Skin color gradations have been a divisive element in the Black community since the inception of the New World. In turn, this element has been instrumental in the disparaging social and economic status of the black populous. Initially the system of slavery in America was established as a means of economic gain and prosperity. The benefactors of the system of slavery understood that in-order to decrease the potentiality of slave revolts and the unification of slaves and increase productivity; devices that not only formed divisions but also destroyed the spirit were requisites. These devices had to be something visible, congenital, and uniform. Nothing could be more visible, congenital, or uniform than the exteriors of a man. Skin color than began the vehicle of separating races and at the same time created dissension and division within the Black community (Litwack 3).
             Black's whose skin color belonged to the lighter side of the spectrum reaped a greater degree of autonomy and privilege and were treated with a lesser degree of apprehension in an oppressive and inhumane system. Typically, lighter-skinned blacks were designated as house Negro's, whose duties consisted mainly of cooking, cleaning, rearing the slave owner's children (mammies) and informants against their darker-skinned counterparts. The darker the skin on the color grade, the greater the perceived threat matrix because of the misguided belief that the darker the skin, the less human the being. The relegation of fieldwork and the more arduous duties were allotted for these darker-skinned individuals. The distinct delegation of duties pitied the house Negro against the field Negro, which subsequently lead to one of the first division amongst a unified people. Psychological impediments began forming in the minds of both the house and field Negro. The lighter- skinned house Negro thus began believing and living as if he or she was superior to their darker-ski...