Gumbo Magazine - Colorism Q&A

Photo by Clarke Sanders

To those whom this applies, please answer the following questions to best of your abilities. We ask that you’re honest, intentional, and considerate.

If it feels like a question doesn’t apply to you personally, feel free to skip. Your interpretations of these questions are your own, so feel free to answer freely.

Gumbo Media reserves the right to publicly share any and all submitted responses. Authors of selected answers will be notified, credited, and compensated for their contributions.

Name

First Name

Last Name

How has your complexion/color impacted your Black identity?

How have you been impacted (negatively or positively) by colorism?

How have you (consciously or unconsciously) contributed to, perpetuated, or reinforced colorist ideologies?

What frustrations do you have, if any, about the ways we currently frame conversations on colorism?

Coming of age, which facets of colorism did you buy into? What parts of colorism are you still unlearning, or helping other people unlearn?

When did you first become aware that colorism existed?

If you identify (or are often labeled) as dark-skinned, what do you want lighter-skinned folks to understand about their privilege? Do you feel lighter-skinned folks have a responsibility to advocate for darker-skinned folks? If yes, how so?

Inversely, if you identify (or are often labeled) as light-skinned, do you feel you have a responsibility to advocate for darker-skinned folks? If yes, how so?