COLORISM IN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA.
ALETHA M PENRITH, WRITER, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY (ALUMNI). Colorism’ is a phrase that was introduced in the 1980’s by author and activist Alice Walker. A definition in a recent article stated ‘Colorism’ is the systemic study of how white supremacy operates within ethnic groups to privilege those with light skin complexions, although definitions vary. Hall (1995) for example argued that ‘Colorism’ is more than aesthetic of skin colour and Eurocentric features. Relaying in his paper on “The Bleaching Syndrome’ Hall notes that Colorism is a destructive response to racial hierarchies and racial domination that drives physio social acceptance and inclusion through assimilating one’s own physiological features. Literature on “Colorism’ ranges from the legal studies, gender, criminology, education, youth education, politics, media studies to health and psychology and across African, African – American, wider America, Latino, Asian, South East Asian and Australian communities. It has a vast array of research material and explores tones and race more broadly within context of dominant culture, race and power relations. Despite the fact that whiteness, race and Indigeneity have been regularly explored, for example see Moreton-Robinson, Higgas in ‘Whitening Race’ (2010) , ‘Colorism’ is perceived as having less of an impact in Indigenous Australia. Speculatively, this has been due to various factors in policy that have disproportionately affected Indigenous people at the design of Australian race powers, for example the stolen generation, assimilation policies, health (see Doyle, Hungerford
and Clearly 2016) and more prominently the exclusionary process of economic prisms that might be indicated should intra racial relationships draw unwanted policy attention (See Eatock versus Bolt [2011]). The Legal System Numerous cases in the U.S have sought to define or create a prima facie case against colourism and many have failed. In the case of Santiago v. Stryker Corp. a determination made by the court recognised colour bias favoured a white skinned Puerto Ricans over dark skinned Puerto Ricans. The problem persists as courts struggle to define where to draw the ‘colour line’. Most cases have dealt with colour under racial discrimination. In 2008 , a taskforce was created to address the overwhelming numbers of Colour complaints in the workforce. It is worth noting that Latinos have become one of the largest minority group in the U.S, but are legally classified as white despite having mixed heritage, whereas African –Americans have been situated as black under various tests when of mixed heritage. Although colourism does not necessarily equate to biracial parentage, where both African- American and Latinos sit in terms of legal determinations has interesting legal implications. While Puerto Ricans have a legal prima facie for colourism the majority of African-American cases have been dealt with under race discrimination. Colourism across the legal spectrum have also impacted Japanese and Hindu women who are marginable based on colour preference. Caste systems and colour have
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