Although previous authors have offered persuasive arguments about the salience of race in the scholastic enterprise, colorism remains a relatively underexplored concept. This article augments considerations of social forces by exploring how color classifications within racial arrangements frame pathways for communities of color and, therefore, must inform educational inquiries. Consistent with the rich tradition of ethnic studies, I draw on sources in the humanities, legal profession, and social sciences to demonstrate how colorism surfaces in lived experiences. The African American community is used as an exemplar for illustrating historical foundations of color bias, discussing implications of complexion difference, and offering suggestions for scholarship that advances educational research agendas. (Contains 9 notes.)