I made this topic on Episode forums before gonna make it here!
Definition:
Discrimination based on skin color, also known as colorism or shadeism, is a form of prejudice or discrimination usually from members of the same race in which people are treated differently based on the social implications from cultural meanings attached to skin color.
Colorism can happen in any state, city, and race!
Let’s break down the categories of Colorism!
Shadeism
Texturism
Featurism
Shadeism:
Shadeism typically works in the form of a tier, Lightest to Darkest. The lighter you are the more favored, loved, excused and praised you are. The darker you are the more tormented, ridiculed, stereotyped and hated you are.
NOW! This doesn’t mean lighter skin can’t be ridiculed or darker skin can’t be praised but on average it typically ends in immense stereotypes and bullying.
Im going off of the Black Community since I know it through and through:
Men’s side
Darkskin Black Men are stereotyped as strong, aggressive, excessively masculine and “scary.”
Brownskin Black Men can be stereotyped various of things since their in the middle.
Lightskin Black Men are stereotyped as feminine, Pretty boys, cheaters, and liars.
All of these stereotypes are beyond damaging due to some creating an ego around it or some making bad decisions on the bullying.
Women’s side:
Darkskin Black Women are stereotyped as loud, unkept, masculine, “ghetto”, aggressive and sometimes dirty.
Brownskin Black Women can be stereotyped either or since their in the middle.
Lightskin Black Women are stereotyped as feminine, graceful, obeying, intelligent, and polite.
THESE STEREOTYPES HAVE SHATTERED THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR DECADES. Most of the hatred comes from the mindset of slavery that many black people still have. Social construct and at home emotional/mental abuse.
When it comes to Brownskin Men/Women I don’t think many people talk about it as much as the Darkskin vs Lightskin debate but I think they can be stereotyped either way as the “Not dark enough to be bullied on skin but not light enough to be praise-able” ALTHOUGH I have seen a rise in brownskin stereotypes like “Oh you have brownskin your skin tone is perfect, Or Brownskin are just right.”
Me being a brownskin black women I’ve never been bullied for my skin complexion but I have watched my dark(er) peers be bullied for theirs.
If I went into full tier it’d probably be:
Darkskin Black Man
Brownskin Black Man
Lightskin Black Man
Lightskin Black Woman
Brownskin Black Woman
Darkskin Black Woman
Darkskin black women being at the bottom due to the amount of stereotypes and hate they truly get.
Here’s some colorist examples wether light or dark:
This one’s a bit y’KNOW. (No it isn’t nudity or anything lol just emojis)
Basically anyone can be colorist or a bully. But that doesn’t mean the tier doesn’t exist!
Texturism:
Black women come with curls in different, lengths, shapes, sizes, and textures. … Texturism fosters the idea that certain types of natural hair patterns are more desirable or beautiful than others.
Typically hair that isn’t as kinky or coily is seen as more desirable or beautiful than hair that is coily and kinky.
Here’s a chart:
People with looser hair typically receive more benefits/compliments when it comes to colorist people. Which typically falls under Lightskin or lighte(r) skinned people, Also people who do have Darkskin or dark(er) skin who has less coily hair can be stereotyped with the “Are you mixed with something?” Question and frankly it’s degrading and rude.
I fall under 4b but 3 when wet.
To summarize this subject Texturism EXISTS TOO! And you can be subjected to Colorism or degrading stereotypes/behavior with looser or coiler hair!
Featurism:
“A form of architectural design based around certain accentuated features* ”. In other context, society accepting or preferring certain features over others (i.e. European features over African/Black features).”
Featurism is when European features are more desirable or preferable over African or larger features.
Example:
A colorist guy sees two beautiful women, One has a large nose and large lips. The other has a smaller nose and smaller lips. Due to him being a Colorism IDIOT instead of talking to the girls to see which PERSONALITY he likes better he’s going to go after the girl with smaller features.
Featurism can cause anyone to be subject to colorism/bullying and stereotypes. I’ve often heard or seen people who has larger features be called “Gorillas or Monkeys” and people will smaller features be called “China Dolls or Babydolls” DISGUSTANG.
To sum this up Colorism is a terrible day to say thing that happens within the black community and won’t be resolved until everyone learns to love themself and stop treating others with disrespect because of their skin/features/hair and believing the stereotype that “White is right.” Love yourself, Love your skin. Love YOU!
Thanks for coming! Feel free to share your opinions or experiences! 
It starts to cause issues considering the fact they’re excluded from both communities.
Colorism has been going on for years and not just in the black community either. There was even colorism during the slave times. People who were darker were more likely to work on the field and other hard labour while people who were lighter tend to work inside the house. It’s just idiotic to ignore these things and call colorism new or treat it as if it’s a myth. Same with light skin privilege.
though in the story I am planning to write, my main character is mixed race.
I’d read it! I barely touch the Episode app nowadays
