Abstract
This study seeks to interrogate the conceptualisation of colourism. Colourism is a term used to describe the prejudicial treatment of individuals within the same race by marginalising people with darker skin. This phenomenon is experienced in indigenous and colonial societies alike. By conceptualising the Manichean dualism – Manichean dualism is the division of the world into opposing forces of good and evil – of colourism as defined by Frantz Fanon, I interrogate colourism, firstly, as a definition coined by Alice Walker and elaborated on by Yaba Amgborale Blay, and secondly, how the amalgamation of Manicheanism and colourism find outlets in society. I identify a relationship between the two concepts and interrogate them through conceptual and intersectional analytic approaches.
Keywords: Colourism, Manicheanism, dualism, skin-lightening, bleaching and/or whitening, conceptual analysis, Social Construction of Reality Theory, Intersectionality, and the philosophy of communication.