tyra,
I am a white 22 year old female and my fiance is black. It is hard for me not to be biased against my own race, because of racial profilling that police officers, especially, and people in our everyday life have done. I have been with my fiance for a merely short two years at the most and have been stopped by only white police officers. Every time we were stopped, it was when he was driving. We have been stopped at least twelve times. Out of the twelve times, all twelve of them have been for "traffic violations" Four of the charges were dropped. The rest we have had to pay for due to false information in the police reports in which we had no knowledge, resources, or extra finances to fight in court. Every day, he has to worry about if he is going to get pulled over due to his skin color. I have not always been biased towards white people because I have obviously been raised around white people. It was not until I started spending most of my time with my fiance did I start to realize the reality of todays racist society against minorities. It makes me sick at my stomach when my fiance and I can't even buy a nice car in fear of getting pulled over because he is DWB (driving while black) Honestly a lot of times do I wish that I was not white because others' actions towards miniorities embarasses me.
And not only does it embrass me, but it makes me upset that these people are getting away with it.
Just recently, two hours ago, this evening, we got pulled over..AGAIN. My fiance was once agian driving. I was in the passenger seat his mother who is also white was in the back seat with his two little brothers which are black. The police officer was at a stop sign when we took a left turn in the direction in which he was pointed. While turning, we made polite eye contact with the officer because, we noticed he was looking at us. After we finished making our turn about a block down the street, we noticed that instead of turning, the officer commensed to follow us. After about three blocks and two stop signs latter, the officer decides to turn his lights on. My fiances turns the corner and pulls over. We waited four minutes and finally, the officer comes to the car. When the officer approached the car, my fiance as well as his mother, politely, asked the officer the purpose for my fiance to get pulled over. He first sounded hesitant on the reason, and then he stated that the reason why we got pulled over was for the tail light not working and soon after changed the reason to the break lights. Once the police officer had stated that the tail lights were the reason why we got pulled over, my fiance's mother, knowing for a fact that nothing was wrong with the lights because of the car being hers, she got out to check the tail light as well as the break lights. She proved herself right about nothing being wrong with the lights, and once again asked the officer the reason why we got pulled over. His answer: "Mam you need to get back in the car." So, my fiance asked the officer why he was getting pulled over. The officer said, " Your lights are not working. May I have your drivers liscence?" My fiance asked the officer if he could get out of the car to check his lights. The officer said yes, but automatically placed his hand on his gun. The officer, kept his hand on his gun. The police officer also started to get defensive once my fiance found that nothing was wrong with the lights. The officer told my fiance to get back into the car. While walking back to the government vehicle, the officer, without knowing any information or name, called for back up. About five more minutes, the same police officer returned, after it was agreed upon that the lights were perfectly fine by the following three adults: the police officer, my fiance and his mother, the officer again asked my fiance for his driver's liscence. My fiance gave the officer his driver's liscence. At this moment, nothing was said. The police officer walked away to conversate with this back up. The officer, came back about three minutes latter, and asked my fiance to exit the car. Mean while, my fiance was posted at the trunk end of the car with the police officer, my fiance's little brother had to urinate. He is eight years old and had been holding ever since we had got pulled over, which by now had been at least thirty minutes. The police officer acknowleged the question of my fiances little brother getting out of the car so he could urinate. The police officer said to my fiance's little brother, " You'll have to hold it for a little longer. " My fiances mom made sure that the police officer was aware of the fact that he had been holding it all this time and asked him if we could all leave to take him to the gas station so he could urinate. The officer said, "NO." My fiance's mother then told the officer that he is only eight and he needs to go to the bathroom immediately. She then told her eight year old son to get out of the car and to go on the side of the car behind a tree. The officer then told her that if he urinates, then he would write her a ticket. She then replied," Give me a ticket. My son has to use the bathroom and he can not hold it any longer. Honestly, you can't tell me that your hole life, you haven't peed outside when you've had no where else to go and had to go so badly?" The officer then said, " Ma'am if you let him use the bathroom then you will go to jail." MY fiance's mother once again asked if we could go and this time the officer finally said yes. The police officer still gave my fiance a ticket for the tail lights. Now, of course everyone was upset but we knew not to say anything until we drove away. This issue just proves that racism, is especially overwhelming in the government system. However it is not only the government system, it's in the restaruants, the grocery stores, the airports, the malls, etc. I honestly believe that racial profiling and racial discrimination should not go unpunished. I was curious to know what actions someone would take to voice my strong opion on racial discrimination and profilling as well as to see what my fiance and I could do to take care of this situation in a tactful, professional, successful way. I was also wondering, because I know a lot of people view your show, if my fiance and I could tell our story or even if you could just read this letter to help out other's so they won't end up in this same perdicament or if they do, then they would know how to handle a similar situation. thank you tyra.

Why is there so much racist towards white people. Everywhere I look the white male is being slammed!!
What can be done to stop racism against whites?

Why is there so much racist towards white people. Everywhere I look the white male is being slammed!!
What can be done to stop racism against whites?

Tyra,
I am a huge fan of your show & you. It is sometimes rare that I can see your show during the day.I am a full time student as well as a mother. I was off today & saw a recap of several discrimination episodes. I was shocked as well as dissapointed. I am a 34yr old white woman & I was shocked to see how ignorant people still are. Especialy with the results of the focus group study. Tell me why people can judge someone by the color of there skin or ethnic back ground as well as who they choose to date! I have a close family & I have a black uncle & my cousins are mixed. My cousin Tyree died at an early age from a car accident. At his wake & funeral there were so many people there from all diffrent races, due to the fact that he was well liked & loved. We were all comforting each other & came together with NO color boundries.I remember siting in my car after the wake crying so hard & I felt a hand on my shoulder & a lady I never meet was asking me if I was ok & huging me & yes she was black.
I also have Hispanic family members. They are hard working & loving people.
One more thing that was so hypicridical to me was the white family that were KKK or whatever..... they made complete asses out of themselfs! They had you in there home & having there children kiss you & saying those stupid things about Africa. I comend you for your strength & the way you handeled that. Thank you for doing shows like this & pushing these issues for people to wake up.

Thank you for your time,
Michele Astrowski

Tyra,

I am a fourteen year old samoan girl. I think everything goes back to the days of slavery. When the white man took the black man from his family, from his home, from his world. During slavery, the white man is made to be superior, greater and better to the black man who is made to be equivalent to an animal, not a man of his own. That's why whenever someone see's a young black man dressed nice, no bagy pants, he's very into school, all the homies are gonna call him a "white boy". white does not equal better.

tyra,
from my point of view
your race has absoulutly NOTHING to do with your character or personality.
it is NOT the color of your skin that can make a change to your personality or the "way you are".

I WATCH UR SHOW ALL THE TIME AND HOW U HELP PEOPLE I WAS WONDERING IF U CAN HELP ME FIND MY FATHER I NEVER MEET HIM IVE TRIED BUT MONEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM

tyra you are a racist bitch.

tyra ... i dont know where to begin on the subject of racism sadly its around us every day however many believe that white men and women are the majority of people now a days that are discriminating against other ethnicities and though i do believe in some parts of the world its true in my part of the world its totally opposite the high school i attend are filled with different races just like any other we have our cliqs too that unfortunatley give people names or lables like "gangsters" and "rednecks" and "preps" and "puertoricans"...ect. But what makes it worse is that the "gangsters"and the "puertoricans" have the worst out look upon my high school. i have been picked at and torn apart with my emotions just because im white .... they'd call me "fire truck" if id have a sun burn or "snowflake" just because i cant tan and its not like i can help any of these things and what makes it worse is that they always find a away to put in to their taunting that im racist when im the one taking the crap from them. and honestly i dont have a problem with blacks, whites, asian, jews watever you are i dont care it means nothing to me however it seems now a days the tables are being turned its like people cant forget the past and i understand i really do whites were and may still be horrible to different races but for those who dont have those issues get bagged on or picked at or made a laughing stalk at the school just because the "gangesters" or "puertoricans" feel they've earned the right to give the "preps" and redneck" what they deserve for doing it to them all those years sadly it shows that no matter what time your in discrimination is every where

hey tyra my name is sadiyo i'm from somalia i hope u help the plastin war and the somalia war..they are hope less and helpless they are dying please tyra i hope u help the thank u

hey tyra my name is sadiyo i'm from somalia i hope u help the plastin war and the somalia war..they are hope less and helpless they are dying please tyra i hope u help the thank u

hey tyra my name is sadiyo i'm from somalia i hope u help the plastin war and the somalia war..they are hope less and helpless they are dying please tyra i hope u help the thank u

hey tyra my name is sadiyo i'm from somalia i hope u help the plastin war and the somalia war..they are hope less and helpless they are dying please tyra i hope u help the thank u

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

hey wow i feel sorry for the kids of palastin i hope they be safe and the war ends!!

plaese tyra I wish that you can talk in a special time about racial denoting againstg the middly east please to understand please thank you

I am a white american male and i do not consider myself to be the kind of person who holds hate for anyone because of his or her skin.

With that said: I do find it sad when Oprah Winfrey can say she has " realy good white folks" working for her.

This kind of statement keeps the old flames burning. i am sure if I said had good black folks working for me Jackson and Sharpton be at my door. Both whites and blacks have to remember both races have feelings and not use double standards or this problem will never go away.

Hi Tyra,
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sitting here watching the race show and my mouth is wide open as this Nazi is telling you to go back home to your mother land.

I am sitting here about in tears because I am a white women that has been in a serious long term relationship with a black man. I sit here and wonder what the future will hold for my bi-racial children. I know that racism never left or is going to leave this country, but to hear those little kids say the things that they did, I was shocked. Especially the half Philapino & Black child. What was this mother teaching her at home, and where is the father. Even if the father isn't in the picture how could you deny your child the right to know what their nationality is.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is this Nazi wife sitting up here saying that they don't learn about white people. I am sorry but all we learn in school now a days is white. All the presidens have been white, so how are they not learning about white people.
Ok, I think that i have said enough on this topic because I could go on all day.

I have to say that when I watched the show on racism and how prevalent it is in the children of today, I can honestly say that I am not shocked. Although I came from a small farming community, for the last 4 years I have lived in a major metropolitan area and have seen how racism affects everyone (whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc…). I agree that allot of individuals’ cultures are more focused upon than others are when it comes to educating the children of today. I also agree that parents should educate their children about racism but they should let their children have open minds to form their own ideas about other individuals from other heritages. The fact of the mater is, no one is “pure” white, black, Asian, etc… we have truly become individuals of mixed cultures whether we ment to or not. The most frustrating thing for me is when individuals are rewarded for being apart of a specific heritage. The best example I can give of this is from a personal experience that occurred when I was graduating from high school and going into college. As you all know individuals can compete for scholarships and financial aid at universities. But even at a college level, racism is very present. In this situation, at my university, we can apply for different scholarships upon admittance to our university. There are many different scholarships awarded out, but a couple in particular consist of “full-ride” scholarships. Unfortunately the scholarship qualifications are racist in themselves. I say this because the scholarships are only awarded to individuals from a minority. We as college students are taught that this means anyone who comes from a “nontraditional college heritage”, unfortunately there is no better way to say this but it comes down to that if you are an individual who comes from a white family background (this includes your family heritage) then you can count yourself out for getting these scholarships. To me this dose not seem right or un-raciest in any way. But like the saying goes, opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one.

I think a good way on the road of getting rid of racism is to minimize our culture as that is what really sets all races apart. Without culture we are pretty much all the same people but with different colours. If you ask lots of people why they are racist youll find out that theyre sick of a certain races culture and not necessarily their differences in colour. Dont get me wrong, culture is very important and should be apart of every persons lives but we should try and minimize it so we can all get along better.

I love watching your shows over racism. It really shows with every single race the stupidity that each one has. It's not the race people hate it's the experience. Our minds are so powerful. I would love to see people define recism, discrimination, predjudice etc. I grew up in a school with the majority being white, just so you know I am white myself, we only had 2 blacks, a few asians, korens etc.. I did grow up with a small taste of blacks are bad. It's our past history that we learn from to make a better today. Every race or group has people who do things that we don't like or approve of. With every group or race there are people who we can be proud of. I had a professor once quote "It is the people who think out of the box that leave something for the world to learn from. With every color, shape, size, birth mark or what ever it may be. Listening to your shows has made me realize, that what a person experiences is how they view things or what they are taught. I had a horrible experience with a black man. I at one point was afraid of nothing but black men. I wasn't afraid of a black women just men. So with that one experience the more I thought about it the more disappointed in myself I became. I judged by color, and gender not by that individual. Seterotypes will never go away, or people passing judgements, but really for me to have been so immature to categorize that one man into a group of black men was so wrong. I realized that this problem with how we group people is going to be vary hard to change. Especially when our minds naturally puts things into groups. I hope one day people will see that it isn't the color of the people. It's the behavior and attitudes of the individuals. It's the group of individuals who have the same attitude and behaviors that make the group of people. With in every human being we have all done something to hurt another, to heal, to nurture, hold that helping hand out, give, take, want, be jealous of,and judge. So how can people say I hate blacks, whites, korens, asians,or spanish people. There is a little bit of everyone in us. No matter how much you don't believe it. The fact of it is we all believe something. We all are correlated in this life whether you want to be or not. If we all looked alike and our skin color was the same our gender was the same,then everyone would need no one because we would have ourselves to love and only ourselves. It's the differences, and the similarities that bring us together. If you do not educate yourself and learn from others mistakes, and your own whether it be the mistake of a white women or a black women. How will anyone ever grow into a healthy person. Hate is a word to describe an action or emotion, We need to change peoples actions, and emotions before we can change the sentence I hate ??????.

The worst display of racisim I have ever encountered was back in the early '80s when some black boys in the 9th grade continually taunted and teased a pretty black girl whose skin was very black. It was a smooth ebony and I thought it was beautiful. They made her life miserable always saying how black she was. Everyone was afraid to say anything to the boys. The worst day was when her purse fell down and out of it came a jar of Esoterica or something like that that bleaches your skin. When they saw that they roared with laughter and went around the class with that jar laughing at how she planned to bleach her skin. She hardly spoke English and was very quiet always and just sat there, obviously wanting to die. So everyone talks about racism black and white, but sometimes the worst racist are the light-skinned blacks against the darker-skinned blacks. I've never seen a black person treated by a white person the way that girl was treated by her own race.

Hi Tyra, i saw this show on race, and i still remember this even today. i am a native american and i've noticed that the one race excluded was mine. i can understand why because the first original racism was against natives, but that does not mean i am bragging or i want it to be shown.we are all children to mother earth and we're all here for individual reasons, to brag on about one's own race is ignorant.an idea for a show tyra ventures into a reservation.

Tyra,
I am posting this comment on a separate show. i cannot find where to comment it so i figured this would be the closest i can find. I am commenting on the show aired on friday 4/20/07 about the comedian that made racist comments. One of the men on the stage made a comment saying "there is no history behind the word cracker". which just shows that he himself is an ignorant person because indeed there IS history behind the term "cracker". I just wanted to express my feelings on your page and hopefully you will read this and get back to me soon.

I think you need to focus more on bollywood.

Bollywood ROCKS.

Hi Tyra

I’m a big fan of yours, and think that you are an excellent role model to young people.
I love your segments on race, I think that people need to learn and embrace others cultures. But on thing that I have noticed on the show is that there are never any Indian women or men on the show.

Even in Hollywood there are no Indian stars that Indians can look up to. It’s a completely different story when I’m watching Bollywood films because there are so many Bollywood actors that I admire and look up to like Kajol, my favorite. But I Hollywood there is no one that a Indian can look up to. I think that there should be more Indians in Hollywood. And when ever I see any they are always the extra’s on set who just stand there like a wall flower. I have never seen any having the leading roles.

I also hate the stereotypes that people have for all Indian’s that we smell like curry and that we are all either doctor, lawyers, engineers, own a 7-11, or are taxi drivers. I think that people need to open there minds more when it comes to Indians.

Sincerely

Anonymous

Let's talk about racism and power ego trips. I am white and like all ethnics cultures. I don't care want color you are. What I don't like is when a person uses their own color for their own advances. I have seen, work,and even heard where; I am sorry to say black people use their color for their own advance. Now I am not saying that all African-American people are like this. I use to work in a setting where I was the only white girl and I got push around. I was afraid to say anything or to speak up for my self, because I would be the one to get blame. I have heard where couple of african american girls got fire and were back at work almost two days later,because they claims racism. I have a friend who was fire because she was accused of being a racis against a black girl and It was the black girl who was the one who was racis. I think the black girl even admitted she was racis.
Trying beening a white child on an all black bus and getting look down at and being called names or being fretten. My children go through this everyday. Although I do have to admit that it has tone down a little bit. I made My children stay on that bus because I told them that if they stop riding it that the African- American students would have won. I also told them that the bus driver wouldn't let anything happen to them. The busdriver is black. My children go to a very nice school i think one of the best in the country thought I have heard of prejudice in this state. The teacher's don't put up with anything. The minute a student does something wrong they are corrected.
I also like to where the minority is? Because blacks,asians,latinos,and whoever else have just as much rights as white people do if not more. Look at all of the clubs and organization that are run and held by African-Americans only. Again look at the school systems where there is all blacks. White parents wouldn't dare send their child to an all black school unless they had no chose, fear of being hurt or worst killed.I believe it also works for the African- American child just as well.
Let's get one thing straight people.GROW UP!!!You're not living in the past you are not your mama. You didn't grow up as a slave even white people were slaves and i hear there are still slaves to this day. Let's get past this 'oh poor me stage.'
Just remember this I am not racis, I like all people and i am fastinated with all cultures and their ways.

Races? I didnt know there were aliens on Earth, are there? The only race I know of is one, the human race. I belong to that race, if you're not a member the membership is free and anyone may join.
One Love.

i am a thirty year old white woman and i know alot about racism where i grew up they are particually racist against white people, and really mean to woman. and i hated it i was constantly in fights in school because i was a girl and white. i grew up in maui,hawaii.my selfesteem was shot from a very young age and i was bigger than all the rest too.i got into alot of trouble and got hooked on crystal meth early on and spent alot of years in prison. now it has been 5 and half years i moved out of hawaii. and i feel more equal than i have all of my life. it really scarred me thinking i was less than. now i know i am not.

Hey Tyra...
There is so much said about racism these days... it gets my nerves bad at times. To look at racism as a whole, each race has their positive and negative stereotypes, along with the people to uphold each of them. If we ever want to defeat this, we have to look at the root of it all...PRIDE!!! Think about it, what causes someone to look down upon someone; what causes someone to unrighteously judge another without even getting to know them....PRIDE!!
People's heart needs to be circumsized. You can't judge a book by it's cover or scim the chapters and think you know what it's all about. You have to start at the beginning and read it through.
I know that racism is a painnful experience for people. I married a African American man and we have 2 biracial children. I definitely see the racism. Even being in a cross-cultural marriage has it's challenges. When my husband and I decided to date, both of parents had issues. His mom didn't like me and my parents had issues with him. To make a long story short, we all found peace about the situation. First and foremost, I give all the honor to the Lord because He brought peace to all of us. And it's because we got to know each other and understand each other. I love my mother in law and I know she feels the same about me. From a white person's perspective, my husband would seem like he is "straight hood material" because of his hip hop style but he is so much more than that. I think that his appearance is what made my parents worry so much. But after they have gotten to know him, they absolutely love him. We still have our little 'black and white disagreements.' But it turns out that we'll just start laughing at the whole thing. My husband is absolutely wonderful. He helped me out in so many ways... (spiritually, emotioanlly,mentally). My husband's faith is in Jesus and he stirves to live by the Word of God. It brought him from the pit to the palace, inwardly. And it did the same for me and he stuck by my side through it all. We found peace in the mist of adversity through our savior and peacemaker, Jesus Christ. My advice is that we all need Jesus :)

tyra
i am an ethiopian and i really feel that after u did this racism show, u relly made me realize how much ethiopians and africans are being discriminated. most people say that when they see an ethiopian or an african they see a poor broke and hungry person,but that is not even who i am. im just a little gurl trying 2 live my life like every other person wants 2 do. i mostly hear this kind of stuff from white people and the funny part about it is that most or i mean all white people dont even know where they came from, u know its way much better 2 know where u came from than just make up random places.so i think u really showed some people or opened some peoples eyes.

Seems the best way to rid of it, sorry if I seem rude, is to not do shows/studies like this. The media is the core reason as to why it still exist. They pick and choose how racial/ethnic/religious backgrounds are featured, and run their stereotypes to the ground. For instance, if a Black person is feature on the news, it's virtually always something negative like a robbery. Same applies to Muslims and suicide bombing. I think the show you did gets the wheels spinning and is often way too emotional for people to handle. Especially when trying to determine who has it the worst. That's just messed up. Everyone has their own issues, but to determine that one race has it the worst is further dividing people and creating more resentment. Like how upset some women in the audience got.

Another problem I had with the show was misunderstanding and misuse of the word racism. I think the more politically correct terms to use would have been predjudice, bigotry or discrimination, only because some of your guest were facing ethnic and religious discrimination, as opposed to racical. For instance Hispanic/ Latino is not a race. It is an ethnic group because of their cultural differences. They have ancestry that can be traced to anywhere. The only thing they share in common is a spoken language. They don't necessarily share the same biological traits that solely identifies a people of a race. So, how can anyone be racist against an ethnic group? Doesn't make much sense to me. That also includes religious groups. You can't be racist towards someone's religous background because they can be of any race.

I apologize if I may seem rude in anything I post, but I feel my input could be somewhat benefical. Thanks for allowing me to share my input.

~*Nell*~

dear Tyra, I am a 20 year old girl from Jordan,I am christian and suffering the fact that I am being discriminated against because of my religion. Sometimes I get a super harmful comments but I do have lots of great muslim friends. All I want to say is that muslims in the US suffers because of what terrorists do BUT we are suffering here as christians because some people think that America which sent her army to an arabian muslim country represent christianity!!!So what your country is doing politically is affecting us and what some muslims are doing affects muslims in the US. This is an undeniable fact that I wanted everyone to know. Racism is ugly and ANYONE can suffer from it under the name of THE OTHER,we are all humanbeings,it just doesnt make anysense to like a person based on the color,religion or anything,we must start looking deeper people because underneath our skin we are all THE SAME,we laugh,cry,get thrilled,feel sad,we all have the same reflects towards everything,I mean I feel pain because I am a human not because I am christian or white or whatever!! Thanks alot and by the way YOU GO GIRL,YOUR SHOW ROCKS,I am a big fan.

Hey Tyra, well in my Lifeskills class we learned that race doesn't exist and that it is something the man has made up through out time. Well anyways in my school we have a group called mix-it up, this group helps get kids from different types of genders get to know each other and get rid of those ideas that doen't exist. For example like that black people are most likely to rob you etc...
Well I got to go, bye!!!:)

Hi, tyra. I am doing a seminar with my friend for school and it is really hard but besides the point I am doing it on racism because I think that it is wrong to be racist to others because if you are what example are you giving to others and when others think that being racism is right, why would you think that? I really am against racism I mean yes throughout my whole like I was called named and other racist things have happened to me that I am ashamed of but With everything going on in this world I dont know why there is a reason to be racist or for there to have people to be like that. Is there a reason to be?

Tyra, racism is a hard issue to speak on for me. In high school it was the hardest because like in world history class we had to watch the roots series....and i myself, being white was constantly ridiculed. Because of me being the only white person in my class, the students watched me instead of the film like i had something to do with back then and it hurt so bad that people still see me like that. And then 1 day when we were watching the film, one of my classmates made a comment that "I bet you would have us in our backyards working us to death if you could", and that hurt so bad that I began to cry. I wish people could just see you as HUMAN and nothing more. Thanks for listening Tyra!

dear tyra
my name is naiema, i am an african,i`m from sudan.
i`m very proud of you as i`m very proud of all african american & african around the world, every day my love & respect for you become greater.
in that show about racism you were so equal with every one. we (and i mean all the african people) are so peaceful with the others and we hate every type of discrimination.
i`m muslim, islam come from the word peace in arabic.
if i see u now i`m sure i will hug u so thight.
god bless u

Hi,
I'm a sudanese 17 year-old girl. That basically means that I am an african-muslim, with a mixture of arabic & nubian in me, so I can identify with alot of the individulas that appeared on your show. What I realized when I was watching it was that you cannot really pin-point who has it the hardest. My ethnic background is something I am born with & very proud of also, as it gives me a sense of belonging, but my religion is something I have chosen & still choose to practice everyday. There is so much about religion & ethnicity that makes it almost impossible for me to put them both on the same level. Yes, I have been discriminated against because of both, but the way that I deal with them is very different. The one thing I would like to really get across is that even though people are being discriminated against for different reasons, it all hurts the same. People are the same everywhere & however they are. I like hip hop & i belly dance, I love sinatra & fairoz, I'm crazy for Friends, Desprate Housewives, Scrubs & I consider Oprah my guide, but I still appreciate all the Muslim & Arab teachings & arts. There is this thing that we Muslims say, I'm not sure how it goes but in contest, what it means is God gives a person only as much as He knows he or she can handle. I take that as a testimony of my strength & determination, not to mention I am short & sort of chubby too =P. What i believe is that if anyone has it bad, it because God knows they will stay good through it.

Dear Tyra, Thank you for your racism show. I am an arab-american and have felt that way for the longest. I hope your show continues to bring the awarness that others are avoiding.

hi tyra,

racism is a topic we talk abt in general, it can't be eradicated as hatred of races runs down the family frm parents to children. It can only be eradicated if we are ready to work together with no hatred in our hearts,otherwise its a topic we can only talk and talk until it becomes a song.The only thing is to change our attitude towards each other.

hey i know how some muslim feel i am one and ppl look at me like i am a alien at my block we are the same ppl ok just believe in different thing

I am retired from Boston
police my grandson did a
commerical with Maya Angelou om racisam adviser
Oprah Winfrey on ABC TV I
think this issue should
keep going until people
understand

I think it's really sad that racism still exists after all the battles to end it there are very few black people where I live but I respect people regardless of their race because I know what counts is more than skin deep

Hey Tyra~

When Racism becomes faceless and colorless - the world will be a much happier place. Thanks so much for your inspiring show. We all bleed, we all need love, AND we all cry the same tears.

Peace

I think that people need to remember that Caucasian people are not the only ones who discriminate. Everyone assumes that because you are white, you are racist and you are privelaged in this world. We need to stop blaming and just deal with it because its not going away.Everyone gets discriminated against, and it definitly needs to stop.

i dont understand why theres more black people yelling "racist". i mean come on, theres FUBU,BET,south pole. black people have there oun t.v. channel, why are we still talking about racism?

AN ELDER ONCE TOLD ME THAT RACISM IS LIKE AND INFECTED SORE ON YOUR ARM.. THE MORE YOU IGNORE IT THE WORSE IT GETS. ONCE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT,IT ACTUALLY MADE SENSE. RACISM IS IGNORANT AND SO IT SHOULD BE RECONISED AND DELT WITH AMONG ALL COLOURS AND RACES

I THINK RACISM IS WRONG!! WE ARE ALL THE SAME WE BLEED THE SAME!! I DONT THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE!! MY DAD IS RACIST HE DONT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE CAUSE HE THINKS THEY ARE TRYING TO RULE THE WORLD!WHICH THEY ARE NOT. WHEN I WAS LITTLE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER AND I WAS ATTACKED BY BLACK PEOPLE BUT THAT DIDNT CHANGE THE WAY I FELT ABOUT OTHERS!! I THINK ALL RELIGION AND COLOR ARE THE SAME AND EVERYONE IS WONDERFUL!!

Hi Tyra. I love your show and watch it often, as well as Next Top Model. I watched the one about racism, and felt kinda taken aback. You said you had all races represented, however, you forgot one. One that may have it the worst. And that race is, the American Indian or Native American race. I am a native american woman, and that show made me feel like maybe we don't exist to the rest of the world. But we are here, and I could not be able to begin to tell you how my people are affected by racism still today. I know you didnt intentionally leave Natives out. That is a common mistake by the rest of the world. But isn't that an indication of how pushed to the side we are. There are people that still think we live in tepees and things like that, or dont even know there are still Natives in the world today. In a way, I felt that not being included in a show that is about racism was almost racist to us. I was thinking as I was watching the show, that my people were the first people here. The first to be descriminated against for the color of our skin and our way of life. And we are completly forgotten. Did you know that over half of our people died of a small pox epidemic from blankets given to them by the calvary? My people survived hundreds of years of racism and are still here. The stories are endless, and still continue today. I just wanted to point that out to you. I still love your show, but please keep the Native People in mind.

I just wanted to say that the show entitled "Racism: Who has it worse" has actually helped me. I live in Redford, MI and Livonia, MI which is right next door to me has been said to be a very racist community! One day I was taking my 8mth old to Urgent care and was on my way home when I saw a "black jockey"statue in someones yard (black jockey symbolizes the inferior portrayal of African Americans). I was totally depressed at that point because we had just went through losing the Proposal 2 race on the Michigan ballot. Not to mention on Top Model the one model ran into the man that didn't wan to kiss her because she was black! Just a few examples that had compounded in my mind in no time. So, at this point I was floored. I was hurt and angry at the same time. I felt trapped, like I am in this dark skin( happy to be) but where in the world can I go with loving/respectful people who care nothing about skin color. My answer...no where. I explained to my husband how I was feeling and he said "Lex, it has been like this since the beginning of time and it will continue on even after we are gone. Don't sweat things you can't change, just focus on being the best you can be."I am just amazed at how cruel most people can be! Having no regard for another persons feelings and culture, it is unbelievable!

The show pretty much showed me that we are not the only group that is discriminated against but the most discriminated against, which I knew was true. I don't fall into the middle eastern hype becaue I figure 9/11 to be an inside job and our media/government has just found a way of trying to turn us against another group of people to distract us from the real enemies. My heart goes out to all(no matter what creed,religion,or race)that are oppressed or discriminated against because it's not right regardless to who it is geared toward. If people would focus on God,love,and respect as a world we would be o.k. After I watched the show I was o.k. in my own skin and situation! I learned that people are either shallow,miseducated, or close minded that form these prejudices and treat people wrong. All we can do is pray for them and treat them the way we want to be treated. You cann;t change the world over night. I concluded to continue to love myself and people around me regardless to what prejudices or unwarranted hate they may have toward me.

Thanks TYRA for the show!

Tyra,
First Let me say I love what you have accomplished Way to Go!!! You are a hero and role model for more people than you realize.

On the topic of racism which of course is always a hard subject and I commend you for being one to bring everyone together to see what everyone feels. I am a white 29 year old mother of two beautiful boys, and I am very ashamed of the American people now a days.People are so quick to judge someone by there looks with out even knowing a persons back round. And this is true for all races. There isn't just one race that is prejudice. All races tend to be because of the different cultures invovled. Human nature is to protect what is yours and to protect it most are scared of what is different. How ever the blaming needs to stop. On all parts of racism. I have always been taught in life if you want respect you have to give it first because if you can't respect another person they sure aren't going to respect you. This is for all people though. As a white American we are told we have it so easy, this is simply not true we have very few options unless born into them. I needed help through the government and the lady literally told me ( who was african amreican) no I have a white family ask them for money. I was pregnant and no healthcare, my father was dead and a poor mom who couldn't help I didnt receive health care until one month before I delivered. This isn't right., I have been turned away for college because I can't get assistance, In life you just do what you have to do and deal with what is handed to you, If you can get an opportunity on your own great do it, if you need some assistance great use it but it should be available to all and don't abuse it, So many issues on this subject but I really think the other community's also need to have a look as to what white people also go through and they m9ght not hate us so much and might realize we really arent all that differnent. The other races don't want to be judge and want respect but they won't do that in our direction, that is racism. To look at some one and point a finger and tell them and judge them with out looking at yourself and what you do is racist. People really need to open there eyes quit playing victim and take control of themselves, the world would be a different place if we did this. Everyone needs to see a persons backround before judging them. Two examples, white people being blamed for what happened 100 yrs ago. My family wasn't even here. My grandparents didn't move here until 1950's, we were judge then also. African Americans, people need to stop stereo typing them not all of them are "ghetto" There are white trash also no difference in those two if you ask me, people are either good people or not, Muslims are not all terrorists, and latin community aren't all illegals, YOu know what is Ironic alot of people will look at someone of a different culture in their community and be racist against them but turn around and go bye a famous persons CD or movie of the same culture. Makes no sence. But that is all we just need to look at our selves and be kind and respectful and work hard for what you want no matter what culture and quit blaming everone else for hanging on to being a victim of circumstance because circumstances aren't racist.

I HATE racism. It's so annoying to see and hear people talk about someone else that doesnt have the same skin color. No one is different from anyone else. Skin color is just whats on the outside, and the outside doesnt mean anything. Its all about what a person's personality is. When people I know talk about different races in a negitive way, I have to leave otherwise I'll just yell at them. When people talk about what happened with the World Trade Center, I just want to yell that it wasnt the whole one race that did that. It was just one group of idiotic people that wanted to do something. So its so stupid to see people say something about that race when they had NO PART IN IT! I dont care about what someones skin color is, because all my friends are different, and we joke about things as if we're all the same. We are all the same, EVERYONES the same. Everyone has to work hard to get where they're going, what they have. Its so annoying to see one person bad mouth another for their skin when they're in the same work zone, when they're doing the same thing. Thats my view on racism. So idiotic it makes me sick. No one is different from their skin color.

Hey Tyra. I really like you brought racism to our attention, because it's a HUGE deal in America. I didn't really agree with the show, because it was focused on who has it worse, and almost competing. I think in order for us to stop racism, we need to stop pointing fingers. Instead, embrace your culture and skin color but don't make it your life.

I love your show Tyra! We watch it everyday at work and it gives us something to talk about all day!
On the racism though, I don't think it will ever end because i have it thrown at me everyday. Most people think of it as a minority thing but it's not always that way. I go thru it because I am a white woman and my boyfriend is a black man. We get it from everywhere. Including our families that raised us not to be racist! His nieces get it when I go to school to check on them the students make fun of them for having a white aunt. I would do anything in the world to help them not be around racism but I don't know how!
We can all hope for racism to end but as long as there is a world with people of different types, there will be racism. Thanks for reading!

Hi Tyra! im a huge fan of yours..I love what u do. I watched ur show on Racism. This is the first time I have ever been to the point that i needed to respond to a show topic, I had to seriously sleep on it. I love all races and all colors of this world. I grew up with many diffrent cultures, but i am a white woman. It was sad for me to see the young white female on stage crying, and she barely got a response for it. Her topic just wasnt important enough. White people have it just as bad, cuz they pay for the past. They get treated bad from every race just because they are the white man, and all of us here, werent even involved with the past. We are hated on daily basis for who we are. One woman says " Its a privaliage to be white in the country" or you Joking? please explain why i get hated against no matter where i go, because I am white. It was the worst experience growing up, with being white, because I couldnt have much friends due to the nature of my skin. Thats racism. not every culture but white people experience racism. I pay for the past by just being me. My kids will grow up the way i did..Because were still teaching racism in our homes. Luckily I didnt have a racist background, and my family taught me better, but still didnt change the peoples stereo types on me. Its sad that no one can recongnize this, but hold a grudge on todays society against 1 or many races from history. The holocaust was huge. That is never something we acknowledge. We just talk about the white man, and how they make everyone else feel. And if u read..not one comment posted above mentioned anything about the white girl on the show. Thats stereotyping, and thinking that there is no way she would ever experience it. No one can take responsibility in there own race to stop being a victim, and blaming another race. blaming is racism. I dont blame anyone for how ive been treated, and I get it everyday, I wouldnt understand what it would be like because im white. The hate needs to stop.

