High yella 

Slang used to call a mixed person. mostly used in the south

Bailey joe is a high yella. Her momma is white but daddy is black

High yella by Itsbrittneybitch July 7, 2015

High Yella (High Yellow) 

This is a term that many people seem to be confused by, please read all of the previous examples to note the confusion. To understand this word you must focus on the word High. What has been lost is the origin of High Yella.
The term was originally High-Falutin Yella.
Why?
Well when the French ruled New Orleans there were many, many brothels and the highest priced was paid for the mixed African/European free prostitutes. It is well known that many slave owners raped their slaves and the children often escaped or were freed by the owners (how does one explain little mixed slaves running around the plantation)? This was not always a rule but many mixed slaves made up the population of free Africans in the colonies.
But. . . no matter how light, no matter how blue their eyes were, the High Yella's were still not allowed in the white community and in the black community with their perfumed skin, fine clothes and perhaps slightly uppity attitude the term High Falutin' Yella was coined.

"Damn, if Obama ain't a High Yella (High Yellow) I don't know who is!"

High Yella (High Yellow) by King of High Yellas June 2, 2008

High Yellow

Referring to a person of African American decent that has very light skin, also see redbone

That girl is so high yellow, she lights up a dark room!

High Yellow by spmack November 11, 2003

high yeller 

Black person with a light(er) skin complexion.
(Blues term)

"I moved to Chicago and fell in love with a high yeller"

high yeller by Tony November 20, 2007

High Yellow

There's nothing derogatory about being High yellow. It has nothing to do with jealousy of darker complexioned blacks, or bi-racials who think they are better then others. Not all light skinned black people are biracial, though most have white somewhere in their lineages, both their parents can be black and still be born light skin.

It just refers to black people, who tend to have lighter complexions with "yellow" undertones. When buying make up, the women have to look for makeup with a yellowish tint to it, rather then a red tint.

Just like how some Asians have a yellowish under tone, so do these blacks.

The alternative is a "Red Bone" a lighter complexioned black who has more of a red undertone to their skin, like Indians and white people.

Black people come in a variety of different shades and colors. Even darker complexioned blacks have a red or yellowish undertone to them, but it's just more visible in lighter skin.

High Yellow, High Yella, High Yeller refer to one variation of black coloring. It's not derogatory nor if a person calls themselves "high yellow" does it mean they are high saddity or think they are better then other blacks.

If a black persons skin looks more like an Indians skin, they are red bone.

If it looks more like an Asians skin, they are high yellow. It's as simple as that

High Yellow by JEJEJEJEJEJEJEJEJE December 25, 2013

High yellow

A term used to describe mixed Americans (some of whom appear White, but may be of African, European, Native American or Asian mixture) whom choose to identify as Black Americans to honor their Black Slave ancestry.

Many appear as "exotic" individuals often mistaken for many different races. Many have tan complexions, Blue or grey/green /brown eyes, Black/Sandy/Blond/Red/ hair.

Considered in many parts of the world as exceptionally beautiful. Some CHOOSE to identify as Black instead of the cultural privileges associated with being identified as a White American. Many prefer to be known simply as MIXED.

You look Italian, Brazilian, Native American. What are you? I've never seen anyone like you before. Are you "High Yellow"?

Federick Douglass, Thurgood Marshall, Dorothy Dandridge, Halle berry, J. Edgar Hoover, Florence La Rue, Ice Tea, Carol Channing.
My favorite reply is...Human.(smile)

High yellow by P.Vought September 20, 2007

high yellow

(pronounced High Yella) A derogatory term used by ignorant dark skinded African Americans toward Light Skinded African Americans that is the result of the dark skinded African American being jealous.. in most cases the dark skinded one is unhappy with him/herself and either conciously or subconciuosly wish's they were about 5 shades lighter themselve.

Did you see that litte high yellow pretty ass bitch the other day taken all the black men?? Who the hell that ho think she is!?

high yellow by B JizZle September 24, 2006