In recent years you’ve no doubt heard, and have even been a part of discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in your organization. But there’s a lesser-discussed form of discrimination that many sweep under the rug-or may not even be aware of. A prejudice that often starts right at our own dinner tables and follows us straight into the boardroom.
Colorism, coined as a term by legendary Black novelist and womanist Alice Walker, exposes the deeply entrenched bias toward favoring lighter skin tones. It’s a discrimination driven by white supremacist ideologies, often perpetuated within our own ethnic communities and echoed across broader societal views.