“The Politics of Skin Color: Reassessing the Relationship between African Americans’ Skin Tone and Political Views,” Nicole Yadon, Ohio State University

AMERICAN POLITICS & PUBLIC POLICY WORKSHOP

Abstract: A body of evidence across the social sciences demonstrates that heterogeneity in skin color is linked to significant differences in life experiences within and across racial groups. Yet relatively little scholarly attention has been paid to studying skin tone from a political perspective. I theorize that skin color will be related to both African Americans’ political views and political identities. I test these expectations using a mixed-methods approach, combining multiple national surveys alongside 100 in-depth interviews with African Americans. The findings highlight that skin tone is associated with African Americans’ political attitudes on issues where skin tone is salient — e.g., issues related to income, jobs, and policing. Moreover, I find that skin tone identity is meaningful to a sizable number of African Americans. This work not only offers important implications for scholars and policymakers alike, but also has implications extending across racial groups.

Nicole Yadon is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Ohio State University. Her research examines public opinion, political behavior, and race and ethnicity in American politics. Her research has been supported by numerous grants, fellowships, and awards, including support from the National Science Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation. Her first book–Skin Color, Power, and Politics in America–was published in 2022 at Russell Sage Foundation Press. Her second book project–The Politics of Skin Color–conducts a deeper examination of the link between skin tone, identity, and political views among African Americans. This book is under contract at University of Chicago Press.

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