Dear Editor,
Colorism in my time (Colonial Era) is non-White people pretending to be White or aspiring to be like White people by their behavior, looks, and education.
Today, Colorism is interchangeable across ethnic lines where having blonde colored hair by non-White or dreadlocks by White people has become fashionable in today’s World.
Colorism also has to do with people changing their facial structures and religion to mainstream it to fit in with the dominant Race and Culture of the times. Every race, even minority Whites will change their names eg Italian to be more like the Anglo dominant race.
Naturally, in the colonial era most non-Whites will try to act, look and pray to the ‘White Gods ‘ for White privileges for their survival.
In Trinidad and Guyana, the African Race behaves more superior to the Indians because of their Anglo culture. And at the same time the Anglo Indians with them ‘ White Gods ‘ see themselves as privileged Indians. And Muslims Indians are subject to Colorism’s too, Muslims Indians adopted Arab names, dress and behave like Arabs.
The problem in the debate on Colorism today is that Blacks [ Africans] are excusing themselves of the ‘ guilt of Colorism’s ‘ and placing it solely on Indians and others.
Colorism is not only about being aping White people, but following the dominant trend as White kids trending to be like Black Rappers, and Black kids dying their hair blonde
to be in the entertainment business. In conclusion colorism will always be a part of everyday life with people mimicking the respective dominant Culture of its time.
Vassan Ramracha