Others add that colorism is a centuries-old worldwide issue that's notable in Latin American countries colonized by Spain and where white skin has long been considered superior to dark skin and Indigenous features. Some social scientists believe this is in part because colorism highlights divisions within racial and ethnic groups. Over the last couple of years, racism has been at the forefront of the nation's attention, but colorism isn't deliberated as often.
It comes just months after colorism - discrimination based on skin tone, often from within someone's own ethnic group - captured wide attention with the release of the movie 'In the Heights,' which was criticized for its lack of dark-skinned Afro Latinos in leading roles. The nonpartisan research center surveyed 3,375 Latinos who live in the U.S., finding that 62% say having darker skin hurts their chances of getting ahead while 59% say having light skin helps them. PHOENIX - Skin tone impacts the everyday lives and the long-term success of Latinos in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center finding that comes as the issue of colorism has become more mainstream. The film became a target for complaints about how people with dark skin are portrayed in movies and TV. The cast and creators of the film In the Heights pose on opening night in New York in June.
