Skin tone bias among African Americans: Antecedents and consequences across the life span

• Skin tone bias persists in the U.S. with both intra-racial and inter-racial forms.
• Gender, African phenotype, and the racial context shape skin tone bias.
• Skin tone bias is linked to economic, educational, and health disparities.

This article is a developmental review of research on skin tone bias and its consequences for African Americans. In the first section of the paper, we summarize research findings on skin tone attitudes, preferences, and stereotypes from childhood through adulthood. Next we summarize literature regarding African Americans as the target of skin tone bias. This section is organized in terms of individual and contextual factors that shape whether and how skin tone bias occurs; factors that moderate the target's reaction to such bias; and consequences of bias, including psychosocial and health outcomes, economic and educational disparities, and repercussions within the legal system. We conclude by discussing limitations of the extant research.