During slavery and well into the Jim Crow era, lighter-skinned Black people were sometimes given preferential treatment—such as working inside homes rather than in fields. This created a racial hierarchy within Black communities that has had lasting psychological and social consequences. What we now call colourism is rooted in that history—and its effects are still unfolding today.
Colourism has long shaped social experiences within Black communities—affecting how people are perceived, treated, and valued based on the shade of their skin. But emerging research suggests that its impact goes far beyond identity and social dynamics. It may also be written into the body itself.
A recent study highlighted by McGill University provides compelling evidence that darker-skinned Black Americans may experience higher levels of biological stress, including markers associated with accelerated aging and immune system strain. This research adds a critical layer to our understanding of health inequities—showing that the effects of racism are not only external, but internalized and embodied.
In other words, how society treats you—and how those messages are absorbed—can shape your biology.
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The McGill-led research examined how perceived skin tone among Black Americans correlates with biological markers of health. The findings suggest that individuals perceived as having darker skin tones show:
These markers are not trivial. Chronic inflammation is linked to a wide range of health conditions, including:
This aligns with a growing body of research on “biological embedding”—the idea that social experiences, especially chronic stress and discrimination, become physically embedded in the body over time. A 2024 study in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews further supports this, showing that experiences of racial discrimination are associated with increased allostatic load—the cumulative wear and tear on the body caused by chronic stress. Colourism, as a form of intra-racial and societal bias, appears to function as a specific and underexamined stressor within this framework.
One of the most powerful aspects of colourism is that it doesn’t just operate externally—it becomes internal.
Internalized colourism refers to the process by which individuals absorb and believe societal messages that lighter skin is more desirable, valuable, or acceptable. This can shape:
Over time, these psychological effects can translate into physiological outcomes.
When individuals experience repeated bias—whether overt or subtle—the body activates its stress response system:
When this happens chronically, it leads to long-term health consequences.
Research published in Psychoneuroendocrinology (2024) shows that chronic psychosocial stress is directly linked to dysregulated cortisol patterns and increased inflammation. For darker-skinned individuals facing both racism and colourism, this stress is compounded.
To understand why colourism exists, we have to situate it historically. Colourism is not a natural phenomenon—it is a byproduct of systems that valued proximity to whiteness.
During slavery:
These divisions were intentional. They created hierarchies that weakened collective resistance and reinforced white supremacy.
In the early 20th century, social institutions within Black communities—including some churches and fraternities—used informal practices like the “paper bag test,” where individuals with darker skin were excluded.
This reinforced the idea that:
These messages did not disappear—they evolved.
Today, colourism shows up in subtle and overt ways:
A 2023 study in Demography found that darker-skinned Black individuals often experience lower wages and fewer opportunities, even when controlling for education and background.
These disparities contribute to:
All of which feed back into health outcomes.
What makes colourism particularly harmful is that it operates alongside other forms of inequality.
For darker-skinned Black individuals, the burden is layered:
This creates what researchers call “intersectional stress exposure.” The result is not just additive—it is multiplicative.
Despite its deep roots, colourism is not immutable. Across Black communities, there is growing awareness and resistance.
Movements celebrating dark skin—through art, media, and activism—are reshaping narratives.
Representation matters—not just socially, but psychologically.
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Culturally competent mental health care plays a key role in addressing internalized colourism.
These approaches help individuals unpack harmful narratives and rebuild self-worth.
The emergence of studies like the McGill research signals a shift in how we understand health disparities.
Solutions must include:
This topic is timely because it expands the conversation about health equity. For years, we’ve talked about racism as a determinant of health. Now, we are beginning to understand that:
This is not about division—it is about precision. To solve health inequities, we have to understand them fully.
Colourism is often dismissed as superficial—but the science tells a different story. It affects how people are treated, how they see themselves, and now, increasingly, how their bodies function. The research is clear: chronic exposure to bias—whether external or internalized—can shape biological outcomes. That means addressing colourism is not just about culture or representation. It is about health. It is about longevity. It is about survival. And like all forms of injustice, it is something that can—and must—be challenged.
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