The black community suffers the oppression of history. The problems that African Americans face today are the direct result of slavery and are of great importance to American society. Slavery, racial discrimination and the Aryan hierarchical mentality have an effect on the African American community today by causing and influencing negative educational, economic and social circumstances based on skin color, closed perception of beauty and skin tone division as a whole. “Color preference is the cousin of racial prejudice and, like prejudice, is closely linked to the need to gain and maintain power over others.” (Harvard University). The preference for lighter skin has been alive for centuries. In Spain, having a light complexion meant that you were full of pure Spanish blood, while if you had a darker complexion, you were not considered worthy of even residing in the Spanish Empire. Today, skin complexion determines a person's ability to obtain employment. According to Berkeley, darker people want to be lighter because they believe it will make them more attractive to courtship, employers, and even appear more intellectual. From an economic perspective, there is evidence that lighter-skinned men have better job opportunities than their darker-skinned colleagues. Not only that, but proven statistics from the UNCP show that darker-skinned blacks are more than likely to have a lower socioeconomic status, education, and marriage rate than lighter-skinned blacks. .First, in order to have a career you also need to get an education in today's society. Today it is the social normality to have at least a degree to reach any level of economic status. Being an African American in today's world means...... middle of paper......b. February 14, 2014.Harris, Angela P. “From the Color Line to the Color Chart: Racism and Colorism in the New Century.” Scholarship.law.berkely.edu, 2013.Web. February 19, 2014.Burris, DJ. “Colourism affects the African American community.” 2.uncp.edu, Spring. 2013.Web. February 19, 2014Hochschild, Jennifer L. “The Skin Color Paradox and the American Racial Order.” Scholar. Harvard.edu, December.2007.Web. February 19, 2014.Gayle, Angellique. “The Supremacy of Light: Colorism and the Boogeyman.” Thehilltoponline.com, February 26. 2012.Web. February 19, 2014.Kerr, Audrey Elisa. "The paper bag principle". H-Net.org.H-DC, August 2007.Web. February 20, 2014. “On Dark Girls.” Association of Black Psychologists. Abpsi, 23 June 2013.Web. February 20, 2014. “United to end colorism.” Colorism Healing.Web. February 25th 2014.