correct answer.

Question 19

In Brazil, people's perceived race is largely determined by:

Accepted Answer

In Brazil, people's perceived race is largely determined by appearance, which includes skin color, hair texture, and facial features. This is due to the country's history of multiculturalism and miscegenation, where people of European, African, and Indigenous ancestry have mixed over generations. Class and ancestry can also play a role, but appearance is often the primary determinant in how individuals are racially categorized in Brazil. The race of other family members may have some influence, but it is not the main factor.

Question 20

How do researchers explain the relationship between colorism and colonialism in Africa?

Accepted Answer

Researchers have noted that colonialism popularized the idea of lighter skin as a sign of beauty, privilege, and superiority, which is one of the key factors contributing to colorism in Africa. Even after the end of colonial rule in various African countries, this perception continues to be prevalent, leading to discrimination against individuals with darker skin tones. Hence, it is safe to conclude that colorism remains pervasive in many parts of Africa due to the historical effects of colonialism.

Quiz 5: Colorism and Skin-Color Stratification