Colorism as Historical Trauma: Exploring School Racial Context, Peer Dynamics, and Counternarratives Among Black Women

Abstract

In the current qualitative study, we draw upon the colorist-historical trauma framework and misogynoir theory to explore Black college women’s peer-based messages of skin tone bias in school settings. We analyzed individual interview data from 26 ethnically diverse Black women (18–22 years) with consensual qualitative research methods to explore their beliefs and perspectives on their peers’ colorist messages in K-16 education. We focused on three main themes from the women’s narratives, including the critical role of school racial context, the harmful nature of colorist comments from Black men and boys, and the affirming nature of counternarratives from Black girlfriends. Consistent with past studies, peers’ colorist messages reinforced racialized social hierarchies and Eurocentric notions of beauty by privileging lighter-toned women compared to darker-toned women. The young women described how colorist messages from peers contributed to body surveillance and physical insecurities during childhood, and how they cultivated personal and collective counternarratives on beauty and self-worth in adulthood. Authors discuss colorism as a form of trauma among Black women and girls, with particular attention to identity development.