Black Men’s Experiences of Colourism in the UK

Phoenix, Aisha; Craddock, Nadia

Abstract

Colourism – skin shade prejudice – is a social justice issue for People of Colour globally. Yet, there has been no major sociological study that explores colourism in the UK. Addressing this gap, we draw on nine in-depth qualitative interviews with Black and Mixed-Race heterosexual men living in England that formed part of a larger study of colourism. Using reflexive thematic analysis through an intersectional feminist lens, we argue that colourism is gendered. We found that Black men both experience colourism and perpetuate it by teasing male peers and favouring women with light skin. Our analysis generated three themes: (1) navigating colourism as part of growing up; (2) skin shade paradoxes for Black and Mixed-Race men; and (3) colourism and desirability through the Black male gaze. This research provides a nuanced exploration of colourism from Black and Mixed-Race men’s perspectives. It underscores the significance of colourism in the UK.

Citation

Phoenix, A., & Craddock, N. (2022). Black Men’s Experiences of Colourism in the UK. Sociology, 56(5), 1015-1031. https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385211069507

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 27, 2022
• Journal: Sociology
• Print ISSN: 0038-0385
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-8684
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1015-1031
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385211069507
• Keywords: Articles, Black men, colourism, dark skin, feminism, intersectionality, light skin, masculinity, racism, skin shade prejudice, social capital
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10104181
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00380385211069507