2 chapters across the catalog
Historical colorism within the black community involved the "brown paper bag test" and the "ruler test" to determine social eligibility. These tests were used by elite social clubs and universities to exclude those with darker skin. Similar practices, such as the "pencil test" in South Africa, demonstrate a global pattern of skin-tone-based discrimination.
In addition to the paper bag test in America, South Africa utilized the "pencil test" to determine racial classification based on hair texture. If a pencil stayed in a person's hair, they failed the test for whiteness. These practices are cited as examples of institutional racism that occurred even within all-black spaces, such as Fisk University in 1972, where wealth could sometimes bypass color requirements.
