Skin Deep: How Race and Complexion Matter in the "Color-Blind" Era
This collection of essays by various social scientists focuses on inter- and intrarace color consciousness in this era of purported color blindness. Though the primary emphasis is on African American and Latino subjects, the contributors also explore color consciousness among Southeast Asians and Brazilians. Some of the most interesting essays center on Americans of biracial heritage and the political fallout from their struggle for self-definition. All of the contributors confirm that "color" matters, with value weighted in favor of lightness. The biracial struggle to identify as "other than black" reflects internal and social forces that favor lighter-colored skin. This quest for status suggests that the African American fight against second-class citizenship in America may be supplanted by a fight against third-class citizenship. This work is a worthy primer on the import of race and color in America, but its greatest value may be as an indicator of America's future direction on the issue.Vernon FordCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved