On the Subject of Colorism

   The excerpt "Emergence of Modern Colorism in the Americas" greatly intrigued me in its attempt to really define colorism. The dictionary would define this term as; "Discrimination based on skin color, or colorism, is a form of prejudice or discrimination in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color." Such a simple definition is too simple. In order to properly define this term one must first venture into its origins, thus the topic of colorism becomes a much larger topic to discuss. The excerpt does this in a very lucrative way eventually coming to explain how modern colorism came to be displayed throughout the Americas. I give the author a lot of credit for presenting the ideas in such a clear way, this topic is indeed very difficult to understand for it digs in deep to questioning and analyzing a very regrettable aspect of human nature. Thus, by being able to take something out of this excerpt proves its efficiency and dedication.
   Colorism is yet another branch out of the inexhaustible power of racism. It has unfortunately and inevitably blended into our modern culture, even though we might think it has not. This branch has been growing for centuries. The excerpt cleverly displays through history how colorism developed, and how those who fed its existence modeled the term to prove their superiority. No modern day scientific analysis can come to prove that the color of our skin determines our superiority over others. Yet colorism is a very typical form of judgment that can come to shape someone's life if you let it. Why is this? This is the question I constantly asked myself throughout this reading. Even though the excerpt did a fabulous job in trying to answer this question it never fully lived up to the task. It seems like no one has really lived up to the task. Why this brand of racism forms such a deep crater in modern and historical social eras, we may never really have a straight answer. That circumstance may be in consequence to the fact that there really may not be an answer. The convenience of colorism to those who formed it was never truly justified. The white man's burden was one placed on himself, never did there exist an obligation, only an opportunity to take what you want and argue it was the "proper" thing to do. The world is those whom hold the most power, and in the eyes of the world colorism has evolved into the "proper" thing. Thus they do. How do you define something that does not exist? That is the big question that invades my mind while reading this excerpt. I lack the words to truly define it for its like trying to catch air. I lack the mentality to even aknowledge it exists. The excerpt may perfectly describe its presence, but I do not see how it can be scientifically justified. This concept remains an illusion that lived as a reality, it is the darkest aspect of our nature.