I saw this show and thought it was sad that all these women were fighting with eachother. If you look at it this way, women have been oppressed by men since the beginning of time, except in Native cultures where they were viewed as equal, so why don't women stand together to end their oppression instead of fighting amongst eachother? I was also disappointed that Native Americans were not represented on the show. People tend to forget that we even exist unless it is in the form of a stereotype, and it would have been good to see a Native woman on the show. There are plenty of successful ones, you just have to look for them. I am from South Dakota, where people are racist and ignorant, but mostly towards Natives. It hurts to have people tell racist jokes about Natives and not realize they are talking to one. I just wish that more people cared about Native people because we are not dead or dying. There are over 2 million Native people living here with over 500 federally recognized tribes, but the only time you see a Native person is in Dances With Wolves. Why are we so underrepresented? With an 85% unemployment rate and a life expectency of 58 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, you think more people would notice us. I guess not.

Hi Tyra, I am glad you had a meaningful show, its sad that other race feels that they have it worst then African Americans, we have it the worst and will always have it the worst for the simple fact people are still teaching hate in this country and will never forget about what ha s taken place in America. We have the president of the u.s. not caring about Black people. The black girl in the audience had a right to be mad. You should have let her get her point across.Sometimes i wonder about what race are you.

I watched the show and I feel tyra did not let the black girl in the audience get her say. Of all people I think tyra should be aware of racism and feel what the black girl was trying to express in the audience. Personally, I don't watch the show, but this very episode caught my eye. I think Tyra tries to please the whites too much instead of speaking her mind. Just say how it really is America still owes us!

Sitting here watching this show on discrimination ... I need to say that you missed a group of people. I am a disabled single mother, who works full time for the state as well as going to school full time, working on my Masters in Business Administration/Public Administration/Human Resources, yet I have been trying to promote for the last several years and even with a Bachelors degree I am still an office assistant. I am so frustrated over this.

I myself have went through a lot, as a child, name calling due to my disability at school, I even watched a boy get called names just for talking to me, then I would go home and go through physical/mental abuse from my parents, as well as sexual abuse from my uncle, brother and step father. I was stripped of everything believing that I would never be anything because I was retarded (that is what they told me). I can still here my mothers words in my head "They don't call you cripple names because you're a cripple but because you are fat and ugly and you will never be loved. No one will ever want you, you will always need me."...That is one of many things that she would say to me when I would get upset. Needless to say we don't really talk anymore!

I have been a victim of hate crimes, because i date black men as well as white. I have been victimized by a peeping tom, assaulted by two other roommates, had one person live in my home for over 6 months without paying(I had him sending his rent to the company that I pay to take care of my bills for me and they never told me that he only paid for one month). My oldest daughter is from a date rape and the last thing that has taken me off guard is that a man that I trusted really hurt my daughter. (http://www.theolympian.com/112/story/53473.html ) All of which I have listed is linked to my disability or to my own abuse that I went through as a child.

I have been told many times that I am a walking book with many different stories. I am fighting to become something yet not making any headway. I don't even want to think about why I go through so much.

My disability itself is from a head injury that induced a stroke when i was only 18 months of age. I have never really been happy because none of my dreams have ever come true. The men I am attracted to won’t even look at me, because of my disability. The ones i do date always leave me for other women. I am never the one they want to take home to mom and dad. And then in all other areas I have been held back. I hardly make any money and yet don't qualify for any assistance. My co pays for my medications are so high that i can not even afford to get them all. I never have any funds to get what my daughters or I really need and why?

You talk about discrimination, yet there is nothing said about my group... I myself believe that disabled individuals are the most discriminated against because this is a difference that every race treats differently in a negative way.

I have heard people say that they don't like the words handicap or disabled. Now I have to say that I don't believe that being disabled is a negative thing. It is society that has made it that. If someone goes to use a different word then those above they would only become negative. People need to learn to see it differently. Not change the words put change the views. I like to think that it is great to be different because I as an individual get to see the world from a different prospective in which others never get to see and that is a plus.

I myself like to do hands on activity with children and co workers when allowed. I have them try and blow up balloons, tying them one handed as well as tying shoes, dressing dolls or putting on jewelry. It gives them an open prospective of what it is that a disabled individual has to do daily. Even though it is just for a few, it is something that they take and keep with them for years down the road.

I could go on and on, but I would just suggest that you visit my site where I have poems that I have written as well my Bio: www.myspace.com/time4dawnnow
time4dawnnow@email.phoenix.edu

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my note...

Dawn

Hey Tyra,
Here in Hawaii we are made of may different race's but the white or as we call them the "Haole" are the minority's here. I know that in the mainland its different, but i guess it doesnt matter we all have some point in our life where racism takes part in it.

So, Tyra, I just read through some of your responses to the "racism" show, and it shows a lot of what I was feeling, which was regarding your leaving out the Native Americans. I watched the re-run of that show, so I understand why they were upset. I am part Blackfoot, but I look totally white except for my black hair and my semi-long nose with a small hump in it. I feel more Native than white in my beliefs however. I think you should do a show on Indiginous peoples (those from America, Canada, and Alaska), and inform whomever watches your show what the "real" truth is about us. Tell the world that the history books lied. A Loyal Fan, Lisa

Hey Tyra,
I just caught your show about racism today. But I was a little disappointed. I saw every other race except for..NATIVE AMERICANS! Yes, I’m another one who has to say something about it. What about us? We’ve been here for the longest time. We were forced off our land and pushed onto reservations. In the old days, our ancestors, our grandparents, our parents were taken from their homes and forced into schools to learn the “white way” and were punished whenever they’d speak their native tongue. Till this day, I’ve been asked if I live in a teepee..if I run around half naked..if I dance around a fire in a loin cloth..if I can talk to animals. I’ve been called everything from a squaw to redskin to the famous Disney character “Pocahontas”. I went to a school where majority of it was Caucasian and discriminated against by the teachers, as well as other students. Most days I was looked at side ways because I was Native American. I was considered a trouble maker. I made a few friends who look at me odd when I tell them I don’t drink because of the stereotype that “all Native Americans are alcoholics”. I still can’t believe that people think that. A college using a Native American in a head dress holding a tomahawk as their mascot? Who are these people to degrade the Native American race like that? It may seem ok to whoever came up with it…but it’s not. It’s disrespectful. Growing up I was raised traditionally and still practice the traditions I was taught. Native Americans believe everyone and everything is equal..respect mother earth, your elders, but most of all each other. I am sick of us judging each other by the color of our skin..and yet, leaving us out. Do you not think we’ve faced any hardships in our life? We have to carry around Tribal ID cards just prove that we are Native American otherwise we will have our eagle feathers taken from us. Something that is sacred to us. I’m a 19 year old Native American woman and proud! I have a voice, I will stand up for my people, I will walk around with my head up and I will make a difference. It saddens me, though, that Native Americans are being forgotten.

Signed,
Bobbidasinookwe
(Woman Running With the Wind)

Hey Tyra,
I just caught your show about racism today. But I was a little disappointed. I saw every other race except for..NATIVE AMERICANS! Yes, I’m another one who has to say something about it. What about us? We’ve been here for the longest time. We were forced off our land and pushed onto reservations. In the old days, our ancestors, our grandparents, our parents were taken from their homes and forced into schools to learn the “white way” and were punished whenever they’d speak their native tongue. Till this day, I’ve been asked if I live in a teepee..if I run around half naked..if I dance around a fire in a loin cloth..if I can talk to animals. I’ve been called everything from a squaw to redskin to the famous Disney character “Pocahontas”. I went to a school where majority of it was Caucasian and discriminated against by the teachers, as well as other students. Most days I was looked at side ways because I was Native American. I was considered a trouble maker. I made a few friends who look at me odd when I tell them I don’t drink because of the stereotype that “all Native Americans are alcoholics”. I still can’t believe that people think that. A college using a Native American in a head dress holding a tomahawk as their mascot? Who are these people to degrade the Native American race like that? It may seem ok to whoever came up with it…but it’s not. It’s disrespectful. Growing up I was raised traditionally and still practice the traditions I was taught. Native Americans believe everyone and everything is equal..respect mother earth, your elders, but most of all each other. I am sick of us judging each other by the color of our skin..and yet, leaving us out. Do you not think we’ve faced any hardships in our life? We have to carry around Tribal ID cards just prove that we are Native American otherwise we will have our eagle feathers taken from us. Something that is sacred to us. I’m a 19 year old Native American woman and proud! I have a voice, I will stand up for my people, I will walk around with my head up and I will make a difference. It saddens me, though, that Native Americans are being forgotten.

Signed,
Bobbidasinookwe
(Woman Running With the Wind)

I watched the re-run of the racism show tonight in my home out in Whiteriver, Arizona on a little reservation called the Fort Apache Reservation, and as I watched the last half of it, I noticed Native Americans were not mentioned at all. Does America not realize that we migrated here hundreds of years ago and are historically considered the 'Original Americans' because we made our homes here while the Europeans came here to make a better life while destroying us as a people. I attended schools here on the reservation and learned history of America and saw that even in the text books we are only mentioned in a paragraph or two. Today we are barely considered Americans and we are called "indians" and made into mascots for teams. As a strong White Mountain Apache I felt offended that even in todays society on a TALK SHOW we're never even mentioned. People should know that we suffered much in history and were put onto little peices of land to make a living and run our own governments with corrupt leaders. We suffer discrimation daily and just as much as any other race if not more because we were slaughtered and killed off almost completey as tribes that we don't even make up much of the American community.
Today we are a strong people with spirtuality, something the WHITES NEVER took from us and never will. I AM AMERICA.

I agree with the native american woman who made the first comment. I am american indian, french and dutch. the so called caucasians (there is no such thing) eskimos, hawians, american indians are of the same ethnic background. Caucasians think I am part spanish or black. Black and spanish people know I am not. There is no race that accepts us. To me I do not see what you see. I see americans. Yes, I am somewhat afraid, leary of muslims, because of the huge sudden wave of them here but I am aware that I do not know enough about them. And I am not afraid to sit next to them. I am not even indian enough to be accepted by them. I think black people act like they hate spanish people. I do not know why. Although I am considered caucasion they accept me the least. No matter who I sit near they look at me like I don't belong. The list of comments at my skin color, eyes, lips, is crazy, something different, just a non recognition by all. And when I say what I am they say no. Then I say well what do I look to you. So, okay you are black, or hispanic or muslim, I, I am nothing. There are thousands every day recognizing you as fitting, once every five years for me. I don't have the ebony eyes of the indians, like my female cousins. Or the dark hair, the sun lightens it. But my skin tone, and bone structure are of native americans. the size, and shape of my eyes. We are so quiet, compared to you all. Racism, discrimination? Try being the original people of this country.

Hi! I was watching the show tonight and I am very disterbed on some of the comments that were made. First of all, I'm a 23 y/o all white female that lives in Louisiana. I'm not racist at all. I keep hearing that African Americans are the race that is miss treated the most in America. Since I was a teen, in my state you couldn't even mention the word black, because someone of color was bringing you to court for discrimination. As we all asume, african americans are the ones that most ask for wellfair help in the U.S., well here in LA., if you are not of color you can not get help. I was very hopeless in the months following August of 2005, after Katrina. Me and some people that I know could not get government help because we were not of color so they asumed that we had money to get by with. I couldn't even keep my FEMA money because they asked me to give it back. The representatives were of color so they asumed that I could get by on what I had, because I was young and white. We could not come home for quite a while, sure people we met everywere we went, were trying to give us thing and race didnt matter to anyone, they were loving and caring to all of us. But, when it came time to come home, (we were out of work for a while so we had spent all the money we had), we had nothing to start over with. I couldn't even get food stamps to help me have food to eat while we were out of work, because they were going by our old income, and because I wasnt poor, I couldn't get help. I really don't know what can be done about racism in America, but in LA we white people have it hard, cause if you are NOT African American or married to one you are out of luck jack, nothing is beeing done to help you. I thank you for reading this. Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year. With luv TIFFIE.

The world will never be without racism as long as every time someone of a minority dosen't get a job, or fails to be greeted in a store they say that it is because of the color of their skin. Maybe they just weren't qualified or the sales staff was busy. Racism is in the eye of the beholder. I am a caucasian and if I get pulled over I know it is because I was speeding, not because of the color of my skin. Many minorities believe that white people have it made. Well I had to work two jobs to put myself through community college while my black friend got not only financial aid, but grants that she used to get a boob job, and she made more than me to begin with, how is this a leg up? As a white person people assume that I must be racist, or that I am blind to all of the rasicm around me or just plain naive, is that not prejdice in itself. You want to know what is racism.....try BET, Miss Black america, video h**s, the United Negro College fund, Ebony magazine, Showtime at the Apollo,comedians of any race making jokes about another race, I could go on and on yet white people are the ones blamed for racism. Quit feeling sorry for yourselves, take ownership of your own actions and quit making exscuses for your failures!!

I am a Hispanic/White woman, I find it sad how many people say that they are not racist or believe in those steryotypes but then don't accept a person or are more wary around them because of race. Here in Hawaii I hear it sometimes, they call me "haole" because I am white, but in Cali. they were calling me "wetback". I don't use racial slurs and don't like it when others around me use them. but one thing I also wanted to bring up is how people are judged upon their religion, I am also Christain and don't understand why so many people are offended by even the menchion of God or Jesus. It is getting to the point where the Supream court is ruling on religious stuff. We are getting mocked and called names to the point where some are getting afraid to say what we are. I believe that the Muslims have it tough also in that sense. There is also how people judge people on their fincial status, or even by just the cloths they wear, or even by how many kids we have. Personaly I have 1 child but a friend of mine has 6 kids and is tired of the questions about if they have the same daddy or if she is of a particular religion. I feel all of this has to stop, why must we always see the diffrences and judge on them in the long run only 3 things are garenteed, being born, living, and dying.

Thanks and God Bless,
Jessica

Tyra,
I'm a proud Native Woman and i just wanted to say why weren't we (Native Americans)mentioned on your show of racism. i think we should be included in this.
sandee

I was watching your show this evening about Racism. I felt there was a group that was ignored by your show.. these were the first people in this country the Native Americans. I feel they have been discriminated more than any other race in this country. They still do not have the freedom that all the people on your show had.

I recently watched the show and thought that most of the stereotypes were very true. I am a mexican american. It's really hard for me not to stereotype even my own race. I am very proud of where I come from, but I just hate to see some of the mexicans walk around the way they do. It's kind of embarrassing for me as a person of mexican decent. My husband and I are constantly talking about where we came from and why that when some one asks me my race I say,"hispanic". I'm more pround to be hispanic than mexican. I think because of the way they percieve themselves. It's tough. As for the show it really let America in on how we should treat each other. I was kinda glad for that guest on the show that was of middle-eastern decent, to go off on Safari. I was thinking to my self, "she is about to go off on this girl". I mean come on you saw here on Flav.

I am currently watching a re-run of your episode entitled racism: who has it worse?

While I commend your show for taking on a difficult topic of discussion I think the real problem is the need for competition. We (as people of color) are often too preoccupied with pushing eachother down to ever get anywhere. If we continue to push and be pushed we will never successfully end racism.

The solution to this problem is unity. This can be seen with the cultural revolutions of the 1960's and 1970's. Until Latinos, African- Americans, Asians (which did not even appear on the show), Homosexuals, and Religious "minorities" learn to come together we will never have enough power to overcome racism.

Instead of being caught up on this competition, we as a global community would benefit from supporting one another. This need to find difference, and thus feel like we are better than others is exactly what is needed to keep us oppressed. Until we as a community are ready to come together, we will never get anywhere.

Hey Tyra iam Desiree iam 14 years old and i was watching you show on racial expressions and i just want to say thank you for doing that i am an african american and out of my four sisters iam the lightest one and i always get ask what are you mixed with and i want to thank you so much for doing a show like this to clear that up. I love what i've learned for this one show once again thank you.

i think that the show really was a wake up for any person with color and that is hispanic

I enjoyed your show on Dec. 11, 2006 but was disappointed that you would not include the first people who were on this continent - Native Americans. I am a proud member of the Blackfoot (Siksika) Tribe from Canada and I sympathize with the African American woman who said that her people have been suffering for two hundred years - try five hundred years, then come back and talk to me! We are the only race that I know of that need an ID card to prove to our "government" that we are who we say we are. The racial discrimination that I have experienced throughout my life was worse than what some of your show guests went through. Asians, blacks and hispanics have all received apologies for past incidents from the US and Canadian governments, but I have yet to see something in print addressing what we Native Americans have gone through. Entire tribes were wiped out when Europeans first "discovered" us! Members of the US Cavalry used to kill and dismember Navajo women and play catch with their breasts. We Native Americans suffered our own holocaust at the hands of Europeans but you don't see anyone apologizing to us! We have, as a race tried to move forward but are now just the punch line on many movies, including Johnson Family Vacation (we are made fun of by a black man!!) and an episode of the Simpsons. I'm sure if Walmart sold Zulu head dresses during halloween for a costume, it would be pulled pretty damn quickly, but sell ridiculous ripoffs of sacred Native American head dresses as a childs costume and no one even blinks an eye. North America still has a long way to go when it comes to Native Americans, but we're used to it. Just try and include some Native American women on your next show about racism.

I really love your show.

this is how I feel .Unfortunately a lot of bad things have happened to good people of every color. I hope that one day it may be possible that people don't see color. I don't think this will happen any time soon. I am white and most of my friends I have had in the past and present have been black or mixed. My daughter is mixed. And her father has seen her twice sense she was born and called maybe three times sense then, and doesn't pay me child support, I haven't seen a dime.

However I do not think this as a color flaw of any kind I have seen white men and heard of all different coloredmen doing the same thing and worse.

Unfortunately all colors of people when they make a mistake and begin to dwell and live their lifes repeatedly the wrong way for years. All have the same excuse, (This was how I raised, this is what I came from, and this is who I always will be).

Honestly I know that it hast to be hard to change how you act when you grew up a certian way, but there is always that little voice that is in the back of your head that say this is wrong, this is not how I should be living, or thinking.
That is you shouting let me be me, let me a better bigger person then my parents, then my family, then my friends. People need to push them selves with there tears for life not drowned in them.

Be passionate, be willing, be ready to feel good about you and your life, not expecting to feel bad or that is how you will feel.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is alot of racist people out there.

But untill everyone feels good about themselves that where were gonna be.

READ ME! ok hey tyra i love your show its a young fly version of oprah! ok on the topic of who has it worse//i honestly think that native americans have it worse because you didnt even mention them on your show, also they have made america what it is today. if you really want to get deeper into the issue america was their land and the white man stole it and look what he has done to it. people killing others for color, war in iraq for what? no one knows. Tyra i just want you to know i respect you, you are my role model but being a half native american women is hard. We dont get anything but 5 dollar tax breaks, and 500 dollar scholarships. And you had that trashy african american woman on your show when she was just on flavor flav giving white people a reason to stereotype her. I am currently a college student and let me tell you 500 dollars is nothing. african amercans portray themselves as getting stuff for free from the government, my best friend teeyanna is african american and let me tell you. i love her to death but damn. She gets free housing, free college thanks to the black college fund, free food stamps, free money from the government. this is the reason why white stereotype blacks, you say you need all this $ from the gov't but u are walking around in 100 dollar shoes when you can't even afford food for your son! I love all cultures but i am suggesting that to end rasicm lets as people stop doing things that "they" expect us to do. lets break the cycle make a change. tyra i had to let that 1 rip..love ya!

By allowing stereotypes and negative remarks by some individuals to change the view of an entire race is sad. It is amazing to have friends of different backgrounds, both race and religions. People can learn a lot from one another. To stop racism, the actions need to start at home. Parents should not voice any negative thoughts about a race. It is okay to disagree with individuals, but not okay to judge an entire race based on the disagreement.We have friends of various different backgrounds. It's sometimes funny to go out in a group and see the reactions of others when they see us all together. Recently, we had dinner with some friends. My husband and I are a bi-racial couple, our friends are black. Their son asked our son, what he was. He said, "I'm black. What are you?". Our son shrugged, then responded, "I'm peach". Our son didn't know how to respond because we have not addressed the issue of race to our son. We want him to have friends because they share common interests, not because of their backgrounds. We chuckled at first, then his father told him, it doesn't matter what we all are because we all love each other and are friends.

Hi Tyra. I'm muslim and my life has changed a lot after 9/11. There is no God that will allow us to kill innocent people. SOME PEOPLE CALLED THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS AND JOINED THE KKK, AND BURNED CROSSES AND KILLED BLACK PEOPLE, AND SOME PEOP[LE CALL THEMSELVES MUSLIMS AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. Islam and christianity teach brotherhood and generosity, and hopefully our kids won't suffer the consequences of ignorance.

It's really ashame the way racism is still being reflected in this world. I really wish I was an audience member on your show when this aired. As= an black woman I am very diversed. I was very disturbed when Sapphire voiced her opinion on that muslim woman and the bombing incident. If anyone felt for that young lady today it was me. She should not be accused for someone else's actions. Which race has it the worst, well now a days I believe that African Americans and those of the Pakistanian/Indian/Muslim decent have it the worst. Maybe one day this world will grow up and recognize we are people. God put us on this earth for a purpose. Personally I feel we are being tested and failing at it.

hmm, i felt tt ur show was lacking in a lot of things. Sorry, but i felt tt this particular show was flawed, u wanted to address racism but ended up being racist.

1.) Muslim is'nt a race, its a religion..
2.)to have the grin aft being name the worst race was pointless, i mean are u proud of being the worst..?
3.)u can't take sides Tyra esp when everybody knows u're black, tt shows immaturity..
4.)address these issues & not just sayin tt ppl prejudice ur race, find a solution to it, i think ppl in this show bicker more than trying to fing a common ground.
5.)i think to categorise a race by their skin colour is racist, without knowing it, we are actually being racist by labelling individuals by their skin colour, so Americans need to stop it...
5.)learn abt other races, its the only way.

My take is ppl need to educate themselves regarding e ppl next to u: superiority, holocaust, uneducated, terrorist, low-class r e familiar brands we ourselves led us to believe what other ppl are due to our own oblivion. I live in Singapore where there multiple races here & we still co-exist together. Why can't Americans do tt, it only takes one person..

Dear my idol Tyra,
I was glad that you had this show.It really opened my eyes to hateness in the world.I wondered why you didn't have asians.I go to school as being hated by other races.I've even been told to go back where I belong.They tell me that this world is over- populated by my people.I have a right to stay here right?You have no idea how I faced my younger years.My hispanic friends try to comfort me,but it doesn't feel the same.I even got beat up because of my race in kindergarten by a kindergardner. My teacher who seemed to not like me either, didn't make it a big deal when my dad told her.She sorta tried to ignor it.I even got chased home with a water bottle going all over my head while being called a chinita.I truly believe that racism should be taken seriously.It should be a punishment involed law.Even if it's already a law,people should stop the hate."Freedom comes with an educated mind."

I love the Tyra show and watching this episode made me realize that i may have been a victim of racism and even if not, i see it all around me but its so hard to stop, people just live in a rut and they should get out of it. From when i was in 4th grade up until 6th grade i was in the same class as this one girl, she is african american (but adopted) and i am white. I never really knew her until 4th grade and i tried to be her friend or at least not mean to her but she would always mock me. I never knew why and i still don't but i noticed she would only targe white kids when she made fun of people, she had lost of different ehtnicities of firneds but she picked on the white ones, like me. I was always afreaid to stand up for myself in fear that she would call me a racist becuase she was black, i don't think either she or i realized racism can go from black to white people not only white to black or other ehtnicities.

Hi Tyra,

I was very interested when I heard the topic of your show called "Racism" but I realized right at the beginning that the "race" that was categorized as "muslims" were firstly, NOT a race and secondly were NOT middle-eastern either.

Next, what disappointed me even more is that muslims were all shown as women wearing hijaab when not all of them do that. Being a Pakistani muslim living in Canada, I have never really experienced racism except for at government offices or related tasks. I would also like to add that I have chosen not to wear the hijaab yet (i'm 26 yrs old) and would certainly not like to be considered muslim or not based on what i was wearing. if anything, i would recommend including in one of your related future shows, the clarification that muslims should neither be considered terrorists, wearing hijaab or middle-eastern! Thanks

Tyra,

I just wanted to say that it is really great you are talking about real life issues on your show such as racism. However, on the racism show you had this week I was disappointed to see that yet again First Nations people were left out of the discussion. There is a very dark history of injustice toward First Nations people in America and Canada and it seems that it is completely ignored. It would be great if you could do a show including First Nations and Metis people to express their concerns and hardships. Thanks a lot.

I think the real purpose of this episode was to show that *everyone* faces racism, not to show "who has it worse". I think this just happened to be the result. It got out of hand, and no, one hour was not nearly long enough for such a huge issue.

Of course racism is a serious problem, but I believe that there is a fundamentally more serious problem; Human beings are extrememely judgemental, and this, in my opinion, is the root of most problem we face in life. All races seem to say that racism occurs within their own race too - if we were all the same race, do you *really* think things would be better? Consider parts of the country (any country, for that matter) in which all people are the same race - is there harmony? No, human beings just find other things to judge people for. If we were raised, and raised our children to accept *all* human beings, that would be a start. But this is just my very idealistic view.

Be kind to others, period. We all would be amazed at how rich our lives could be if we weren't *so* quick to judge. To truly accept one another and not pass judgement, we really need to ask ourselves "how would I feel if I was treated like that" - yes, this is so cliche and we've heard it our whole lives, but how many of us actually act on it?

Aside from racism, people are actually ridiculed for the way they look. Shame on us! How utterly cruel we can be. I find it hard to fathom how people can judge others for something completely out of their control - is this so different from rasicm?

I have a long way to go on my journey of acceptance. I struggle daily, but still, I make an effort each day not to judge my fellow *human beings* - not for their race, disabilities, addictions, religions, appearance, socio-economic status.......

Pass it on.

The show didn't do their research well on Muslims. It's not what the person chooses or chooses not to follow but what are the core beliefs? In The Quran, Of the Unbelievers (Christians & Jews): Sura 4:89 states “seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”!

The only reason why they don't do it here in the U.S.A. because we will throw them in jail. In America which was founded on Christian values we treat women as Equals, which comes from our Christian Bible. In Islam for example in Saudi Arabia, the women can't vote, drive, own property, must be veiled at all times. Sharia law is not freedom, the men do what ever they want, beating (flogged for adultery) women, raping them and getting away with it because a woman's testimony in court counts for less than a man's in Islam. He will get off scot free because of these facts.

I think the Burqa should be baned in the U.S.A. because we don't treat our women as second class citizens like Islam. Islam is a religion of Hate & is Evil. That Burqa is degrading to women and goes against what our Christian nation stands for which is the Freedom and Equality of Women!

Tyra,

I love your show for the most part but this one had me outraged. I was actually offended just by the title "Racism: Who has it worse?" before I even watched the show. What good would it EVER do to try and define who has it worse, and how do we actually define that?

I personally do not live in a box and think that the society we live in is by any means a perfect place and I absolutely know that racism and hate crimes do exist, however I feel that trying to "prove" who should get the most sympathy or the most condolences for years of racsim only perpetuates the cycle of ignorance.

Racsim and discrimination not only happen to all races and religions but it happens to genders and groups of different sexual orientations as well and NONE of that was addressed. I was so ashamed to see such a large group of women trying to fight for the "biggest victim" award. You seem to have such a desire to break down bitchyness and hatred between women yet yesterday you fueled a lot of women's fire.

I feel like a much more educational show might have been one on women's history and women's rights, these are all things that ALL races and backgrounds of women have been fighting for for years and we know it certainally isn't brought up in textbooks, much like that of African-American history, it is a subject that must be researched by the individual if he/she has a desire to learn it. I feel that spreading knowledge on these issue could really bring women together instead of tearing them apart with a racial cat-fight.

Tyra,
Though I applaude your efforts to help end racism, I feel you should have had a panel of educated women from all races instead of one of the most hood female you could find to talk on behalf of black women. This is the same woman who acted a fool on Flavor of Love and was kicked off the first day. You also failed to even mention native americans. I think that instead of trying to declare a winner in who has it worst, the focus should have been more on trying to stamp out racism. The whole forum was stupid and a waste of time. Everyone has been a victim of racism in their on way. There is no way to see who has it worst. ALL RACISM IS WRONG!

Hi Tyra,
Let me first address how much I enjoy your shows. However, this show left me shocked and apalled at the level of ignorance Americans still seem to posess about one another despite history being more than a perfect example of prejudice being 'a child of ignorance.' Watching the comments made by those filling out the questionnaire made me upset because the way I see it, you would be a fool to think such things when North America is becoming so diverse.

I point out Americans specifically because nowhere in Canada (where I live) would people make such inappropriate comments; at least one of all five of those races attended my high school whom are all intelligent and lovely people. Come to think of it, one of my best friends is Indian (Iam Jamaican) and we couldn't be closer.

The second reason is suppose is that I'm not North American by birth so I see no reason why people should react this way to one another; "One Love."

I conclude and hope that people do decide to 'enlighten' themselves and leave this type of ignorance where it belongs; IN THE PAST

Peace and Love,

Stephanie
In conclusion

Tyra,
I would like to thank you for the show on racism. It was very appreacated in my american studies class. But one thing that everyone seems to miss is that everyone faces racism and discrimination. It just depends on where you are. I am a 19 yr. old muslim woman. And my skin color is white but my ethinisity isn't I am Persian, Spanish, and Itilian. And one thing that I would like people to know that muslims are Not terriost! It is a religion.

And because of peoples ignorance I have gotten pushed down the stairs at my college on Sept 11. And my hijab (head scarf) was ripped of my head and burned. All of this was because people thought I was a terriost. But I refuse to give in to peoples ignorance, and I still wear my hijab. I just hope that people can change for the better.

I am not saying that all people are good and I am not saying that all people are bad. I am just saying that all people no matter what you are black, native-american, arab, latino, white, middle eastern, asian, or indian. Or weather your religion is christian, cathloic, muslim, jewish, hindu, buddist. Whatever you are no one is perfect.

And I guess the point that I am trying to make is that people need to open their eyes and educate themselves about what they don't know about other people. So thank you for your show and trying to educate people. And I hope that you don't stop doing good things.

julia

Hi Tyra, I watched your show yesterday on racism and I was eager to watch it until I realized you did NOT have any Native American people included. I am a proud Native American female who is also willing to stand up for our Native people. I felt sorry and compassionate for everyone who is constantly dealing with racism. I felt my share as well and I honestly believe it needs to stop! I like the show because it brings out that we all suffer requardless of where we come from or came from. I think you did a good job bringing out the issue but again where was the Native people? We are a people who whether you know will not give up our strength of survival and dignity to all of humanity. We may not seem to fit your show or the world but we are here and growing. Our cultures are alive and yes some of us are stronger and we are doing what we can to be a better person in this world. I challege you, next time, please bring out our proud Native (American) people. You may be amazed about our lives and our teachings. You sadden our hearts for not standing up for our people who truly come from this land. This is Native Country!! Everyone needs to read their history or get the facts!! Right!. I strongly suggest you apologize to our Native people who watch your show or at least recognize who we are..a Proud Native (American) people. I felt like some of your readers, discouraged. I had to sleep on this subject and think about it. This morning I woke up and I felt it in my heart to address the issue and respond to your show. So much to learn about Native people and how we saved America and still do....

First off ms Tyra I love your show I watch as much as i can I've been reading peoples comments on your show about racism and some seem so angry. Racism is a terrible thing I myself have a black father and white mother and a whole side of my family who does not accept me because my dad is black. I think racism is nothing but a disease. People who choose to hate others because of the color of their skin or religion or eye and hair color really just hate themselves. They have to disrespect others to make themselves feel good. It is so uncalled for its rediculous and I feel sorry for these parents who raise there kids to hate, its a waste and a shame. As long as my kids know you should love and appreciate everyone in this world for all that they contribute my babies will be just fine.oh and ps im sure everyday there is a racist white person who is rushed to a hospital about to die who has there life saved by a black or hispanic doctor (or any other race)i wonder how they feel about that

Good Lord. All of you people need to grow up and stop wallowing in self-pity.

Do you honestly expect this show to have a representative for every race and ethnicity on the planet? Clearly, this show did not mean to include every nationality but rather focused on different groups as marked by skin color and habits of dress.

Thusly, Jewish people (by the way, Judaism is not a race!) are clearly going to be considered "white."

Also, perhaps we can try to get over centuries-old grudges as opposed to reveling in them. The Holocause was clearly an atrocity, but in America today, Jewish people are, if anything, over-represented in high-paying jobs and prestigious universities. Sorry, but there is very little prejudice when it comes to Jew "making it to the top" or living normal lives.

Bottom line, the show was hopelessly flawed. If America wants to heal we should try to look past racial differences as opposed to having a competition to see who has it the worst. And, Jesus Christ, we should not take pride in having it the worst or take umbrage by someone saying that their race is the worst off.

I am very thankful that this subject was brought up. It is unbelievable that it is almost the year 2007 and people are still being ridiculed for what they look like. The human race needs to get over this overpowering arrogance that is possessed. I am shocked at how Americans and immigrants who have come to America to "live a better life" and get the education to be something, are so ignorant. We are all the same. The gene that codes for skin color is SO MINUTE, so insignificant yet there are people who exaggerate on it to the point where hate crimes are being committed and people die because of it. Hopefully people gain some knowledge and one day get over that overpowering arrogance.
Thank you for your show, Tyra.

Dear Tyra,
I am 16 years old and here at school i've been discriminated by my own race, Mexican. My ex-friends always used to tell me that I was really white and that i shouldn't be considered LATINA, I mean io really don't care what people think of me becuase i'm comfortble with who i am, but it really hurt me when my supposed called friends were being like that. I just thinks its really unfair that they didn't let me enjoy my race for a while.

Tyra,
I just wanted to make a statement on something a lot of people have said on this subject. You should not just be proud of your race, but be proud of who "you" are. Your skin color does not make you who you are. I am Scotch-Irish, as far as my family tree shows. But recently I found out that I also have indian in me. There is also a chance that I may also have African American in me also. I have always been asked questions such as... "Are you black or mixed"? "Are you Spanish?" Even though at those times all I knew of my background was Scotch-Irish, I did not feel offended, because all of these are a "human" race. At least people did not ask if I was part monkey or dog. We all have feelings and we all are HUMAN.

