What Was the Brown Paper Bag Test?
The Brown Paper Bag Test was an informal but widely practiced method of color-based discrimination within Black communities—especially among elite African Americans in the early 20th century. In this test, a person’s skin tone was compared to a standard brown paper bag. If their complexion was lighter than the bag, they were allowed access to certain social privileges, such as entry into exclusive clubs, organizations, churches, schools, and social events. If they were darker, they were denied.
This practice was not enforced by white society, but by Black elites who had internalized the racial hierarchies of white supremacy. It was a form of colorism, which is discrimination based on skin tone, often within the same racial or ethnic group.
Historical Origins and Locations
The Brown Paper Bag Test is believed to have originated in the early 1900s, particularly during the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow era, as Black communities began forming their own institutions amid segregation. The test gained prominence among the so-called “Black bourgeoisie,” especially in southern cities like New Orleans, Charleston, Atlanta, and Savannah, as well as northern cities like Washington D.C., New York, and Philadelphia.
This color-based gatekeeping was especially prevalent in:
- Black sororities and fraternities
- Churches
- Private social clubs
- HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
- Debutante balls and elite Black social circles
Why Did It Happen? The Premise Behind the Rule
The Brown Paper Bag Test was rooted in internalized racism and colorism, legacies of colonialism and slavery. During slavery, lighter-skinned Black people—usually mixed-race offspring of white slaveowners and Black women—were often given preferential treatment. They were more likely to work in the house, receive basic education, or even be freed.
After Emancipation, many light-skinned Black people were able to accumulate more wealth, education, and social capital. As they formed upper-class enclaves within the Black community, they sometimes adopted white supremacist values—including the belief that light skin was more beautiful, intelligent, and “civilized.” The Brown Paper Bag Test became a way to preserve that class advantage by controlling access to elite Black spaces.
Organizations and Institutions That Used It
Several prominent Black institutions, especially between 1900 and 1940, were known or rumored to have used the Brown Paper Bag Test, either formally or informally. These include:
- Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) and Delta Sigma Theta sororities
- Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternities
- The Blue Vein Society – a club for African Americans who were so light-skinned their veins showed
- Jack and Jill of America, Inc. – an exclusive social club for Black families
- Certain Black churches and elite congregations
- The Paper Bag Club in New Orleans, known for having this policy
Note: Many of these organizations have since acknowledged and rejected these practices, striving for inclusivity today.
How Was It Justified Within the Black Community?
Black elites justified the Brown Paper Bag Test through several rationalizations:
- Respectability Politics – Light-skinned Black people were perceived to be more “palatable” to white society, and therefore better representatives of the race.
- Social Advancement – Gatekeeping was seen as a way to protect upward mobility and avoid association with Blackness perceived as “too low,” “uneducated,” or “uncultured.”
- Survival Strategy – Some believed light skin offered better economic opportunities and social access, so prioritizing it helped protect families from racial violence or marginalization.
These justifications were deeply flawed and ultimately damaging, reinforcing white supremacist beauty and value systems within the Black community.
Celebrities Who Would Have “Passed” and Those Who Would Not
Celebrities Who Likely Would Have Passed:
- Lena Horne – Light-skinned actress and singer often cast in roles that required a “racially ambiguous” appearance.
- Dorothy Dandridge – The first Black woman nominated for an Oscar; often praised for her “exotic” beauty.
- Halle Berry – Often referred to as the most beautiful woman in the world.
- Vanessa Williams – The first Black Miss America, frequently cited for her light eyes and skin tone.
Celebrities Who Would Not Have Passed (Based on Skin Tone):
- Viola Davis – Known for her rich, dark complexion and celebrated for breaking barriers despite colorist bias in Hollywood.
- Whoopi Goldberg – Faced open ridicule for not fitting Eurocentric beauty standards.
- Wesley Snipes – Celebrated for redefining Black masculinity but would have been excluded from elite colorist spaces.
- Lupita Nyong’o – Famously spoke about feeling unattractive as a child because of her dark skin, until seeing Alek Wek, a dark-skinned model, celebrated publicly.
The Legacy of the Brown Paper Bag Test
Though the literal use of brown paper bags has faded, the mentality behind the test persists in modern forms:
- Casting biases in film and media
- Skin-lightening products
- Dating preferences shaped by colonial standards
- Disparities in beauty pageants, modeling, and corporate hiring
It also continues to influence mental health, self-esteem, and identity formation among Black youth, who still wrestle with messages that lighter is better.
Conclusion: Unpacking the Internalized Oppression
The Brown Paper Bag Test is a painful symbol of the internalized oppression that colonialism, slavery, and systemic racism embedded into Black consciousness. By confronting this history, we unearth the ways Black communities have been conditioned to self-police, segregate, and discriminate based on proximity to whiteness.
To move forward, Black people must continue the work of decolonizing beauty, class, and value systems—affirming the full spectrum of Blackness, from the darkest skin to the broadest nose, and rejecting any measure of worth tied to the legacy of white supremacy.
References
- Russell, K., Wilson, M., & Hall, R. (1992). The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color in a New Millennium. Anchor Books.
- Gates, H. L. Jr. (1994). Colored People: A Memoir. Vintage.
- Hines, D. C. (2004). Black Women in White America: A Documentary History. Vintage.
- Hunter, M. (2007). The Persistent Problem of Colorism: Skin Tone, Status, and Inequality. Sociology Compass, 1(1), 237–254.
- Davis, A. (1981). Women, Race, and Class. Random House.
THE BROWN GIRL DILEMMA 