high yellow

English

Etymology

After the golden yellow skin tone of some multiracial people.

Noun

high yellow (plural high yellows)

1. A black person with light skin with yellow undertones.
   • 2014 January 10, Colorism: The Secret Shame (Oprah's Lifeclass), season 5, episode 2, via OWN:

     Being a light-skinned girl, you get called names. You get called 'lite-brite', you get called 'high yellow', 'redbone'.

Synonyms

• high yaller

Adjective

high yellow (comparative more high yellow, superlative most high yellow)

1. (of a black person) Having a light skin tone.
   • 2007 October 8, 12:23 from the start, in ...Or Die Trying (The Boondocks), season 2, episode 1, spoken by Granddad (John Witherspoon):

     Now, you gonna get your little narrow, high yellow ass back into the theater and enjoy Soul Plane 2.

See also

• colorism
• redbone