HiTyra, I wanted to share with you and others who read this on how bad I feel for everyone who do experance racism. I am a 27 yr old White woman and I grew up in the getto having all colors around me. Even if my "Family" had there opion on race.I new It would never change the way i felt. I feel Im always defending black people more then anything.It angers me so to hear such hate over color.I hope your show opened thoses eyes of haters and shows them that we are all the same. love peace and happiness..xoxo

I wanted to address to the native people, i was just addressed that TB is going around in the native communities because when are grandparents and parents were in residentical schools they wee given a needle contaning tb cells and become active when they are induced.A 28 yr old died,when she found out she had tb and the doctor gave her 6 months worth of pills. knowing she suffers from alcholism they told her not to drink while taking these pills. She lasted for 1 week and drank. that night she was sent to the hosiptal and slipped into a coma where she died. All in around 4 dayz. It seems like we are still trying to be killed off but its not gonna work. So people who say that the past is the past. It still affects everyone to this day. But i honestly dont think anyone in show biz like tyra or opera will care for us natives. Because there ancisters where slave and brought to this contry. What about everyone coming to our contry and making us live on reserves or resevations to die off. Gave us desieas and still trying to push us down. Well this is our time to shine. THis our time to stand together and believe in the great spirit and we will be heard and we will be seen. Were not just gonna be ghosts of the past anymore!! thanks for the people who had time to read this. Merry christmas all

When i saw the show about racisism and and the different kinds of races that were present it made me sad to think that Native Americans were left out. The Native Americans had the longest the most hardest history in the United States an they still are dealing with this hardships.

This is in reference to the show I show on Dec.11th: I could not sleep last night thinking about this topic. I am a white women in a small Texas town and I am not racist. I have three children and they are not racist. I am teaching them everyone is equal and there is no need to hate anyone for any reason, including race,sexual preference or religion.
Now here comes the BUT....
Why are we in Texas and Southern California having to learn spanish? No other culture has come into America and forced their beleifs or language on others the way the hispanic race is doing here. I drive down the street and there are signs all around me in spanish! My son got into a fight at school defending himself from a hispanic student because he got mad at my son for asking him to speak english because he did not understand. The hispanic boy is 12 years old and can not speak english and goy angry with my son because of his ignorance. My son was punished by the school for defending himself and was told that he should not offend people from other cultures. WHAT?! My son asked him to speak english and he offended him....???
Now all the hispanic kids are picking on my son. I have asked for him to be transferred due to safety concerns and we were denied. I have to wonder everyday if my son will come home from school because of this. My son did nothing wrong. He is a great kid that has manners and morals, which is uncommon these days!

When I go to the grocery store I can't even read the labels on most of the products anymore because they are all in spanish....Sometimes I wonder --Where am I at?--

Why are we being forced to learn their language when they come here. Education is great, but it is usually by choice because we do live in AMERICA....

WHICH RACE HAS IT WORSE?

PFF, OK THERE... HOW WILL THAT HELP solve rascism ?... PLEASE TELL ME HOW ??SEEING 'WHICH RACE HAS IT WORSE' will solve the ISSUE of rascism?

That is so dumb!
I think someone and the 'different races'
were just TRYING TO PROVE A POINT!, yes SO THEY COULD PROUDLY GRIN AND NOD THEIR HEADS , saying ...'YES WE ARE THE RACE THAT IS MOST DISCRIMINATED AGAINST!...we will continue to blame another race, but that doesn't matter because THEY DONT HAVE IT AS WORSE AS US"

SINCE WHEN WAS RASCISM A COMPETITION?
THAT IS PATHETIC!

Historically speaking, not only were blacks had a past of being discriminated against....HOW ABOUT NATIVE INDIANS, JEWS ...etc.

TO SAY ONE RACE HAS IT WORSE THEN ANOTHER IS PLAIN dumb, every individual experiences rascism and prejudicy . SO TELL ME AGAIN, how will COMPARING WHICH RACE HAS IT WORSE, HELP AT ALL TOWARDS THE ISSUE OF RASCISM?

It bothered me when that girl with the weave said...

"Our people have been ostracized for over 200 years, your people have been ostracized for only 2 years..."
(towards the muslim girl)--*it was even worse when tyra said..."Maybe you have a point there.."

^ what was her point? She's saying who cares if the muslims are being discriminated against b.c comparing to what "my people" went through for over 200 years, the prejudicy against the muslims is nothing.

Rascism IS RACISM
whats the point of Comparing about which race has it worse, (and it seems like the race who "has it worse", is proud of it too. grinning and nodding their heads) what will that solve?

One woman said to another woman ....

"Your white, you can use it to your advantage"

and when she does she'll be called a rascist.

Until people stop classifying themselves as black, white, hispanic, asian...then rascism will die out.

- KEYERA Ceta C

Hello Tyra!

I remember watching this particular episode and I just couldn't help but shake my head in shame that we're still saying who has it worse and how different we are from each other. It's a true shame that there is so much prejudice and racism in the world that it seems that we truly haven't came that far from when people of color/ religion and overall different backgrounds get persecuted by others. Prejudice is such an ugly thing and even though I'm African American, I honestly can't say who has it worse. Naturally, I would say African Americans and Native American because it's part of my culture and it's painful to remember what my ancestors went through. But at the same time, the Jewish the Indians, Japanese and other races/cultures and just people have all witnessed a horrifying time with their people. Why can't some of us just console each other and try to understand one another from things that have happened to us? The Jewish and the holocaust. When I first learned about that history in the 8th grade, I was disgusted and wanted to cry for them. I couldn't even fathom seeing anything like that in real time; just the thought of it makes me want to retch. Also, there are the Native Americans in which for them, I never acknowledge Christopher Columbus since the women were raped, some of the men were killed and because of Columbus and his men, a rash of diseases were brought into America. I still don't understand why Columbus day is even on the calender. He's not even a hero. He's nothing but a glorified leech. But anyway, people all over the world have experienced racism and prejudice and even though it may be new to some, that still doesn't excuse it. Albeit, I admit the African American thing still hasn't resided and has lasted a looooong time, but honestly, I can't say who has it worse unless we're in the others shoes. It's easier for all of us to say "My kind has it worse." But the fact of the matter is, we've all seen the worse times in our lives and I rather not put one over the other. We've just all seen horrific times. Also, another thing I want to point out is that those who are prejudice and racist are sickening to me. To think that we've all share more commons bonds that any of us may not care to admit, it's funny in a scary way because we really aren't different as some of us think we are. We all have the same things in common; food, family, culture, love, religion and so on. Although, some vary from others, that is what connects us, but some of us just can't see that because we can't look beyond the color of our skin or the religion we practice or how different our culture is from one another. Also, I just want to say how digusted I am with people who preceive others stereotypically. Not all black women are ghetto and have a man in the jail with two kids and she's on welfare. I've seen caucasian women in that same position. Actually, I've just as many caucasian women in that same position. But thanks to the media, it's mostly focused on the minority. The media itself doesn't tell you the whole story and the news is negative like that. Or what about this, people who happen to be muslim or are from Iran, Iraq or who people deem look like "terrorists" thanks to the 9/11 incident are harrassed because of what they look like. That is terrible to me. In france, there are people who are muslims and were appalled to be asked if they were related to terrorists. I'd be pissed, personally. But I just wanted to say, this was an interesting subject you touched and I'm not upset that you didn't do everyone who were suffering from prejudice/racism because there is only so much you can do in an hour show. But, I have to admit this wasn't the best either because there were some other things related to prejudice and racism that wasn't even touched. Then again, there was only so much you could do in that time limit.

Sincerely,
Your loyal fan, Crissy.

P.S. Take care Tyra! ^_^

Tyra,

I missed the first half of this show but the last half of the show made a huge impact on me. I'm taking a Social Diversity class this semester and we touch some on the topic of racism but not in the way you have presented on your show. My favorite part of the show was at the end where everyone held hands as a symbol of unity to break the change of racism, and learing to accept people for who they are and not what we precived them to be. Thank you so much for bring this topic to discussion and I hope you will continue to be blessed in all your efforts and the diffference you make in society.

hi Tyra! i was wonderin whtever happened to the racism tht Asians face? i didnt see tht on the show? do they even experience racism?

Hello Everyone

I had to sleep on this before I could control my anger enough to address the show I watched yesturday on Racism.I am Canadian and I am also a First Nations woman.I was so saddened to see that not once Native Americans were mentioned on the show.I wonder if there was a reason behind that ?
I feel for each and every person who has been hurt by words or actions of racism and know that my people (all natives )hurt just like everyone else,I just feel as if you think we are not important enough to mention or acknowledge.
Thanks for allowing my to rant.
Happy Holidays to all.
Laurie

Hi Tyra
first of all thanks for the nice show .I came to USA from My Country last monday after a vacation.I had a very bad experience.As I left my dear ones I cried at the time of reaching U.S.A.The steward on the plane didn't give me the immigration paper.When I asked for the paper he was throwing the paper at me.He didn't behave properly.I felt so embarassed.I am also an educated lady.Was practising Law and was a news reader in my country.But after watching your show I can feel that everyone is facing the same problem.I don't want to say that racism exist everywher. I have many friend who are not from my race although we are good freinds. We are in 21st century and it is very shameful that racisim still exist in the world.

I wish you had more then an hour on this subject because it seems like you rushed through too much that needed to be explored.

It is hard to say that one race has it worse in one study because you also need to factor in that the pannel you studied were generally the same age from generally from the same area in CA.

I grew up right outside of Washington DC in a county of mixed backgrounds. Averaged out it is 63% Black, 27% White, 7% Latino and 4%. I grew up a dispised white minority where it was shameful and raceist to discover any part of my european heritage. Recently when I visited my boyfriends family in Queens, I pulled him aside and asked him quitely where were the black people. I felt awkward and later found out that two other friends of mine from my area felt embarrased as well. I honestly felt more comfortable when we toured the Bronx then we did in Queens.

I was mostly discriminated because I didn't have the money to wear the right clothes or do the cool things. Though there were equally disapointing times when I was brushed off because it would tarnish the image of the african american peer for hanging out with 'some white girl.' For awhile I tried so hard to fit in and was ostricized for 'acting black'. I stopped trying after being ostricized from the entire school for using the N word. I was ten and didn't understand why I couldn't use it but others could. My ignorance ruined not only me but my familys reputation and for the next three years I just wallowed into the shadows until I could start anew in high school.

After a commercial break one of your guests was crying because people laughed at her pain. It is all to often that people just assume they have it the worst and ignore the feelings of others. I could understand how she could feel neglected and brushed aside just for the fact that she was white.

If you ever revisit this subject again I would love for you to talk about mixed raced people. My boyfriend is Filipino so I am concerned that one day our future children would have similar issues and fear that they would not be accepted by either sides. All I can do is pray and impart the love of a Great God upon them to get them through such a touchy and painful issue.

Anita-
UM, correct me if I'm wrong but jewish isn't a race, it's a religion. You can't tell someone is jewish just by looking at them, whereas you could see a black person or a white person. Yes, Jewish people have gone through very horrible things, but Tyra is only one woman, and she can't do a 1 hour show on how every single race is discriminated against. Also, I have to disagree with you. I really don't think that Jews today are as discriminated against as blacks...

i watched the show and the only complaint i have is that there was nothing mentioned about native americans...and being a native women i've had problems with racism. just thought u should know

Tyra I think what you did was great for other races but you forgot one of the most important race there is, NATIVE AMERICAN. With out native people america would not be what it is today. Native people helped settlers when they came over, in world war 2 the Navajo language is what saved american in that war. On the show the black lady talked about being ostracize for 200 year well native people have been since 1492 when that idiot columbus came over.
There is no race that see so much racism like Native american people we are left out of important issues like this one. We have had land after land taken away from our people. Natives were beat for speaking our language, children taken from their families, our mans hair was cut, and now we have people that aren't native trying to say they are and people that are native are be called mexican since their skin is so dark.
I think that it is great that you are helping in the fight against racism but i believe that you and your team need to do all your research before you do a show of this nature.

Dear Tyra,

I believe you really missed it with your show on Monday, Dec. 11, 2006. NO RACE/CULTURE,INCLUDING AFRICAN AMERICANS HAS GONE THROUGH ANYTHING COMPARED TO THE JEWS. THE HOLOCAUST IS THE WORST PERSECUTION OF A RACE IN HISTORY! YES, AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE BEEN THROUGH HORRIBLE ATROCITIES, AND STILL SUFFER PREJUDICES,BUT NOT COMPARED TO THE JEWS. ALL THROUGHOUT HISTORY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO WIPE OUT THE JEWISH RACE, AND IF IRAN HAD HER WAY, STILL WOULD. AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH THE JEWISH PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY CAN RELATE TO THE PERSECUTION THAT IS VERY REAL, BUT YOU REALLY MISSED IT IN YOUR SHOW YESTERDAY TO SAY THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RACE WAS THE MOST PERSECUTED. YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A REPRESENTATION OF THE MOST PERSECUTED RACE ON THE PROGRAM!

Racism is evil and we have all been subjected to evil in our lives. The answer is to love one another. BTW - I am caucasion and grew up in a downtown city area in the 1960's with alot of black friends.

Dear Tyra

I was happy to see that you included a white woman on your show about racism. I am white and grew up in a very diverse city and went to mostly black school. Almost every day I would have to put up with racism. In high school I was beaten by about 20-30 black students from my school for being white. I don't think white people have it worse than others. I just want people to know that some of us have to deal with racism every day of our lives too.

When you seperated the audiance into "Asian" i only saw chinese, vietnamese,etc people where were the indians, pakistanis,bangladeshis,etc? were asian too! (i'm indian)and actually middle eastern is part of asia too but usually people acknowledge them as only middle easterners. As to the racism question, i've dealth with racism too but usually from my own people (cuz other people cant even tell what i am, until i tell them). I'm very light skinned for someone that's from India and usually all the indian people assume i use some kind of fairness cream or dont go in the sun so i wont get dark,etc. i know this issue is small compared to the big issues talked about on your show, but its very annoyning and hurtful.

Tyra,
Yesterday's show was interesting. I just want to touch on the black on black discrimination. I just want to make it clear that in the black community we tend associate lightness with beauty, which is not the case. In my opinion when Xiomara didn't want to be Grace Jones that kind of reminded me of that topic. Remember her comments on how they had to make her skin darker, her tone of voice and her facial structure. Not to point fingers but I think alot of that stuff comes from the fashion and entertainment industries. I just have a problem with white peoeple accepting bi-racial people as blacks and then when an 100% black person comes along they are still intimidated and still have their prejudices but don't try to pull the race card because they have their "black" buddy. They do that on tv alot. They will accept them because of their features. When Alicia Keys and India.Arie were up for best new artist some years ago...people were talking. But I think beauty plays a role in it as well....

Dear Tyra,

I saw this show about a month ago, and when I watched it, I couldn't believe that these people were saying some of the things they were. I'm sixteen, and an African American, and when I heard the lady say that most black people have two kids, are on welfare, and has a husband in jail, you don't know what I wanted to do to her. How could you ever say that about someone publicly? I feel bad for people who think this way because it is not true. Anyone could be in that situation, including herself. I don't know how you sat there and listened to people putting down other races. That couldn't have been me. I find it weird how it didn't feel this when they talked about all the other races. It made me mad when she talked about black people, but not as mad when the other people talked about people of other races, probably because I am black and when someone talks about your race, you get offended. Some people need to realize that you shouldn't discriminate against anyone. I hate to hear racist comments because most people know they are too grown to still be thinking that way. Some people have to experience what it feels like to have someone treat you a certain way just because of the color of your skin or who you are. You can't change who you are on the outside, but you can change the way you think of people.

Sometimes its best not to openly talk about race issues among various ethnics. Trying to find out "who has it the worst" can create a hugh backfire and even more division since other minority groups may think "well since the blacks appear to have it the worst, I want to distance myself and my race from them. Let the blacks remain as the 'most hated' this will help shift attention away from us." Blacks should not want to hear that they may or may have it worst, when it comes to racial hatred. MANY more blacks really need to work at eradicating the ills and evils from their culture. It's a DAMM shame that blacks have been in this country longer than other minorities, yet so many blacks are the worst parents, role models, and educators in their OWN communities and among their OWN people. Many continue to live in runned-down neighborhoods, which is referred to as "getto" or "hood". Many blacks are the constant CAUSE of most of the negative sterotypes that affect their lives. Other minories seem to care more about clean neighborhoods, the vaule of property, and most of all the VAULE of LIFE. It's very DISTRUBING that many young black people do not speak good English grammer. I happen to be black and it very horrible to watch the mannerism and mindsets of many blacks. Many glorify the filthy, negative lyrics of rap and hip-hop music. They glorify playing sports and singing more than education. Let's face it...for years.. many entertainers may have money, but just listen to some of them talk, and you pretty much can tell how intelligent they really are. We REALLY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND CHANGE ourselves, and limit open discussions on racial differences. Sorry to say, many blacks are still passing on negative traits to their children. If you don't beleive it, just look at their neighborhoods and school sytems. Most of the people in these community don't do anything but complain, and expect others to find solutions for them. You can't blame that on racism.

Dec 12/06

Dear Tyra:

I watched your show yesterday on Racism.

Boy, I can't believe that the same thing that were being said about each of these cultures is world wide.

At least here in Toronto, Canda I've heard the same statments being said.

I personally believe that all people are the same inside. We cry, we laugh, we get angry etc.
All that is differenet is that the creator decided that a colourful variety of outskin would brighten his day up to look at on a eternal basis.

I pray everyday that people would accept each other and understand and care about each other as we all have needs.

There is a group of people going around hugging people in the street and I think that's a wonderful idea.

No matter who you are. A hug can make your day.

Take care and I wish you all the best in your show.

Linda Makarchuk
(Mother of a 17 yr old son who is hoping one day he will get over is "him only" factor and give his mom daily hugs. I need it. Especially from my child even though he's 17).

Sometimes its best not to openly talk about race issues among various ethnics. Trying to find out "who has it the worst" can create a hugh backfire and even more division since other minority groups may think "well since the blacks appear to have it the worst, I want to distance myself and my race from them. Let the blacks remain as the 'most hated' this will help shift attention away from us." Blacks should not want to hear that they may or may have it worst, when it comes to racial hatred. MANY more blacks really need to work at eradicating the ills and evils from their culture. It's a DAMM shame that blacks have been in this country longer than other minorities, yet so many blacks are the worst parents, role models, and educators in their OWN communities and among their OWN people. Many continue to live in runned-down neighborhoods, which is referred to as "getto" or "hood". Many blacks are the constant CAUSE of most of the negative sterotypes that affect their lives. Other minories seem to care more about clean neighborhoods, the vaule of property, and most of all the VAULE of LIFE.

My name is Heather I am 20 years old. The first thing that most people think when they see me is a typical white girl. That my be true I do look white and act white but I am not I am Native American. This one day in my high school history class we where talking about racism. Well this one black girl turned to me and said “the white people like Heather get anything they want.” I asked her what she meant by that she said “you live in a nice house, drive a nice car, and have all of the money you want.” I said yes that may be true but it wasn’t handed to me on a plate, I had to work hard for my car and the money I make and have. Well she went on to say well if it wasn’t for your people (whites) we would of never been slaves and forced to come over here and she went on with some other stuff against whites. When she got threw I turned to one of my white friends that knows I am Native American and I said “well if it wasn’t for your people (whites) my people would have been killed for there land and give all kinds of diseases that caused a lot of my people to die.” Then the black girl said “what the hell are you talking about?” I told that I am not white I am Native American. Okay so I like all kind of races and I get along with them but its just so funny how a black person can stand there and try to tell me that their ancestors had it worst but they didn’t. The white people killed off all of the Native Americans and gave them all kinds of diseases just so that they could have our land. So I personal think that Native Americans had and still have it worst of all.

I just wanted to comment on yesterdays show about racism.Theres several other forms of racism that noone addressed.Noone said anything about how jewish people have been punished and pursicuted.The holocost is one of the most horrific events in history and today I hear people call others jew as a form of a insult and it is racist also.I also know persoanlly from being a southern person that we are stereotyped and in my opinion that is a form of racism .My husband and I used to play a game online called halo 2 on xbox live and we would get called hicks, the kkk, rednecks, white trash, just based on our accents, and we would also hear remarks like do you live in a trailer?and did you marry you brother/or do you got a cross burning in your frount yard?or did you only make it to the 3rd grade?And we arent racist or stupid .Our family members are bi racial and I found this to be very insulting because i was being stereotyped based on my accentand on what people think is true for southern people.This is also where I heard people get called jew and I heard this word more often then the n word.I know that the african american race went through a horrific struggle to be treated as equal or just as human, but Im just saying other races, or even just people of the same race from different areas have been discriminated against throughout history and it shouldve been addressed also.Noone mentioned either how christians we tortured or pursecuted and discriminated against thousands of years ago, and noone mentioned either how people with disabilities are discriminated against even today.I also have a 3 year old son who has Cerebral Palsy and I know from experience with him also that he will struggle.But I just thought some of this shouldve been addressed also.And along with the slavery issue it shouldve been addressed how the south has been stereotyped as all people from the south being racist formwe slave owners who burn crosses, when this is far from the truth.My grandfather and great grandfather were poor farmers and I am proud of them and its hurtfull when people assume they were racist and contributed to enslaving people when they didnt.

This was the most ridiculous show I've ever seen. When, at the end, the "experts" declared African Americans the "winners" in who has it worst, the glee (African Americans in audience) and disappointment (the Muslims) were indicative of how shallow this show really was. Race is a relational concept--one is only white in relation to another's blackness--and the dynamics shift as context dictates. The problem with the show's concept is that it never questioned the rigid categories it sought to undermine. That is, it reduced identity to easily packaged--and then performed--identities. Look at any Muslim community, and you'll find white, brown, and black ... look at any black community and you'll find shades of grey. The show didn't even call into question the complexity of thinking about race. Maybe the show is just aimed at young teenagers ... but, as an educated adult who happened to catch the episdoe, I found it so "dumbed down" that I was disturbed. To have a young hypersensitive black woman parading around as a "Muslim" tells me nothing ... except that girl was way too self-conscious. Heck, put a beard on and walk around thinking everyone is staring at your beard, and you'll start to believe they ARE staring at the beard.

I totally disagree with all the compliments of this episode. I found it facile and counterproductive to any meaningful discussion of race. But, at least the African American girls seemed happy to hear that they had "won."

Hey Tyra!

Im currently watching this episode, Yeah, I was SO upset I couldnt even finish watching the episode before I had to come and write something down.

I can NOT believe the ignorance of some of these people. Im only seventeen and to sit here and listen to women of ALL ages try and tell others watching tv that some stereotypes are good or this race has it worst and etc. is truly heartbreaking.
I'm glad you decided to make this a topic on your show Tyra, Kudos for you, but I dont think it was stressed enough.

Ahh! This is so frustrating for me to sit and not say anything about.
*sigh*

Although I respect what the show is trying to do, as a white female, I am somewhat offeneded. I feel as if all racism towards white woman was totally disregarded. In a way, I feel as if white people are almost discriminated against more than any other race. I have dated a black man and I was discriminated against some by white people, but more so by the black woman. I constantly heard why he shouldn't be with some white girl and his car actually got vandalized because of him being with me. I feel strongly that this would not have happened if I was Latino or some other race. However, I dont believe this is the only way white people are discriminated against. It would never be aloud to have a White Entertainment Television, a Scholorship that specifies it is for white people only, or when the white man makes a joke about a black man it's racist (and I'm not talking about using hateful terms)yet a black man can make jokes about a white man all day long. White people have it all and can make it so easily in life, so many think. However, why is it that I am taking all the same classes in college, paying the same amount in tuition, if not more, yet because I am white, "I have it all." Also, how Tyra always says "being a woman of color", well that is everyone but white woman, and that is offesive on its own. When you seperate yourself, you open yourself up as a target and for that I do not feel sorry for. I am completely aware that many people go through many issues I am sure that I could never understand, but I would like the "women of color" to know that they are not the only ones.

Hi Tyra
first of all I want to say that I watch your show as often as I can. I really was excited when I saw this fight to end racism because although most people do not realize that racism is still alive in the United States today it is very alive and I feel that my culture has been one that is being very effected by this racism epidemic in our soiciety. I am a mexican girl who beleives that a lot of changes need to be made and I also feel that I am someone who can do something about it right now I am going to College and I someday will be an immigration lawyer and will help my people and I just wanted to thank you for trying to help get more people involved in our fight

Racism and genocide are real. America was founded on both.

Thankfully our founding fathers were influenced by a loving God and Native American cultures...specifically the Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse) and their Law of Peace which was instrumental in shaping not only our democracy, but ALL FUTURE world DEMOCRACIES. The Haudenosaunee belong to what is known as the Iroquois Confederacy. Native history is worthy of preservation. Native history was first. It is our beginning.

A note to Tyra and staff: I know you tried to do a show about racism, but it was an impossible order given you started from African Americans (leaving out Native Americans altogether and Africans before America was America) and included many groups that did not compromise any particular race at all. Latinos or/and Puerto Ricans are NOT a race. Jewish, Muslim, Christian, etc. are all religious groups and you can be of any race and be a member of any religious group. The next problem was time. There was not enough time to make a serious attempt to even outline the problem let alone summarize it. The last problem I believe is an enigma. That many, many groups want to equate their pain and suffering in America on the same level as being Native or/and African. No way. Never. No. Not even close. Think of Hitler's Holocaust tripled...or more with entire ships filled with victims going to a New World most never even reaching the New World. Unimaginable? Think of many Nations living for centuries on their own lands like Europeans. Now think of conquerors that come to wipe out all those Nations. Think about the land mass being not just one Europe, but the overall size of many Europes. Now you begin to imagine the sheer enormity of it all. Now imagine that the Apex of Evil in all of this is a young Nation trying to rise and its leaders feel that the best way to accomplish that is to say that all Native, Africans are less than 'human', 'un-civilized', etc. so that others may go up against them for the sake of this new Nation. Imagine they are segregated from mainstream society...not taught in equal schools about mainstream ways...imagine they are deliberately exterminated and then their histories, their accomplishments and all that they inspired was kept out of mainstream writings not just of the day, but for centuries to come. Can you begin to imagine the enormity of their racism. Now, imagine this country becomes the super-power of all super powers and they wait surviving generation after generation for their story to be told. For their truths to be realized. What do you think would happen? Do you think Americans would demand to stop being mis-educated? Do you think this Nation could ever fall on a foundation built of sand? We shall see. Many empires have fallen for less. We are a young nation we still can face our past, wrongful injustices and learn about real Native and African histories, accomplishments and inspiration. Our founding fathers had hoped for more. I think Americans are ready for more.

So if you want to put your'self' down a better path I respectfully ask that you give a bit of your precious time to hear the words of John Trudell and Maya Angelou. To support the Schomberg Center (Schomberg was a great Puerto Rican scholar). The music and lyrics of Bob Marley. In particular the 'Legend' CD. For those two Puerto Rican sisters, Tyra, I recommend they watch Rosie Perez's directorial debut 'Soy Boricua Pa'Que Tu Lo Sepas' available on DVD better yet they can go to Aguadilla (Puerto Rico) to watch it and visit all the sites she did! Read the writings of free thinkers everywhere. Value words and use them to change those whose seek to destroy humanity, to replenish those that are dis-connected or/and dis-enfranchised and lastly to inspire. Remember Self-education, Self-determination and self-acceptance (a belief that ultimately humanity seeks to do good) are the cornerstones of free thinkers everywhere. One person can still change the world, but millions of people can change themselves...Free thinkers believe in doing small things with great love. Change your mind and the rest will follow. Always be the student until you can learn no more. Love ya for trying Tyra!!! You're a model, a talk-show host...you tried to do what those more qualified to do haven't even tried to do. You get kudos womyn!!!

Hey Tyra. I live in Canada which is considered to be a multi-cultured country. It very much is! However, there are just as many ignorant people here as there is anywhere else in the world. Your study group had ignorant people in it, was that done on purpose? Does this show what the majority of the population assume?!I recently spent 9 months in Afghanistan, and learned about MANY cultures and countries. I worked with SOME Americans that thought Canada only consisted of ice and snow...huh? No, it's not racism, but it goes to show the simple fact that people do not understand or educate themselves about the WORLD.What I did in Afghanistan was opened my eyes more. I respected the culture, learned the language, and took it upon myself to BEFRIEND everyone I met! It isn't hard to do, and it makes people know you are a good citizen, period.
When you think about it, living in a place like North America, it should be in everyone's interest to take a breath.....look around...and strive to be a non-judgemental person.

We live in two of many countries that are MADE up of ALL races, from everywhere on the map.
It all comes down to what kind of person you are.. if you want to assume someone is a bad person because of what they look like? How about you MEET them instead, and find out who they really are. You'll learn quickly you can't tell THAT by judging their race!

Tyra,
I just finished watching your show, as I always do. I absolutly love your show because I can relate to alot of your shows, but this one really hit home. As a white/native american, I have dealt with so much racism. I grew up in a mostly black town where I was always made fun of for being white. Im white so I must be racist right? Wrong. I am friends with all races. Growing up was hard on me because I was the only white person around. I feel like in the neighborhoods I grew up in, the black people were the ones that were more racist. I have been beat up, picked on, followed home from school, had to change schools, even had to quit jobs because of the racial comments that have been made toward me. I have been called white girl, cracker, trailer trash, white trash, n***** lover, and everything under the sun. I honestly think that white people are the most discriminated upon because we are the ones who "havent been through it" well i have news for all the black people who claim "my people have been through this for 200 years" FIRST OF ALL YOU DIDNT GO THROUGH ANYTHING.. YOUR ANCESTORS DID!!!! America is made of all races, and you are living in TODAYS WORLD. I wish people would stop using the excuse that since their ancestors were slaves, that they were slaves. I wish that they would see it more as a blessing that they were brought to america, instead of being left in africa where so many people are starving to death. I want black people to realize that it was their ancestors are the ones who suffered for your freedom.. be thankful for them. Feel sorry for what they had to go through, but PLEASE STOP PUTTING THE BLAME ON US!!! We did nothing to you. I wish we could just stand together and be proud to all be Americans!!!

I would really like to thank you for working on such an important subject. the issue of racism has always been a problem in the western society! I am a Lebanese Muslim, but also born and raised in Canada. I am proud to be Canadian but also proud of being Muslim. Your show has brightened up many peoples lives and educated many people who set their views on just media. I may not wear the hijab but i hold onto my beliefs and its sad to say that i have been discriminated against, shockingly not because I am Muslim but because I am Lebanese. You may have never heard of this but sadly MiddleEasterns see us Lebanese Women as easy women that are about nothing but their looks. Right after your show I actually spoke to some people that I just recently met (MiddleEasterns) and asked them what their first impressions of me were and shockingly I got responses such as "easy", "not virgin", and "stuck up". I really think that racial/ethnic discrimination needs to be solved within each ethic or cultural group before trying to fix the outsider discrimination.

Hi Tyra,
I just finished watching the Monday night show (12/11/06)on "How Can You Help End Racism" and um I was just curious as to why you let the Flavor'Flav reject on your show? The African-American woman with the licorice colored bangs-long blonde weave in her hair. She acted like a fool on his show and tried to do the same thing on your show until you stopped her. I know that's probably not what you were expecting to read but I just had to mention it. And just for the record I believe God created us all in his image. The color of our skin should not dictate how we should treat each other. We all bleed the same color of blood. Thanks for trying to educate not just entertain your t.v. audience.

I see that many people have already commented on this, but I thought I'd add my two cents. I watched the show, thought it had some good information but was very disappointed to see that Native Americans/Alaska Natives were left out. Considering that America is their land it seems only fair to represent them. I am from Alaska and of Alaska Native descent. Many people don't know that I'm native just by looking at me and this has been very hard. I have to constantly preach and teach people about Alaska Native culture and the affect that Europeans have had on my people. It was just disheartening that the American Indians were not represented when this is their/our homeland. How much have they suffered through without even encroaching on anothers land? They have endured many tragedies and its time that they are recognized for them.

hey tyra,
i dont think your show should have been on "who has it worse" because all races have it bad to some degree. i think you should have done it on "how can we overcome racism together."

i missed the part when they said stuffs about Asians. did asians recieve positive comments mostly???? i desperately want to know!!! please help.. what are the stereotypes against asians that are listed by those pp??

Dear Tyra

I watched your show today about racism and was wondering how come you did not have a native american woman on your guest panel? Are there only 5 ethnic groups in america who face racism??? As original habitants of your country you would think native americans would be acknowledged and heared on your show, but instead weren't even mentioned at all. I take that as a subtle 'hint hint' on how you truly feel about racism and native americans.

I just wanted to comment that Native Americans were not even included in this show. We have suffered much, and still are to this day. I have to say that I did not agree with Dr. Decker and Dr. Stevenson's conclusion, we have it the worse in our own country. We are strangers in our own land.

hi tyra
thank you for the show last night. i really feel that's it time for people to understand that we are all offenders and victims at one point in our lives given the socio-cultural complexities of modern day life. america is a melting pot and everybody gets a dose of their own medicine. i am not saying that its a good thing but that's how life is, you have to cover both ends of the spectrum.that's why this forums are important so that all of us become cautious and sensitive in our interactions, after all its everbody's responsibility to make this world a better place to live
since, race relations is being discussed. could you discuss in your show how non-native americans live in u.s.? i mean for example, how asians or latinos/latinas cope american culture, perhaps in a cultural retrospect? what have been their coping mechanisms that are instinsic to their culture ?or what unique adjustments they have made which were borne out of their cultural capacities? I just thought that it will be a good thing for us to know, especially for an asian like me.
thank you so much for being an inspiration most especially to us women. your elevates women and feminity on a sensible level and you always remind us that we can we can make a difference no matter what who we are and where we are from!
hope you can do a show in asia specifically in manila!

more power!

I just watched the re-run episode dealing with racism in America. I was disappointed and hurt that no one had mentioned the one race that was here in the first place, the NATIVE AMERICAN. Yeah, we may only represent a small portion of people today in the U.S., but after all what our ancestors have endured, we should not be here....BUT WE ARE STILL HERE..ALIVE. I am saddend to have watch the show and see nobody say one thing about the people who are Native to this land, this land this is now called the "United States of America". Our people have so generously helped our visiters, fought in wars with them, showed them survivor tips, but in turn we had our children taken away, encampments slaughtered in the middle of the night, killing hundreds including women and children(with no warning), etc. I think that when people hear the word "Native American" they think that we are no longer here, an extinct race. We are not. We are still here. Little does anyone know, we were not legally allowed to practice our sacred ceremonies, have social gatherings, etc. Our grandparents did this all in secret, for fear of going to jail. This was not changed at all until 1978! YES, I DID SAY 1978!...also known as the "American Indian Religious Freedom Act" This was just only a few years before I was born! We still face many hardships daily, dealing with racism. I was so frustrated when everyone was fighting over who had it worse as a race in AMerica. I think that my people have struggled the most. Try to imagine having visitors come to your home, you treat them with respect, but in turn they steal your home, slaughter your loved ones, put your children and grandchildren in boarding schools, beat you for speaking your language or praying how you were taught, relocate you to another location thousands of miles away where you are forced to walk in hazzardous weather conditions, etc...etc. The unhumane list goes on and on. But yet...after all these years..we are still here...trying to do the best we can..still living..surviving...but fogoten by most. I am a big fan of The Tyra Show and I hope that in the future you will include our beautiful people..and let us voice our stories as well. Sincerely, a member of the "FIRST AMERICANS"

I watched this particular Tyra show today about issues of racism (and evidently it was first aired a few months ago). And the show was titled, "Who has it worse?"?!?! I understand the idea of people getting to speak out about sterotypes and prejudism, but what exactly is the purpose of defining who has it worse? Shouldn't it be just as important of an issue to the group that is least discriminated against? And why are African American's supposed to "cheer" when the studies determine that they are the most common victims of racism? So someone can say "I told you so"? This is not a contest. I just did not get the purpose of this segment. I don't think it did anything in an effort to help end racism, as was it's claim. Racism is a serious issue, for all people, not a select few. Why were women arguing about who is more discriminated against? Is it not in us to attack the problem as a whole, and not on an individual basis? I was also extremely offended by the part in which an African American woman from the focus group essentially called a Muslim woman a terrorist, even laughing about it a little bit. Then when the Muslim woman was sufficiently offended and snapped back, Tyra consoles the African American woman. Is this supposed to demonstrate that it's okay to side with someone in the case of stereotyping?
And the laughing at the Caucasian girl because of her experiences? Unbelievable!
If this show was an attempt at bringing attention to the issue of racism, then well done. It clearly did that. However, in my opinion, it was so poorly approached that it may have just furthered some racist behavior. If you're going to address an issue as monumental as this one, perhaps it can be done a little more tactfully, perhaps focusing on really making efforts to end this behavior.

