The purpose of this study was to identify the reasons and processes by which skin tone affects assumptions regarding competence among African Americans. As such, the study addressed two important hypotheses: (1) that African Americans demonstrate light skin tone bias as measured by perceptions of competence, and (2) that African Americans' self-esteem, ethnic identity, and use of strategies for coping with cultural diversity affect individual skin tone bias. Adolescents (N=200) in two states completed four instruments. Of that group, 145 were appropriate participants for the study (i.e., they were African American or biracial with one African American parent). The results of the study indicate that African Americans view lighter skinned group members as being more competent. In addition, the study demonstrated that African Americans view attractive group members as more competent than their unattractive peers. However, the results of the study did not indicate that self-esteem, ethnic identity, and use of coping strategies affect the skin tone bias variable. Therefore, it was concluded that although African Americans demonstrate skin tone bias, the reasons and processes by which such occurs remains unknown. Appendix A contains the four survey instruments. Appendix B is the consent form. (Contains 71 references and 4 tables.) (Author/GCP)