Dr. Kamilah Marie Woodson
Dr. Kamilah Marie Woodson is a Professor in the Howard University School of Education’s Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program, and has an appointment in Psychiatry at the Howard University College of Medicine/HUH. Dr. Woodson has been researching global colorism as part of the Fulbright (Hayes) Scholar Program.
Colorism: Investigating a Global Phenomenon
In an age of growing racial tensions, police brutality, and the “Black Lives Matter” movement, “Colorism: Investigating a Global Phenomenon” is a powerful contribution that examines the roots of colorism in modern society, not only in North America but around the world. It provides penetrating insights into the historical, social, cultural, and personal challenges of people of color—including those of either African, Latino, or Indian/Asian ancestry. While colorism has traditionally been defined in terms of prejudice or discrimination relative to skin color, this 400-page reference work argues that colorism differs from racism in that it is multifaceted: it can be observed between different social groups as well as within one’s own ethnic group. As such, the main objective of this volume is to provide a comprehensive reference on the history, scope, trends, and implications of colorism. This includes topics such as the acknowledgment of the continuing role of the European aesthetic, such as hair texture and length; body image; and perceived attractiveness; a recognition that colorism not only impacts Africans in America but people of color around the world; and an understanding of colorism as a developmental phenomenon that takes root in family dynamics and spreads throughout society. In that sense, colorism is a far more complex and pervasive global phenomenon than was previously posited, not only for its toxic corollaries, but also for its impact on self-esteem and core sense of self. “Colorism” is the outflow of an ambitious, multi-year effort led by Dr. Kamilah Woodson involving a cadre of scholars from Howard University, Fielding Graduate University, Texas Southern University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Grambling State University, The University of North Texas, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Winston-Salem University, Morgan State University, Louisiana State University, the University of the District of Columbia, and other leading institutions.
