Black History Month South: Colourism Exhibition
Southampton will soon be host to a groundbreaking photography exhibition that delves into the complex and often overlooked issue of colourism. With images taken by renowned local live music and documentary photographer Nosa Malcolm, this exhibition aims to challenge perceptions and spark conversations about the profound impact of colourism on communities across the globe.
Through a series of powerful images, Black History Month South will explore the nuanced ways in which colourism manifests in Black, White, and Mixed-Race communities. The exhibition, made possible thanks to National Lottery project grant funding from Arts Council England, goes beyond the superficial stereotypes and will reveal the deep-rooted cultural, social, and economic disparities that arise from this prejudice.
Look for the galleries in various locations across the city, as we embark on a visual journey that sheds light on a critical issue and inspires us to work towards a more equitable and inclusive society.
Colourism, previously known as Shadism, is a prejudice in which Black and Brown people with darker skins experience disadvantages compared with those with a lighter complexion.
The aim of this exhibition is to explore Colourism/Shadism, which has had a more profound impact on life and culture than many presume. This issue impacts very differently on Black communities, White communities, and Mixed-Race communities.
For those who may not know, Colourism/Shadism is the value we attach to people of different complexions. This can be traced back to centuries of colonialism and some argue that this is a direct consequence of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, although different complexions could be found in some parts of the African continent prior to that.
Clearly the manner in which Black images have been used in the West tells us that choices have been made regarding the selections chosen and the use of complexions of peoples whose origins are from the African continent. We are only too familiar with how fashion, advertising and the media have played their part in popularising certain characteristics and imbuing certain complexions with notions of either beauty or unattractiveness.
Colourism is a by-product of Racism, and we all make judgments – either consciously, unconsciously, or sub-consciously – regarding this issue.
This exhibition hopes to stimulate further discussion to create a greater understanding.
Don John
Race & Diversity Consultant and
Founder of Black History Month South
The History
There is much evidence to suggest that a Black woman was the mother of all humankind. Known as Mitochondrial Eve, she was an East African woman who walked the earth an estimated 200,000 years ago. From that time onwards people travelled all over the world and their skin tones adapted to their geographical environment. Nonetheless, history has taught us that humans over time have attached all kinds of values according to the colour and complexion of their skin.
There have been many terminologies relating to the stratification of skin tones, and many are valued according to their closeness to Whiteness which some view as closer to “civilisation”. This concept has been called “Shadism” or “Colourism” and questionable terms have been used such as Mulatto, Half-Caste, Mixed-Race, Quadroon, Octaroon and other even less complimentary descriptions.
The variety of skin tones of those of an African background has created some confusions regarding self-classifications of Blackness and there is a perception that the associations with Europe contributed to these confusions. But the truth is that Africa was always composed of peoples of all kinds of skin tones prior to the associations with Europeans and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The Brown Paper Bag Test
This is a term in African American oral history used to describe a racist discriminatory practice within the African American community in the 20th century, in which an individual’s skin tone is compared to the colour of a brown paper bag. The term was used to determine what privileges an individual could have and only those with a skin colour that matched or was lighter than a brown paper bag were allowed admission or membership privileges. The test was believed by many to be used in the 20th century by many African American social institutions such as sororities, fraternities, and social clubs. People were barred from having access to several public spaces and resources because of their darker complexion. The test was used at the entrance to social functions wherein a brown paper bag was placed at the door and anyone who was darker than the bag was denied entry.
The aim of this exhibition is to explore Black people’s recognition of their own blackness and complexion and to offer the audience an opportunity to examine themselves, their relationship with other Black people, and how society has influenced their perspective on the different shades of colour.
Colourism Exhibition, 1st – 31st of October,
Various locations across Southampton
For more details, see the image above.
