Colourism, the idea that light-skinned minorities are given more privilege than their darker-skinned peers. This type of bias dates back to slavery. It's part of white supremacy, or holding up whiteness over other backgrounds. It has deep historical implications in black communities from beauty standards to professional opportunities to how families treat one another.
Two sisters talk to us about their personal experiences and how colourism has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones - Caroline Chinakwe, who is a London based, Nigerian-born self-taught, mixed-media artist portraying the complexities of melanin heavy black women and men, and her sister Isabella Chinakwe, London born Business Finance Manager for Qatar Airways. Although colourism cannot be eradicated in a day, we believe sharing testimonies can aid in the healing process and connect us together.
You can find Caroline's website here and her instagram here.