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Historically Black Colleges and Universities pp 189–206Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Color and Class: The Promulgation of Elitist Attitudes at Black Colleges

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Abstract

This historical analysis uses the Black college as a lens through which to explore the often skirted issues of classism and colorism within the Black community. Blacks living in America have been the targets of racism since the inception of slavery; it is well known that the origin of much of the intolerance sat within the White community. However, arguably less widely recognized is the intraracial prejudice rooted in the Black community.

Wouldn’t they be surprised when one day I woke out of my black ugly dream, and my real hair, which was long and blond, would take the place of the kinky mass Momma wouldn’t let me straighten? My light-blue eyes would hypnotize them.

Maya Angelou

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Authors
  1. Bianca Taylor
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Marybeth Gasman  & Christopher L. Tudico  & 

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© 2008 Marybeth Gasman and Christopher L. Tudico

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Taylor, B. (2008). Color and Class: The Promulgation of Elitist Attitudes at Black Colleges. In: Gasman, M., Tudico, C.L. (eds) Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230617261_12

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