Table of ContentsIntroductionColorism in the Entertainment IndustryColorism in MagazinesConclusionIntroductionWe Wear the Mask by Paul Dunbar was primarily about wearing this "mask" to protect yourself from society's judgment. It focuses on black individuals who hide their true identities as well as their feelings to survive and be accepted in a white society. The Veil of Self-Awareness by WEB Dubois also had a very similar plot. It was about how the white world failed to notice who African Americans were and what their goal was. These black individuals were also fighting against themselves because they had lost who they truly were and what they stood for because they only listened to how white America portrayed them. Throughout history, African Americans have always put on a mask to protect their families as well as themselves. Learning this during the semester really irritated me and the fact that some white individuals still perceive them to be the same as before in the story. This made me wonder: why did white people put on a mask to play the role of a black person and how is this still in front of us today? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay There is a long history of representation of black people while being white. The first example of this is blackface. Blackface dates back to the 1800s as a performance by white people. They used burnt corks or shoe polish to darken their faces and wore torn clothing imitating African American slaves. They described black people as lazy, violent, ignorant, hypersexual and much more. The first blackface figure was Jim Crow, who made headlines everywhere and influenced other places to start blackface as well. These depictions became very popular at the end of the Civil War and racism became massive against the African American race when they demanded full citizenship as well as the right to vote. Blackface has subsequently taken on many forms in the entertainment industry, such as: media, makeup, costumes and much more. Blackface is still present in media and shows today, as well as in Halloween costumes. Blackface is represented differently in 2019 in the media and entertainment industry. Blackface has now moved to the term known as colorism. Colorism discriminates against a person based on the color of their skin and colorism is born out of many lost opportunities for people of color. Colorism can also belong to the same culture. Colorism is different from racism because racism is the belief in the racial inferiority of a particular group. Colorism is only thought to have negative implications for darker-skinned people, but light-skinned African Americans have also been victims of colorism throughout history. In Hollywood films, African-American actors and actresses are absent in leading roles. Even though African Americans are cast, the film chooses lighter-skinned individuals over darker-skinned individuals. As the filmmakers made these choices, one over the other, it put both sides of the black community in a situation where they were being pigeonholed. These new categories created a still-present tension between their own communities. Colorism in the entertainment industry. The darkest African Americans beingrarely cast in roles, they began doing things to their skin that weren't necessary. If people, primarily black women, couldn't pass as white, they would change their complexion to white. They did this by using lighter makeup to conceal their darkness and they also used bleaching cream to dye their skin in places people saw. Whites and lighter-skinned people watched these Hollywood films, giving rare roles to darker-skinned African-Americans. When the darkest skinned individuals were given roles in films intended to depict racist stereotypes against black people. African American audiences were tired of being portrayed in such stereotypical and racist ways that they were not. African American theaters and films became extremely popular between the 1910s and 1950s. These new films were created for all black people and generally used an all-black cast. These new films portrayed black actors and actresses in a way that most African Americans could relate to. Even though many of these films were produced in the 20th century, they still have never been shown on larger theater screens or screens. diverse audiences. Even though African Americans in the 20th century took steps to change their view of themselves and provide more opportunities within their culture, colorism still exists in the 21st century today. The Black entertainment industry, over the past few years, has raised the debate on colorism and brought it to the nation to make us more aware of this ongoing issue. Colorism, again, is still present in our daily lives and is highlighted. in front of our faces. But let's go back to when colorism actually started with slave owners. Slave owners would have sexual relations with enslaved African American women. The result of sex was light-skinned children. Light-skinned children were given privileges over everyone else, which caused a lot of hatred within the enslaved community. During the period of slavery, there was also the house Negro and the field Negro. What these terms generally meant to slaves was that lighter-skinned African Americans had to work in the house with the master, eat better food, and have fewer restrictions than lighter-skinned African Americans darker. This quickly divided the entire race as tensions grew between families and friends. Shortly after the slave, the brown paper bag test was created. The brown paper bag test determined privileges among those of color. If the individual's skin matched or was lighter than that of the brown paper bag, then you received these privileges over those who did not meet this requirement. This test was commonly used in higher African American societies to prove whether an individual was white enough to be accepted into anything. Hundreds of black institutions, including Howard University's Phi Alpha Phi, used this test to determine if you were suitable to join their fraternity. Many churches and civic groups of this era also used this test. African Americans of the time did not understand that this tactic was color favoritism as well as a form of colorism, but the white race used it to divide and control the African American race. While black people were arguing over whose skin color was better, they didn't realize that they didn'twere not solving this problem, but simply making it deeper than it really was. Nowadays, lighter-skinned African Americans are more favored in the entertainment industry. Colorism has existed and still exists today. My first example is colorism in films. One example is when Zoe Saldana played Nina Simone in the biopic Nina. Throughout the film, Zoe Saldana wears darker makeup and a fake nose to become her character, Nina Simone (Racism and Colorism). So why couldn't Hollywood cast someone who looks like what she looks like. In most films starring African American women, the darker-skinned women are primarily portrayed as ghetto and aggressive, but the lighter-skinned women are beautiful and more feminine. as. Which brings up the issue that lighter skin is always better. Colorism in magazines Colorism in magazines. In a L'Oréal advert, Beyoncé's skin was lightened to appeal to white women's eyes. (Racism and Colorism) Another example is when OJ Simpson's skin is darkened in Time magazine to appear more vile than before. This is logical because darkening the skin historically meant evil for white people. But there are also exceptions to these imaginary rules. Lupita Nyong'o is a great example of a black woman breaking the rules of colorism. It's everywhere, from magazines to blockbuster movies. She has dark skin, so how did she do it? She won an Oscar and it was thanks to this award that she became famous. But she won the prize for her portrayal of a struggling slave, which was a way of getting noticed by the white world. This is why African Americans are transforming. Black women wear colored wigs and weaves, damaging their hair and scalp from permanent relaxers due to colorism. They have been brainwashed to think that having this fake hair is attractive rather than just being themselves. African American women across the country think their skin is so ugly that they decide to bleach it to make it lighter. These women put themselves at risk for skin cancer and other medical problems that will affect them for the rest of their lives. They were diagnosed with all of these life-threatening conditions because the skin lightening soaps and creams were made of mercury. In the past, African Americans also became lighter through miscegenation. Crossbreeding is when different races interbreed to become lighter and more accepted by everyone. All of these are examples of colorism and its negative impact on centuries of generations. In America, being white is becoming less and less important and being multiracial is growing more and more every day. But skin color remains the most important determining factor to be evaluated and judged by the world. Racism is different from colorism. Racism was born when the country was created. The phenomenon of light skin on dark skin has its roots in colorism. Although it is more common for African Americans to experience colorism, it happens all over the world including: the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and more (Colorism in America). A Washington Post science reporter researched skin color and how even the most liberal progressive thinkers still use skin as a distinguishing factor in the world. He exclaimed to the New York Times in 2010: "Dozens of studies have shown that skin color and other. ..