Our society’s unhealthy fixation on beauty results in an impaired self-worth and lack of confidence in girls who grow up feeling “un-pretty.” In a country where white is the social standard, it can be difficult for minority girls (especially black girls) who, in addition to dealing with the same body image issues as their peers, are less valued because of their skin tone. When girls turn around and see books, TV shows, and magazines that glorify light skin, they begin to identify with Toni Morrison’s Pecola in The Bluest Eye, praying to be something other than themselves so they too can feel pretty. This class will focus on the topic of beauty, its inaccurate portrayal by the media, and how that perception warps young girls’ self-image. We will discuss how important it is to feel beautiful in every sense of the word, and how self-esteem can improve achievement and interpersonal relationships. We will learn to support each other—to erase the fences that we ourselves have built amongst minorities.