Global racism?

Question

Is there a global pigmentocracy? I'm writing a paper for my diversity course and I've been looking into international racism. I'm specifically concentrating on discrimination of darker peoples by lighter peoples (even in Africa and India), which appears to be a worldwide phenomenon. I don't think there's much doubt that for all the world's diversity, the idea of beauty in whiteness permeates from Japan to Brazil. It seems to me the whole world (the majority of which) seems to prefer white to dark. Any thoughts on why, any firsthand accounts, or am I reading to much into it?

Answer 1

I do have a few thoughts to put forward here.

First of all I do note that the Catholic Church played a major role in the rise of so-called racist arguments (to be fair Pope John Paul II did the decent thing of apologizing for the Church's involvement in such).

However I'll also put forward a personal pet theory that another part of the reason was the timing. Europeans stumbled upon the Africans. Due to military supremacy the Europeans was an opportunity to exploit and they did, sending them into slavery (although I suspect that the Ottomans did so first, again due to military superiority).

Put in very frank terms Africans were perceived as being relatively primitive, being associated to their dwellings and lifestyles. Such was considered the yard-stick of their 'advancement' and, long story short, one thing led to another and there today is a prevailant stigma on perceived African inferiority (measured by the 'modern' yardstick of course).

The situation is not helped by the rooted but unchecked despotic capitalism that runs through various parts of Africa (who is to stop them? They pay peanuts to the Africans and keep them in the dark - hence further increasing the factor by which they may be exploited, a trend that is against the capitalist's interest to break.

There exist studies that suggest that the average IQ of the African is some 80 or so... The validity of these studies is questionable but they have yet to be debunked.

In any case I wish you well with your studies. One last note is that 'compensatory' racism might also be an area to look into as it likely is fueling more racism in places like the UK (Intentional? Unintentional? I am uncertain)

Answer 2

First, I want to note for the people who read this -- the person asking the question is referring to a different aspect of racism, not what we in the USA are so tired of experiencing and dealing (or not dealing) with.

Your question gets to the heart of the problem, and may in fact be one cause of why people throughout history have been subjected to inhumane treatment. Just like there are defaults in computers, dark skin is the default in human development.

All our common ancestors trace back to MODERN people from Africa some 50,000 years ago -- this is fact. As the peoples of the world spread, and their genetic markers slightly changed over time, the dark skin remained the default. However, a genetic anomoly happened along the way -- lighter skin.

I've read reports that that difference (like blue eyes), was so startling that it created a stir that continues today. People are attracted to what is different -- brown skin is the most common skin in the world. There are fewer people with white skin -- you know, novelty factor.

Another reason for "global racism" (as you put it) is that dark skin is associated with outdoor work, you know -- manual, menial labor. If you remained inside (historically), then you did not HAVE to work -- you were wealthy enough to have others work for you. Dark skin was the color of workers, lighter skin is the color of the wealthy and pampered.

Still, it's time to break away from these ANCIENT ways of thinking and embrace melanistic beauty!!!

Answer 3

This reminds me of Orwell's 1984 where day is night and peace is war. The UN is definitely sponsoring a racist conference at which the worst anti-Semites since Hitler are attending like the tyrant of Tehran. I am proud that Australia and the United States among a few other countries like Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands that have shown real moral backbone. Shame on the Swiss authorities for hosting such an insult to humanity and also on the Useless Nations organization!

Answer 4

Sad to say but as long as there has been mankind, there have been racist. It would Be\e a wonderful world if people looked beyond a persons skin color or back grounds and accepted others for what is inside their heart.That's all that matters anyway is the heart. Sorry that there is so many prejudice people that can't seem to look that far. I think one day they'll be surprised to find that God loves us all no matter who we are and being judgmental against anyone is going against all His teaching. This probably has nothing to do with your question but is something people should think about. Me, I have friends who are black,white, Japanese, Filipinos, Mexican and so forth. It's because I can see them for who they are inside. The outside doesn't matter.

Answer 5

racism will always be there all over the world.
im from Africa, n u know what,...the whites in africa feel very specila even though they are in africa and they disrespect the locals, the indians the same all ove r the world a light person feels very important other than the other dark skinned pple around them.

Answer 6

I think dark skin people expect to much from light colored people, dark people want to be respected and treated as an equal, but since light colored people won the race war many many years ago, they feel they are there keepers, so the true racism in with the dark colored people because they know they have not yet reached the height of respect the light colored people have.

Answer 7

White man's burden ?
Have you not heard of the slogan--'Black is beautiful'?
If the Black races had subjugated the white races, the world would have treated Black as the superior color in human skins.

Answer 8

Well if it's about diversity I suggest you mention that God made us all unique. And that some people think that their uniqueness make them better than everyone.

Answer 9

i think you are right. but it is because white people have traveled allover the planet trying to claim new lands as their own and were surprised that other people were there to fight for their homelands.

Answer 10

dats cause da whole world aint got no good taste.

dark always looks better.