The Color Line: How Skin Color Affects Latinos' Perceptions of Commonality
Year: 2011
Type: preprint
Abstract: Objective. The United States has long been defined by a black/white racializaed social system. The phenotype of many Latinos is neither black nor white; therefore the large influx of Latinos to America in recent years is affecting the structure of this system. As a consequence, Latinos’ skin color may determine whether one is categorized as Black or White. This racial classification based upon skin color may cause different lived experiences and feelings of commonality towards White Americans, African Americans, and Latinos. The objective of this study is to determine the role of Latino skin color in the perceptions of commonality toward Blacks, Whites, and Latinos. Methods. Utilizing data from the 2006 Latino National Survey (LNS), a multivariate ordinary least-squared regression model is employed to test the relationship between Latino skin color and perceptions of commonality toward African Americans, Whites, and Latinos. Results. Results show that Latinos’ skin color does contribute to Latinos’ perceptions of commonality toward Whites and African Americans but not Latinos. Conclusion. This analysis demonstrates that light-skinned Latinos express greater perceptions of commonality toward Whites and dark-skinned Latinos toward Blacks.
Source: SSRN Electronic Journal
Author: Brennan Robinson
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1576907005