The Economic Consequences of Colorism and Complexion Homogamy in the Black Community: Some Historical Evidence

Whether measured by social rank, occupational status or educational levels, newlyweds tend to resemble one another. The pattern of like marrying like, which anthropologists label status homogamy, is observed across time and place, and is true among both commoners and the nobility. This paper investigates complexion homogamy (light marries light and dark marries dark) in the African-American community. The evidence reveals a marked pattern of complexion homogamy dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. The evidence also reveals that the convention of complexion homogamy had meaningful economic ramifications. Complexion homogamous marriages among light-complected blacks resulted in households with higher literacy rates, higher occupational status, and greater wealth.