Domestic violence has been ingrained into the fabric of American culture. In the past, such violence against women has been overlooked by society, even condoned. It has gone from being a private problem to a social ill. Its affect has reached epidemic proportions in the United States of America. Although men and women are victims of this violence, women overwhelmingly comprise the majority of those who are victimized. Among these women, African American women experience higher rates of victimization than women from other ethnic groups. This thesis defines and discusses domestic violence in the context of the dynamics of violent relationships, the functions of violence, the characteristics of abusers and victims, the causes of violence, and its prevalence in the United States. It also highlights domestic violence from the unique prospective of African American women. Particular emphasis was focused toward the experiences of African American women in the United States of America, And the impact these experiences have had on their romantic relationships. Data obtained from 36 African American college students was used to highlight information presented in the literature.