How can Tyra Banks (who normally has brilliant shows) expect credibility for this show?

**She puts a girl on there who was ALSO on FLAVA FLAV show? (The African-American girl with pink hair)!!

Please, I dont care if she's white, black, asian, hispanic, blue or orange, Miss Pink Hair had no business being there, discussing such a serious matter with zero intelligence and input. Brings down the standard of a great topic.

Also, the end of the show was too cheesy. Your speakers didnt even attempt in correcting the blatant remarks of the panelists, instead the audience had to "Simon Says and Hold Hands" like a bunch of little kids, gee thanks lady now I guess those racists are cured!..puhlease.

Racism will never go away people. Never..Holding hands does nothing. Intelligent conversation open minds at least a bit.

Hi Tyra. Loved the show! It hit home so much, especially with the two African American ladies. My oldest daughter is darker than myself and my youngest and for so long I had to reassure her of her beauty. "I wish I was your color" is what she what she would say so much as a little girl. She is 19 now and FINALLY has embraced her beauty. So many of our family members and my friends (of MANY races) would look at her and comment on her beauty. I would tell her this and she would just blow it off...as to say, "whatever." I thank God that she has finally seen the light :) One other thing I wish you had done with your show...men. We did not hear from the male side of the house with the different races. Thanks Tyra.

Dear Tyra,

I caught part of your End Racism show today. Unfortunately I did not see all of it. What I did see though was fascinating. I listened to the comments and the stereotypes per race and I was truly amazed. I didn't think of those stereotypes when I saw your guests and audience. All I saw were strong, beautiful women. Every one of them were stunning in their own unique way.

One thing I did notice, however, is the fact that your guests were young (under 25). I, too have been on the receiving end of discrimination although not for race but for size. I cared about it so much more when I was younger. Being very close to 40 I have come to the realization that as you age, you don't care so much about what others think. You become much more secure in your sense of self and it's easier to flip the world the bird if they don't like you. You don't care because you know what you're about.

It saddens me that women feel the need to put one another down for any difference. In case they haven't noticed, they are being put down too, only for being a woman. We all need to stick together as strong black, white, Latina, Asian, native, Christian, Pagan, Jewish, Muslim, lesbian, straight, bi, transgendered, fat, thin, disabled, able-bodied, old, young, rich, poor and I could go on and on, WOMEN! If we all focused for one day on being better women to each other, imagine what good we could bring to this world. Thanks and Peace...

Carol Campbell
Huntington Woods, MI

Ok, Tyra usually I totally get everything you are doing but this show really bothered me. I really felt bad for those who did the focus group.

These people were asked for their immediate first impression. Not to think about it or anything. First impressions are programmed and it is not fair to ask someone to be honest about that and then get on thier case. All they did was be honest. Also I really related to the white girl on the show. It seems all we here is how horrible we are and how we judge but we are being judged daily. When trying to go to college there is so many scholorships for those of color but if you are white and middle class, good luck. I will be paying off student loans for another 10-20 years because of this. If we believe there is racism it is selfish and unrealistic to believe that any race "has it worse". It happens to every race and we should be working together to overcome.

This Racism issue has been on my mind lately. I feel there is a FINE LINE between "ETHNIC PRIDE" and "RACISM". It seems like more and more people are claiming to be "_____-
Americans". I am part German, Bohemian, Irish. I have never heard any of my ancestors say they are "German-American", or "Bohemian-American". On your show a lady mentioned how guys in her neighborhood wore the colors of Peurto Rico on their shoes, socks, shirts etc. She called it "Ghetto", and the other sister called it "Pride". I feel that this kind of Pride is putting a wedge between "Americans". Doesn't waving the flag of your ancestors muster up pride and cause rivalries almost Ganglike rivalries between American Citizens? Your show was dealing with Racism, How can this be delt with effectively when there is so much Racial Pride? It seems like just being American is not good enough, people have to be African-American, or Mexican-American, or Asian-American and on and on. When in fact a lot of these people have never even been to these countries they are so Pridefull of. I feel if we lower the Racial Pride factor, we can get closet to solving the Racial hatred issue.

hey tyra and others
i thought this was one of the best tyras but i dont completely agree! im a girl ( 16 years old) of color and i have grown up in an upper class white society but i think tht no one race has it worst or better than another it has everythin to do wit if your a minority or a majority. people arent gunna pick on the dominant race in there society cause thts more people to oppose them.it doesnt matter where you are either here in the U.S or not. the reason tht middle eastern ppl are discrimated against it the news and the media and thts jus the way it is b/c of what happened and blacks is the same way! its the way tht people portray us. but if we ( americans) terrorized another country they would feel the same way about us and if whites were in out postition it would be them being discrimated against and honestly i think we need to strt wit the media if anythin is gunna change and also we should not get upset about what people say about our race. they say it to dehumanize us and make them the superior but they arent and you have to let them now tht. when they call you somethin racial own up to it cause its true you are. like i was in the mall and someone called me a N----- and i turned around and said " yes i am , im black and im proud of it" and the girl bakced off. if we let others feel tht they can dehumanize us then they will continue too and tht goes for every race. people wanna be safe and by makin sure tht they are the dominate race in tht socitey they can feel tht saftey and untill people relize tht we cant let this get to us ( and though you say you dont we are askin who has it the worst like its a competion it isnt) we all get it when we are the minority and we need to stop it all together with the help of eachother not jus help the one race tht has it worst over here cause chances are its a diffrent race in other countries and then did we truly fix anythin?
paige !

Hey Tyra,
I personally thought think that ur show is great. And you definitely do an awesome job. Hats off to that. Commenting about racism... Racism or discrimination is something that exists everywhere in the world today. EVERYWHERE !! Doesnt matter how rich , how succesful , how obedient , how smart , how obedient anyone is. Discrimination by race is a part of every society. I've had the oppurtunity to live in the middle-east and asia. There is discrimination there due to the culture and the background you belong to. It was a little shocking for me to get used to the color discrimination in the US. But I mean color is a general factor of discrimination in many other countries too. Its never gonna stop. Its a part of life and I think people just have to not worry about it. People Hate and discriminate though its wrong. And I think its never gonna stop.

Dear Tyra,

I was surprised to see how much prejudice exists in the US of A; and I'M a young woman of color.

I only write this to give you some insight as to just how interconnected we are, specifically the minorities projected in today's episode.

As I'm sure you know, the slave trade not only existed in North America but, also, in Central & South America, in countries known today as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Nicuagara.

It has been said in books like BLACK CARGOES that some of the first African men aboard ships that came here with the Spanish conquerors (& even Columbus himself); were NOT as slaves, but as equal counterparts of the ships' crew.

Another astonishng factor is the Spaniards, themselves & their ancestry. The Moors were Muslims who came from Africa & had conquered & ruled Spain for nearly 800 years. Before them? The Visigoths of central Europe (meaning WHITE) shortly after the fall of the Roman empire.

In 1849, ASIAN immigrants arrived in Peru for work in the fields of produce & other kinds of labor. By 1900, 15% of Peru's population was Asian.

I hope this was enlightening for you to read & perhaps you could share this information in your show.

If you want to know more, just google everything I've mentioned & you'll receive endless results of all these subjects.

Thank you.....

I am sorry but black people TODAY did not come over in chains. Not only do white people have to be more loving BUT black people have to get over it too!!!

Hi Tyra! I am surprised with all of the comments about Native Americans. This topic really hit home for me. I am also part Native American and the other day in my class a student called Native Americans savages and another boy replied "yeah they are all savages" I was totally affended,and so shocked I just didn't know what to say. I'm so surprised by all of the racism with ALL ethnic backgrouds. I can't believe after so many years of trying to stop this people are still ignorant! I think what your doing is extremely important and keep trying to put an end to racism. Much love, Melissa

Thank you Tyra, an excellent show. I am a caucasion Canadian, who would like to know how to behave so that I don't upset those of other backgrounds. I was raised to be open minded, but I still find myself stereotyping inadvertently, then I try to correct myself, because I really do believe we are all one race. We all make judgements based on peoples actions, but we must be very careful not to make judgements on appearances; colour, physical handicap, dress or whatever.
Keep up the good work.

Janet Lewis

This is the first time I have watched your show. I was shocked to see a show on Racism in the US and not have a member of the red race. Native Americans are one of the most discriminated against race in North America. I felt it was an insult to them that they were not represented.
Thus I must say that you missed the point of what otherwise would have been a stellar show.

I just watched your show from today bc I always tape it bc I'm at work when it comes on. I think that there are many kind of racal things goin on in the world bc I am Indian and German, and people just think that I am white. Just like my last year of high school bc of me being raised in the south I tended to hang out w/ what everyone catergorizes as "rednecks". Well one of my bestest friends is African-America and people who do not know me don't know that. But I was sittin in one of my classes and these three African-Americans called me a "Races Bitch" just bc of my friends and it really hurt me bc they didn't know me and the hole time that we were in class together and the nine weeks were almost over they didn't even take the time to get to know me and alot of my friends in that class told them that they were wrong and it was wrong of them to say that when they didn't even know anything about me. But even though it was hurtful I just let it slide. Bc my opinion is that everyone has been through it and it's always goin to be around no matter how anyone puts it. Everyone has a different background. And a lot of people do not know or really think about my mom is full blooded Indain and my mom has told me the hurtship and things about that part of my heritage and background like how they were slaves also and when they had babies that the whites would just kill them and not let them live bc of how they were. And it makes me really sad to think that someone could do that just bc of a race. That's why I try my hardest not to judge people and get to know people for who they are. I just think that everyone should just get to know people by who they are and not just by color, background, or heritage.

Hi my name is Tamara and i was teased by racisam once,and i really didnt like it.I was only 9 years old now i am 10.I love the Tyra Show and i thought i would send in this comment because i watched your show about the racisam.When I was getting teased it really hurt,the person that was teasing me said that all black people smell like dog "S"--- and that really hurt.She also said that i was the "N" word and that hurt too.She only got sespened for two days.I also got teased by a 48 year old woman that said that my mother loves "N" words and i am a "N",then she came over to my porch and pushes my mom and then she punched me in the face.Tyra please help me with this teasing,and if you help me i think we can both make a BIG diffrence in the world.

Thank You
Tamara.

HELLO, WHAT ABOUT US!!!! NOBODY CAN SEE US. HEAR US OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE EXIST. YES INDIANS, FIRST NATION,ABORIGINAL, NATIVE AMERICAN/CANADIAN. WE ARE THE MOST HATED AGAINST. NOBODY CARES DO THEY. ANOTHER SHOW ON RACISM, ANOTHER SHOW THAT SKIPS NATIVES. SORRY BUT WE ARE NOT GONNA DIE OUT SO PEOPLE START RELIZING THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTEN TO AND EVEN BE PART OF THE BATTLES OF RACES. WE CAN EVEN GET THAT. NATIVE PRIDE

Dear tyra,
Thank you for having a second show on race issues. the topics on your show really intrigued me and it is very ironic how your show is the only one addressing these crucial issues.before i watched the show I never would consider marrying a black man because i was afraid that my children would be dark and they would get horrible treatment from others.As a result, i would only go out with caucasian males. although i'm african american myself I see so much racism from the black community. we need to embrace our color and america's diversity and i wanted to thank you for making this topic possible. i learned so much from one hour.

Dear Tyra,
I would like to start off by saying I am a regular Tyra show watcher and I love what you do for the empowerment of women. I am, however, very disappointed by your show on race relations. I watched this episode when it first aired in hopes of seeing a prominent African American women bring to light many of the discrepensies in our society between different races in America. I felt that instead of trying to make progress toward better race relations, your show deepened the divide.
I let things go when I saw the show a few months ago, but today I saw it again. It's quite ironic to me actually because I am studying for my Sociology of Race and Ethnic Relations final exam and your episode on race just aired again. I thought this was a sign for me to voice what I feel about this.
Race is a social construction that is also institutionalized in our society. "Who has it worse?" Are you serious Tyra? This question should have never even been posed! I feel that your show time would have made more of an impact if you talked about concrete data about housing, work, media, space... etc. Pinning some racial groups against each other was probably the worst thing you could have done. I was amused by your comment at the end of the show... It went something like: We shouldn't concentrate on who has it worse, but on how to change current race relations. Usually your closing comments tie into the overall tone of the show. Where did this one come from?
If it seems that I am speaking harshly, excuse me. Sometimes passion can be confused with anger. I hope that you, personally, will see some of these blogs. I have browsed some on this episode and see that others feel the same as I. I feel slightly strange being a white girl telling a woman of color that she needs to research race and ethnic relations, but JUST BECAUSE YOU OWN A CAR DOESN'T MEAN YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS.

I'm in the middle of watching the Tyra show right now, and it's about what ethnic group has suffered the most. I think it's an important statistic, but that's all it sould be. I think in order to end racism, people need to lead by example. Ive noticed that a lot of the people that are the most racist are people that have been discriminated against. I would be considered "white" to most people, and because of that, people assume I have never been discriminated against. Which is very wrong. Because white people have not been discriminated against like many minority groups, people seem to think it's funny when it happens, or that we deseve it. It's not okay to discriminate against certain groups more than others. It's so naive to discriminate on anyone because of their outside appearance. I wonder why so many have not caught on, but when it happens to them they instead contribute to the cycle by doing it back. Both my parents are white, but my mom is half native american. I've heard stories from my dad being attacked and almost killed by african americans because of his color and my grandpa on my mothers side have said the same type of stories that have happend to him by white people because his native american. If I were to decide I didn't like someone because people that had their same complection hurt my family, I wouldn't like anyone. Has at least one person in about every single race not proven that they could do one thing or another just as well if not better than everyone else. It seems so stupid to me that people are so obsessed with what happend in the past, but are contributing to keeping it in the present. If any one person is racist it effects the entire world. It really bothers me when I get descriminated against, so why would I want to put another person in that pain. The most commen that I've heard is that "my people" have hurt "their people". How do they know that my spacific white ancestors did not die for helping the minority groups. People don't know, and people don't seem to really care. I feel like people these days look for reasons to be racist because it's almost the "cool" thing to do. You here it in songs and media all the time. And to me no matter who's being racist to who, it's not funny and it's a naive way of thinking. Every single person no matter their color or fisical features is so beautiful in their own way, and the only way to rid our world of racism is to embrace the beauty instead of reject people because of their diferences.

Dear Tyra,
I think a show on racism is important, but, I hardly ever hear about the racism of the U.S. Native Americans or in Canada our "Aboriginal" people! It is as always, we don't exist or we are too insignificant to discuss or are "new Europeans" too ashamed to mention the "red race"?
I find the same thing with Oprah, lots talk of all races except "Aboriginals".
Thanks,
For the great informative shows.
Debbie in Canada!

i think this show is a masterpiece, but i think it needs more than just 4 minority race; I did not see the whole show but i have seen the end of the show where every one holds hand and raise them up in the air, i think the show should be more like that where it is diversified with all the race instead of only 4 race. By the way, I love this show! it is lighter than operah yet it covers lots of truth.

I just finished watching Tyra's racism episode. I thought it was strange how I related to all of women who were stereo typed against. I am Vietnamese but most Vietnamese will not claim me and say that I am Phillipina, my parents are english/American and adopted me when I was five months old from South Vietnam. My last name is a Hispanic one since my ex husband is from Chihuahua Mexico, I work at a very well known Mexican restaurant, I speak, read, write, listen to, and dance to Hispanic and American music etc. I use to hang with a mix of black and white people but my life centers around Hispanics and my Caucasian friends but the kicker . . .my boyfriend of over two years is from Pakistan and practices the religion of Islam. I am surrounded by all of these cultures and religions and I love every minute of it but I understand the stereotypes because I see it everyday. I am proud to be an American and I have an education but I am in the service industry for a Hispanic restaurant and I LOVE it. I thought Tyra's show was very moving and I liked how she calmed down the dispute between the two women. Yes America will be diverse until the end of time and stereotyping will never stop but any effort at educating each other is appreciated and commendable.

Dear Tyra,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this show, including a white girl and replaying it again. I grew up in New Mexico which is 66% hispanic, 12% Native American, 33% white and maybe 5% black. Being white was never the thing to be to the teachers or the students. In high school, the students would say things like you sound so white when you say that, uugghh. In my very small elementary school, I was ostracized by the 14 girls in my class. It was very painful and I grew up wishing I was something else, thinking white skin was gross and hating the question, "are you mexican or mixed?" because I knew that if I wasn't, I wasn't cool. I can identify with the black girl in the audience's anger about it and I also wish minority's would see the opportunities they do have with many schools and businesses actively recruiting and giving money to "MINORITY ONLY"

I am totally amazed at the perpetuation of racism. I am of Native American decent. I was disapointed that my heritage was not represented. I see on a day to day basis how Native Americans are discriminated against. I am not dark skinned enough for most people to consider me Native American. Most of the time I am addressed as a "white girl." I have often be told how lucky I was to be white, yet I am not white and do not appreciate the assumption that I am. To make matters worse I married a German man. To keep my slave last name alive I hyponated my last name. My husbands name is very German. I have been asked several times if I am a Nazi. As a 24 year old, I do not look at color when I see a person. I wished all of us would share that same sentiment.

Great subject. Glad to see some white hispanics. I am white hispanic, which means I was born in South American, my family background is Irish, German, French and Spanish. No native American and so I am not dark. Most North American Hispanics are Native American, Hispanic are also African America, because of the history of the slave trade in Carribean, Cuba, Puerto Rico. Hispanics are also Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Look at the history of Califorina, well this immagration also went top Peru and Chile. South American is as diverse as the United States, Chile has the largest immigration from Palistin. How is hispanic a race or a culture? It was a political word so that the United States would not have to pay out money to Native American with Spanish last names. Why does someone do a show about that.

I WATCHED THE TYRA SHOW TODAY AS I USUALLY DO AND I HAVE TO HONESTLY SAY THAT I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS TOPIC.
AFTER READING THE COMMENTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE, I HAVE TO AGREE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT WITH THE NATIVE AMERICANS.THEY HAVE THE VERY LEAST RIGHTS WITHIN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND YET THEY TEND TO SAY THE VERY LEAST.THEY WERE A PROUD PEOPLE THEN, AND THEY CAN REMAIN A PROUD PEOPLE !AND AS FAR AS EVERYONE ELSE....THEY ALL CAN JOIN A WOE IS ME ORGANIZATION!
THIS IS WHAT IT HAS ALL COME DOWN TO.....SO BOO HOO!!!!!!

I just want to say that I am extremely upset on how you tyra went on on attacking the latina girl for giving her opinion. i just think that you should of gone off on everyone that was on that social experiment.
And i am so tired of hearing african americans saying our people went throught so much their is alot of people thats gone through so much but you don't see them putting it out there all the time.
I just honestly thing that is only being use as an excuse their ancestors whent throught it not them
And maybe next time on your social experiments your producers could have more time looking for educated people from different races not only african americans. because god knows their is alot of educated women from different races

Another courageous step in the right direction - we are all citizens of the same planet. This is difficult work.

Sad to observe that your discussion panel, audience, and you, walked onto the show with the dust of my Ancestors clinging to your feet, with American Indians receiving not so much as an honorable mention in being on the receiving of the worst possible discrimination; this on the Land where we've been for thousands of years prior to your arrival, whatever the reasons.

What could be worse discrimination and oppression than perpetuating the genocidal system of belief that states, in part, that we simply don't exist?

You did some things right on the show. However, to the extent that that episode was and will be influential, so will be the degree to which your show perpetuates the very real and on-going genocide of the American Indian People, as it ignores our very existence.

Acknowledging the descendents of the tribal People on whose Land you are hosting your show by thanking them for the use of their Land would have been a noteworthy non-genocidal gesture, if you are not yet ready within yourself to invite us to the table to talk.

People behave as if spoken words, subtle prejudices and overt acts of racism are the worst of oppressive acts. I report to you that indifference to the existence of American Indian People, an indifference your show reinforced today, is, in fact, the most hostile act NOT mentioned.

We can't tell our story if we're left off the invitation list. If we can't tell our story, how will things change for us?

Re-do the show. I'd like to take seriously your reported desire to unite to end racism, but that's not possible until you correct this mistake. I saw you apologize to a group of people for getting your reference to them wrong. A similar correction is in order towards American Indians.

Unlike the children of all groups represented today, approximately half of our young people will not make it to adulthood under any circumstances. The largest contributor our disproportionally high death rate is not our collection of social problems. It is the hopelessness perpetuated by the well-fueled belief that we are still not fully human. African Americans were at least deemed to be 3/5ths human at a time when American Indians were yet regarded as "vermin." The greatest deliberate exterminator of the American Indian People, after whom Adolf Hitler patterned his genocidal human removal program, graces the front of the twenty dollar bill, and this kind of thing is so far not a problem to any other group. That, Tyra, is oppression.

The constant and growing discouragement of our young people stems from over 500 years of relative newcomers to this Land failing to acknowledge and value our Presence. Equal air time is not enough - re-do the show with a true representation of who lives here. It discredits your otherwise commendable work, for I have to question whether this omission was, in fact, an act of unconscious racism against Indian People that your privilege as an African American woman affords you. In your industry, for example, American Indians are paid a minimum of 20% less than you as a black female. It's not that the quality of work of Indian People is inferior to the work of other groups, but because Indians are on the bottom of the scale of privilege.

I can identify with each core issue that was brought out on the show today. One thing that none present on the panel nor you can identify with, however, is being a member of a group that has, on this Turtle Island, been by systematically detribalized and legislated out of existence when not deliberately exterminated en masse.

To conduct an assessment of who is at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, include the Ones who are.

heya Tyra.
I am a WASP from a small New England town. There was exactly one person of color in my entire high school. I joined the military directly after high school. Basic training was the first time I had seen two Black people in the same room at the same time. One girl I was sure was royalty-she was so incredible to watch move. Other Black women ate red Georgia dirt. I had my parent's prejudice attitudes and that's it before that, so I was confused about how I should behave. I was the butt of the jokes in SC -Piggly wigglies ARE NOT segregated.
The military is very diverse in terms of race/ethnicity, and as I worked with some really great guys and women-we dispelled eachother's sterotypes. We as people have to be ok with people who are not 'like us' asking questions-because the prejudices come from all sides.
An example- in basic training, a diverse class racially/ethnically was asked if they were prejudiced. (no, of course not) Then he asked if we would eat rat meat. everyone said no, but no one had ever eaten rat meat. And that was the prejudice we shared, Black, White, Mexican, Irish, from the city, from the country, rich, poor, from broken families or traditional ones, male and female.
Everybody's got 'em-so to get over them starts with being honest with yourself.
That was 20 years ago- and I am still asking questions to people who are different than me-casual conversation has saved me from inadverantly offending someone or jumping to judgement based on stereotype.

i only caught about half of your show when i watched it earlier but what i saw was very good. i think its great that someone is trying to make a difference with this issue of racism. i am puerto rican but a lot of times i dont feel as proud of it as i should be and i feel like i could relate to the puerto rican girl on the show who likes white people except i like asian people. my boyfriend is chinese and we have been dating for 2 years. a lot of people think it is wierd that i dont hang out with my own race and always ask if i'm half-asian or half-white (i have white looking skin). i also dont speak much spanish and people think there is something wrong with me because i dont stare at a cute hispanic guy like the other hispanic girls do and i would much rather go to a chinese new year festival than even acknowedge a puerto rican day parade. some friends have even went far enough to say that its digusting that i dont "love" my race. i think that everyone should love who they are but why should you be limited to just your own kind? i do have friends of every race and i dont discriminate against people, asian is just my preference and i am very interested in their culture and everything, so whats wrong with that?
another thing is that i think people are only racist because certain people give them a reason to be and it depends on where you live and how you were brought up. the media also plays a big part of it. for example on tv, black stars always portray themselves as "gangsta" and give off a bad image, so why wouldnt people think that black people are "ghetto"? when you watch tv you always see a rich white person on their big fancy yacht eating caviar, so why wouldnt people think that white people are rich? whenever you see an asian on tv they are working in a little chinese store and can barely speak english, so why wouldnt people think that all asians have to work in chinese stores (or be very smart; sterotype)? whenever you see a hispanic on tv they all have a thick accent and work in contruction or some other job in labor, so why wouldnt people think that all hispanics are good for is to fix their house? whenever you see a muslim on tv they are about to blow something up, so why wouldnt people think of the taliban whenever you see a muslim? when you see native american people on tv they are all "savages" and still hunt deer for food, so why wouldnt people think that native americans are out of date? whenever we see jewish people on tv they are all greedy for money, so why wouldnt people find jewish people to me money hungry? (i think ive touched about all races by now, sorry if i left some out)
most of the time we are opening ourselves up to racism by letting others believe, 'this is how all of us are, we are all the same' when there is so much to learn about everyone, but no one will take the step to be different or interact with another race. no matter how we look we are all the same on the inside. there is good and bad in every single race, dont let one bad one ruin your whole perception of a race. there are lots more people to meet who are all very different so dont stereotype anyone and give everyone a chance.

RACISM:

Key issue discussed today! I was surprised and found the topic refreshing and informative. I have one suggestion -which is to do more shows regarding topic and select even more diverse ethnicities/cultures and possibly focus on some of the many positive contributions of people of varying backgrounds. As a woman of Puerto Rican descent whom is married, earned a MS Ed with honors and is a homeowner who strongly believes in equality-I would like to for once here about Spanish people without the focal point being documented "legal" if you will. It is my belief that all people add wonderful differences to our country and I would not want it any other way. YES, racisim is real and I have experienced racism first hand throughout my life but I dont let it hinder me in anyway-it makes me stronger!

HMMM...INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE LEFT OUT OF ALL THIS

I would like to preface what I am about to express by first saying that I really appreciate Tyra Banks attempted to approach such a challenge as racial disparities. However, I will have to say that Tyra Banks has fallen a bit short. Half way through the show, Tyra attempted to correct her misconception regarding "Middle Easterners" by saying that not all Muslims are from the region of the Middle East. However, as a media personality and one who should use her celebrity status in being well-informed and to inform well, she failed to further explain the fact that not all Middle Easterners are Muslim. Yes, all Muslims are not from the Middle East, but there is a misconception that those from the Middle East are Muslim. My ancestors are from the Middle East, but we are actually Christian. Racial disparities run deep and by attempt to conquer such a challenge, producers on the Tyra Banks show should have thoroughly researched and prepared the host before airing such a show. With racial disparities being such a strong issue in our culture and society, this topic must always be approaced with extreme caution and intelligence.

im going to have to agree with most of the commentors. But id just like to add that race is a social construction, and instead of making a show that creates an ethnic divide.. as a woman of color you should have talked about how African Americans and Latin@s history are almost one in the same. Through the history of this country, they have helped each other through struggle. Why not bring to light, the history of unification amongst our peoples? ethnic divide is how the dominant white male society wants us. If we're unified and in the struggle together, then those in power have no control over us. by perpetuating this on your show, you are helping the dominant society. its unfortunate to waste such an opportunity on the need for higher show ratings...

I would like to preface what I am about to express by first saying that I really appreciate Tyra Banks attempted to approach such a challenge as racial disparities. However, I will have to say that Tyra Banks has fallen a bit short. Half way through the show, Tyra attempted to correct her misconception regarding "Middle Easterners" by saying that not all Muslims are from the region of the Middle East. However, as a media personality and one who should use her celebrity status in being well-informed and to inform well, she failed to further explain the fact that not all Middle Easterners are Muslim. Yes, all Muslims are not from the Middle East, but there is a misconception that those from the Middle East are Muslim. My ancestors are from the Middle East, but we are actually Christian. Racial disparities run deep and by attempt to conquer such a challenge, producers on the Tyra Banks show should have thoroughly researched and prepared the host before airing such a show. With racial disparities being such a strong issue in our culture and society, this topic must always be approaced with extreme caution and intelligence.

I like the fact that the show was able to talk about such a delicate topic but I think the approach was almost perpetuating what Tyra wants to prevent. By asking the question, "who has it worst?", of course each race will say its their own and it's setting each race in a competition to prove they have been the most discriminated against. And do we honestly believe that those that are power want racism to be erradicated? Aren't those in power just using a divide and conquer strategy? If all the races are fighting amongst themselves as to who has it worst, then they cannot come together with the numbers that they do have to actually make a change in U.S. politics, media, entertainment, and everyday interactions. Is it really a wonder as to why there's never been a non-white / female president? If the minorities are too busy fighting amongst themselves, then they cannot come together to create a change towards discrimination and the status of people of color in the U.S.

Hey tyra,

love your show. I was watching about racisim and I had to comment on the african american women. Well Im only 14 and I OFTEN experience racism everyday. I am also a dark skined african american woman and I feel that men make us feel like really bad for having dark skin, I personally love the color of my skin and think I am attractive, but men seem to think that just because of my dark skin, lighter skined women are better than me. I mean at school boys have came up to me and said," dang girl, you look good for a darkskined girl" and stuff like that. also there are a lot of females at my school that think they are better than be because their skin is lighter.

Well, the main thing that I am trying to say is that racisim within races is a bigger problem than people seem to think.

Kelsey

TO HELP STOP THE HATE AMONG EACH OTHER WE NEED TO START WITH OUR SELVES. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE ANYTHING, WE CAN'T CHANGE PEOPLE BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR SELVES. I PERSONALLY THINK IT WILL NEVER GO AWAY. AMERICA IS MADE UP OF TOO MANY BACKGROUNDS. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND HAS THERE OWN opinion AND NO ONE CAN CHANE THAT. I AM MIXED WITH MEXICAN BRAZILIAN AND BLACK AND I HAVE FELT RACISM SINCE I WAS LITTLE. IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT ME YOU COULDN'T TELL IF I WAS BLACK AT ALL... AN THAT IS THE RACE THAT HATED ME THE MOST. THE FUNNY PART IS THAT I WAS HATED ON ONLY BLACK WOMEN BUT THE GUYS LOVED ME! WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT. WHEN I AM AT THE CLUB AND GUYS START WATCHING ME DANCE .. THEY HATE ME EVEN MORE. ITS BEEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY THREATEN ME!!!! FOR WHAT?? HOW DUMB IS THAT! I'M NOT SAYING ALL BLCAK GIRLS ARE LIKE THAT BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND SOME THAT DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT RACE AND THATS THE KIND OF PEOPLE I HANG OUT WITH!

Tyra
I can't believe that you left out a group that has been hated for centuries, JEWS.

I am watching today's show on racism right now. I have to say I am a bit disappointed. The focus group that was run seemed to promote the stereotypes. By asking the focus group to judge solely on appearance, then proceed to ask quesitons such as "who would you want as your maid?" and "who would you not want to sit next to on a place?". What answers were you expecting? We are all aware of the stereotypes that exsist and this focus group just seemed to fuel them.

I have grown up constantly moving and constantly surrounded by, interacting with and socializing with different races, ethnicities and cultures. Growing up in this manner taught me how wrong some of the stereotypes I had were. It also taught me how painful it is when I was the target of stereotyping and discrimination. I am a social worker, striving towards the elimination of discrimination. I realize this is a lofty goal, but it is something I am extremely passionate about and will be until the day I die.

Bringing stereotypes into the open, discussing race issues, and educating people is important. Discussing these issues in a necessary step to bring awareness, sensitivity and acceptance to the world, and I applaud the Tyra Banks show for attempting to do that.

However, I disagree with the title of the show "Racism: Who has is worse?" Is this a competition? Regardless of how large or small the discrimination is, we should strive to eliminate it. There are extreme forms, as well as subtle forms, and everything in between and in my opinion, we need to be conscious of all types and severity of discrimination.

I also wonder to myself why Native American's were not included in this show at all. They may be a small percentage of the population, but they are also daily discriminated against, just as all the other backgrounds mentioned.

In conclusion, again I would like to say I appreciate the effort to address these issues. At the same time, I was quite disappointed with the way it was done, and felt at times it was encouraging races to debate who has it worse and really, that shouldn't be the real issue. The real issue is that regardless of our skin color, clothing, religion, culture, or anything else we are judged daily by, we are all children of God and brothers and sisters who should be loving each other, not hating.

i really think that the tyra banksshow did a very good job in bringing out racism issues. we need to gain knowldge about other peoples races and culture and that is the only way we can help stop racism. I am a palestinian- american and was in complete awe at many of the comments made.i belive knowldge is power

I'm 19years old and I live in Chelsea MA, a small town, where the majority of the population is Hispanic/Latino. This is not to say that Chelsea is not diverse, because there are also Bosnians, Africans, Haitians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians and so on, pretty much any race or cultural group you can think of we probably have in Chelsea. For the most part, in Chelsea, racism and stereotypes do not seem to be a big deal or something we’re generally concerned about. A lot of us use stereotypes on a daily basis and it’s rare to see someone get offended by them. It’s not uncommon to hear a person say “Asians are only good for math” or to hear someone say to a Hispanic person “Go have some Goya beans” or to a black woman “Don’t go angry black girl on me”. These stereotypes maybe wrong but I feel like there are some truths in them. Through media and different life experiences, generally we see that the Asians are the smart ones, and Hispanics eat Goya products, and black girls are angry.
In Chelsea you can find the N-word used by everyone under the sun, from Black people, to Asian people, to Hispanic people and even by White people. The N-word around here is like saying hi, its nothing out of the ordinary. Everyone around here justifies their reasons for using it, Bosnians will say they’re not white, but Europeans, so they can use it, Black people will say, well we’re black and its our word, of course we can use it, and the Hispanics and Asians will say we’re not white so its okay for us to use it too. Everyone can think up an excuse to use but that doesn’t make it any better. I personally don’t make a habit of using the word and I’m not offended its use. I that in Chelsea, the problem with the N-word in Chelsea is that it’s something a lot of people were brought into. For the most part, a lot of people have lived in Chelsea their whole lives. They grew up in this little urban town where people they looked up to used it, their friends use it, and now it has become like part of the language. You’re almost not part of the club if you don’t use it.
I feel like stereotypes, whether they are positive or negative have some truth in them and don’t just spur out of thin air. We can find examples to prove our stereotypes in our everyday lives, but I think the problem starts when we start to believe EVERYONE in that particular group fits into that stereotype and we start to change our attitudes toward people because of that generalization.

