Global Perspectives on Colorism

April 2-3, 2015

Colorism is the practice of discrimination based on skin tone and is prevalent throughout the world. Organized by the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute, this conference addressed the global reach—in economic, social, and psychological terms—of colorism. Speakers explored, in a variety of constructs, how one’s skin color can be a source of scorn, shame, admiration and envy. Papers for this conference will be published in a symposium issue of the ; Washington University Global Studies Law Review. Supported in part through funding from the Office of the Provost and co-sponsored by the Gephardt Institute for Public Service.

Conference Agenda
Event Photos
Event Videos:You can now watch all the presentations from the Conference online. Day 1 | Day 2: part 1 | Day 2: part 2

Lex lata, lex ferenda
To read more about the conference, read the following posts written by conference panelists for the Harris Institute’s blog Lex lata, lex ferenda.

Beginning the Dialogue: Global Perspectives on Colorism, by Vinay Harpalani, Savannah Law School
Global Perspectives on Colorism: Stepping Towards a Solution, by Neha Mishra, M.S. Ramaiah College of Law

Speakers

William J. Aceves, California Western School of Law
Debito Arudou, Independent Researcher
Yaba Blay, Drexel University
Sharon Bramlett-Solomon, Arizona State University
Kim D. Chanbonpin, John Marshall Law School-Chicago
Adrienne Davis, Washington University School of Law
Stephanie Farrior, Vermont Law School
Ronald E. Hall, Michigan State University
Vinay Harpalani, Savannah Law School
Keshia Harris, The University of Chicago
Richard D. Harvey, St. Louis University Department of Psychology
Tanya K. Hernandez, Fordham University School of Law
Joni Hersch, Vanderbilt University School of Law
Henriette Dahan Kalev, BBen Gurion University of the Negev
Verna Keith, Texas A&M University
Neha Mishra, M.S. Ramaiah College
Carlos Moore, Writer, Ethnologist and Social Scientist
Kimberly J. Norwood, Washington University School of Law
Leila Nadya Sadat, Washington University School of Law
Margaret Beale Spencer, The University of Chicago
Vetta Sanders Thompson, Washington University George Brown School Social Work
Nayani Thiyagarajah, Shade-ism Producer
Lynn Thomas, University of Washington
Carlos Manuel Vazquez, Georgetown University Law Center
Hilary Weaver, University at Buffalo School of Social Work