#4 Final Summary/Reaction

After completing my observations and survey, I concluded that many people were not familiar with the term "colorism". Only two out of the twelve who took the survey said that they knew the term "colorism" and the rest said they were not familiar with it. The results for being discriminated based on their skin color were split. Fifty percent said that they had been discriminated against, while the other half said they had not. About ninety percent of the survey-takers said that they see forms of colorism take place in the media, today, such as photoshopping skin tones to make them look lighter. As well as a survey, I also went to the mall to see if darker-skinned people were treated unfairly in certain stores. I mostly wanted to see if employees would help the lighter-skinned customers first. Overall, I did not notice too many instances of discrimination in stores, but there were a couple of times where employees did go to help the wealthier looking customers, who also appeared to be lighter-skinned. 

I was able to find what I thought I was going to because my results came out extremely similar to my hypothesis and predictions. I predicted that many people would not be familiar with the term "colorism", would only think about colorism if they were brought to the attention of it, and that lighter-skinned customers would be helped first. All of these predictions were proven correct with the help of my observations. After this semester, I feel very comfortable with my topic and that I have learned a lot about it. Before learning about colorism, I had not heard of it so it was interesting to learn something new. Learning about colorism has been very interesting and made me think even more about the photoshopping and discrimination against darker-skinned people. Now that I have more information, I hope to inform other people about this topic, who are not familiar with it. 

#3 Revised Summary/Plan/Update

In my results for my survey and observation, I have noticed that many people are not really aware of colorism still being present today. However, when people took my survey, I then realized that they were only aware of prejudices against those with darker skin when I made them aware of it. While observing people at the mall, I did notice that everyone was treated equally, for the most part. In some situations, I noticed that employees would go to help lighter-skinned or wealthy-looking customers first, rather than darker-skinned customers, which is completely unfair. My hypothesis was that people would not be fully aware of colorism today in our society and I think that these observations proved that. People were only aware of colorism when they were forced to think about it. I think that I am seeing these results because people are very much wrapped up in their lives and are very busy that they do not have the time to think about colorism and it is not a main priority or focus in their lives. Although some of my results varied, they were mostly similar overall.

#2 Strategy/Plan for Research

For my project, I intend to use a paper survey and hand it out to both males and females between the ages of 18 to 60, of all social classes. I predict that most of the people taking the survey will not think about colorism as being prevalent in their society today because they do not notice it or do not think it is present. If some people do believe that colorism is still present today, I am curious as to what the results of the survey will be. 

#1 Suggested Research Method/Why

For my semester 2 project, I have decided to do a survey consisting of about 10 questions. I plan to ask people about their opinions and views on colorism and if they still think it is present today. I want to survey people between the ages of 18-60 years old. I also want to incorporate observing people in the mall or a store to see who gets served first; lighter-skinned people or darker-skinned people.

#8 Summary of Research

Colorism is something that affects many people over the world and has done so for many years. It is out of pure ignorance that people believe lighter-skinned people are superior to darker-skinned people. Some studies have been done to show how the human mind subconsciously links lighter-skinned people to knowledge and intelligence, rather than dark-skinned people. All of the research I have done about colorism has made me more aware of the prejudices that are still very much present in our society today. Although we have evolved as a society, we, unfortunately, have not grown to move past the injustices held against others, especially those with darker skin. Colorism is a very serious issue that needs to be addressed because not only is it morally wrong, but it negatively effects people's self-esteem. This hurts others and slows down our progress in becoming a better, more accepting society. People should never be judged purely on the color of their skin and we should have moved on from this stigma that seems to be never-ending. The media plays a huge role in supporting colorism, even if it is done subliminally. Some ways in which the media subliminally plays into colorism are by editing photos of people to make their skin look somewhat lighter and by idolizing lighter-skinned people, rather than darker-skinned people. By doing such things, the media is sending messages that darker-skinned people are seen as inferior and not as appreciated as lighter-skinned people, which is cruel. I think that we need to put an end to editing photos to make skin look lighter and start embracing the fact that everyone has different skin tones and there is nothing wrong with that. Becoming more knowledgeable about colorism has made me think twice about supporting companies that try to embrace light skin more than dark skin. I believe that everyone should be accepted for who they are as a person, not based off of their skin color. 

#7 Article: Study Reveals The Unconscious Bias Towards Dark Skin People We Already Knew Existed

This Huffington Post article discusses how studies show that people subconsciously remember educated black men as having lighter skin. This implies that black people are most intelligent and successful when they have light skin as opposed to darker skin. This study consisted of 125 university students who were shown either of the words, "ignorant" or "educated" followed by a picture of a black man. Next, they were shown seven more of these pictures with the same face but with differing skin tones. The results showed that the students who saw the word "educated" connected it with the lighter skin-toned man. This just goes to show that many people are prejudice against people with darker skin and do not even realize it most of the time.

I believe that many people have these stereotypes ingrained into their minds because of the "bubble" and society that they live in. As the article stated, we subconsciously make these assumptions and stereotypes in our minds before even thinking about what we concluded or getting to know someone. I really think that these assumptions lead to our downfall as a society and that we need to grow and evolve to rebuild it. Not only is it wrong to make these assumptions but it is pure ignorance. I do believe that we can learn to correct these faults we have.

Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/skin-tone-bias_n_4597924.html
Picture: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1562583/thumbs/o-SKIN-TONE-BIAS-570.jpg

#6 Article

This CNN article discusses more injustices and experiences of people victimized by colorism. Professor Ronald E. Hall mentions how colorism is becoming the new "ism", or practice, in America today. Professor Hall also gives evidence of racial discrimination against darker skinned people. One case, Felix v. Marquez, involved employees of the Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in Washington. Felix, who is darker-skinned, accused Marquez, the lighter-skinned defendant, of not promoting her due to colorism.  Professor Hall also mentions how legal cases involving colorism have increased in the U.S. and also around the world. 

I think it is important for us, as a society, to evolve and move beyond this "ism" that has become present in our lives. I strongly believe that we need to move beyond this discrimination towards people with darker skin, or any discrimination at all. The media has a huge role in making seem as if it is okay to edit photos to make celebrities' skin lighter. In order to move past this, I believe we need to show that we do not support this discrimination or the media for glorifying lighter-skinned men and women. 

Article: http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/13/opinion-colorism-is-the-new-ism/
Picture: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me26jkGS6T1r5r1alo1_400.jpg