THE ORAL HISTORIES WE CARRY BUT DON’T DARE TO SPEAK: Colorism, Race, Silence, and Memory in the Contemporary ‘‘Mestiza’’ Experience in Los Altos de Jalisco, México

Abstract

This oral history and anthropologically rich thesis explores the following themes: colorism, kinship, intimacy, and healthcare concerns as they relate to the enduring colorist rhetoric present in the Los Altos de Jalisco, Jalisco, México. Framed by the role of the vulnerable observer, the author invites the reader to explore how individuals navigate racial and color hierarchies through the body, language, memory, and cosmetic practices. By exploring the emerging anthropological discourse of the twentieth century of Mexico, the racial and nationalistic identity of “Mestiza/o” explores how colorism is both resisted and internalized. This thesis incorporates a global health perspective, addressing the harmful effects of skin-whitening products on marginalized communities to further address the urgencies of those afflicted by colorism. This research aims to understand how individuals in their respective communities understand, articulate, and act on issues of colorism through narratives of self and their skin, and as a response to societal, political, and biological understandings of race and pigmentation of the skin.