Partner violence occurs in a larger historical and cultural context. In the first section, I establish this context by reviewing the demographic characteristics of the four largest ethnic groups, highlighting significant historical events, identifying contemporary challenges faced by each group, and emphasizing cultural strengths that may act as protective factors. In the second section, I use national probability studies to review the research on ethnic differences in intimate partner violence. The final section discusses how the intersection of oppressions may create demographic and cultural factors that increase the risk of violence in families of color.