Meaning of colorism | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Prejudice or bias against persons on the basis of their skin color or complexion, often among persons of the same racial identification.
   US, uncountable, usually
2. A style of painting characterised by the use of intense color.
   uncountable, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“Black America used to be, and perhaps still is, a pigmentocracy, which means that the social hierarchy is based largely on colorism.”

“This type of preferential colorism isn’t only found in the church aisles, it’s at family gatherings, on the dating scene, in the classroom, on the playground—it’s everywhere.”

“Colorism from your own people feels worse than racism – at the very least your own family and people should welcome you, no?”

“Eliminating racism and colorism is, of course, a worthy pursuit, but it’s also impossible to do in the abstract.”

“Like those, James’s season still gave noticeably less screen time to its Black contestants—and because of James’s Blackness, the colorism that has always plagued The Bachelor became more visible.”

“Like many other parts of the world, colourism is rampant in India.”

“Turner's colorism with its cosmic world view had nothing to do with realism, in spite of its impasto handling of colour. […] Turner's images are based on the far-sighted and purely objective views of the 18th century which he imbued with new meaning through his colorism based on colour theory and plein-air painting.”

CEFR level