Light Skin Privilege Checklist
[credit to LilMoUterus on lipstickalley.com]
So maybe you didn’t know if you agreed with some statements from the previous checklist or you answered a few with “kind of.” If that was you, here’s the checklist for you!
You have the ability to deny that colorism exists.
People see as a symbol of a post racist society.
You are the standard of beauty in the Black and Latino communities.
You are racially ambiguous and therefore do not experience anti-blackness from other people of color.
People think you are mixed and this is supposed to be a compliment.
You are seen as more intelligent and less angry than darker black people.
You don’t have to deal with comments like: “You’re pretty for a dark skin girl.”
You have a better chance of getting hired than a darker skinned person with the same qualifications.
When there are black people in shows and movies, they will most likely have the same skin tone as you.
If you are a light skinned Afro Latina, you don’t have to prove that you are Latino.
If you are in a group with other people of color, white people will talk to you first.
People think you’re pretty simply for having light skin when you might actually just be average. [Remember to ask yourself: “Are they cute or just light skinned?]
On TV shows and in movies, the wives of darker skinned men will always be within a few shades of your skin tone, and she is usually seen as a prize.
If at the end of this list, you find yourself refusing colorism and light skin privilege, please see item 1 of the checklist and you’ll find that congrats you have light skin privilege!
If you think this list comes from a place of jealousy or hurt, that’s a very light-skinned thought.
This does not mean that you cannot or don’t experience racism. It does mean that within the black and latino community, you are assigned more value than people with darker skin. You do get treated better.
P.s. I am a light skinned myself and I feel a great responsibility in making sure we stop all our light skin bullshit. LIGHT SKIN IS A PRIVILEGE.