I think the bottom line is we all stereotype and discriminate. Every office and school has a heirachy.

The other issue is I would have liked Tyra to have had someone who was in a wheelchair on the show because disability is something people have always discriminated against, even longer than they have discriminated against blacks.

Reality is: discrimination goes back to the beginning of time. When you believe in yourself and take pride in who you are you do not have to put others down because you are OK with just being yourself and allowing others to know you.

Know yourself and you CAN know others. Destroy others, you end up destroying yourself with fear and hate.

Dear Tyra

A year ago I visited the US. I have to say I was shocked at the blatant racism that existed there. However, this does NOT make America less.

The fact is racism exists all around the world - even in Asia where most of us look alike !! However in America Americans are prepared to stare this devil in the face and take a swing!

Racism is a demon that tears at the soul of the individual, and the fabric of society - not many have dared look at him straight in teh eye when the easier path is to feed its bulging ego. Americans dare do this and call themselves on it - most of the world is too busy justifying their notions of superiority of one race over the next.

Good job on raising this topic that stretches well beyond the US - and as we say in the rest of teh world - "the US is leading."

Hello, i am a persian teen. I have been called a terrorist when i have been here all of my life and from people i used to be friends with. Just because of a few ignorrant people all middle-eastern and muslim people are being descriminitaed against (I am jewish.) If a bunch of white american men hit the twin towers all american people wouldn't be called terrorists. So I ask you to think about that.

Dear Tyra, I love your show...I watch it everyday! Watching this show today really made me think. I do not see myself as a racised. I am a seinor at Franklin High School in Elk Grove Ca. I see my school as very diverse. I was thinking that it would be very intersting to do that survey at my school. When they were asking those questions to the people with the women on the other side of the glass I was personally answering them. They were completely different than all those peoples. I have very good friends from all races and I beilive that race is not whether a guy is hot. He is hot no matter what color of his skin or the shape of his eyes. Hes HOT! lol... Same with friendship those things I beilive dont matter.

By Tyra stating "you're a woman of color...you should understand; ... because you are a woman of color thats why you can be a leader" or something to that effect she is further dividing women by race.

As a "white" woman (I guess to Tyra I have no color)I have experienced racism from other races.

Tyra needs to open up her own eyes to her sepratist ideas and on racial bias!!!

Everybody has a certain amount of racism in them. Their first impression of certain people is going to be a little based on race, and that's human nature and there's nothing wrong with that. We all need to watch what we say, and watch how we treat people, even of our own race. I am a white American woman and I see how every other culture and race is profiled against and I sympathise with them...but I am here to say that I also sympathize and agree with the white woman that was on the show. If I go into a town that is predominately black americans or latinos or anything other than white, I usually feel like I am shunned. Even though I don't personally hold any hatred for any other races, it seems that they assume that I do. Also, the issue of affirmitive action makes me angry. Everyone cries "equality", but equality does not mean that one gets better than the other. Equality is equality. Furthermore, if an African American comedian can use racist language, and if movies like "white men can't jump" can be made, then Micheal Richards cannot be called a racist for saying what he said at his comedy show. To wrap all this up, ('cause it's getting too long,) everyone...EVERYONE...no matter which race, just needs to work on not offending people, to watch what they say, no matter who they're around. Either that...or everyone should learn to not take things so personally. If someone calls me white trash, personally, I'll take it with a grain of salt. I know I'm not white trash. I'm proud of being white. Be proud of who you are, don't hate on other races, and keep in mind...we all have a little bit of bias.

RACISM WILL NEVER GO AWAY
... LETS BE REALISTIC PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO AND SAY WHAT THEY WANT. I AM MIXED WITH SOME MEXICAN, BRAZILIAN AND SOME BLACK IN ME BUT TO BE HONEST I GET THE MOST HATED ON BY THE BLACKS, NOT THE GUYS BUT THE WOMEN! AROUND HERE ITS THE BLACK CHICKS THAT SEEM THE MOST RACIST AGAINST OTHERS,,,AND I HAVE SOME BLACK IN ME! EVERYONE WILL NEVER BE PERFECT SO THOSE WHO HATE OTHERS NEED TO WAKE UP AND GROW UP!!!!!!!

Well I just wanted to comment about the Middle Eastern woman, she takes it the wrong way that we Americans think that all those kind of people will bomb us, but I meen we can't help it because she could be one of those people who are trying to kill more of us. Is it wrong that we think that? But the question who has it the worst, I really don't think that there is acually a true answer to that question because everyone judges everyone. The African-Americans think that all white people are racist and we aren't. It's just like when my friend wore a shirt with a Rebal Flag on it to school the teachers thought that he was wearing it in a racial way, and see how just wearing something like that to many of us jump to conclutions and that is the real reason why racism is still here. I think that we should all be proud to be the race that we are and with people trying to say something bad about it that makes us wish that we are something that we aren't. Yes I'm a Christan White 15 year old girl and I'm very proud to be who I am and I think that if you're an African-American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Chineese, Japaneese, Mexican, or any other race you should be proud to be it because just like my mom says "this world would be really boring if we were all the same."

Tyra,
I am watching the program--very enlightening. I am retired military and now a teacher in Florida. I thank you for your show and think it has opened many eyes. I have watched the race issue for years. Military took all personnel and did racial awareness--the wrong way for me but apparently necessary for the diverse population of the Navy. I wish the discrimination didn't exist--but I see it everyday in my classes and across Florida. School districts like the Navy continue to provide a venue to correction of some issues--but not all. Keep it up.
Thank you

To put it simply,

the only reason racism is still occurring these days is because each race feels the need to stand up for their own and put others down in the process.

I hear people joke and say things like, "Oh, it's cuz i'm black." "Its cuz I'm white" and they always make their race their excuse for everything.

Now obviously not everyone does this but because everyone IS stereotyped, there will always be those that are angry at others for doing the stereotyping and the people being stereotyped will say and do things to defend their own race and try to make others look bad but they do it through racsim.

bad explanation. sorry, i cant really explain what i feel right now. im still watching the show haha.

I was watching you show about racism and I just wanted to say you may have found the most ignorant people to do a focus group on. After a couple of minutes of watching I really began to think that this was a show like Jerry Springer. I really thought this was one big role play.

hello tyra,
i'm using my pop's e-mail ,so hear i go. well if you stop and think about it there really arn't no full blooded africa-american if i look at it this way u figure there is a touch of white peroson's blood in afrrician americans because of the slavary days. i'm not a fullblooded africa-american woman either ..my dad is white and mom is black to me a young woman the true fukk blooded woman /man is in africa homeland my opinon from a 20 tr. old

Hi Tyra,
I just wanted to say I like your show alot. Im a 15 year old Mexican-American guy that sumtimes ditches school to watch your show(like today). Well I just wanted to say that I cant belive most adults are so rasist. I dont know if you have noticed but most of us teenagers are just "going with it". Thats my meaning of sayin just let things be. I still cant belive that "race" is still an issue on todays American life. Going against "middle Easter people" is pointless. Not all middle eastern people are terrorrist or suaside bombers. About 20% of our Millitary In forcements are middle eastern and 15% of those 20% are in Irak right now Fighting for "The United States of America" wich I find quite harsh for them to betray their own hometownish roots and still get discreminated for being middle eastern. African American dont all have poor house holds or anything like they say. I just wish that people could open their eyes and realize that now and days thay are todays number one Artist in a litle bit of everything. Asians arent all the same eighther, and just as African american, somalians, somoens are a group of people who hate being confused with one onother. So are Chinise, Vietnamese, Orientals, Combodians, all difrent tryin to be recognised. Now, Whites(cokasians), are sooo not all poor trailer trash. Take Bill Gates for an instance he is the ritchest dude ever and he seems to be white. Latins are not all house cleaners, maids, gardeners, construction workers or anything like that as Im often confused! We are all the same in many many ways and and Todays Racist are not only Racist but also Ignorants for ignoring the fact that their race also has failiur as well as they got achevers. Well Tyra I really really hope you write back ASAP!
yours trully,

Robert Reyes
A.K.A
jeally bean
ps. sorry for my poor spelling!

I just want to say one thing....it is NOT a priveledge to be white in America today!! The most discriminated people today are WHITE MALES! How many scholarships for college are out there SPECIFICALLY for White males?? White females?? Are there specific colleges for whites?? The answer is NO....That would be racist...but Black scholarships, black colleges, even black magazines! There is less variety with other races..I just don't understand this rift that sways Both ways and will most likely Never end!

Hi Tyra;
My name is Melissa,im 22 and i live in CT. I am a puerto rican woman and im really happy you had this show on racism. When i was about 9 i moved to an upper class area in CT,both of my parents had very good jobs(which they had to work very hard to get!)when i was younger i didnt speak much english,and the english i did know was very broken. All through elementary school and middle school i was TORMENTED. the town i was living in was 99% white,there were about 3-4 black people in my school and puerto ricans were just about unheard of. so when i came to school there,my sister & i were teased and harassed. my sister quickly fit in because she doesnt "look puerto rican".my mother was born in PR and she has very light skin,freckles,blue eyes & blonde hair! what IS looking puerto rican?! none of the kids really bothered my little sister because she inhereted my mothers eyes and freckles.but i on the other hand,got my fathers beautiful hazel eyes,long dark thick hair. no one SPOKE to me in elementary school or middle school. i used to get followed home by boys on their bicycles barking at me,i used to get beat up during recess and once i was taking a short cut across a field and out of no where,3 boys came out of the bushes & pelted me with disgusting rotting tomatos. i never felt the need to pretend to be something i wasnt. i hate seeing girls who think they have to act "tough" and live up to the "latin temper" thing. it wasnt until i was a junior in high school when people started accepting me because they didnt recognize me! i started to wear make up and i died my hair blonde & all of a sudden i was getting the "no,youre not puerto rican! you dont look it!" even though i was getting attention,invited to parties now,i didnt WANT those kids in my life. you think youre gonna kick me when im down,then invite me to a party & im going to forget everything you've ever done to me?? HELL NO! im still best friends with the ONE GIRL that stuck by me since the day i started elementary school. recently i went to a party at a friends house & i overheard a young white guy talking about how lazy puerto ricans are. so i approached him and asked "what makes puerto ricans lazy?" he went into a whole rant & rave about this & that,and i asked him "what if i was puerto rican? would u still think i was pretty?" and he said "well youre NOT puerto rican so your hot anyway" when he found out i WAS puerto rican,he didnt speak to me for the resst of the nite.it makes me sad to see ignorance still exists,and the treatment i DO get before people find out im puerto rican,but i know who i am inside,i live & breathe being boricua,i LOVE my heritage & i wont act different for anyone! hopefully one day we can all get over our fears and realize we all breathe,think,love,cry,laugh,have families & we all learn the same way. were all once race,and thats HUMAN!!!

What I realized on this show is that why is that Muslim/Islam is considered a race on this show when it is actually considered a religion? For instance, I noticed that the Muslim Middle Easterns were in the center audience, but where's the non-muslim middle easterns or if someone was an african american and were Muslim, did they have to sit with the African american section or Muslime section. Tyra makes this seem like she's talking about groups/race instead of religion or such and such.

This is a good way to approach this and I don't like it when people are so closed minded, sometimes I get that they do that on purpose so that they would act like they know everything.

What people need to do is to check their intention and their heart to see if it is disease, also to understand how they would feel if they were treated as a low life. Also knowledge is more and better than emotions even though we're humans and we need emotions but they come hand in hand.

After watching the show on racism it becomes evident that the First Nations people are invisible to mainstream civilization. We are discriminated against everday and this is our homeland! Most "african amercians" have never been to Africa, nor have many generations of their families. Why do they find it necessary to prefix the "American"? If other races are unhappy about their lot in America, they have comfort in knowing they can return to their mother country! This is ours....where do we go???

I am an American woman who looks white, has a body of a black woman (grandfather was African), and have a slight Hispanic accent. Since 9/11, I have been pulled for screening/security checks every time I have gone on a plane. The first time was when I was 18. My foster parents were shocked and a bit worried. It seemed to snowball after that. I now go to college, and the few times I have flown, I have been pulled aside, along with my luggage, and detained for inspection. I honestly don't know what to think anymore. My twin brother has turned racist because we both have been discriminated against our whole lives. Sometimes I feel like I am caught in between, and a scapegoat. I try not to feel like a victim, but even now, too many people are ignorant of the world around them. I have lost jobs just because I was a woman. Stereotypes are unjust and uncalled for, and so are the jokes. Thank you Tyra, for doing this show today. I hope that people will open their minds and hearts more, and try to understand. There is a quote I once heard, but I cannot find the author for. It states, "We all bleed scarlet red" or something similar. Just a thought for everyone to munch on...

I was watching the show today on racism and am very disappointed to see that Native Americans were not represented. We, too, are a minority that has constantly had to deal with racism. We are indigenous to North America so there are alot more problems than racism, let alone to have a North American talk show not even acknowledge our race. Could that be considered racism itself? Or maybe ignorance? The Native American population in all of North America is approximately 4,000,000. That is alot of people. So how could we be forgotten?

Hey Tyra

Earlier today I west to school, nobody was there so I turned on the TV and your show about Racism was on, so i was like 'oh cool, haven't seen Tyra's show in a while' *not because I dont want to, it's because I go to school and I work part time, but oh well, who wants to know about that right now?*. So anyway, I loved the show. I'm an 18 yr old Mexican HUMAN BEING, and I live in Mexico (Yes dear, mexicans love you and your show too) but I had a weird experience when I was like 16: I went to Los Angeles to visit my aunt for Christmas, and my cousin was pregnant by that time. One night we had to take her to the hospital because she was going to deliver the baby, and once we were there I had to wait for her on a little waiting room they had at the hospital. There was like a lot of people in the waiting room, so I started talking over the phone with my other cousin, I was talking to him in spanish because for me, it's easier *and faster* to speak spanish than english, and I guess some people got offended by that, so a group *a family* of caucasian people started making jokes about mexicans the only one I can remember was "How do you say 'Merry Christmas' in Mexican (come on! Mexican is not even a language): Happy Cinco de Mayo!!" and then they started laughing like crazy, and I wasn't mad at all, I just thought they were ignorant. I've been told by a lot of people on the phone (I work for a Marketing Research Company)that if I don't know how to speak 'American' I shouldn't be talking at all. I've been told by people that I shouldn't be speaking english if I have an accent, but the truth is, it's hard to get rid of the accent if you've spoken spanish all you life, it's not like I'm asking all the american people to speak a PERFECT spanish when they come visit our country, actually I don't care about the language because I know I can speak english.

Well Tyra, I loved the show, and I hope things get better with time. I really don't care about the race or ethnic background of a person, because I've known the greatest asian/african-american/white people in the world. Actually I have a friend who's african american, and her name is Asia, and she's like the greatest person in the world, and because an african american woman once told me i shouldn't be talking, that doesn't mean all people are like that, right? I like Asia a lot and she's gonna be in America's Next Top Model someday (because that's her dream) you'll see ;)

Much Luv from Mexico

*Karina*

Tyra,
I love watching your show and am a big fan.I am a full blooded North American Indian, from Nova Scotia, and i watched your show today about the whole racial issues. and I very dissapointed that there were no native americans on the show, now that to me is wrong. to this day native people are still living on reservations, both in the usa and canada and i think by putting people on reservations is discrimation from the people that put us here (government, both usa and canadian)we put up with alot of discrimination every year from non natives for example our "yearly fishing disputes with non native" or "fighting over native land", that is still going on. well at least Oprah was able to show the world how native americans lived in New Mexico, and believe me it was like they were in a third world country, but thats how alot of people live in canada and USA. tyra i love your show but if your talking about racial issues please include Native Americans.

Racism is still much a live in our country and the entire world. Racism has been around for years. Even prior to Africans being brought to America, they were captured and enslaved in their own country. However, we must not forget the Native Americans who too suffered a great deal of loss from the hands of explorers and those wanting their land. Jewish people suffered a lot during Hitler's time, even dating back to biblical times. Even the Japanese Americans were taken from their homes, enslaved, and placed in concentration camps in the U.S., because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
So, to say African Americans suffered the most is not exactly accurate. All these groups mentioned above have suffered. Until we can put aside our intolerance of each other and other races, may be we can begin a healing process because of the pain endured by so many people.

Watching this show, i dont even know what to say. Im 17 years old, and my mom is canadian and irish, and my dad is trini and native. I grew up with every race at school and in my community and am very muli-culturted. I dont agree with every religion but i respect them. I think its due to parents that have had bad experiences or are just closed minded. How much would it take people to do some research. People need to realize that the world is a mix and soon every one is going to have a bit or everything in them. Right now due to the terroist attacks, middle eastern people are being attacked. Being called a terrorist for wearing a hejab(i dont know if i spelt it right), in there culture they cover up, steriotyping, white gurls show alot of skin in there teen years, me included and ive learned ALOT young. I think people need to hear there religion to understand its not a mark or terriost, its a part of there belifs and there men choose them on there face, not how long there hair is or how big there boobs are. Race is a very sensitive topic with me i have every range of friends and have 0 tolenernce for rasicm.. The more it is brought up and the more shows like this will hopefully help people understand, because there is never going to be one dominate race and people have a right to be who they are.

Hi,
I just finished watching the show today on racism. At the end of the show where everyone was asked questions and were to stand up and hold hands...that really made an impact on me. I had tears. Being a caucasian 20 year-old female here in little Saskatchewan, Canada, I feel that there is tons of racism. Your show concluded though that everyone is effected by it. I was mighty surprised to the fact that even white people feel racism. Not saying that we aren't racially discriminated against, but it really isn't often heard about. I would like to point out that watching your show today that you never discussed Native Americans. I know here in my city and from my home town, there is lots of discussion about racism towards Natives.

In the end though, we are all discriminated against. We are discriminated by race, age, gender, etc.
I hope it can all end.

I just watched this show and wanted to commend all the people who participated with the study and in the show. I know racial discrimination is a very tense subject and I sympathize with everyone equally. I think the most important thing to remember as far as racism is concerned is not who has been discriminated against the most but more importantly, that no one should be at all. I almost long for the day that aliens arrive from space, as ridiculous as this may sound, because maybe that will help us to see that we are all HUMAN. We get so caught up in skin color and what religion someone follows and where they came from that we don’t take the time to look at the person as an individual. We all share the same experiences, in different ways, but everyone has a story.
Also everyone must remember, who YOU truly are as a person is not reflected by what people think of you. Make yourself, don’t allow a persons words or thoughts to define who you are. And try to be patient with ignorance and to not take it personally. If you overreact you only perpetuate a negative belief and possibly create fear in a person who might be willing to learn. “The only thing we have to fear is fear its self.”

Hi Tyra,
I watched your show today and was upset by some of it, and empowered by most of it. I would like to say that I think that all these different cultures have had their bad and rough times, and still are going through them. I hate it that Native Americans were driven to reservations and some tribes were killed off and brutalized! I hate it that African Americans were told they were to leave their homeland to serve as slaves and to be treated like nothing! These two cultures for me, a white woman, have beautiful and fascinating beliefs! To watch a Pow-Wow and see all the dancers or to hear stories from African Americans about their beliefs and to hear their songs in their own native language melts my heart and fills you with warmth. For the Muslum or Middle Eastern Woman on the show, I understand that it's new to learn and understand the culture here in America- I have read terrible stories of woman who's husbands abuse them so cruelly the husbands will murder their wives in front of their children, or the wives will set fire to themselves to end the pain and humiliation, and noone does anything to help them! Woman don't mean very much over there from what I read in the magazines and hear in the news. Asian woman, Mexican Woman...all woman of all nationalities and cultures have been ,and some still are discriminated against. Not one group is alone! Woman in America still are treated unequal, when it comes to some things- and stereo typed to some degree. My husband went to Iraq last year for a year and actually watched Iraqi men duck and hide behind women and children because they know that rules of engagement say not to shoot at a woman or child. Such cowards. He hated watching this and hated seeing the pain and suffering that the people had, who just wanted to live and not be in the middle of a war.After 9-11 I had a flight to Texas to visit family, and yes there was a family of middle easteners on my flight. I was very nervous with the memories of 9-11 in my mind, but the woman in the group walked over to me and my 6 month old baby, and said," you are a young mother?" I said yes and smiled and she motioned for her to sit with nme and see my child, and she said," she has your face...very beautiful." and I looked at her in her eyes, and she said, "please don't worry...you are safe." She calmed me in that breif moment and it made me feel like who the hell was I to stereotype these people?I hated it that I felt that way. I mean I didn't hate them and give them looks like everyone else at the terminal, but I'll admit I was uneasy. Her family walked over and complimented my child and then we took our flight. I wanted to scream at the people on our flight to knock off their ugly looks, because they are people who were flying to see family like the rest of us! I grew up in Texas and had many Hispanic and African friends and I moved up to South Dakota, and was in culture shock! I had never seen so many white people in my life! Most of my friends here are native american and I have a few white friends- to break it down in color- but they are my friends! And I love them and care for them. I feel honored to know so many different cultured people and to learn about their heritages through their grandparents and relatives. In this world there are people of EVERY culture and color who bring shame to their own culture...black, white, yellow, brown,etc. I want my daughter to not see the barriers. She owns white barbies and black and brown barbies, same with babies. She doesn't judge them. She doesn't see color in her classmates or friends..she see's people she cares about and people who care about her and have things in common with. The ending to your show was beautiful and true! I wish we all could feel that way! I wish the world could embrace eachother and say , hey, we are all here for the same thing..to live life to the best of our abilities whether we struggle or not!" Thank you Tyra!

Has any one heard of the Real Eve Theory? It explains human evolution. The theory entails that all humans derive from our ancestor, a woman in Africa, whose tribe dispersed throughout the world forming other tribes due to physical limitations causing migration(a food drought, volcanos, heavy rains in the sahara desert, and ice cold winters). It explains why people have different physical characteristics, such as why asians have slanted eyes and why height differentiated, etc. Why people traveled in the direction they did, such as asians through the bering straight into alaska and the rest of america, hence the native americans. Its an amazing theory which has scientific proof through mapping mitochondrial DNA, which can show you what tribe your ancestors were from. DNA doesn't lie. Its very fascinating and informative whether you believe it or not. I think it can ease many people in a way as to prove we are all the same in more ways than one. I saw it through the Discovery Channel. If you want to check it out "The Reak Eve" is produced by Stephen Oppenheimer and narrated by Danny Glover.

Hey Tyra!.. im 16 years old, and I live on the east side of Canada.. I was just watching your show. I am a Native-Canadian.. but im only like 25% part Irish, I live on a reserve, and because of me being part white, some people of my own race(Native) they would make fun of me and call me Wyte Girl..I dont really like being called that either, just because I look white from my moms side, her mother was white, and sometimes if I go to another reserve where people dont really know me other people of my race would come up to me and ask me straight up if im white.. i always lie and say im 100% native.. and plus I attend school with hundreds of other kids of other races, and there is one girl in my school that started sayin things to people in my race.. really mean things.. like "all you natives dont deserve to be here u guys are worthless.. u guys deserve to be wipped out like black people".. ever since she said lots of comments about us and african-americans too she has never came to school in the past month because she thinks were gonna like beat her up.. lol, but alot of natives wanna tell her off.. that was totally un-cool of her to say all those mean things, then when i was talkin to her she said im not racist.. i just think black people and native people get things like that said to them prob everyday of their life.. and i told her ur not native and ur not black so what makes u think u can say that and u think people say things like that to us everyday.. because i've never had anybody say anything to me except for her.. i live on a island and theres like 4 or 5 other reserves around here.. so not very many people would say anything... I also think its kinda funny becaue if im like on a chat-line er something.. some people from other parts in the world STILL think that natives live in teepees.. lol.. but no we dont live in teepees.. i live in just a regular house like everybody else just so u people know.. haha!

Tyra I think the idea of this show was a good one. Although where are the Native Americans? We were here first!!! We should have a right to speak our minds as well. Did you just forget about us or are we not important enough to be on your show? I'm a huge fan of yours but this troubled me. I'm also sooo proud of my fellow Native Americans for speaking up about us being left out! I see I'm not the only one who was offended.

Tyra,

I am watching the racisim show right now. I am a proud Italian-Irish American. I have Italian olive skin but Irish green eyes. I am proud of where I come from and proud to be living in America. I am constantly asked if I'm Latina, or if I'm Greek, etc.

If you really open your eyes and do your historical research you will know that EVERYONE in this country at some point has been discriminated against. My great grandfather came to New York City in 1924 as a non-english speaking Italian. Immigration workers took it upon themselves to change his name from Salvatore to the more "english sounding" Sylvester because they didn't know how to pronounce an Italian name and quite frankly, didn't care.

As far as people who feel like they have it worse than another group. Let me say this, I personally don't care what skin color you have but I know not everyone thinks that way. If you're african-american and act like a fool, then you will be treated like one. If you're white and act like an idiot, you'll be treated like one, etc. If you speak intelligently and educate yourself how to behave to what society has deemed acceptable, I don't care what race you are. There are PLENTY of white kids that are thugs, criminals, rapists, etc. In turn those types of people are also african-american, asian, middle eastern, etc. No one race is excluded from people like that.

How dare people say that any one group has it worst. If we continue being racist EVERYONE has it bad. As a "white" person, I am automatically placed in one of two categories. A) I'm white trash from a trailer park with 3 barefoot kids in the yard and a baby on the way, no father around, addicted to crack and a hooker on the side to feed my habit. OR B) I'm a wealthy white girl who gets everything she wants and doesn't ever have to feel like she doesn't belong because she's so "privilged" to be white. Personally the only PRIVILDGE I have is to live in the United States. There is a reason that people from all over the world would LOVE to live here.

Moving forward, if we want to change the way people treat us, change the way you treat people in your own race that are different as well as people that ARE NOT in your racial group. I understand that everyone in this country has been opressed at some point, some longer than others. I also understand that it is important to recognize that. I hope people will understand and respect the past, but not to assume you deserve something because of it. Be a human being. Conduct yourself with poise, intelligence, class, and RESPECT for youself. If one person at a time, begins to respect everyone equally, regardless of skin color, you will slowly break the cycle. Look at yourself to see how YOU can change the future, don't expect someone to do it for you. Stop dwelling on the past. IT IS THE PAST. Don't forget it, but LEARN from it and change the PRESENT and FUTURE. If we don't, the vicious cycle continues.

Being of "male" persuasion, I will be discriminated against if any of my friends find out that I watch your show (let's keep that one secret).

I've read many of the comments above and the one thing that bothers me is that they think that they are all something they're not.

Now, in the words of Stephen Colbert "I'm color blind in that I don't see race. I assume I'm white because that's what people tell me." That is the attitude people should have because I am just as much Euro-American as some of those people are Asian-American or African-American.

I think that it is ridiculous that people still try to label themselves as being anything but AMERICAN. This is how I label myself if I am forced to choose color, I am a white American of German, Russion, and English descent. I am not 1/3 German, 1/3 Russian, and 1/3 English I don't even know how to speak 2 of the 3 languages, nor do I know much about their cultures. As I assume is largely true for many of the "African-Americans" or "Asian-Americans".

Society I suppose wants me to call myself 2/3 Euro-American and 1/3 Asian-American (unless people have forgotten that Russia is in Asia, another common mistake). The only label that I kind of agree with is Native American because it's the most accurate, unless they've left the country and are currently a citizen somewhere else.

I don't want to rant and rave too much, I'd be surprised if this actually gets read completely, so I'll end with the definition of caucasian:

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of one of the traditional racial divisions of humankind, marked by fair to dark skin, straight to tightly curled hair, and light to very dark eyes, and originally inhabiting Europe, parts of North Africa, western Asia, and India.

So aren't most of us caucasian anyways???

The Dec 11th show on racism was one of the best apporoaches to the topic I've seen. The very personal approach was very revealing and insightful. I'm not sure I understand some of the opinions and attitudes of some of the panel but admit I haven't been in their shoes. I think we need to carry an open mind without an attitude or "chip on the shoulder" to be able to overcome our ethnic problems otherwise they will be self fullfilling. Hopefully your show can lead the way to adopting such an attitude.

I found todays show shocking and upsetting.however not surprising. I am not predjudice at all and trying to raise my children to be as open as my husband and I are. Judging people by their actions. this task has proven difficult. Black women will not bring their children on playdates with my children and will remove their kids from playground equipment when my children are on it. they give me the cold shoulder when I try to talk to them at the playground especially if other black women are around.
People assume because we are jewish we have lots of money when the truth is we scrape by so I can stay home with our children, which I feel is a religious family duty and give up luxury easily for
my kids. I have had christian parents stop letting their children play with my children when they realize we are jewish. So while I try to expand my childrens horizons I get the door shut in my face. It's very upsetting. It seems that certain groups say they want to be treated the same as everyone else, and that is typically not the case I have found. They want to stay with their group and participate in reverse racism. I feel that all prejudging is wrong our higher power would not create something that is not to his liking so to dislike a person because of anything but the content of their charactor is wrong on the part of any person.I am far too level headed to be on your show it wouldn't make good t.v. to have person with my values on your show and that's a shame. What people want to see is us fight and be ignorant. not to see people have an actual drama free discussion about race in this country.or a person who has none of those ridiculus racial stereotypes in their head. I by the way happen to be multiracial.most people don't know that by looking at me.

hey tyra,
first off i love your show!i just wanted to share my experience as being an asian girl. we are always thought to be the smartest and im not. also i get criticized by my own race for not being the typical skinny asian girl and smart. my whole life i have been told i was fat and needed to lose weight and thats coming from my own race! i also have been looked at differently because of my race and made fun of with the stupid shout outs from all other races with that saying "ching chong ching" that stuff. it irritates me so much! the way i see it is if you have experienced racism why do it to others. for someone who has experienced it i dont judge people because i know what it feels like to be attacked and if you dont it definitly gives you no right to be judgemental against others!

hi tyra,
I'm am 15 and i live in a very small town in New Hampshire.I am african ammerican and white.I am adopted into an all white family(i love it but feel i miss out on being a strong black women some times) . There are 3 black ppl @ my school including myself. Although i am not 100% black i look different then everyone at my school.I have to put up wit racial remarks every day. Last school year i was acused of doing and selling drugs at my school because i am black. I considered changing schools but I didn't so i went bak this year and i have gotten into fights with boys and girls at my school because they think that it's ok to use n***** around black ppl. Idk how to stop rasicm at my school or ne where eles for that matter. Where i live u can't walk down the street with out being called a n***** because the mojority of ppl here are whites who have not been exsposed to diversity.
I had one white teacher this year actually try to help me with the racism problem at my school but he dose not teach at my school ne more. He e-mailed the school district and told them what i had told him about racism at our school. It made quite an impression and all the teachers denide the acuzasions that were made about our school.
I'm sick of being asked y i don't just move or if i am haspanic or black. I got a lot darker in the summer because i was a life guard and everyone new i was an african american. I was exsepted for that not attacked for it. It was the first time i felt exspeted for me.
*~*Amanda*~*

Dear Tyra,
I saw your show on racism today and parts of it made me really upset. I'm only 13 but i have big views. One day my generation is going to be in charge and thanks to all the hate this current generation and previous generations have put in he world WE are going to suffer. If we want to succeed as a nation we all need to work together. I don't think one race has it worse, i think we ALL have it bad, but its out own fault. Didn't we learn the golden rule when we were in second grade "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated" No one likes feeling inferior, hopefully if my generation can talk about these issues and get past them. Were all human beings, if were going to survive, we need each other.

PS: Your show has really inspired me and honestly when i grow up i dream to be like you, and change the world.

Tyra,
Thank you for bring this very important issue up. I sit in front of my TV Reading my caption and thinking, oh how true it is. It’s about time to stop the racial injustices and try to put yourself in the others place. I do not know what it is like to be anything other then me. However, I was not always like that. I am now a 43-year-old woman who finds herself DEAF after being able to hear the first 37 years of her life. I now know what it is like to be the other person. I do not fit in with the Deaf world for I can speak, and I do not fit in the hearing world for I cannot hear. So seeing your show, you are my ears and my voice. Thank you

Vickie

Tyra,
Im a 12 year old girl who goes to E.E.Smith Middle School in kenansville North Carolina. As a young white girl in my age group there is honestly so much racism. Just today Ive been put down because of my race. I honestly think you can call me whatever you want behind my back but not to my face. In the cafitera you see a black table a white table a hispanic table and so on and so forth. Even my teachers are racist. I go to a school that has a black majority. Every one goes through it and knows how it feels. racism will always be around.

The guests volunteered to be on the show and so if your ethnicity wasn't being represented thats because no one volunteered to represent.

Hey Tyra,

Just wanted to say the show really pissed me off. And yes everyone is stereotyped. Although I think you had some guts to do the topic and I like what you do..But that hispanic chick made us Mexicans look stupid and if I were next to her I'd probably would have smacked her...I cant believe they went on t.v to talk smack about other racial groups and especailly when they were all sitting next to a different race...Anyway I didnt like how the people attacked the middle eastern girl. She doesnt seem like she'd bomb a plane and I wouldnt think her brother would have guns and bombs..I was like what?! But anyway blacks think they had it worst and whatever but what about the Mexicans! There's this city in Texas where the white wants illegal immigrants out and spanish should be banned...I mean come on people! Whatever happened to the land of freedom? EVERY RACE HAS SUFFERED SOMETIME IN THEIR LIFE PEOPLE!

Hi Tyra,
I just finnished watching your show on racism.I as a 1/4 blood native indian(who has white skin,blue eyes) has been catagorized as a white person my intire life.I think its a shame that people have to put their color of skin as a mark of indentification in this world. Goverments do this from the day we apply for work,school,sports,etc. Could really imagine a world where you werent known as latino,african american,white,middle eastern, etc?Why cant we known as just humans? Until the labeling stops, racism wont.Just as an example would be for me to say that you ignore the original race of humans that lived here before any explorer landed and the history of the U.S. was born on the blood of navtive people. The racism they expierenced has led to the extermination of some tribes. Now if on the other hand these people were treated like humans equal to those who met them, where would we be now? Unfortunately, some of us lack the wisdom to see inside of ourselves live by a simple rule of "Not to judge." The real way to stop is love your fellow man as you do yourself. Break the barriers you learned growing up,even if its your own family who has taught them to you.Show them the way.There is no shame being just a human.
Peace to everyone,
Shawn

Dear Tyra and readers,
I am a Filipino American who is fortunately living in a diverse community. I have friends of all ethnicities. I have dated all ethnicities as well. I enjoyed the end part of the segment when everyone stood up to show that every one all struggled through racism. I have heard racial comments being Filipino, good and bad from being asian and etc, but it doesnt bother me much. I will never feel the severity of descrimination compared to others. I wasn't suprised to hear that blacks suffer the most descrimination given their history. I don't blame anyone for being upset but blame it on history and ignorance. One interesting fact that my African-American psych teacher told me that many people overlook is that during the slave trade the African tribe leaders sold their own people to the Europeans and to the Arabs as slaves who then brought the slaves to other countries including America. That historical fact will never justify the lives lost to racial injustice, however to put blame from ethnicity to ethnicity is falling into the same trap as our american ancestors did. African-americans lost their lives and some white people lost their lives as well fighting against segregation. Middle Easterns can compare their lives to the Japanese during WWII. People will be ignorant and its unfortunate but you can't hate on others as well. During the show, it saddens me to see people argue who suffered most. It shouldn't be an argument but rather an acknowledgment that racism occurs and praise that America has come so far. Praise that America has laws to protect any unjust acts. When I use to work at a restaurant, I have gotten attacked on my integrity several times. One time I sat an African American couple in a corner booth because I was going in rotation from server to server. I got yelled at saying how racist I was. Another time that occured was when I was working retail and got yelled at for asking for an ID with their credit card. In both incidents I responded with, "I'll pray for you and your ignorance because my boyfriend is 1/2 black". It upset me when my boyfriend couldn't join the Mexican-American club because he was in a black frat and only half Mexican and it wasn't good enough. Its ridiculous when he can speak spanish fluently while half of them only knew English. He had an identity crisis because he didn't know where he fit in until I told him, "Look, you're black and Mexican. There is no in between and if they think you're not Mexican enough then tell them F-U in spanish and only hope they understand". I am proud that America as a whole has grown successful in terms as equality but of course there will always be ignorant people. It makes me happy when people prove other people wrong. The way I see it is Don't get angry, pray for them and their ignorance and just prove them wrong.

