Societies with widespread issues of colorism have long histories of
colonization and influence by European countries
 (Webb). In these societies, European features such as white skin, straight hair, and light colored eyes were overtly promoted as the standard of civilized existence, intelligence, beauty, wealth, and power. 

Colorism is discrimination based on skin color, also known as shadeism, it is a form of prejudice or discrimination in which people are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color, according American Novelist Alice Walker. It is believed that there was a period of time before slavery where persons were not judged based on the color of their skin . However the Trans-Atlantic slavery changed that reality. 

Colorism affects persons of the African diaspora/community during slavery and continues to so do in contemporary society. Persons of African descent have always been subjected to discrimination based on their race, ethnicity and the color of their skin from external racial groups on and off the continent.. Colorism is an internal war, though it can also be external. This powerful phenomenon has conditioned the African community. It has divided its members. For example, colorism affects beauty standards also created in the internal hierarchy. The preference for white and or lighter skinned males and females over their darker peers resulted in major hashtags such as #TEAMDARKSKIN and #TEAMLIGHTSKIN. This continues to drive a wedge between light and dark skin members of the same African community.

Colorism occurs on different scales in various regions of the world, and it is very evident in the Caribbean.

 During the plantation system, the Caribbean society was a closed one, with the whites at the top of the pyramid, the mullatos in the middle and the blacks at the bottom. It was noted that the degree of burdensome work was also allocated according to skin colour. Lighter complexioned slaves worked in the home as maids, valets, baby while the darker slaves did more tedious work. The light-skinned Negroes were usually allowed to work in the house with the master, eat slightly better food, and have less restriction than the dark-skinned field Negroes. (Chester, 2016). As a consequence of this there was division among the enslaved Africans. The darker slaves wanted to have lighter skin or envied those of a lighter complexion. It also led the lighter skinned Africans to believe that they were better than those of a darker complexion. 

Colorism was also used as a system to divide and control the African slaves during slavery.  This would make it harder for the enslaved to unify to plan escapes from the plantations which would bring retribution. Unfortunately, the effects of this system still lingers in the black community.

 Colorism persisted after slavery. “The Brown Paper Bag Test.” This was a test used to determine if a person could have certain privileges or not based on skin colour. (Chester) Colorism is explicitly seen in the media through movies, television, magazines, music industry.

 

Colorism is said to be a system of discrimination that privileges light skin, Anglo features and ‘good hair’. (Neva) This favors the mixed race in the Caribbean. The effects of this is seen in the media, education and in the world of work. Evidence of this was seen in Trinidad and Tobago during the Black Power years. During this period certain jobs were restricted to light skinned persons, for example, only light skinned persons could be assigned the job of a teller in the bank. Regionally, this is also seen in the criteria to become an air hostess. Although, there have been measures put in place to change this reality. The majority of persons who have been assigned to these roles are light skinned. In contemporary society, numerous persons are still denied a job based on the color of their skin.
 

There is also a growing fetish for Mulattoes in the Caribbean society. Many Caribbean personas especially males are more attracted to the lighter skin other.  According to English Naturalist Charles Darwin , cross breeding between two diverse back ground naturally leads to a more genetically ‘fit’ person who tends to be more attractive.
In the Caribbean we glorify the ‘red woman’. In the modern CARIBBEAN they top the beauty chart. For example, on July first to third twenty-sixteen, there was a festival hosted in Tobago called Island Crashers. Do note the Tobago’s population is predominantly African. However in the video re-capping the weekend only mixed girls were seen in the video that was place on social media. Other examples where we see light skinned girls being praised is on social media, especially Instagram models. The extreme adoration for red girl’s surrounds our society. It is manifested in magazine cover, newspaper’s front pages, advertisements, promotions etc. As a result of this adoration, interracial marriages are beginning to shape the ideal family, not only in the Caribbean but across the globe.

 

Skin bleaching is a widespread problem in the Caribbean. (Caribbean Today).Skin bleaching occurs in many societies, especially in India, Latin America, and the African-American community and in the Caribbean. In some societies, skin bleaching is a secretive topic. However, skin bleaching happens to be done at a more alarming rate in some Caribbean nations. In Jamaica, bleaching has gotten worse and widespread in recent years stated Jamaica Minister Health  2010, Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller. Certain sociologists and other observers believe that skin bleaching occurs in societies that continue to endure privilege whiteness, have a lack of education and experience media brainwashing and “colonial mentality.” (Charles). 

in Jamaica, skin bleaching continues to be a growing epidemic in it's society. One major factor that increases the use of bleaching cream among youths in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries is dancehall music. The most public proponent of bleaching is singing star Vybz Kartel, whose own complexion has dramatically lightened in recent years. His ‘Look Pon Me’ contains the lines: “Di girl dem love off mi brown cute face, di girl dem love off mi bleach-out face.”(newsone). It is important to note that other influential artiste such as Alkaline also bleach their skin. However their are artiste who do not appreciate skin bleaching such as Jamaican singer Nardo Ranks.

 However, the moral and ethical issues behind skin bleaching are more complex than they might seem, (Fraquoh and Franchomme). Persons choose to bleach for different reasons such as acceptance into a specific societal circle, to be more attractive to the opposite sex for career opportunities. Also because of low esteem, self-hate and multi-racial factor reasons. 

Colorism is also intricately related to features of one’s eyes and hair. The growing use of contacts and pigmentation is also an issue to be considered. Also the perming of one’s hair. Though there is now a growing trend of going natural. There are many persons that still straighten their hair or use synthetic hair such as weaves and braids. Is this fashion or is this colorism at play?

White skin has been seen as a sign of power for so much time. Therefore, person use different methods to 'achieve power. Skin bleaching is considered to be one. 

Doing Caribbean studies was indeed a joyful experience. It is indeed interesting that most topics covered were based in the past I and see each and their effects manifesting not only in Trinidad and Tobago but in other parts of the world. Some topics were a bit more sensitive than some personally. Even though this course is very similar to Caribbean Studies. New information was till learnt, for example more details about the myths Europeans told. Additionally , since I've been struggling w identity issues ,it was an honor learning about Caribbean Identity. 
 
This new knowledge will be applied.