Alice Walker Names '‘Colorism’

The term colorism is attributed to the internationally acclaimed writer, poet, and activist Alice Walker. Walker coined the term in the 1980s to explain the prejudice against dark skin within the Black community.

Naming: What the (u) Stands for

The (u) stands for BIPOC solidarity (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). The Colo(u)rism Project utilizes Alice Walker’s term and preserves it as it originally appeared, steeped in lived experiences and the scholarship of Black women (and men). However, color is spelled c-o-l-o-u-r in Indian English (as in Great Britain and British colonies). Adding the ‘u’ in brackets allows us to build on Walker’s work by exploring colorism in the contexts, lives, and histories of people of the Indian subcontinent. Colorism scholarship today relies on the visible and invisible work and lived experiences of Black Indigenous, Hispanic, Latinx, Asian, Dalit, and critical mixed race peoples all over the world.

The Multifaceted ‘u’ explained

‘U’ simultaneously highlights the lived experience of the audience—you—while inviting you to explore what you can do about dismantling colorism around you!