Dear Tyra, I am a "Cree/Assiniboine" Woman, for those who don’t know what this means; I am First Nation, First Peoples, Native Canadian, Indian, Wagon Burner, Injun, Savage, Red Skin, Squaw, Pocahontas...etc et al. I love your show by the way, but sitting here I realize "racism" is tough to address without making some political statement. However I find it rather odd that talk shows don’t acknowledge the plight of the original inhabitants of the Americas and we will always be "ignorant" of what we don’t know. The Americas' Indigenous people face apartheid like conditions. In July of 2006, a United Nations Human Rights committee issued conclusions and recommendations to the United States regarding US compliance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Concerns raised include the denial of aboriginal titles without due process to Native Americans, See? Political!! And I will have to agree with a previous letter that Native Americans’ issues around racism are not acknowledged by talk shows. Perhaps it’s too political?

Hello Tyra i watched about half of your show today,but i was some what mad. The reason for this madness is because you have every other race from White to African American,but one race of probably many that was not mentioned was Native American. I feel that Native Americans have been discriminated for the longest time. I'm a high school student that has a good percent of Native Americans in that school,but yet we are discriminated by teachers by other classmates. Native Americans were here on this land first,we got pushed off our own land so there could be more room for everyone else. We may be a small percent of the people here,1% but we also have a voice,we also get discriminated and have racism in our race. I just want to know how come you didn't have any Native American people on your stage talking about our hardships today. I get called timbernigger,spear thrower, but yet i still try to walk around with my head held high knowing that I am not alone. But when you have Muslim and Whites and African Americans talking about how they get discriminated and hated on,it saddens me, I may only be 17 but i speak for my people i speak for the Native Americans all over world that we should be looked at more not just past over.

Tyra i am so tired of people acting like white people dont deal with racism because we do...i live in sanford which is dominated by blacks i have grew up around blacks for my whole life...people act like all white people are rich ive had people ask me for money because of that...also i have been told i try to be black or puerto rican...and im proud to be white...antoher thing i dont understand why blacks can sit up here and call us cracker and all these racist remarks the majority of the white people dont say nothing but as soon as a white person comes with a racist remark to a black person oh then its on!! i dont know if u would understand where i comin from... im not tryna say n e thing disrespecting blacks im just tryin to get people to understand u know....well tyra ill holla @ cha lata!

I am an anthropology student from PA and I am also 'white.' I just wanted to say that I thought your show on racial injustice was a good one. I think we all need to start talking publicly about racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression in our society, so we can begin to eradicate these injustices. I also was glad that the two professors from UCLA stated that race was a category that is based on a person's looks and NOT based on a person's biology. I was surprized, however, that the show did not represent Native Americans at all, especially since (in my opinion) they have suffered the worst. Entire cultures were completely wiped out.

Ok Tyra I LOVE your show but I have a HUGE Gripe about your show on racism.

Here is my problem you included Caucasions, African American, Latino, and Middle Eastern people...now I know this is a huge group. There is another group you are missing AMERICAN INDIAN/NATIVE AMERICAN. Now I am white...but I have some Native American in my background and my hometown on the reservation and the hugest gripe of mine is the least you can add is the group of people here in America who were here first and are affected by stereotypes and racism just as much as any other group.

I know American Indians do not have the population of the other groups but it would be really nice to see them represented now and then so they can clear up some of stereotypes that they have too--like casinos, government paychecks, we do pay taxes etc.

Come on' represent US all not just the obvious.

Thankyou--JammieGirl

Well I just want to say great show, but you did forget to mention the Native Americans. They have had it worse they were being exterminated in the past. I am Mexican by birth but American by Choice; I have been racially profiled in the past and discriminated many times by my own people and other races. I have fought overseas a US Marine when this country called upon my service, before I became a citizen. I am now married to an Egyptian decent woman and been with her since before 9/11 disaster, and even there I am discriminated because she is not Latino or Hispanic. The truth is people make our society more complex than it already is and forget that we all share the same thing, we are all human and LIVE on the same EARTH. I just wished you had more time but I look forward to seeing a PART 2!!..

Keep up the great work!

and i have to agree with the native americans..they weren't at all represented or even mentioned, and true they had everything stolen and today are a forgotten people. sad but true.

Dear Tyra,
Let me first say that I love your show and I watch it all the time. Today I watched it and it was about race. What suprised me the most is that there were no Native Americans on the show and I understand that there is limited time but they were afterall the first and only true americans because they were here first. I am a (mutt) that is what I call myself and I am proud of it I wish that everyone would be so excepting of the new race of people that are emerging, Cherokee Indian is one of the eight different nationalities that I have. It is very hard to fit in some people say that I have the body of black girl and others say I have indian hair and feet, becasue my feet are very large and my hair is naturally brown, straight and long they also say that I have high cheekbones. Some say I have eyes like a latina because of the shape not the color, but I don't even know if I have latina in me, and my lips are too big and that I must have black in me, and I don't even want to start on my nose. In middle school I remember the boys saying you got the body of a black girl and the white girls saying your fat cause I am of big build and I am short what a combination, and I went through anorexia and bulemia untill I gave up because I realized that no matter how hard I tried I would never have the tiny frame that they had. I hate labeling myself as white when most white girls don't except me as their own and no other groups except me either, becasue my skin is white. Black women tell me that just by looking at me they can tell I got something else in me, that I must be mixed with somehting. I just want exceptance,a and to have somewhere to belong. Well listening to those girls I became very depressed and I gained A LOT of weight but I am loosing now my goal is at least 140. I am now 264, and at my biggest I was 302. This has got to be the hardest thing I have ever attempted in my life. By the way I have two little girls and I face descrimination with them as well. In the hospital after I had my first baby and the biological father was present in the room they said oh she cant be his she dont look latina just because she is white blonde hair and blue eyes does not mean that she is not latina. Her sister is darker complected and darker hair but she also has blue eyes as so do I. Their father is from El Salvador and he is brown with green eyes. People ask me all the time do my babies have the same daddy. SO I'm like yes they do, and? This world is sofull of hate. I would like to say I have studied history and if only everyone would they would read that it was the chief leaders of the tribes in the country of Africa that sold them in the begining when the slave trade started (their on people) into slavery for trade of products. My ancestors were slaves. The Indians were sold into slavery the slaveowners would rather back then to use the Irish than the African slaves because the Irish were less important to the slaveowner. The truth about this slavery needs to be known and we all need to stop hating on each other we are women and we need to all stand together and realize that as women we struggle in this world regardless of race. What I hated the most was in school where I went white was the minority and african american girls would say you put my people into slavery I didn't do anything I wasn't alive back then, it makes me cry now thinking about it all I wanted to do was be that girls friend. Their has yet to be a woman president and I hope I am alive to see it happen. I am on the poorer side, but it is soo hilarious becasue when I go places when I get a little money to buy something salespeople approach me and try to shove stuff at me like I am made of money. I have to tell them and I don't cry about it, I tell them I am sorry but I don't have a lot of money. This only happens when I wear makeup and dress nice, but whats so funny is that most of my clothes are from walmart. lol I don't need expenisve clothes to be happy and I don't really have any friends but thats ok I got my girls. Reason I don't have no friends is because I don't care what people think about me. Also I have learned to speak up, and most women don't like when you speak your mind.
Tyra whenever I reach my weight goal if you want I would like to come on your show, maybe I can inspire other people that were in my position to try.
Your Fan For Life,
~MANDI~

Tyra,

I loved the show! I did want to point out to everyone that it was the Native Americans who were here first. If I am not mistaken it was Christopher Columbus who came from another country and made the Indians slaves and killed them. Most are still on reservations. They dont get to live there life like other races. People pre-judge Native Americans that they are all drunks. To add to that, no matter what country you go to people are discriminated. I dont think there is any way around it. I also believe racisim will never end.

i really was interested on your show on racism. i believe it's an issue that can't be discussed enough until it's resolved.

i took sociology this semester and i learned much more about how society works - it's strengths, bases, it's weaknesses. if you really take a deep look at america, discrimination comes in all forms - racism, ageism, sexism. the fact of the matter is that america remains divided in its stereotypes it upholds - women aren't smart enough or strong enough to have successful careers; the elderly are senile and can't support themselves past a certain age; homeless people are homeless because they're all druggies or people who chose to throw their lives away.

i wonder how such things got so ingrained in society, but moreover how they are still supported. no amount of legal/government action can really "fix" all the discriminatory "isms". it truly is an attitude that needs to be worked on amongst all americans.

i really am glad you did such a show, and i hope the many who saw it keep an open mind to possibilities....

an elderly man once said to me, "it's a great day for the race." when i gave him a confused look, he whispered, "the human race." that is really the only "race" that all should focus on.

Tyra....I am a 71 year old female that is watching the rerun of this show. I am so angry right now could just spit nails. The black lady with multi colored hair really set me off. Through my life I have seen many, many welcome changes for all of humanity. But when she said she was forced to be here due to slavery many, many years ago....then tell her to pick up and go back to where she supposedly came from. The sad part of this is.....it is apparent she was born and raised in the United States so I just do not understand why she still harps on being forced to live here. I am also of the age when women, no matter what race were totally discriminated against and so grateful this has changed through the years. Was it a struggle, certainly, but we did pave the way for what women have today such as best education and career paths.....if they so choose.
Yesterday I had a Middle Eastern man(strong accent) made a very unkind remark that encompassed all American women and we are not permitted to say anything back...would be call a racists. Where is does this all end? First, when something happens why does the media ALWAYS ask the same question? It it....do you think this is racial? Media has driven this country deeper and deeper into racial divides and until we turn off the media and follow whatever they say...this world will remain in trouble. All my life never considered myself racial...but events of past two days seems to have brought out an anger never knew I had. It was the man making a terrible remark that has set me off. Then watching your show. Am, just so angry right now have tears in my eyes....so thanks for listening as I go have a diet coke to cool down.

Dear Tyra

Just happened to catch your show. I love the topic about racism since it still is a prevalent issue in our society today and probably will never get totally resolved. I do feel however that you were much easier on the African American woman, there was no NEED to hug her goodness (I dont know her name, the one with the punk hair who also appeared on the Flavor Flav show). Tyra I find your shows to be insightful and you a very openminded and fair person but COME ON picking someone like that for the study??? Poor choice. All other panelists substantiated their prejudice with jarring honesty but her racism was just sub-par intelligence. Yukk.

No matter how many wonderful non-profit frou frou organizations we have, racism will never end. Seeing your show made me realize it even more sadly we lack compassion for anyone else out there except our own.

I thank you for doing this episode. Most people dont understand the stero type that happens. What bothers me the most is it is made all one sided. I grew up in a city that was well mixed of white black and hispanic in Florida. There was always more issues of being pushed to the back b/c I am white male. I never really noticed the issues between the races till I went to north florida. Then I ran into the issues that I was most of the time treated as thou I owed black people something. This has become a disturbing trend. I believe that I am noticing it more since I am getting older and I pay attention more. I have also noticed that the more educated the person is has lessen these issues. Either way thou untill that person decides to do better then these issues will stay. People have forgoten that you treat people the way you want to be treated. If people would slow down and be more polite then we will fix these issues also. Please and Thank you go a long way. Does not matter the race or religion. Have a great day and thank you for listening.

i got to watch your show on racism today, and i have to say i was a little disappointed. dont get me wrong, i love your show, but the who has it harder thing was kinda much. everyone is going to say that they think that their race has it harder. i am mexican american. i look white. but i dont complain much. i will admit that hey i think latinos had it harder, with all the things that went on lately, but i couldnt say that completely. i just wish that you had more opinions from the muslim women. yes, a selected few bombed our beloved country, but you cant catagorize a few for the rest. we as americans take for granted all of the choices that we get to make. we get to wear regular clothes, we get to choose who we want to marry. they dont. what about the native american or jewish people. people who know their history should know that these people besides the muslims have had it harder than anyone. hitler killed six million jews. the native americans are also nearly extinct. they were killed off, and had their land taken away from them. they are reduced to live in small areas, selling blankets and jewelry. african americans were stolen from their country, but you have to remember that it was also their own tribes that traded them away for goods. i hope that no one gets offended that i said any of this, but try to see this from other points of view.

I would like to know where the Native American people, the First Nations people of this land fit into the racism catogory. Hmm, but I guess I'll never know because our people were never mentioned on the show. We are always forgotten.

I think that Native American people have it the worst as being discriminated against, worse than African-American people (since on your show thay said that African-American people were the most discriminated against).

Our land was STOLEN from all sorts of different cultures and races who still and will forever inhabit our lands that we will NEVER get back. Our traditions, culture and languages are almost destryoed. It embarrases me to say that I don't understand or cannot speak my language when I am spoken to or asked if I can speak ir or not.

I think that we have the most harshest stereo-type: People of ALL races believe that we are drunk, on welfare and can't accomplish anything. This is NOT true. There are just as many drunk Native people as there are drunk white, black, latino people.

I love your show, and was excited when I saw that there was going to be a show on racism. But, I was very disappointed to see that the people who need to have their voice heard the most, was not mentioned on the show.

It would be great if you can do a show about Native American people (at least show a Pow Wow or something). Our culture and people is sooo diverse and beautiful. I am a Mi'gmaq from the East Coast of Canada. And proud of it!! :) I want the rest of the world to know how beautiful our culture really is.

Good afternoon Tyra,
I am writing with respect to your show today. I must admit that I was utterly disgusted as a result of your total ignorance towards the Indigenous peoples of the North Americas.
I am a member of the Secwepemc Nation in British Columbia, Canada and I make my home in Montana.
I was surprised that even the highly educated (dr. decker and dr. stevenson, a so-called "race expert") could not even recognize the fact that we have been dealing with assimilationist policies, as well as other forms of racist policies, since 1492 when Columbus first "discovered" this country that you now consider your home!
If you want a proper representation of WHO really endured RACISM the longest (and "worst"), then you and your team need to delve into the issue further than you have, because if you had you would have affirmed our position as Native peoples.
Neither African Americans, Arabs, Asians, Caucasians or Latinas have endured the genocidal policies, as well as other forms of racism, that we Indigenous peoples have endured in this country and Canada. We continue to strive as the strongest Nations, as will our children and their children.
Pardon my paraphrasing, but I must agree with your Arab guest, "HOW DARE YOU, WHY DON'T YOU GO AND EDUCATE YOURSELF!"

hey again tyra i just posted a comment and realized i put "im not saying rasicm isnt right" i think rasicm isnt right. i had to make that clear because the least racist u will meet. im hispanic and my brother is half black and my husband is white.

Hello Tyra!
First off I love your show because it's young, hip, and really relates to my crowd. I finally got a chance to watch the show on racism and I was blown away. I'm 26 years old but I have old school parents and we are all born and raised in the south (Atlanta). The older I get the more I here people scream racial injustice or racism whenever their feelings get hurt. Personally, I feel that if you are not from the south, then the word racism should not fly out of your mouth. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders did not march and fight so that people would stop calling them the N-word. They fought to get our foot in the door. It angers me that people reduce name calling to racism. Cause that is what it is. People are going to be mean and say mean things. That does not make them a racist. The middle eastern,latino, white, and even the black girls who felt they were discriminated against were simply upset because people were saying ugly things to them and it hurt their feelings. It is no different from the 1st grader who call a classmate fat. Its not racism when a teacher says to a student, "You cannot do this because you are ___." Its racism when the school district refuses to send buses to the black neighborhood for black students to go to schools in a white neighborhood. Its racism when a district decides to arrest parents for sending their children to schools out of their zone. But people look over those things but focus on who called who a terrorist. This is America where freedom of speech and expression is king. People are going to say mean and ugly things all the time. Dave Chappelle said it best when he said he loved racism in the south. A white man says hello nigger and the black man's response is hello master. And the joke is that people down here do not jump up at arms over name calling because we understand what racism is. People not from the south who only read stories of what happened down here during the civil rights movement quickly feel if a group of white cops shot an armed black man then the shootings is racially motivated. Ignorant people have jumped up in front of the camera and disgraced the face of the type of racism are parents and grandparents fought about. Remember, the next time you walk into a store and someone follows you around, before you scream racism, reach back to a time when one could not walk into that store because of their skin color. If you ask me, I rather go into the voting booth and be called the N-word everytime I go rather than not being able to go at all.

Hello Tyra : i just watched your show about racism and was very affended that you forgot that aboriginals or better known as american indians weren't even mentioned as a ethnic goup in america. I personally live in Vancouver,Canada,and fell affended.i feel that we were pushed aside and forgotten ,like we don't exist in the world .Being an aboriginal woman i grow-up being made fun of in grade school, and then as a teen and in my early twenties having to prove that not all aboriginals(american indian) are drunks and on welfare,feel like once agian we are have to prove ,not that we are all drunks or alcholics but that we even exist and that we are part of this thing we call the human race,and that we can't be pushed aside and forgotten.

I watched the show today completely intrigued by everything the focus group was saying. I live in Canada, and the race issues here are very different. There is racism here, but I don't think to the same extent. I would be really curious to see how the same type of focus group would be like here.

Great job on opening the door for discussion on this issue! Keep it up!

PS I am whiter than white, and I always find that women who have really dark skin have the most beautiful skin (I am very envious of it), and often are absolutely breathtaking! So please embrace it and work it - you are beautiful!

Tyra,
Thank you for doing this segment. As a caucasian woman people seem to think I've never had to experience racism. This could not be farther from the truth. I had been dating a guy for a year and a half. He was South Asian. His family forced us to break up because I am not South Asian. It wasn't because of religious differences which wouldn't have upset me as much. It would have been something I could have understood. But no, it was simply because of the color of my skin, my heritage. Something that I have absolutely no control over. It is something I will never be able to understand. I think by putting all kinds of racism out there and making it real and not just something to turn your cheek at we will be able to join together to change it. Thank you so much!

Hi Tyra,

I have a few points on racism that I think should get covered and no one ever does. First we have to look at culture and realize that it is different and embrace it rather than sterotype it. We seem to forget that everyone and every race is different in there points of view. People want to "blend" but in fact they don't always and there is nothing wrong with that. We need to start teaching EVERYONE all the different heritages in depth and not just as an option in college.
We are a country founded on freedom of choice and religion. Yes, slavery existed and was most unfortunate but we need to put that in the past and move on. Also, if you take history where slavery started it was not here it was in the Middle East and Asia so all ethnicities have been apart of that unfortunate circumstance. "America" has just been the most recent. We need to Forgive and Forget.
The one last thing I would like to address is who we make as Heroes. All ethnicities need to quit making heroes out of the people that supress them. We need to embrace those that make us make a difference and promote positive change. Not dwell on racism. Change it so there is no sterotype to be had. Require that everyone get a great education, parents that are drug addicts need to pay consquences rather than pittied. I could go on and on. We the people need to take responsibility and CHANGE, not just sympathize and enable.

Dear Tyra,
I love your show. You have amazing topics that help a lot of your audience. However, this particular show was very disappointing to me. We have a society based on racism. Every race claims they want to heal their wounds and be respected, as well as accepted. Yet each race is guilty of creating more wounds and more racism. We create this world of division and then cry about how everyone else is discriminating against us. We all get judged, we all are discriminated against. It should not matter which ethnicity has it worse. How are we to heal any wounds, to get past these racial boundaries if we are constantly trying to point fingers at someone else. T.V. shows encourage racism, as well as our music, our schools, and the way we raise our children. We will never be a united society if we constantly insist on seperating ourselves from one another, putting a color to who someone is, labeling someone's potential because of where they come from. Instead of focusing on who get's it the worse we should focus on how we all feel pain, and how can we push past the boundaries that puts such a handicap on how this world grows.

hi tyra i wacthed your show on racism and i know how some of those people feel. i get racism on a daily basis because of my race. the sad part about it is i'm two races. my mther is white and my father is black i get called all out my name and it hurts but its something i grew up with. i undertstood how your guest feel but i wonder how they would feel to be me.i get racism from two to three races at once because my parents are two sepaarte races and i look like i should be hispanic. i've been called every name managable but you know what i have a very supportive family and a boyfriend who love me for me and as long as you love your self nothing else really matters

Tyra, I watch your show on racism. I thought your show was inaccurate. You had forgot a race, the Native American. I believe they are the ones who are the most discriminated. Next time you do a show on racism include all races. And if you are wondering Iam a white woman.

Tyra,
I want to thank you for including white people on your show today. I am half Mexican but am the blonde haired, light skin, blue eyed girl who is seen as white, as the other half of me is. We often do not get a say and are told to shut up when it comes to Racism because we are told we don't experience it. That whites don't have the right to say anyhthing b/c we are are the racists. For example there are Latino clubs in school, as well as African American. However when a girl set up a White Club in school, it was put on the news, with a lot of contraversy, considered Rasist and grabs attention. We may not have the history as bad as others but we are victums today and it's often not acknowledged.

Hello,
I am a college student and I live in Minneapolis, MN. I grew up in the suburbs, but currently live in one of the poorer neighborhoods in Minneapolis.(Which by the way is nothing compared to the ghettoes in other parts of the country.) I watched the tyra show today about racism. I missed part of it, but from what I saw no one even mentioned racism against Native Americans. Before Minneapolis was a city, the Dakota tribe lived on this land. Even their version of the Garden of Eden is here, between Minneapolis and St. Paul. When white settlers came in, the Native Americans were put on reservations and their way of life was completely stolen from them. They were no longer part of and protectors of the land. All that is left of these people is a small housing project called Little Earth which is riddled with poverty, crime, and drugs. I've heard many people make fun of Native Americans and show a tremendous amount of disrespect. I agree with the statement on the show that African Americans have historically been the group discriminated against the most, but what about Native Americans? At least the general public recognizes that fact. No one even cares about Native American suffering, or that crime and drug problems are rampant in their communities. Worst of all, it doesn't even cross peoples' minds that this country is built on the fact that we slaughtered their people, stole their land, and their way of life.
PLEASE READ THIS!!!!

Tyra
I'm mixed Cherokee indian.I am a mother of 6 MIxed mexican-american children And now am married to A wonderfull Black Ethiopian man. We have a mixed black-white daughter. I am all to used to racism. Like Micheal Jackson says, if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself then make a change.Yes, the comments hurt, but after a while when I didn't show emotion things changed. I don't get them that much any more.Now instead of n--- b---. or N--- lover,I'm Mrs Demissie.My kids are not called spic, wetback or beaners, they are Mrs. Demissies children, We are doing fine.We need to stop trying to defend ourselves, or getting mad, let's show them we're better than that.My people, the Cherokee were discriminated against way before the blacks ever got here. I don't see you talking about that. Mt husband is black. He is a proud man, hard worker, and you never see him, or here him feeling sorry about the way his people were treated. That happened long before he was ever born. He lives for today, not for yesterday. He does'nt act black, or white, he is just himself and is comfortable being him, not a color.One of my mexican-american sons is in the Army. He said to me one day that it was great being there because he wasn't a mexican-american, but a soldier. Do you understand that? Not a collor, but a person.I was born into a very poor family, but my grandfather taught me something early on. It's not what you are, but who you are and what you do that makes us great.Not our color or race, but how we act, and what we do with our lives.If I were black, I would be proud of who I was.Not trying to act like a color to fit in with the rest.The same I have taght my kids.We will be judged in heaven by our own individual acts. not as a race.If someone says bad or ugly things to us, we should consider the source of the sad lonely, ignorant person that said it to us.Most racial people have real mental issues. They were not accepted by thier peers, (for what ever reason), so they started hanging with the racial crowd in order to fit in. GET IT?I we don't get that job because of our color,THINK ABOUT IT a proud very mixed family
The Demissie Family

As I sat here watching your show for the very first time, I was surprised by the coincidence of the subject matter. Being a Native American I could not fathom why an intelligent woman, such as yourself, would blatantly, or ignorantly,(you choose)exclude my people. The African American woman (who happened to be a plant, No? wasn't she on Flavor of Love?))in the audience complained that her people suffered for 200 yrs in slavery. Well honey, at least they found a purpose for your people and let them live. They killed my people. It's funny, because when Hitler exterminated all of those Jews, it was Genocide. My people were just trash to be exposed of. No one is creating memorials and making movies about that part of history, because Americans are and should be embarrassed about the way the First Peoples of North America were and are still treated.

Dear Tyra:
Your show saddened me - more than you know - today. And I have a couple of things to share that I ask you to PLEASE listen to. Please don't 'oust' me - just because my perspective will come from that of someone who appears totally 'white'. Everyone talks of the things they've been through, and 'how' they feel that 'their pain is the worst'! And...instead of becoming a 'society' of educated people who've forgiven - (or at least gone on from) - the 'battles' of the past...I can't help but feel that 'most' are walking around with a 'chip' on their shoulder, over 'things' that weren't endured by them - and 'taking it out on' those'who also had nothing to do with it' as well. I am so glad that you're doing a show that raises awareness, and shows the 'ugliness' of racism...but...I want to be the one who's strong enough to stand up, as a white person, and say something about how some of us are treated, and the 'reverse racism' that goes on now because 'it's OK ' for one group to be offended...but not the other! I'd just like to say...'Why' does it matter 'who's ' the most discriminated? Wouldn't it be 'better' to promote a 'bond' between us,and teach others to try and do their best to 'move on' without the hatred? You see...I'm not allowed to say what happened to me as a child - all because I'm a white person, and it doesn't seem to 'matter' what we go through. Istn't that discrimination as well?
I can remember it starting at the age of '5'! I had to walk past a prominently black neighborhood going home from school, and one day - as I was roller skating on my way - I was jumped by at least 4 big kids, who happened to be black, and proceeded to throw me down on the ground, lift up my dress, pull down my panties, and then kick me in the crotch - over and over again. I went home bloodied, and we weren't allowed to 'do' anything about it - so - this went on for a very long time. I did not grow up with a chip on my shoulder because of this, and I have/will always strive to see everyone through God's eyes anyway. But my point is...as Tyra finally said..."Who's to say who suffers more?...and does that matter?...must we hold onto it?...or should we be a part of the solution?" All I'd like to say is that, "...we are all discriminated against someimtes...no one should go about saying 'how' their's is the only one worth mentioning. Rather - let's be the generation who ends it all.

Hey Tyra.
You don't even know me and I am sure you are going to hate me after what i have to say.

i am a little irritated that how black people had it worse was all you seems to focus on. black people have just as much freedom as any other people do so i dont see why it is still necessary to bring up the past. no one alive today had anything to do with slavery.

i also find it to be offending that it always seems that white people are the racist ones. i was hoping you'd bring up the fact that white people don't get to be proud of being white without being racist. black people have BET, you have black history month, and martin luther king jr day. I understand he was a motivational man, but he also cheated on his wife. repeatedly. and i dont like how he is remembered. someone that is remembered throughout time should be someone of honor.

another thing that i really really wish you would have brought up is that if anyone even knows that it was a black man that first contributed to the slave trade. he brought forth his OWN son and wife and sold them to dutchmen. why wasn't that said?? maybe african people wouldnt feel like everyone was racist against them if they knew that their own people originally gave their ancensters away. i didn't hear anything about africans comming to america to get their people back.

anywho. im not saying im not ignorant because i am still very young. but i feel that some of those things should have been said.

hi tyra your cool and all but on todays show on racism on what culture had it worst i would say my culture native americans.since the white man came to north america they've treated us like dirt.they put us in residental schools where they beat us and killed us,taught us how to speak english and made us into their religion,in the residental school we wernt aloud to speak our native tongue if we did they'd spank us , and sometimes killed, they put us on little reservations,and killed us to try to extinct our culture and the government rewarded people with money if they brought our heads into the goverment office.they tried to make us white. and to this day we're stereotyped as "drunking injuns",if you dont believe me research it.yea every culture had it bad but if you do your research on native americans we had it the worst.

Always, Always it seems that 1st Nations / American Indian people are forgotten. We are still here.

How come on the show there was no talk about Native Americans? I think they have had it the worst.Im Mexican American and to end Racism we got to start with ourselves.Before you point the finger and accuse someone of being a racist look in the mirror cuz im sure you've been racist to someone too

i was really bothered.. by the show having to do with racism... i am not racist. but i do have some comments, that are the hard truth. u get judged on how u act. and if u act like a loud black person that is talking about someones brother being a terrorist, or some mexican or latin american being a maid, that i would call and ignorant person that really needs to be educated, or maby some ignorant mexican talking about a black person being in welfare, that is a discrase to us mexicans. knowing that as muched as they get "hated on" everyone else gets that same treatment because ignorant people like them did the exact same thing that they are doing, judgeing! am mexican. i was born in mexico. and raised in los angeles, in a diversed school. it gets me mad how in the show the black people were kinda proud that their people are still having it the worst... i think it takes people like that, to get racism the way it is.. let it go! and move on! thats the only way. anyone can stop the racism. not by going at it over and over again about who got segregated the most.. or how many mexican are maids, or what asian is the smartest or ritcher.... get over what u went through.. and get with the times. WE ARE ALL EQUAL!

Sup Tyra! You're an inspiration for all of us women of all walks of life... I am an aborigingal citizen residing here in BC Canada. Each of must begin to endure that all walks of life have succumbed to emotional, mental,physical turmoil... Each must not forget that it is for our evolving to get through lifes trial lessons. I've read some of the comments that my other fellow first Nations haven't been acknowledged of what our people have endured.... It is a fact that especially in Canada it was a Canadian Holocaust my ancestors succumbed to such hardship and many of whom have affected their daily lives... BUT instead of being angry about it; why not learn from it and empower ourselves to teach others to love compassionately,trust,have integrity to our young ones... Not to repeat history... Each must begin that we're all equal within; share the same creator and live within this physical plane. Let us all live amongst one peacefully. Let us return to our spiritual roots. Mankind does stand a chance at peace,prosperity and abundance.

Peace you'll. All my relations, Tsatu Bobb

hello miss tyra, i am still watching your show and i am of a mixed race of mexican and black and i am in my early teens and i just wanted to say i love your show and the topic you had today.Yes everybody gets discriminated no matter what the color of their skin is or their race. i am a very light.. VERY light black-mexican, and ppl assume i am white. once that thought gets into their head, they treat me differently than when they find out what i really am. and yes even though i look white, you can clearly tell that i am mixed with something. i think its horrible that ppl do judge, but EVERYBODY does it. i wont make it sound like i dont, i know i do and im sure you do it to and just odont think about it.i just wanted to say. thank you for having this topic on your show today, it is a very real topic that not alot of ppl talk about, that should.

Thank you again miss tyra. You are a very good role model.

Dear Tyra, i am watching this show right now and it is actually enlighting to me. First and above all we are all americans i cant figure it out why people want to distinguish themselves as african americans. We as a whole are born here in america. Most of us anyways. I have a whole lot of mix in my blood but i dont walk around saying im irish american that is more in my blood than anything. I am proud of my heritage which i believe everyone should be but we are Americans born and raised. That said i think two races that are targeted would be latino and arab. I am a caucasion woman who is struggling to get a good paying job. I am one who doesnt care what skin color you have as long as you are working and contributing to society. Not gathering a check from the government. I work hard for my paycheck i have 3 kids who that check goes to support. And i feel good when i lay my head down at night because i know i worked for my food. I feel stereotyping comes from what you are is what you are. I work in retail and hear alot of things from all races. I have seen people come into my store and just trash it then say that because i work there i should clean it up because that is what i get paid to do! What! Im not the maid here clean up your messes is what i would like to say. I get paid for customer service not cleaning up messes that you should not have made. I would no less go into your office or work and tear through it and then walk out. This is not racism this is total lack of respect for every race. It happens to me and everyone out there. My question is this: who may i call when someone is racist to me? Where is my NAACP group to help me when i dont get that high paying job? I feel for every woman up on that stage but it comes down to this there would be no Racism if everyone worked for a living, and quit whining because of what they didnt get in life. we should come together as a unit instead of working against one another. If you commit a crime do the time. People need to understand we all cant have the great job we want, or the perfect house with a white picket fence. Life is not a bowl of cherries so we should just as children play nicely together.

I just watched a little over half of your show on racism and turned the tv off out of disgust.

I personally was raised to believe that all are equal and to love and respect all of God's children. I do agree though that racism is real and stereotyping happens by all humans to all humans on a daily basis. I think much of the racism between white and black hundreds of years ago was due to the mindset of the old days. In this day and age I think it is the media who has kept the racism mindset going and your show was a classic example of feeding negative thinking. AFter 9/11 the world was afraid of middle eastern men. Now it seems as though there are many news stories portraying a new trend of women suicide bombers. As a result, I think society has a newfound fear of all middle eastern people.
It is unfortunate, but there is a direct correlation between what we see on tv and how we stereotype society.

I am disgusted because I feel that your show today didn't accomplish much else than to create more hostility between groups. Having them face off about who has it worse was a horrible show idea and I don't know what you thought you could positivly accomplish in a one hour show. All you did was hurt the feelings of the guests and members of their culture.

I think a week long special featuring a different ethnic group and how racism affects them each day would have been a more positive way of educating the public. Learning of how each ethnic group is treated and the comments that are hurtful to them would allow the rest of society to learn something and perhaps re-evaluate how they think of other races. I would have rathered watch a whole show on how one culture is affected by racism than sit there and listen to a pity party for one hour that didn't accomplish anything.

Tyra- I am a native women, and I feel that we are truly the race that has been discriminated against. I noticed that you have touched on all of the other races within society, but we are the true indiginous people of North America. We are the ones that have been lost within the cracks of society. It is hard for the Native Comunity, let alone Native Women to function within our diverse country when we have all been assimilated to ignore those that have been conquered and not allowed to regain sovereignty. We have not even been aknowledged on a national show as yours for being a race, or a people that may be dicriminated against. It is baffelling that you of all people would not see that we are a race to be aknowledged. We were asimilated and dicriminated almost to the point of extinction as now we only represent 1.5% of the United States population as of the 2000 Census. As a people who once had the freedon to roam all of our traditional teritory, we were suddenly told how to live, what language to speak, what religion to practice, our children taken away from our homes, the list goes on and on of the wrongs that have been and are still being comitted to this day. I think that this is wrong, that our 1.5% population was not represented.

Hello Tyra,

First I would like to say that I have always been an idealist. I thought this was a great country and I knew racism existed but I really thought the fight against racism was being won.

When I was in grade 10, which was not very long ago, I had to take the bus to school and it was a long ride because the school was a ways out. But for some reason that year the students on my bus decided they were going to start making racist jokes. It was a small bus, there was myself, three other girls, two guys, and two little kids from an elementary school near ours.

The first time a racist joke was made, one of the girls on the bus, a brilliant student, probably the most beautiful girl in the school, and extremely popular turned around and stated that she felt uncomfortable hearing racist jokes like that and that it wasn't okay.

Well I agreed with her out loud to the other students on the bus. The problem was I was NOT pretty NOT popular and was certainly not perceived as being brilliant or even close to it.

When I agreed with her she blushed, and the bus just went silent. From that point on every time a racist remark or comment was made, she had nothing to say, and would often laugh right along with the others.

Who knew you had to be beautiful for anyone to respect your stand on such issues? And who knew that making a stand would back fire like that?

I would also like to point out that the Natives seemed to not only be forgotten by you, but by every single person in that audience and all the guests of your show. I find that sad. The Natives are always being forgotten.

I would also like to say that I find it interesting that you had Muslim women there. I know they experience a lot of discrimination, but last I checked being Muslim has nothing to do with race.

As for Muslims only experiencing discrimination since September 11th, that is also false. In the 18 hundreds the inquisition kidnapped young Muslim and Jewish children from their families and they were raised by the church. It was a method of converting I suppose. And ever since the crusades Muslims have experienced discrimination in the West and by Westerners in their own lands. I know this is not in the United States but it is still in the West and the Western attitude is obviously reflected in the United States just as American culture is reflected throughout the Western world.

That is another mistake I believe you made, was making the assumption that this is an American issue, when it is something that affects everyone everywhere. As well as something that historically goes much farther back then the US.

I wonder sometimes if people only care about these issues when it affects them personally. If they were the abusers, instead of the victims, would they even notice that something was wrong?

Judging by history I would say in most cases the answer is no. There are the few people who are free thinkers who oppose the masses even though they are in no way hurt by the discrimination in the area and or time period but they are rare. Maybe that is why some of your guests were being so insensitive towards each other?

I would like to congratulate you on this show though, I feel you and others with as much influence and power as you should be bringing these topics to the surface far more often.

I hope you do a follow up, or a show on racism on a regular basis, just because if you don't, people will forget.

Also, if you read this, could I just say that I would absolutely love for you to do something similar on sexism.

I have noticed that using derogatory terms to describe a person's race is something that gets attacked quite a bit more than having that same type of attitude towards women. For example, a song by a white artist using the N word and speaking degradingly of African Americans would be attacked immediately and would not be played on the radio or in public places or things like that. Which is good, anyone who writes a song like that needs serious help. However music describing women as objects and Bitc*es and hoes and glamorizing abuse towards women and rape are played in clubs and on the radio and that attitude strong in society right now and I don't understand why that is okay.

Anyways, there were a few other things I wanted to say but I can't remember what they are.

I don't know if there was any point in me writing this.

But thanks for that show it was very insightful.

please forgive me 4 what i'm going to write.

watching this show angered me so much, the focus on how people hurt by other races' coments was wrong. what needs to be focused on is why, why does it still happen and why are we not doing anything to stop it? tyra focesed on who gets it more, thats not the point, it happens to everyone, by everyone, so complaining and trying to show who hurts more is stupid and beond the point. what i want to know is why can some reaces get away with more than others? how about a show on one race at a time, whites not getting along with those who r black cuz they cant dace well enough. or why latinos cant get along with whites cuz their english isnt good enough...ect i really dont think that the problem was addressed here, only sturred up making it worse. and i dont feel that my race didnt have the chance to show how bad it hurts, thats ok, cuz i'm supposed to have it better right? cuz i'm white

hey tyra while watching your show today i thought there would be native americans in there but there wasn't!im very suprised by this because they are the only true americans in the world and they are the ones who founded this beautiful country here. i feel that they should have becuase if it wasnt for them none of us would have been here and they are one of the only ones who have the right to be judgemental towards others. ps im not saying that racism isnt right

Tyra,
I am watching your show at this very moment. I think speaking about this topic is wonderful and will help open up the eyes of closed minded people. Let me say first, yes I am a white women. As a military wife who gives up so much to for my husband to protect our boarders I am tired of listening to people talk about the pride of the country they come from. I am thrid generation born Russian Jew. I understand being proud of ones culture. But, when people come to this country it is usually for a better life and future. Why not be proud of America? If people are so proud of where they came from...go back. When a person becomes a citizen of this country America becomes their home. America should become their priority. I am all for allowing people to come here to make a better life for themselves and their families. But again, if things are better here then show pride for this country...if not go back.

I am a student at UW - Stout and am also mixed and relate to other African Americans some being close friends of mine discriminating against me because my skin is lighter than theirs. My mother is white and my father is black (but not in the picture). I am the president of the BSU here on this campus and help to educate people on this campus who are ignorant about other minority races. I also work in the ally center here and we host dialouges dealing with the touchy issues, one being race, and other issues that people have questions and opinions on. I was really happy to see this show because we all have so many perceptions of other races and assumptions and it is a long hard road to help just one person see race in a different light.

Hi Tyra first off I know that you have ALOT and I mean ALOT of comments made for this show. I just wanted to say that I’m glad at lest there is one talk host who has taken the time to show other (all around the world) how peoples action and thoughts effects others feelings and I just wanted to thank you and also say that my mother and I have also been abused by peoples thoughts and words. Its pretty funny how you think those who know how it feels to be judged by the way they look do such a dreadful act. I pretty much thank that i'm a healthy 19 year old Persian girl who lives in Canada and who is also considering to study in the states bu it makes me rethink about the thought because I know later on my mother is going to go through more than she is right now. Just to let you know I have more of a white complexion and my mother is more on the brown side. It breaks my heart how my mother is treated it has been so bad that a neighbor of ours thought that my mother had stolen me from Greece where we had lived. I'm sorry for just rambling on but I just wanted to thank you for the great show, really takes a intelligent person to bring these type of issue in the media once again. THANK YOU!

Hello Tyra,
I am an American Indian from Montana, educated and have been exposed to various races, cultures and various ways of living. I am not perfect, I am not one to judge another. I am a person who sees others overlooking, us, as American Indians and the Indigineous Peoples from Canada. Just as I have seen on your show, there is NOTHING about the Natives of the North American continent. IF you want ratings anad want people to realize something, we are a forgoten people and it shows on your television program. I am not saying we are looking to be in the light of racism issues, but I am saying that we are too forgotten as people that have been struggling for centuries. If anything, we are the "Minority of the Minority" We are a people that have struggled with racism, poverty, injustice, assimilation, residential school "syndrome," physical and psychological abuse, and most importantly, the lack of respect and recognism for who we are and what we stand for, in each and every tribe that is present, recognized or unrecognized. There are 500+ tribes out there with there own languages, teachings, traditions, beliefs. If anyhting, we are the most diverse and yet we are grouped into the same category. Look at yourself and look where you would be without Natives. WE helped this country, we sacrifice for this country, we love this land that this racist country has been built.

Hi Tyra, I love your show and watch it whenever I can, I really liked your show on racism today because I think it is a topic that needs to be resolved. I want to start out by saying that I am not racist at all and I have seen racism towards every race on multiple occasions, each of which is just as wrong! One of my best friends in the world, Bianca, is african-american, in high school people called us salt and pepper :o) I saw people be racist to her multiple times, surprisingly it was the group of african-americans at our school (who chose to have their own group) that caused the problems they said she was not black enough because she was light skinned (she is caramel) she was very hurt by this and I could never understand why they would be like that? Seeing the segment on your show today reminded me of that, why can't people just be friends with people because they have a nice personality? Why do so many people have so much attitude? Personally I will be friends with anyone who is nice to me! What I do not understand is the fact that, just because I am white I am looked at as racist?! As a white person I can look at someone of a different race and smile and still get a dirty look or called out like I am racist! I went to highschool in Colorado and not to bring out a certain race but there was one hallway where all the hispanics had there lockers, and as a white person you walked through that hallway with your head down so that you would not offend anyone! As a white person saying "I'm not racist" you might as well say you are! Because people do not believe you! I know that in the past alot of white people were horrible to other races! But that was not this generation! I cannot help being born white which means I cannot control who my ancestors are! Just as much as other races can't help it! Personally I can't stand to hear the N word or anything like that but you hear cracker and other words like that like they are nothing! I completely understood where the white girl on your show was coming from and really wished you had more than one white person on the show! There was certainly more "ethnic" people in the audience and on the show! One thing that bothers me is how pretty much any other race that has darker colored skin is called "ethnic" and white people are just white like it is a bad thing!? It's like we have nothing in common with the other races!? When in fact we are all just human! Thanks, I hope I do not offend anyone cause that is not my purpose!

I am not denying that racism is still a huge problem. But isn't competing for which culture or ethnicity has it worse just feeding the fire?

I was also watching the show about racism and the show didn't mention Native Americans...I am Native American and live in Minnesota. There is alot of racism towards Native Americans not only because of race but also the Casino Issues. As you know most are owned and managed by Native Americans. This is another reason for hatred for the Native Americans. But we also feel the color issues as well as the economic issues.

I find the concept for the show "Racism: Who Has It Worse" to be foolish and divisive. Why would you encourage the minority community to fight amongst itself (ex. the black woman screaming at the Arab woman because she has been the victim of racism for 200 years-30 or so of which she's been alive, I might add) rather than to band together? "Who has it worse" is a question that poses each minority group against the others. This is unproductive sectarianism. Regardless of who has it worse, all have it bad. Encourage people to get over themselves, Tyra, and fight the infrastructures that oppress all of us.

You did a show on which race has it the worst and you know that has to be the Native Americans because you didn't even think to include them on your show and this is why they are FORGOTTEN. I am not Native American myself but all my friends are. I work in an office where are clients are predominantly Native Americans or Latino. I also have many times that I myself being predominantly "white" or considered such that I can identify with your guest who has gone through a lot also. I know many strong Native American people who would have been willing to be on your show and I wish there was a way that they could be heard. Please think about including them next time or doing a show just about this issue they need to be heard.

Thank you
Denise in Albuquerque, NM

Me, as an Muslim Palestinian American..honestly I am offended a bit. Even though I am Middle Easterner, Islam is not only based in the Middle East.
There are Muslims that are black, white, Asian, Latino, etc..
Right now I know nonMiddle Easterner Muslims who are watching this are offended. The African americans race is the most populated group in Islam. In ISlam, we follow one culture- Islamic culture. So I thought it was offensive to name "Islam" as Middle Easterners. Because the main point of the discussions were talkign about Islam.

Also, to the one who said "you have been tormented and racially profiled for 2 yrs and we for 200 yrs."
Falesteen is right she needs to educate herself. Islam has been racially profiled way before 9/11 and way before African americasn entered America. Since day one of Islam, Muslims have been tormented. And ISlam has been here for over 1500 yrs.

Dear Tyra,
I saw your show twice on Racial Discrimination: which race has it worst. I am a Native American ( Navajo) and half Mexican woman who was born and raised on Native land which are called reservations. I was raised in my Native ways and now embracing my other ethnic background. I was disappointed that your show didn't include Native Americans based on your topic. There are approx. 512 Native Tribes reconized in the United States with different cultures, different traditions but as Native Americans we are one. I would have liked if you had some Native poeople on your panel discussing the hardships that Natives had to endure from the past to the present. I am aware that all ethnic people easily get dicriminated against I am not saying who has it worst. Even though my Native people have had their share of rough times we still are very proud people. We are trying to perserve our ways, our language, to past on what we we were taught. We as Natives have expierenced our share of discrimination in one way or another. For example, Do we still live in Teepees? Teepees are not all Native Americans tradition, the Northern tribes such as the Sioux live in Teepees...I am a Navajo and our tradtional home is called a Hogan. I admire you Tyra for trying to talk about racial issues that still haunt our nation today but I would have liked to see some Native people on your panal to give your viewers insight on Native Americans today and how we are treated. Thank you for your time.

Hi Tyra. I love your show but todays show about racism was not one of my favorites. I think that the show should have been more about our similarities and less about our differences. Everyone has been or will be discriminated racialy at least once in their life. I think the people on your show should understand more than anyone how bad it hurts. So we should understand that we are all God's children and stop arguing over who has it worse. We should instead be the people who understand the world is full of horrible peole who want to put us down, and not let those people hurt us. We are all strong and we (the people who are discriminated)should stick together.

hello,
I'm a "white" native alaskan and I was shocked you didn't have any "natives" on the show today. Even Oprah said it on her show that we have had it worst for longer.

Dear Tyra and other readers,

As I am watching this show it just makes me think about so many things. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, prodomonatly a Mexican or Latino town along with a lot of other citys and towns along the border. All schools tech spanish in school and its a mandatory class to take to graduate. I started learning Spanish when I was in first grade. And my fiancee was born and raised in Mazatlan, Mexico. It has gotten to a point where the 'white' race is the minority especially in my city. I don't have anything wrong with that, and I've had to be there all my life. On the other side I moved up to West Orange, New Jersey which is prodomently colored. I went to a high school where the 'whites' were ostrecized along with the asians. As you would walk through the hall ways the colored people are grouped around eachother and the rest of the races are trying to get through. I had asians friends, black friends, etc. But the huge lot of black people believed that the whites and other races should feel bad for the way they have been treated for the last 200 or so years. I understand that their ancestors were drug here in chains but a lot of african americas are coming over here now voluntaraly because of personal reasons or for things that are happening in their area. And I respect those ones that come over here and are proud of their heritage and where they came from but the ones who ostrasize the whites for not paying enough attention to their 'suffering' an that we should do everything in our power to help them i don't respect as much. In living in NJ I lived at the 'top of the hill' which was always known to be the rich neighbor hood in this town which honestly was either white or asian, but I also baby sat for a few houses in the area that were bigger than mine and the people were black and proud of it. Their house was full of African artifacts and raised their daughter so she would know the history, etc of their family. But the majority of the black people lived at the 'bottom of the hill' or 'the valley' as they called it which was supposedly the lower middle class area. Which was true but it was because the neighbor hood was not taken care of..the houses were run down. Throw a bucket of paint on the house and it would look really nice but the blacks always said it was a bad neighbor hood. I knew some people living in the neighbor hood and it really wasn't that bad. This is just some examples to show that there is discrimination but it is to every race. The end of the show they had the doctors and asked which race had it the roughest. You cannot just compare the races to see which ones have the worst.. If you want to compare the longest history, of course its the blacks. If you want to compare the most recent history its the Muslims. If you want to compare the history of the wars it was the Germans and the Japanese. Its not just one race... its all of them.

Miss tyra,i am watching your show right now and you are talking about racisum and i see that there is one more group that you do not have on your stage adn that is the Native -American people ? why is that ? what do you have to say sbout it ? you haev all the other ones there but you don't have the Natives the first people on the land .

ONE ETHIC YOU FORGOT ABOUTON YOUR SHOW!!

DEAR TYRA, i'm not too sure if you actually read these responds yourself or what, but i'm writing you this because i just got done watching the show about people and how they treat other racias. But i noticed that in the start of your show you did have every Race there expect NATIVE AMERICANS, which i feel was very wrong, because nobody ever talks about how we too are effected by the subject, People talk to the blacks, Asians, White's and people from the middle east. but never Native Americans.
I look up to you and i enjoy what you talk about on your show's alot but i just think if your going to do a show about that then you need to talk ABOUT ALL RACIES not just a few.
i'm very hurt about it because i guess in some ways i thought that your show was going to be different and not forget about the NATIVE AMERICANS but i guess i was wrong, i guess no matter how different you want your show to be, i guess in some ways there still all the same as everyone elses.....!!!!!!!!!!!
Montana Yazzie
from Albuquerque, New Mexico

I don't usually respond to television shows, but the show on racism, what race has it worse, really affected me. I like to believe that people are genuine and try to not descriminate, but the fact is, we all do. I think as individuals, people tend not think of themselves as racist, but as a society we are. I don't think people have the internal awareness level to understand thier own prejudices against others. Dialogue is the only way that we can create understanding. Thanks for starting people on that path.
chi-miigwetch

Dear Tyra, I live in Canada and I am of Jamaican background and recently Converted to Islam, So in other words I am a Muslim. I watched your show this morning and I was very happy to see your topic (RACISM). I have always loved you Tyra and I am happy to see the kind of topic you are bring on your show. You did not just talk about racism but you had all the beautiful Muslim sisters in there Hajjabs. I just want to say thank you for bring this subject out there. I feel hurt whenever I watch the news and see negetive comments about Muslims, because Islam is a religion it is not a race. Once again Tyra thanks for putting this topic out there.

Hi Tyra I have just watched the show and I felt discusted. I am a White Canadian girl that lives in a small town. However I see it different. My name is Natasha and I am 18 I went to a small town school and I am working on a life for myself and I am a person. I do not look at myself as a "white" person I look at myself as the same as I do all others. I see a beautiful person both inside and out and I know that there are things about me that people will never understand as much as there is about others. When I walk through a mall I will admit that I will notice if I see an African American person or that of the Muslum Religion but deep down I see a person. There are more chances of me noticing the outer beauty of a person before I notice their race. Being raised however in a mostly "white" community its difficult for me to explain how I feel. All I can say is that I dont believe that any race has a right to discriminate, we are all people and we all have rights. To be quite honest, I find myself often apoligizing to people of other cultures, not for what I have done but for what my "people" have done. I think its time that us "white" people take a look at our selves and realise that there may be a few African people who may be drug dealers and criminals, there may be a few people of the muslum religion who are teroists but there is just as many "white" criminals out there. It is not a race in particular that is criminals or teroists. These are people, people who happen to make choices based on the stereotypes given to them and I think if we all took the time to notice that we are all capable of doing something wrong we would begin to understand that all in all we are all just people. I would love it if by me posting this changed even one persons perspective because then I would have saved atleast one person from the harsh reality of racism.
Thank You

And Remember Regardless on what you and I believe in, We are all people, we are all family. We are all capable of the same things. It is possible for us to love one another and look beyond our personal beliefs. Take the time today to say a quick hello how are you or even flash a smile at someone of the opposite race. One small gesture can change one hole life.

I'm a 17 year old girl. I was born in the US. I was raised that people of a different color are bad. I have changed my view on life since i was 10. I have had many people ask me if i was raised in Mexico. I am a Latina. My mother is half Latina and Half White. My real father is Mexican. I was once called a "beaner" in front of my class. I didnt know how to respond to that so i left it alone. I went home and told my mom what had happened. And she said there isnt much i can do about it.
I look at this world now and im mad. We have seen many things that has changed our lives, but that doesn't give us a reason to hurt other people. We look at everyone and we say "oh well because she is black she probably has two kids and is a whore." Because people are black, white, brown, tan, purple. It doesnt matter. The color of your skin, your height, your weight, is just the outside of you. What only matters in a person is their spirt, their personality.
People are so judge-mental when it comes to looks. If they aren't skinny then they arent beautiful. I have been Told that Many times because of my weight. If i could have one wish that would be grandted, it would be that EVERYONE would just get along and there would be no racism.

Hi,

I'm a white girl from Montréal, Québec, Canada. Usually, when we hear about racism, we usually think about "whites against blacks". But, I think white people are also victims of racism. Surely less, but I think that racism against black people seems to be considered worst then racism against white people. It isn't true, racism is racism, end of it.

Québec is a french province surrounded by english people. I think there's also racism between different languages in Canada. English people hates French people, and French people hate English people. At least, that's people think. We may be from the same country, from the same color, but there's still racism everywhere and between anybody.

It seems like individually we all can stand each other but between population no. And the medias aren't helping it...

Dear Tyra, I just finished watching your show on "Racism, who has it worse?" I'm from Canada and am mixed race of Native and Irish. I'm just wondering why no Native Americans appeared on your show? I believe they should have had a part in your show. On a lighter note I LOVE YOUR SHOW!!

dear tyra,
i'm really happy to see you touch this subject because i know to this day it's suprisingly still a huge problem in our society.I'm aware that you recieve many comments so i won't be surprised if you don't have a chance to see my comments especailly since i don't live in your country. I live in canada and im sure you must of visited montreal Quebec at least once in your career and many people love our country and proveince of quebec because we are considered to be one of the friendliest and most open minded people in the world but unfortunatly we are stuggling in our own country and i'll explain why. I am a pure french canadien as many people who live in our beautiful proveince(considered a state in u.s standerds) and as a pure quebecer we are the people being discriminized in our own country. we accept so many immagrints with open arms and our government adapts new laws and programms for these races and basicaily our government is abandening the true canadiens to keep the other races happy. As canadiens we are becoming racest because we now have less rights and benifiets then an immagrint that just moved to our country.Again i am far from being racest but many people from my surrounding are getting angrier and that anger turns to hate and it is becoming a huge problem that i feel need to be adressed but unfortunatly our government refuses to debate the subject, i wish that one day our voices will be hurd before hate becomes violence troughout our beautiful country
thank you
maya

hello Tyra,
What about the Native American people, the USA just forgets about the people that founded this country. With out us there would be no USA.
thanks,native american man

The show today on racism was great. But I never hear about American Indians. This was there land and they have been treated worse than anyone on the show, and for longer. I guess they are the hidden secret, because we stold their land.

I SHOULD SAY THAT'S A HARD ONE BUT IT ISN'T. HOW CAN WE END OR TRY TO HELP END SOMETHING THAT "WE THE PEOPLE" HAVE NO POWER OVER. RACISM IS IN TOO DEEP, EVEN TOO DEEP FOR THE RACIST. IF IT END AS FAR AS IN COMMUNITIES AND OTHER CITIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMMON SENSE TO MAN UP AND STOP BECAUSE IT STARTS IN THE COMMUNITIES. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT? WHO HAS THE COMMON SENSE

Hi Tyra, what about my people? The Lumbee Tribe is the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi river, but we are not federally recognized as a tribe because we were the first Native Americans to accept the ways of today's world. Over 400 years of being denied of our Native American right in this country that we founded. Please help my people get their rights back as Native Americans still thriving in today's world. Thanks, Fleming

I think doing a survey like this in different locations across the U.S. would show different results.

I have lived in many different states and have seen different versions of racism. It is fascinating to see how some areas carry more hatred for a race than another.

The one city I lived in that impacted me the most was when I lived in Montgomery Alabama. It is a historical location regarding African American rights, so I assumed there would be some issues that were still touchy. I didn't expect things to be as bad as they were and how reversed the hatred was.

The first memory was when my mom applied for a job at a local retail store. She asked for an application and was told that they filled up their quota of white people.

In school, I was actually pulled out of public school after 9 months of teasing and eventually death threats. When the death threats began, I asked one girl why was I the only one they seemed to be messing with she replied with, "because you are a white yankee that don't belong here." It was at that time, I saw that it wasn't just my skin color that was an issue, but my accent as well. What was different or a minority in the area was designated as the kick me sign.

Now to be fair, I heard it all. Typically it was elderly Caucasians that I seen make racial comments towards African Americans, just like it was typically it was thirtyish and under African Americans that made racial comments towards Caucasians. It wasn't all age groups and just one race, it was something I never saw or experienced before.

This was alittle over five years ago, so maybe things have changed. Either way, I learned a lot from the experience.

I was able to see what it feels like for minorities that deal with this hatred everywhere they go. I was lucky. Once I was old enough, I moved as far from that as possible. I still see racism and hate, but not at the level I have seen in other cities. For that reason, I think if you did this same experiment in different major cities, you will see slightly different results.

This country is great, but there is so much hate. It makes no sense sometimes why it happens. I think it is great that you focused equally on each race during your experiment. I think everyone needs to be aware that there is different kinds of racism.

Why does it have to be African-American, Mexican-American, or even German-American. People who have come to this country have done so because they wanted something better than their country could provide. Why can't we just be "American's". Our one flag is all-inclusive. The divisions of race are hindering our potentials -- as men and women. Also, I received the following in an e-mail, I thought I would share it. I'm not sure if the letter is true. It can even be an urban legend. However, it brings the point home that we are American's. And as a woman and a veteran, I enjoy ALL of my freedoms.

==========
So many US Citizens simply do not understand. Perhaps this will help.
Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published but with your help it will get published via cyberspace!

New Immigrants

From: "David LaBonte"

My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by sending it out on the Internet.
I hope this letter gets read by millions of people all across the nation!! Pass it along if you feel so inclined.

Dave LaBonte (signed)

Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:

Dear Editor:

So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr.Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.

Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along
side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy, France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about talking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.

(signed) Rosemary LaBonte

HI TYRA,I LIVE IN CANADA AND WATCH YOUR SHOW DAILY.YOU ARE SO OPEN AND UNDERSTANDING.BUT ANYWAYS I M WRITTING TO TELL YOU THAT EVEN SPEAKING ANGLISH IN MY COUNTRY WAS A BIG PROBLEME.MY MOM WAS AMERICAIN AND MY DAD FRENCH CANADIAN KIDS AND POEPLE ON THE STREET WOULD TELL ME GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY AND ALL THAT...I JUST WANTED YO TELL YOU THAT NOT ONLY COLORS IS A BIG PROBLEME IN 2006.

im so sick an tired of hearing about racism especially from other races im native american and it seems that everyone and i mean everyone except our race has forgotten about what are people has been thru and still going thru our people were almost extincted forst to live on reservations back in the day granted african americans had it bad arabs are havent it bad now but everytime a topic a racism come along they forget to talk about us native americans we had it bad if not the worst so id appreciate it if your show does another segment on racism dont forget about the native americans who has dealt with this since the beginning

THE NATIVE AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THIS DON'T YOU THINK?
AND.....AS FAR AS BLACK SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY, HOW MANY WHITE MEN FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THEIR FREEDOM DURING THE CIVIL WAR? IS THAT EVER APPRECIATED????? AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED EVERY NATIONALITY THAT LIVES HERE OUTSIDE OF NATIVE AMERICANS ARE VISITORS!
THIS IS ONE SHOW THAT ANGERS ME AS I AM SURE MANY OTHERS!

I am Native American (Navajo) and Mexican American, your show should have included the Native American race and show how we are treated, I was disapointed.

Trya,
I loved the show today,But speaking from a Native American veiw point,No matter what religion or color,we as women come from, there is only one thing we have in common, And that is a maternal instinct,That protectiveness we have for God's little Blessings to us our children,And for our surroundings,our culture,we protect what we have been taught,wether it bee how to cook something, how we clean ect. Native women are still to this day, trying to keep our culture from dying, and we have been doing this for centuries, when the white man discoverd us, they brought change with no choice, Our lives was uprooted,And much fogotten, Long before others was,Our people adapted or died,thats just the way it was, The population of the Native people are growing, but still so small,And most of the time due to that we sit back and say nothing, we have not sold are lost, who we are, We have just been Forgotten,

It was enlightening and disheartening to see that other people suffer as well. I mean I'm not naive, but I always thought it was worse here. See, I am a Native American, living in Quebec. Well, here, natives, and more so, Mohawks, are seen as criminals. This based on the actions of a few. Here the rascism is not only comments, although they do occur. When we apply for things like credit, even with a good history, we are refused based on where we live. The police won't come to our homes in case of an emergency, because they fear violence, and people are told to come to the station location 5 miles away.
When people ask what I am, I say with pride, and am then ridiculed because we supposedly don't pay taxes, or we are all on welfare, or we all beat our women, or we are all drug dealers, or alcoholics. I tell them I never hit a woman or even tried drugs. I tell them I have never been on welfare, and that last year I had 6 beers in the WHOLE year, and am then told it's only a matter of time before I start.

Just last week my son, who is 11 asked me if it was ok if he lied about his race because he was ashamed at who we were. What can I tell him? I tell him to be proud of who HE is, and who his family is, and to never stand for injustice of any kind.

Personally I envy him however, because his mom is non-native, and he doesn't look as native as I do, or like his grandparents. I hope this protects him at least a little bit.

I KNOW it sounds disgusting, but only 20 years ago in high school, I was told to quit my studies and go work construction like every other indian, because I would never amount to anything. Well, I am proud to say that I achieved my dream, and am a police officer and paramedic. Want to know what fueled me all those years? That man who told me I was useless.

My son wants to be an architect and my daughter a oceanographer. They will get what they want, because we are as good as anyone else.

I was also a little sad to see that we were not represented on your show, but I think you got your point across.

God Bless

One of my friends sent this to me! After watching your show today, I thought I would share this! Now, I am a white girl, but I am not trying to say white people have it the hardest! I believe you only have it hard, according to your race, if you let things bother you! I personally don't see color! When I was in high school, I wrote a paper on racism and one thing in my paper was that I was gonna go and die my skin blue, cause then the whole world could hate me cause no one would be the same as me! Everyone has different skin color, no matter the skin color, white, black, yellow, orange, gray, blue, purple, etc! Every race and religion has it's own stereotypes, but the thing is, that race allows people to believe them! They either follow them, or allow it to hurt them! Racism is just like a bully in school; if you let the bully know they can hurt you, make you cry, or worse; the bully will continue to pick on you! The following about racism kinda shows that it is okay for all races to start their own little groups and scholarships, based on color/ethnicity, but white people are racist if they try! Our country is great (it does have it's downfalls, as all do) it allows people from other countries to move here, almost no questions asked! I think that is great to a point! I think that if people want to be considered American, act like it, speak American, and the rest is your freedom to choose! America accepts ALL religions, ALL backgrounds, ALL colors! Why can't people just accept each other as Americans! If you are a citizen, you are an American, it can't get any easier than that! Discrimination happens everyday, not just with races, ethnic groups, or skin color; but also with weight, height, hair color, eye color, where you live, occupations, sexual orientation, etc! Everything can be discriminated against, and in this country, it is! The is the biggest downfall with Americans, but I think that is part of being human! There are several different colors and shades in a crayon box, no color gets left out of those, so why can't people be more like crayons? And family and friends don't care about your skin color, so why should strangers? If they don't know you, then why let them hurt you with their words, they are after all just words! Plus, when people let these words hurt them, they are allowing the discrimination to win, and grow! There, I think I have my point made, or at least my opinion! Now here is the message from a friend of mine!

Take care,
Carrie

You call me "Cracker", "Honkey", "Whitey" and you think it's OK. ...But when I call you Kike, Towelhead, WOP, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Gook, Nigger or Chink you call me a racist. -You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live? -You have the United Negro College Fund. -You have Martin Luther King Day. -You have Black History Month. -You have Cesar Chavez Day. -You have Yom Hashoah -You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi -You have the NAACP. -You have BET. -If we had WET(white entertainment television) ...we'd be racist. -If we had a White Pride Day... you would call us racist. -If we had white history month... we'd be racist. -If we had an organization for only whites to "advance" our lives... we'd be racist. -If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships...you know we'd be racist. -In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights...you would call us racist. -Did you know that some high school students decided to make a club for only the white students because the other ethnicities had them... they all got sent to court for being racist but the african-american, Latino, and Asia clubs were not even questioned. -You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists. I am white. I am proud. But, you call me a racist. Why is it that only whites can be racists?

I am so sick of hearing Black people complain about getting trated differently. I am a white middle aged woman who gets treated worse than most other races! You always hear it is the white person fault! We took the land from the indians so we have to pay them FOREVER! I am sick and tired of it. WE HAVE PAID ENOUGH! I am tired of being treated like our race is the ememy. And everyone else gets everything for free! Things need to change!

Dear Miss Tyra,
I have to say that I was very disappointed with your racism show. The experts said African-Americans faced the worse racism taking the history of America into account. It is undeniable that slavery is a horrible scar on our society but nothing was said about the Native American plight. Native Americans were seen as an obstacle to getting land and not valuable in any way. I am not saying I wish we were slaves, just pointing out how lowly Native Americans were thought of. My Grandma was raised on PineRidge Reservation and faced so much racism that I felt I needed to speak up for her. Thank you for your time.

Dear Tyra,
I agree with what Margaux wrote. You excluded the Native American race. Not only did you exclude them you also excluded the Jews. If you want to talk about worse maybe you should really talk about THE WORSE!!
I also think it was wrong of you to bring up "who has it worse" Personally your researce wasn't accurate and I don't think it was right to compete on who has it worse. That doesn't help end racism at all. Most Racism goes back to before America was even a country. What about how the Romans treated all races? Middle Eastern people have been discriminated against long before 9/11. It didn't JUST start. Plus Asians came over here and worked the railroads and were discriminated against. What about the Irish? Much consider them the "blacks" of Europe. They were looked down upon and had their land taken by the English. When they came to America everyone treated them horribly. They were given the jobs NO ONE would do.
So if you want to create a show on What Race has it worse then you should include EVERY race and not leave out ANY history. Get the facts straight get the dates and history straight. Conducting just some little focus group does not actually show who has it worse. History does that.

Dear Tyra,
December 11, 2006,
I am sorry I missed the original broadcast. I am curious about what pretense was used to get your panel to participate. Were they paid for their time? What I am desperately searching for here is what kept these people from espressing (out loud) the feelings of rage that welled up in me when I listened to the questions that were ask. They were charged, loaded and inappropriate. Did no one speak up against what they were being asked to do?
Identifying your own personal descriminations is
something we all must face, but if out of that many people, no one stood up and said this is BS, then God help us, we are lost.
William G.

TYRA,
I respect you, find your shows entertaining and insightful, but what about having a show on racism but in a more positive light? How about figuring out how to stop it, or making people less sensitive to it, or helping those that are racist get over it? The truth of the matter is that everyone does it, and those that say they don't are lying. Honestly I'm tired of people who say that when you look at a person you shouldn't see the color of their skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body, you can't help but notice.
I am white. I live in a mostly black and hispanic county. Most people believe that if you're white you haven't experience racism. I can't speak for other places but around here nobody cares if another person of another race is racist towards a white person. I've experienced it, many times over. I had to drop out of high school because of it. I'm sorry about slavery but the truth of the matter is that I never have owned any and I don't think that I should have to suffer for something that I or my family didn't have a part of.
I'm not trying to say that I haven't made quick assumptions about others, I do it all the time. But I don't care about a persons' skin. I care about a persons' integrity, personality and over-all attitude. If I don't become friends with a person because I don't like their attitude and they happen to be black, or yellow or purple - it's not because I'm racist. I do it with white people all the time. It just comes down to me not liking them as a person.
But what I think people need to stop is all of this political correctness. I'm white, your black (and beautiful if I might add), both of us were born in America. Nobody should have to be scared of just calling each other for what we are, and I don't think that everyone should pay for injustices that happened so long ago. Whatever racism that is happening in the present, is in the present. Our ancestors have long since turned to dust. If we as an entire people can't move past that then there is no hope. There are always going to be people of varying colors, there are always going to be those people that for some reason or another don't like it (and surprisingly they're not all white), what we need to do is find a better way to move on and live our lives and quit letting comments about skin color or sterotypes rule our lives. That's just the way I feel about it.

