Across the globe, a complex and deeply rooted dynamic persists: the pursuit of proximity to whiteness, often at the expense of acknowledging its historical and ongoing harms. This phenomenon, embedded in cultural, social, and political structures, reveals a troubling reality. There is little incentive for whiteness to confront or reform its racist behaviors when so many cultures, consciously or unconsciously, prioritize alignment with it.
Historical Context and Global Patterns
Colonialism, a cornerstone of modern racial hierarchies, established whiteness as a global symbol of power, prestige, and superiority. From the Indian subcontinent to the Caribbean to East Asia, colonial powers imposed systems that privileged white identities while marginalizing indigenous and non-white populations. Yet, centuries later, the legacy of these systems persists in the form of internalized hierarchies. In India, for example, British colonial rule left behind a lingering preference for lighter skin, evident in the booming skin-lightening industry and social biases favoring “fair” complexions. This pursuit of proximity to whiteness is not merely aesthetic but a cultural aspiration tied to status and opportunity.
Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, a nation with clear African roots, many reject the label of “Black” in favor of identities like “Indio” or “mulatto,” distancing themselves from Blackness while implicitly aligning with whiteness. This denial of African heritage reflects a broader global trend where proximity to whiteness is seen as a pathway to social mobility, even when it requires erasing or diminishing one’s own cultural identity.
In East Asia, particularly in countries like China, historical encounters with Western imperialism have not eradicated the allure of whiteness. Despite suffering at the hands of colonial powers, many Asian societies uphold white features—fair skin, Western facial structures—as ideals in media, beauty standards, and even professional settings. The global influence of Hollywood and Western consumer culture reinforces this, creating a feedback loop where whiteness remains aspirational.
Cultures Seeking Proximity to Whiteness
Numerous cultures around the world actively pursue proximity to whiteness, often as a means of gaining social, economic, or cultural capital. Below is a list of some prominent examples:
- Indian Subcontinent: In India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, colonial legacies have fostered a preference for lighter skin, with skin-lightening products and media glorifying “fair” complexions as symbols of beauty and success.
- Dominican Republic (highlighted): Despite a strong African heritage, many Dominicans reject Black identity, favoring terms like “Indio” to align closer to whiteness, influenced by historical Spanish colonial hierarchies and anti-Black sentiment.
- Latino Communities (highlighted): Across Latin America, particularly in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, lighter skin and European features are often associated with higher social status, perpetuating a hierarchy that privileges whiteness.
- Cuban Culture (highlighted): In Cuba, despite a rich Afro-Cuban heritage, lighter-skinned individuals are often favored in media and social settings, reflecting a desire to align with white ideals rooted in Spanish colonialism.
- East Asian Cultures (China, Korea, Japan): Beauty standards in these countries often prioritize pale skin and Western features, with industries like K-pop and Chinese cinema promoting white-adjacent aesthetics.
- Filipino Culture: Colonial histories under Spanish and American rule have left a legacy of valuing lighter skin and Westernized appearances, evident in media and social preferences.
- Middle Eastern Cultures (e.g., Lebanon, Iran): In some urban areas, Western beauty standards, including lighter skin and European features, are idealized, often tied to globalized media and economic aspirations.
These cultures, among others, demonstrate a global pattern of seeking proximity to whiteness, often at the cost of devaluing their heritage.
The Unchallenged Evils of Whiteness
The prioritization of whiteness often comes with a selective blindness to its associated harms. Mass shootings, often perpetrated by white individuals in Western nations, are frequently framed as isolated incidents or mental health crises rather than systemic issues. Child molestation scandals, such as those exposed in religious or institutional settings, are downplayed or excused as aberrations. Drug dependence, particularly in white communities, is treated with empathy as a public health issue, while similar struggles in Black or minority communities are criminalized. These disparities reveal a global double standard: