Colorism and the Mental Health of Black Women

Healing begins when you feel seen.

Understanding Colorism

Colorism is a form of discrimination based on skin tone, often privileging those with lighter complexions while marginalizing individuals with darker skin. For many Black women, colorism’s impact extends beyond surface-level prejudice—it influences identity, access, and well-being. Researchers describe colorism as a “hierarchy within a hierarchy,” where racial bias is compounded by shade bias (Hunter, 2007).

At Beloved Wellness Center, we recognize how this bias contributes to emotional strain and mental health disparities. Colorism is not only social but psychological, shaping how Black women see themselves and how the world responds to them.

The Emotional Toll of Colorism

Colorism can significantly impact mental health by fostering low self-esteem, internalized bias, and body image struggles. Darker-skinned Black women often receive harsher judgments about their appearance, competence, and worth (Wilder, 2015). These experiences contribute to feelings of shame and inadequacy, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating.

Mainstream media reinforces these biases. Studies show that lighter-skinned women are more frequently portrayed as desirable, successful, or romantic leads, while darker-skinned women are typecast as less attractive or secondary characters (Harrison & Thomas, 2009). These images send a powerful, painful message—that lighter means better. Over time, these messages shape identity and belonging, especially for young Black girls.

The Unequal Reality of Opportunity

Colorism doesn’t only influence self-worth—it shapes opportunity. Research consistently shows that lighter-skinned Black women are often perceived as more intelligent, trustworthy, and employable, leading to measurable differences in income, education, and career mobility (Hunter, 2007; Wilder, 2015).

For darker-skinned women, this inequity can lead to frustration, burnout, and chronic stress. Seeing others receive benefits for something as arbitrary as skin tone can erode confidence and lead to emotional exhaustion. Moreover, colorism can fracture community bonds, creating division where there should be solidarity. Social isolation, in turn, undermines one of the strongest protective factors for mental health: connection.

Pathways Toward Healing

Healing from colorism is both personal and collective. It starts with awareness but grows through action and community care.

1. Acknowledge and name colorism.Recognizing colorism as real and harmful allows space for honest reflection and change.

2. Practice self-love and self-care.Affirm your beauty and worth daily. Engage in grounding practices such as meditation, journaling, or affirmations like “My skin is divine. My melanin is medicine.”

3. Seek culturally responsive therapy.Working with a Black therapist who understands colorism’s nuances can help you process its emotional impact in a safe, affirming space. Beloved Wellness Center offers therapy that centers the lived experiences of Black women and girls.

4. Build affirming community.Surround yourself with those who celebrate all shades of Blackness. Engage in groups that empower, uplift, and help you reclaim pride in your identity.

A Call to Collective Healing

Addressing colorism requires more than individual healing—it demands cultural accountability and community transformation. Each act of affirmation, advocacy, and awareness contributes to dismantling generational harm.

At Beloved Wellness Center, we believe that healing begins when you feel seen. Every shade of Black is beautiful. Every story deserves to be honored. Together, we can rewrite the narrative—one rooted in love, liberation, and psychological safety.

Call to Action

If you’re navigating the emotional effects of colorism or struggling with self-worth, our therapists at Beloved Wellness Center are here to support you.

Visit belovedwellnesscenter.com to schedule a session and start your healing journey today.

References

Harrison, M. S., & Thomas, K. M. (2009). The hidden prejudice in selection: A research investigation on skin color bias. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39(1), 134–168.

Hunter, M. L. (2007). The persistent problem of colorism: Skin tone, status, and inequality. Sociology Compass, 1(1), 237–254.

Wilder, J. (2015). Color stories: Black women and colorism in the 21st century. Praeger.