TYRA
So wow im watching the show and im like ok every one has it bad. MY mother is Italian and dad indian german there are so dark and im Casper the friendly Ghost and people are saying you have it made your white, but no. Yea its hard now but it will take time lets think African (a few) are like we should do this for the past. We where slaves and sold. what about all those Jews who were bured alive had acid poored into privites to make them stop making more, Every Body has been a slave at some point GET over it People are using the Past to fuel the Now. No matter how hard it is every one needs to think on a clean slate think that Whites didnt slave blacks Geramans didnt kill Jews All that. I know its hard because im really white i get oh your trailer trash and you grand parents are the KKK and not having my pic of jobs b/c im not a minority i cant get a scholorship b.c my parents are married and have a job and i dont have a kid and IM NOT a minority, and they asome b.c im white i have money buy i have News i dont Far from it. And to me i think it is a fact of life this things is whats going to build a better world i know to tach my kids dont look at the shin or what others have done if that was the case blacks will always be gangsters white serial killers and so one. they minorty in this world are NICE people. Im saying this because if i hadnt been called names and been treated like crap i woudnt be able to 4-give. and Help change it. I do have more to say on that but i think im running out of papper.What deeds to be looked at Is WOMEN. IM 22 and 2 years ago my husban and i went to get a job being a rooffer and framer at the time i had the best application, high school Diploma pays bills has a car know how to do the work good, my husban boyfriend at the time was a drop out probation under 18 no car and who did they call him. I was told growing up you cant get a good job unless you have a high school Diploma But i have it some collegee what job can i get would you like fries with that! And yea its against the law but they find was aroung it i called to get a part for my car and the guy told me 300 some dollars my husban calls 125 b.c they think WOMEn dont know crap Women have it the Hardeist NOT a Certain Color. Women Where the last to Vote And Still Last for every thing we have to be tuffer the other woman and the mean, and if we are than we are man hatters or Gay. I can give you dates and times where a Black man got the job Before a Lattin Women or a Asian Man that got the Job and Where a MIDLE eastern got the scholorship before the White women. So We have to find it in our self to take what is happing to us and us it to help change people B>c we all know bad stuff spread fast then good stuff so make a break in the chain instead of sitting around crying STOP USING THE PAST TO FUEL THE NOW.

I think that if everyone in the world,would shut there mouthes that we would not have any problems with racism.Why are there all black schools, all mexican radio stations,and all white schools? This is just some of the things that create racism. It is not just one race doing it! All races do it! I get very mad when all i hear from some people are "look at the color of your skin", or "put a rag on your head", or "if you had slanted eyes". This is a bunch of bull. We are all human and alot of people need to start acting like it. Some people are good and some are not. It does not matter what you look like or what your skin color is. I say "GROW UP" to all races.

You want to know what I think. No race has it worse. We are a equaly discriminated against. It just goes in cycles. If one person from one race does something bad and it is on the news, then the whole race is a target untel it dies down and someone from another race does something bad, then that race is in the spotlight and they are the target. It just goes in cycles. So the answer is no race has it worse.

Also I wanted to say that im sick of people saying white people have the perfect life. Its just rediculous. White people have to work just as hard as everyone else for what we want. I want to know why black people can call white people crackers, and milk and its ok. They can even say it on tv, and people just laugh.But if a white person says anything against an african person the whole damn world stops. Its just getting really frustrating.

Today's show really touched me. I am only half mexican, but I get the comments all the time. I grew up with the racism and when I watched your show, I couldn't believe some of the things people said. I can't promise that I haven't said certain things, but not anything like what was said on the show. I couldn't believe my ears when those words came out of their mouths. Why do people assume things they know nothing about? I do not understand why people don't get the concept that nobody is exactly alike, but we're not that totally different.

There are so many people that need to be educated...too much to get into...but i'll explore a few things:

muslim is not a race, it's a religion. it is no more a race than being a jew is. that would be just like having a show on racism and having black, white, asian, and christian...confusing right? because we all know there are white christians, black christians, asian christians, etc. so, there are black muslims and black jews....

in short, people need to educate themselves and let's be mindful of what racism is: POWER + PREJUDICE. and in this country it is institutionalized to permeate every facet of one's life (edcational, social, legal, etc.)..

if i don't have the power to make it difficult or limited to climb the corporate ladder, if i don't have the power to deny you a loan, if i don't have the power to make you pay more for housing and the purchasing of cars, if i don't have the power to have you attend some crappy public schools, if i don't have the power to create holidays like columbus day celebrating a man's "discovery" of a land where there were alreday native people minding their own business, if i don't have the power to condition individuals to think-when you say someone has that "all american" look, they usally mean white, blond and blue eyed, if i don't have the power to historically allow a race of people the very basic right to read, vote, or be treated as human beings (when the constitution of this country was written, african americans were considered property (more specifically 3/5 of a person)... so when the "founding fathers" uttered "we the people," they were talking about white people.

IF I DONT HAVE THE POWER, ALL I CAN BE IS PREJUDICE; I CAN'T BE RACIST. i know that's hard for some people to hear because the word racism or reverse racism is thrown around a lot.

it's about to be 2007, can we be honest with ourselves and each other?

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS ONLY ONE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OF COLOR, ONE SENATOR OF COLOR, AND UNDER REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE HOUSE OF REPS.
WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE A SITCOM WITH AN ALL WHITE CAST IS CONSIDERED MAIN STREAM, BUT IF THE SHOW HAS A MAJORITY CAST OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, IT'S LABELED A BLACK SHOW OR A LATINO SHOW AND NOT EVERYONE CAN "RELATE."

i apologize for making this post too long, but we need to stop scratching at the surface or dancing around the issue.

hopefully, in the future, a show can be done, not just about the emotion from hurt feelings behind name calling, but an educational show about historical facts, and truth.

I think a lot of ppl have already posted on this, but allow me to reitterate. In your show on ending racism, you excluded entirely the race that the most acts of racism have been committed against. I am talking about the American Indians, Native Americans, and/or Indians. In taking a history of Native American class, I have realized that all races, if made equal, have committed acts of racism against these people. Sure, every race on this planet was thrown into slavery, I do mean every race at one point or another. At least these slaves still had a chance at life, as hard as it may be. Granted most members of said group would rather die, Native Americans were deceived, stripped of all pride and sense of self, their culture has been 'homogenized' so to speak, and many of their historical and religious site have been ruined if not destroyed. In short, Americans today treat Native Americans as a race that does not deserve to even exist, other races do not have that kind of racism against them. Tyra, I think you need to do a show that shows this. Sure, many people think they have been given everything, but you know, they had more taken from them than can ever be given back. It has been said that they lost the war. What war? King Phillip's War??? that was over 400 years ago. We need to be better than this.

I just watched your racism show and you asked the question of what race has been discriminated against the most. I am a 30 year old Black Muslim woman. I have been muslim for ten years but black all my life. I've never experienced such harsh words from any race until I became muslim. It is not the fact that I am muslim that draws people to comment the way they do, but it is the way I choose to dress. I dress to display modesty and not to show my beauty at all. I cover myself head to toe in all black or dark bue. The only thing exposed on me are my hands. I've had people jump out of cars and yell show me your face while walking with my children. That is a very scary feeling. I've had people ask me if I was a Nun, a Ninja, a ghost. I can almost deal with the sarcastic remarks from children, they only know what they are taught. But the adults, it's horrible. When I lived in Philadelphia it wasn't so hard. There are many, many muslims there that dress the way I do. But, when I lived in Florida, and now Milwaukee, it is kind of difficult. I am scared to walk the streets by myself because I don't know how people will react to me. I dislike picking my daughter up from school because I don't want to scare the children or hear the rude remarks from the older kids or even their parents. When I first became Muslim I would just wear the hijab (head covering) and westernized clothing. I had no problems. I would agree that blacks have been discriminatd aginst the longest, but in today's society, I would say that Muslims, that dress as I do, have it worse than anyone. It is not my race that is feared and disrespected, it is my way of life.

The whole time I watched the segment on racism I was remembering something from my childhood... When I was little, my mother raised chickens. The chickens would choose one chicken and peck at, sometimes until it died. I asked my mother why they did that. She said it is because that one is different. I wanted to take the different one out of the group and stop this from happening but she said they would just find another one anyway. I don't think it matters what 'race' we are - what matters is whether or not we are as dumb as chickens.

Tyra,
I was just watching your episode about racism. I was suprised and very happy to see that caucasians were represented. As a white woman raised by a hispanic stepfather, I have been descriminated against. In high school I was not allowed into a good friend's house, because his family was from Pakistan, and did not allow white girls into their home. Even now, in college, I attend a predominantly African American school, and I have been called a "cracker". Everyone who heard this laughed. I approached the person who called me this and told him that is a racial slur. Imagine if I would have called him a racial slur... Im not disregarding what other races have suffered through and are still suffering from, but many times white people are thought as the enemy, and viewed as not having any descrimination problems. I want to thank you for representing one of the groups of people who are usually ignored when it comes to the issue of racism. I love your show, and I think women of all colors are beautiful!

I do understand that people will tend to want to spend time with other people like themselves. That aside, I personally really care very little about a person's gender, religion, skin color, or who they fall in love with. If they are someone I would be proud to call a friend, then they are cool by me.

Why is that such a difficult concept?

I am watching your show on racisim, I am a white female and I have two children by mexican men.I have lived in a mostly black nieborhood before now I am in a mosty hispanic niegborhood,I have been the victam of racisim many of times people of other races think that because I am white that they can punk me.I have been in line at the store and a black person will cut right in front of me and think that "she's white she wont tell me nothing"but the thing is I do speek my mind. and it shoks people.I think the stereo type is that white people are scary.I made a racial comment to a black lady that shocked even me I was married to a man of mixed race his dad was black and his mother was white.The comment I made was somthing I thought I wold never do there is no excuse but I made that comment only after she called me a trailer trash white girl and said I was a con artist.The lady that made this statment to me was an insurance agent of a person that hit my car whith me and three children in it when she wanted to give me only 300$ for the total crash I said no I dont think so and that is when she made her comment,then I made mine.so people are racist in every race it is pure stupidity to think that is only aimed at one race.

Tyra, I am an avid fan of your show...but what I find to be disturbing is when you speak on racism and how race is percevied in society - you continue to use the same sorry racist people. Let me hightlight for you who I mean..that Latina woman who has a particular issue with Black females, we know she is racist..maybe a bit better informed as a result of your show. But! Racist none the less. I don't understand why you would continue to showcase her and have her continue to participate on your show. It is actually VERY disheartening. I am white and I am sure that people would percieve me as racist in some shape or form...tho, I have a racially mixed relationship, and my family is also racially mixed. It would nice if you could highlight the ones who are fighting against racism and those who aren't promoting these ludacris ideas and stereo types.

Hay Trya,
Im a senior at my high school and if you walk into my school cafe you can see that the differnt ethnic groups stand out, the blacks tend to sit in the back right, the hispanics sit in the middle left, the cape verdians sit in the back left,and the whites tend to shit in the front. You sometimes see the teachers treat the white kids better than they do the other kids. If you look in a class you sometimes find that most of the white kids are in the front and the other kids fill in the middle or the back of the class room.

Hi Tyra,
I am an 18 year old Caucasian female. I just watched the show. And I was not suprised to hear the old phrase "because I am black" I have nothing against African-Americans. I embrace all races. I don't think I am better, nor is anyone else. But I am tired of hearing about how they think they are still discriminated against. They use the past. It is over. What happened was wrong. But it is over. I have never seen anyone hated because they are black. I highly doubt the lady on your show was escorted off a plane because "I am black" I may only be 18. But I've seen a lot for my young years. I have seen the Latinos discriminated more than African Americans. Muslims are more disrespected. African Americans use the past. They say they are the oldest discriminated race. Have we forgotten the Jewish community? They have been hated since biblical times. But you don't hear them using that still today. They have faced Genocide. Death Camps. Hate still today. But they dont hold onto grudge. Nothing comes of it. Always living in the past deters you from living a future. It is time to let go. I know we can't all be friends. But we can at least have respect for each other. People can never forgive if they can't let go of the past. And if people can never let go of the past, we can never move forward. And the hate will go on and on. To our future generations. And no good will come. No problems solved. It is time to let go now. It is something to be taught to our children, so they know that it was wrong. That no race is better. That discrimanation because of race is intolerable. How the African Americans WERE treated, was wrong. But now is now. They are no longer slaves. And haven't been for many years. Let go of the grudge. Each Race has to let go of the past. Each has their part to do, to heal the wounds. I hope I haven't offended. I am not good with words. But I had to say what I said. Anyone is welcome to contact me if you wish to discuss.

Dear Tyra,
Thank you so much for the show u did on ending racism, i found the show very informative and i appreciated that you had on there about internalized racism. I am white and i like that you did not forget that whites are discriminated against as well, i know people think because im white that i must have it easier, the truth is there is also a lot of internalized racism within whites. If you are middle-class white and above you are ok but i've grown up poor white my whole life and nobody cares if you are poor white. White people consider you "white-trash" and expect you to stay in those type of roles and other races consider you white so you must have it so much easier than everyone else. An example would be when my sister was working at McDonald's there was a guy working there that would always hit on my sister. He would say that she was "his girl" and flirt with her. My sister didn't flirt back with him and the guy told a manager that my sister was racist and the manager talked to my sister. She had to explain to him that she wasn't racist she is a lesbian and she isn't into guys. I think it's ridiculous that she even had to tell a manager that. I think i would like to see you do a show on peoples impressions of homosexuals next.

Hello Tyra I am currently serving in the US ARMY and been throught my share or racism in the army. I am full Blooded Native American and I am watching your show on Racism an noticed that there are not any native americans on the show. I feel that we have been discriminated against the most. It seems that we forget about what the US Army did to my native people who by the way were here before any of the races you had on the show. I find it disturbing that there are not any native americans on the show. We are still very much alive and its just so messed up that we do not get acknowledged.

I THINK IT’S VERY ILLOGICAL THAT IN YOUR SHOW'S TOPIC WHICH IS RACISM IN AMERICA, RELIGION IN ISLAM WOULD BE SINGLED OUT. A MUSLIM IS NOT A RACE BECAUSE YOU HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN, LAITIN WOMEN, ASIAN,and EUROPEAN WOMEN WHO BELIEVE IN THE FATIH OF ISLAM. INSTEAD OF CAUISNG DIVISION AMONGST WOMEN OF DIFFERENT RACES A TOPIC SHOULD ADDRESS WOMEN'S PROBLEMS AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE WE SHOULD LOOK AT OURSELVES AS ONE PEOPLE UNDER ONE GOD.

It's hard to say but it's also true racism will never end. It would be wonderful if it could end because then maybe we could stop all these crimes. If you were raised in a community where racism is a big factor then most likely you'll never stop being the way you were raised.

Tyra thank you for doing a show like this maybe you actually touched people and made them want to change.

I love you so much you are my idol
Tatyanna, 14

hey Tyra I am very glad that you did this show on racism!!! It bothers me that no matter what color you are or what religion you believe in you can be discriminated against...I am someone that tries to help out people who are being discrimnated against....i used to go to a school where whites were the minority and I used to get in sooo much trouble because when someone used a racial slur i would literally go off on them...it just angers me that people are victims of racism because other people dont like the way you look...but thanks a lot Tyra for doing this show I just it opened peoples eyes!!!

Tyra,
I too want to comment that the native americans seem to have not be listed on your panel for mondays show.I have heard alot of racism just as much as the next person.But,we do not hear it thrown at the news media from the race that was first descriminated against.Talking about Native Americans.I myself am not Native American,but doing my ancestry I have found out I am related to one of the tribes.Just as I am sure most of us if we did our background we all may be surprised where we come from.It is important I think to see where we come from so we can see exactly where we are going.
Thank you for letting my say my peace!

dear tyra, i work at the cleveland clinic and on a daily basis i am faced with racism. friday dec 8 a nurse came into the breakroom and made the statement; you look like bu***heat' i was so angry this have been going on for over a year on this floor; what can i do. i have been off work do to the stress, and depression this unit has put on me. tyra help. i feel helpless because supervision does nothing.

Tyra,

I'm a 17 year-old Native American girl.

I don't understand why you had done a show on racism (which is great, don't get me wrong), but you failed to put in Native Americans. And please don't think I'm some un-educated, naive young girl, because I know about my history.

You and many others fail to recognize us, Native Americans as a race; let alone one that deals with racism. Racism began with the Natives. The white man killed us off, and there's a historic saying that is - "The only good Indian, is a dead Indian". I don't want to be that Indian.

My people were the first ones here (America). And people act as if we had never shown up until the white men had shown up. I don't understand why you and many other talk shows don't comprehend that we probably go through the most racism than anybody!

I’ve dealt with many racist issues in my life. I had to transfer schools because of one of them. And when I transferred, another one had occurred. My school’s mascot used to be the Indians. But some people had been using it in a negative manner, and some people had caught wind of it and addressed it. The mascot got changed, and the Native American students had to “pay for it”.

I've been told that I can what I want to be. But I know it's never going to happen, because racist people are everywhere. In school I'm known as just another Indian kid. I'm asked all of these questions about "Indians", "redskins" and other names I prefer not to say here. I'm not their encyclopedia because my heritage is different.

As a fellow minority, please address this issue! We need help too, Tyra. Thank you.

Racism i something that is normal in everyday life. People alway have to talk about what is different. If you black and you go in a black commuinty then people will try to find something that is different like the place you live in or the person you dating or the way you act. At the end we are all the same being and nobody is better than other because once you dead the everything goes away that is including race, money and childern and what is left in you is what you did and God will look on that.

I dont know why people alway when discussed about race the have to be so angry. It something natrual because it happen all the time. about the women who comment about the 200 year slavery that is all gone and now you have to see to the future, why hold a grudge that doesnt do anything and most of those people are not hel responsiable. and If she angry she must be bless right now because most part of Africa there still race between race and tribes and ranking between people.

To all the people about this issue if you have problem with a person dont judge a person by his view but by his choices he have made and what he have became. Race is a small topic in the world filled with problem there is no reason to but the oil in the fire.

Here is something intersting and expermeint made by a teacher in elemetry by frontline:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html

hi tyra,
first of all, i am really glad that so many people have such a strong connection to how they feel about racism in our country. Its crazy to know how not just one type of culture has been patronized with racism. Racism has been a great issue in our society since the beginning of time and no one has noticed that instead of pointing fingers we should all stick together and little be little, person by person, we can make a difference. We should stop all this stereotyping in our generation. Now i know that we have been raised with a certain state of mind of how we should perceive, not only people in general but also the world, and its time to change that and educate ourselves and listen to the people "don't judge a book by its cover." We all have our thoughts about each culture, now i'm not implying anything but lately i've been hearing certain stereotypes from every race, now i've heard on your show that a latina woman didn't like african american women because she thought of all of them as being on welfare, loud, and always in your face. We have also acknowledge native americans but WE don't see then as being racially affected today, african americans still hold the horrible treatment that they had "back in the day" and still today are judge before being met. Latinos are all considered to be from mexico and being illegal. now i'm not going to go into detail about every race, but we all know what we have heard. If this has been such an issue, i say that little by little we start to make a stand, not i know that we won't be able to change everyones mind and beliefs and ideas. Especially if they have met a certain race that has betrayed him or her and have put that certain perspective to that kind of race. Well, I'm latina, hispanic, chicana, whatever you want to call it. I was born in TX and my parents are from Mexico, I have seen the struggle that my family has done to be legally considered a citizen in the US. So now i ask, why are we being threatened to have our citizedship taken if we are convicted of a felony? So ok, not everyone has been convicted of a felony, so then why are so many considering "mexicans" to be felons? All races commit crimes, we are all not perfect, just because your black doesn't make you a drug addict, just becuase you are mexican doesn't make you a gangster, just because you are white dos it make you someone on welfare, just becuase you are taliban does it make you a terrorist, etc. So lets start with now, let us make the difference, there are many different races that have become the best of the best, and have slowly changes the perceptions of "racism", quite pointing fingers and hear someone you've never met out.

Hello Tyra,

I must say first of all that I commend you on all of your successes. I feel that I can relate to your personality because you remind me of myself and some of my life experiences.
I am a 33 years old African-American female. Although I do not go around everyday thinking about myself that way. I am a Muslim convert for 12 years, and I am also married to a Caucasian-American Man whom I converted together with. He is the best husband in the world. We have two beautiful children. So, if is anyone who knows about racism it is me. I am living the black tax, and being a woman but also the newly ostricized and popular muslim phobia, as well as the married outside of my race issue. With all that I'v e got going on. I've got to be able to offend somebody, but I don't care what people say about me or to me. I carry myself with pride and intelligence and I am the only one who has to look at myself in the mirror everyday and be happy with my life choices, and I am. I would make myself miserable trying to live life the way others think I should. Just a side fact for you, Muslim is not a race of people. A Muslim is person who's religion is Islam. Someone who believes there is only one God. God (Allah) is for all places and all people and He not confined to any one race. Calling Muslims a race is like answering the question what does a Christian looks like or who is the Christian race. Muslims are all over the world and the majority of them are not Arab, they are Asian. They are African muslims, Indian, American, Asian, European, Mexican. We are everywhere. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States. In response to your "how you can end racism" segment. This is very bold of you. I truly believe that racism will never end because there will always be people to perpetuate it, but you can't live your life trying to please or accommodate everybody or everything. Worrying about racism is a waste of time and time is the most valuable possession that everybody has. You just have to LIVE and be content about your own choices and appreciate what God has given you because there is always somebody who has is worse or better. Every race of people has had some sort of catastrophic event that they have experienced as far as treatment from others. I think that no race has had it worse than another. Because their experiences were all different. That is why we can't come together as human beings because we are always comparing and discriminating. We need to just view ourselves as the same human species. We all have two arms, legs and eyes. We all have bones, muscle and blood. We all can get cancer. We all can get murdered. We all can produce more life. We as a society cannot move forward until we get past this waste of time, "racism".

one thing that gets me is that everyone forgets that the Native Americans were here first you never here much about them i have a little bit of indian in me and a lot of people mistake me for being Mexican and that hurts me because i want people to see me as being Native American and ignoring the Native American race is a form of racism.....but no matter what you do there is always going to be racism in this world...and i wish it would just end!!!

Racism has been around for a great deal of time, and it is unlikely that people will ever change. Racism mainly stems from fear, whether people that have that racism will admit it or not. What little do people realize is that racism is towards a great deal of different people from different races, and yes, this is including caucasian. Mainly throughout high school, and now even into my early twenties, I have been facing racism. Most people take one look at me and think 'Rich white girl', and in reality, I am not remotely rich. I am mainly irish, with a list of other nationalities, and it's surprising that people still hold onto the past so tightly. On a few occassions, once someone hears that I am irish they think I'm dirty, that I belong not in this country because my ancestors stowed away in order to come to this land (United States). When, in reality, they worked very hard to make it here and even a few made the history books. Don't judge someone for the colour of their skin, how they talk, how they look, ect.. Judge them for WHO THEY ARE. Beauty is really on the inside. This world would be a better place if people stop obsessing over the colour of someone else's skin. History is to learn from so we will not make the same mistakes, but it is not to be used to condemn people of a certain race for actions of others that happened in the past.

Dear Tyra,

tyra i am so grateful to watch your show. thank you dor letting everyone be part of your show. racism before i don't think much about it, Im 22 and working as a nanny in jordan. the people in here just think that a nanny from asian country are easy to get on the bed. there was a time that we go on a vacation, im with the kids and there is an arabic guy who was passing by me in a corridor and he stop in front of me and was trrying to kiss me! how dare you? i said to him, who do you think you are? 9slap him in his face!) huh as if all the asian girl are like that. you see people all over the world are prejudice! they see what their eyes see not the people that they see. they judge the book buy it's cover not reading it first then judge it. thanks tyra, by the way my madam don't know that im watching t'v' when i work. just your show it's only 45mins eh. so thanks in advance hope you read thispersonaly. just want to tell you next year im going back in the phillipines. thanks more power. god bless. see yah later.

Hi,
I'm not sure if anyone will get to read this, there's a long list of commments. Anyway, I'm not sure how most people feel, but I think religion has alot to do with racial hate as well as skin color. Sadly, I don't see a quick solution to this problem. I believe people as whole are so reserved that this topic will never be a subject disscused and resloved. People like to put others into a box and say "well this is just how that whole race is, and always will be."
God created everyone different so the world would'nt be boring, at least I like to put it that way. I think people are scared of what's different. Just because one person from one particular race does one thing does'nt mean everyone is just like that one person. We were all meant to be different. My husband is from a mixed marriage.(Hispanic, and white) and I'm white. I love everything about him that is different from me.I think that his culture is rich and new and wonderful.When I first saw him I did'nt think "Oh man he's darker than me." I thought he was sexy with his darker color,deep brown sexy eyes,dark hair....love him to death.
I wish people including myself could look at people for what they put out about themselves, and not for their race,religion,or money. We are a mixed couple,broke,hard working and happy! Maybe people should try to be happy.
Abby

hi Tyra

i loved the way you show this things about racism that other ppl dont really want to talk about well first i think that racism it comes from ingnorance and from ppl prototiping ppl im a latino and constantly i hear ppl being racist about us and its because of inogrance becouse latinos are not a race because you got white latinos, and black latinos and the mix or native latinos so theres is not really a race specificly, so what i always say as a latino is that latins are not a race latins are a culture and i think that countries like usa or other countries with ppl from every race white,black,asian,etc should learn how to become a culture and not how to make a race be the "standar" or "legal race" as ive hear from native americans and white ppl trying to fight to see who has the right to be the considere the legal race usa but we all really need to know that usa is a multi cultural place and we all have to learn how to make a culture out of a multi cultural place. well may god bless you Tyra and keep doing what your doing. i love your show take care.

i hate rascism

Hey Tyra

I’m looking forward to watch your show on Monday (Racism: Who has it worse). As a black and Muslim women I have witnessed racist comments/slurs from time to time. Especially after the 9/11 attack I was only my Grade 9 when it happened and I knew from then on as a Muslim women I would face racist comments and would be perceived differently, because of the actions of so called “Muslim” terrorist. I for one know that Islam is a religion of peace and not about terrorizing people, so it angers me that most people in general believe and assume that all Muslim are terrorist and violent people.
I do not assume what people are based upon their races, religious background, or sexual orientation, or any other way, but instead I judge them by their character and personality. I hope that when people watch your show on Monday, Dec. 11, 2006 they will be able to open their hearts and be more tolerant and hopefully knowledgeable to those of other races. Plus, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you are able to do this experiment on national television, because it is a discussion that is need in America and Canada (even though Canada is know for being a more tolerant country, I find there will always be those who show hatred towards others). Keep up the good joB :)

Aya

Hey Tyra!

I was so happy you did a show on racism here in America. It was eye opening and very true to what is happening here and all over the world. I am a Pacific Islander woman born in America but my roots are from the Kingdom of Tonga. We haven't really experienced the same kind of oppression that many of the other races are faced with here in the U.S. but that doesn't mean we don't get put into a category with the rest of them. Our voice is yet to be heard. The only way to end all the ignorace is through education and I think that although you have only "touched" a small part of it, it surely helps those who tune in with an open mind. Maybe someone was affected by it and that makes all the difference in the world. Keep doing it Tyra!

Your Polynesian Sistah!

Hello Tyra,

I work with Native American youth on a daily basis, and find it frustrating when you, and others in mainstream media, talk about racism and you discriminate against another race of people by your exclusion in your segments - the Native American people.

Our people were here on this land long before any others ventured this way. Our people have endured more racism than any other race in our country. Why? Because even as of today, we are not recognized as a race of people when segments like this run. What makes it so easy to discriminate against us?

Then people wonder why our children have high suicide rates, have a high risk of alcoholism, etc. It's not the total reason, but you play a part in this.

Then, when called to the floor, an menial apology is made. Is that supposed to make things better?

I sit here day after day working with these students telling them that they can be somebody, they're worth it!!

I hope you read this and I hope you are pro-active about addressing this problem. You are not the only person - Ben Stein just talked about the races (Black, Asian, Hispanic and White) on this past Sunday's segment of "Sunday Morning."

As a person of color, and as a woman of color - don't forget!! It's not just about the Hispanics, the Asians and the African-Americans.....because it truly began with the Native Americans!

Thank You!

Hi Tyra,

I'm sad to hear race relations are not better than they are. I'm a African American woman who is more attracted to men outside my race and legally younger then me. Instead of spreading the hate, let us know how we can find each other. Its a cess pool out there and I'm not interested in the ones who hate but want to love and be loved.

Play matchmaker and give us a list of the best interracial dating websites or come up with your own plan to help us lonely hearts of different races find each other.

I think people should realize we are really all the same color. Our blood is blue until it gets oxygen then when you get a cut it comes out red. We all bleed and we all bleed the same color. We all hurt, feel happiness, feel sad, feel scared etc. We all have people who love us and we all have people we love. You wouldn't want anyone to hurt you or you loved ones so why would you want to hurt someone else? Please try to remember before you pass judgement on someone else how you would feel if someone were to pass the same judgement on you. You can't judge a book by its cover and you can't judge a person by their color. I would like to think that I never do, but I know that I sometimes I am prejudice but then I try to remember how I would feel if somebody treated me that way and I step back and ask God for forgiveness for my bad thought. I do love every person, I never hate and I believe that there is good in everybody sometimes you just have to dig deep to find it in some people. I don't believe anybody should be treated bad for being another race or religion or for believing differently than someone else. Just remember like I said at the beginning of this, we all bleed red.

Hey Tyra I Am canadian, and I live in BC, and I am Native... I have experienced alot of racism in my life it's so crazy how people are like that here.When I'm hanging out with my friends white people always give us these dirty looks.White girls would even try to start a fight for no reason.As a teenager It's tough because there are alot of natives in BC and almost every single one of us go through the same experience. I watch your show everyday!! I love you tyra!!!

at my school it is hard to deal because alot of people don't know that they are saying racist things but they still say them and it hurts because there so many and i think you you can come across to alot of people and i thank you for that.. kayla

tyra, i was watching your show on nov 21,2006 and you had a young latino lady from texas stating that she thinks all black women are on welfare, living in the projects and having baby after baby. well let me tell you, i'm from new orleans and resided in houston from hurricane katrina. she canot talk about black women. you would be suprised to see how many young young girls and women (latina),that are constantly pregnate. they see us having kids as our welfare ticket, we and also whites, see them having babies as a way to stay in the country. i'm part latino though i don't speak spanish, but it's bad enough that the people from new orleans get treated as illegal immigrants, but it's even worst to get treated that bad from another race that's going through the same racial problems as blacks. my nephew says that in his school, the black latino's are not even reconized by hispanics, they hang with blacks and even then, they still have a hard time because of the accent they carry. most of my friends are latino's black and fair skin. i just had to get this off my chest.

gabby

Tyra-My name's Catherine and I'm 16 years old.I just finished watching your show today dicussing racisim and I was very glad to see that because even with it being year 2006, so many people still have racist ideas about blacks. I am white and my boyfriend is black. A lot of my family and friends are surprised that I go out with him and are always questioning me about why I go out with a black guy. It's uncomfertable to always be asked about it and to have family that doesn't believe blacks and whites should date each other. I'm very curious how other couples like us who have racist family and friends deal with this conflict and would very much like to see a show about black and white couples. Thank you!

A Constiutional Amendment barring discrimation based on race like in the South Africa Constitution.

I enjoy watching the Tyra show because I think it touches on some important issues. Racism is one of those issues. And the shows that are done on it are great.

However, it is frustrating for me to watch show after show on racism knowing that one race is continually being left out and that is the founding cultural group of this nation.

Native American people are the invincible race. In fact when msyelf and others I know work with Native youth and talk about culture we need to teach them about how thier race is invincible.

There is so much racism directed towards Native people and it is never addressed in public.

Colonizers tried to wipe out our people and this way of living is being continued even with the best of interests like forgetting our race on shows on racism. At the same time I get frustrated about this I feel a little relieved because I just don't know if someone could address issues of racism towards Native people and still be respectful in doing so.

My suggestion for the future is to fight racism by including Native people in your talks of racism.
Thank You.

Tyra asked why race was still such a major issue and set out to determine which race had it worse

Keiera and Shayla discuss racism within their own race

Tyra examined racism within the same race

Hi Tyra:

Your show is captivating me about issues and things that bring-together people’s attention.
I want to answer your question asked, “why race was still such a major issue and set out to determine which race had it worse.” No two races will ever go together so it is all about prejudices against what is not socially accepted even among people of the same race. The mix-up today is the concept “multiculturalism.” It is being study today as a new racism because of depicting primitive groups and the equality and value of moral judgments.

Tyra, you examined Shayla and Keiera interact and disuss racism within their own race. Shayla told Keiera that she needed to educate herself. In other words, Shayla has feelings about herself as a Muslim when
Keiera depicted that she and her brothers looked like someone who might be a terrorist. I do not think that Shayla meant for Keiera to learn about her religion and that her personal traits are based on her religion, and that her comment was not about DNA. She felt that Keiera was not knowledgeable to equal to her, and that is where Blacks lose it when they become brain washed about how to think or apply empirical learning, actively experiencing, and book learning.

Hi, I just watched the show on racism. It made me furious! To think that people still feel that way in these times is unacceptable! The woman you had on who thought all black people were on welfare and in gangs....please...could you find anyone more ignorant! I would hope that the average white person, would find her offensive! I know there are wackos out there who probably agree with her, but you could have had on someone who was more middle of the road. I can't believe you had her on twice! she was so ignorant and obnoxious, I had to turn the show off. what an embarasment she was to her race! Otherwise I enjoyed the show, I'm a white woman, who totally is against racism. It enrages me to see people acting that way to oneanother. Thanks for your tine...Lori

Hey Tyra girl!

I just wanted to comment on something that I saw on Top Model last week. There was a girl on there (forgot her name but she has short hair)who had to kiss a man who said he didn't like "Black" girls. When she told you about it and you seemed kind of suprised or offended, but yet you told her to kiss him anyway, even though she obiviously didn't want to. To me personally, I thought that was wrong. If it were YOU that was told to kiss a man that said he didn't like "Black" girls, you more than likely wouldn't have done it.

Hey Tyra,

I think all white people get a bad rep and for what?? People hundreds of years ago had slaves. I think it is important that people remember that only some "white people" had slaves and treated "black people" wrong...hence the civil war. I did nothing wrong, I have no problems with a person of any race, including my own. I have a problem with people that call names and that is why I am writing. I would never say any racial slur or comment. So in return I do not expect to be called a "cracker" or "white trash." I have done nothing for people to treat me that way and neither have others. In this country we need to recognize that there are bad people in all races, but that does not make up the whole.

Dear all,
I empathize with Jaeda on ANTM and having to deal with the male model you said he didn't like black girls. I do not agree that as a model you have do deal with all situations. THis is racism and I wish she could have had the courage to say she will not work with him. NO ONE needs or should have to deal with racism . I could see how 'thrown' she was . I am shocked that TYra and others would feel that she should 'deal with it.'
She is beautiful, has a great face and I wish her luck , success and courage.
Kavir

Tyra,

In response to your show on racism. I have a 13 year old daughter who is 1/2 Caucasian (myself) and 1/2 El Salvadorian ( her father). From the time she was small, she was either too "white" for some or too "latina" for others. We experienced prejudice in school, and not just from the other kids but also the administrators and teachers. When we lived in LA and my daughter attended a junior high in North Hollywood, she was faced with racial comments daily. The alumni w