Colorism is a collection of racist policies that cause injustices and inequities between Light people and Dark people, and these injustices and inequities are substantiated by racist ideas about Light and Dark people. Colorism, like all forms of racism, rationalizes injustices and inequities with racist ideas, claiming the inequities are not due to racist policy but are based in what is wrong or right with each group of people. Colorist ideas are also assimilationist ideas, encouraging assimilation into—or transformation into something close to—the White body.
