Skin color and socioeconomic inequality: the persistence of colorism among black Jamaicans

Abstract

ABSTRACT Colorism is an important determiner of life outcomes among Black people. Yet, we know little about how it impacts socioeconomic conditions outside the United States. This study expands the existing literature on intraracial stratification by using Jamaica as a case example. Drawing on data from the 2010 and 2023 waves of the AmericasBarometer social survey, I examine the impacts of colorism on two key indicators of socioeconomic status. Although colorism is often regulated as a “public secret,” findings reveal that it is a significant determinant of socioeconomic outcomes. And while the penalty of skin color has lessened in 2023 for tertiary education and household amenities, it remains for incomplete primary education. Findings thus: (1) provide empirical evidence of the continued significance of colorism within Jamaica, (2) expand the extant literature, and (3) highlight the need for the consideration of “racial” inequality in fostering equity, even in majority African-descended nations.