In this M.A. thesis I will present and explore the issue of colorism and the way it impacts the lives of African American women. The origins of colorism – oppression based on skin tone and physical features – can be traced back to the times of slavery, when lighter-skinned slaves were preferred and given easier tasks than slaves whose skin was darker. Skin tone, hair texture, facial features, and other factors on the basis of which colorism is executed will be explored, as well as many processes of modifying one’s appearance which Black women subject themselves to in order to escape oppression. Colorism is twined into all aspects of a woman’s life, from early childhood to adulthood, affecting their education, career, relationships, and marriage, and distorting their self-esteem, perception of beauty, and the sense of identity. Although nowadays the idea of a color-blind society is present, skin tone and physical appearance still hold a great importance, and colorism continues to be a persistent issue in the African American community, especially for Black women. The goal of this thesis is to show how and where colorism originates and in which ways it affects Black women’s lives, endangering and limiting them, and to prove that it is not a thing of the past, but an everyday occurrence which should be openly discussed and thoroughly explored.