Fast History: Colorism at Howard University (Patreon)

This post was inspired by a Two Minute History video created for one of my favorite patrons! 

Schools apart of the "Negro Ivy League" reeked of elitism and colorism like their white counterparts.  Light skin was an elite status symbol, which we all know. Because light skin implied European ancestry, it was associated with intelligence, class, and beauty. What often *isn't* emphasized enough is that colorism was a function of black elitism, in which upper class blacks thought they were better than lower class black due to their proximity to whiteness. Therefore it is no surprise that black institutions of learning (who guarded entrance to their hallowed halls to keep the student body exclusive and elite) indulged in colorist practices. 

It all started with the administration. Wrote Audrey Elissa Kerr:

"In 1914, 57 black institutions were listed in The  Negro Year Book under "Universities and Colleges";  6 of the 31 black presidents of these schools were  identified as mulatto. Of the remaining five, three were  black and two failed to record their racial origin."

The schools that attracted the lightest and the brightest of Black America's wealthiest families during the first half of the 20th century included Howard, which had well-documented instances of colorism dating back to the 19th century. Per Kerr:

Color prejudice was a topic of discussion even during the  very early history of the school, as an 1887 scandal involving the medical school valedictorian illustrates. At  Howard's medical school, a two-thirds-majority vote was  required for one to be elected as valedictorian. White students, who were small in number at Howard, nominated  C.C. Johnson, a fair-complexioned man who "[could not]  be distinguished from white." The black students protested  his selection, indicating that he was too light to represent the  experience of black students; white and fair students  protested the counter-selection of a dark student for similar  reasons. The issue was referred to the faculty, who selected  a young woman as valedictorian. She identified herself as white.

The school also used the infamous Paper Bag Test (in which skin darker than a paper bag denied one entry to clubs, churches, or in this case an institution of learning) as admission criteria. After all, it was traditional to send a picture of oneself along with an application. In 1928 a student at Howard published a piece in the school newspaper in response to allegations of colorism on campus. He said: 

“We are not so surprised when we hear such rumors and reports about institutions of learning owned, controlled and attended by white people, but it certainly comes as a great shock and causes a feeling of shame when we hear such news about Negro colleges. At first glance, it would seem incredible that Negros, themselves the victims of ignorant prejudice and discrimination because of color should follow the lead of the Nordics.”

He also said:

“There is nothing in a white skin to gloat over and nothing in a black skin to be depressed about. It is character, intelligence, and virtue that count. Millions of morons, cretins and degenerates have white skins and straight hair while a long list of able Negros, from the Kings of Ethiopia who once dominated the civilized world, to Askia of Songhai, to Tshaka the Zulu Napoleon, Mosheh the nation builder, Khama of Bamangwate, Sir Apolo Kagwa, Prime Minister of Uganda, and to Roland Hayes and Nathaniel Dett have been dark as the night.

Evidently his words fell on deaf ears at Howard. Mid-twentieth century reports from students claimed that "You could not be on the [homecoming] court unless you were very fair." Another student said that the campus Kappas would pick the lightest girls and say, "We have to match her with our colors, red and white!" The Alphas would try to pick a golden tone to match their colors. An Alpha who crossed in 1951 supported this claim, saying his chapter would go through names and say girls were "Too dark to be on our court." Too dark meant too brown. 

References

The History of Color Prejudice at Howard University by Audrey Elissa Kerr (Attached)

The Impact of Colorism on Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities (Patience Denece Bryant) 

Paper Bag Test: Letter From 1928 Addresses Black Fraternity And Sorority Colorism At Howard University