To Black & Proud:

I like your posting much and think you are very honest and talk good sense, howver, it is not so that is it white people as such that think in that way, I for one do not think that way!

I have just posted a reply at this forum, you may to read it and the one that it refers to of the young lady bullied at School, well best that you read it and see my point:
http://telepicturesblog.warnerbros.com/tyrashow/2008/04/ladies_of_all_races.php

Best wishes to you!

hey tyra. i would just like to start off with how much i love you!! you are such a inspiration to every young girl out there and anybody hatin is just jelouse.

This particular topic has come to my attention because it is a such a big issue in our community people like to ignore or just pretend it doesnt matter.

firslty im not too dark skin but im more than i am light. Growin up in australia as a .east african, was ofcourse very difficult, being the minority and not minority like it is in america i mean minority as in there are like 5 thousand of us in the whole country is quite difficult.
people do not understand where you come from and i have learnt from such an early age how uneducated some people are when it comes to race ect.

i have never actually said to myslef, why am i this colour or why am i african but i always feel like i am being mistreated or constantly sterotyped because of it.

i have only resantly noticed how skin colour matters in our communities. it embaresses me to know that the main problem is withn ourselves and it is black people discriminating againts others. it is such a shame that evan in such an age a time some one is considered more beautiful if they are more anglo-saxon looking with a dot of flavour but still claim to be 100 % attracted to black when really you are probably 25% attracted to it. in my east african community people are judged on looks by how light they are and how tall, women go out and buy bleacher to be much more light complexion, me? i enbrace it and roll with my skin freely, and it looks much more healthier and glows more than any of the ones who bleach in attemp to be beutiful.

its a shame because white people only see us as black not carmel light or choclate. so when are we going to stop this hatred between oursleves?

hello tyra im lexington and 14 i think since like 2003 people have been saying things like im darker than my brother because were twins and people say whats stands out about us twins is like once someone said to my cousin how can you tell them apart well she says that i have bumbs on my feet and i was like 5 then but what if im wearing shoes then other people say my head is fat and bigger and now they say im darker than my twin well how can they say im darker i was born first so im not anything than him like you cant say to someone the father is darker than the child its the child is lighter than the father cuz the dad came first so he should not be put under his child. for being darker than him people do this to me and my twin saying im darker like saying darker is worst and stands out being truthfull only the lighter black people said this or the black people who doesnt really like darker people have maid this comment. and one time this little girl around 6 or 7 black girl wuz trying 2 tell us apart saying hes darker than him pause no wait hes darker than him wich im darker not my twin it wus like if we were playing a game whos the darker one. im am so upset with the way black people do this ive never had a white person say this to me ever ever ever 1 time my closest freind of 9 years said he can tell us apart from light and dark if u known me since 1998 in class together can tell us apart on the phone can tell us apart if were wearing the same clohthes or if we swich into each others and one of us leaves with out telling u that we swiched shirts u can still tell us apart without asking then go up to my white freinds and then say its because were lihgter and darker than each other its like u just want a reason to say u can tell us apart just 4 the fun of everyone else try to find reason to tell us apart when u dont need a reason u just can tell us apart plain and simple its like everyone wants to say im darker cause it stands out than being light or in the midle skin tone wich is not light or dark just brown just because darker stands out. in 04 my teacher said it was because im more dark compelent or something like that. man i dont hate hate us black people 4 this but so upset tha dr king did wut he did to get us here and we have come years years centuries to the point were were saying things like ur darker than him we need to grow to become better but we have not. for 2weeks this man i know goes saying i can tell yall apart saying my twin is taller than me then out of nowere says ur darker than him i wuz to speechless but im use to it. then the next week one white boy says how can u tell them apart he tells me and my brother stand togther like anyone does to twins the white guy says u cant tell by the shoes witch they dont think that kind of stuff wit twins i wear the same shoes all the time cuz there new and were 2 mlk build the dream blue shiny bands on my wrist since like november every day but i have to tell them that kind of stuff like they blind. anyways then he starts saying he darker than him says it again then when a worker at the rec i know walks buy he says it again louder hes not trying to be mean but thats makes me feel bad like not to be darker cus if i am i am witch i am but if u act like thats how u tell black twins apart than yo mom aint done a good job with explaning that stuff. so the ladie worker their that wuz walking buy backed me up as well as my older brother who is not a twin she wuz saying thats mean ur just saying hes darker out loud and acting that thats all to telling them apart cuz she dont think that she might c that but thats not just wut she cs in us she can just remember wut were wearing unlike everyone else who is like i cant tell them apart even if they know im wearing all blue and know thats lex and my twin is wearing grey they make it harder on them selves so i guess they just say im darker. i promise forever in jesus name that i will teach people to not act like darker is worse i wuz playing with my dog it wuz not dark but wuz getting dark and it wuz cloudy i wuz on record outside and after i got to se it i could not se my face but if im on record in the house i can se my face it was getting dark out side im not dark just darker than my bro but me not seing my face on the camera did not bother me cause thats the way we have been since jesus they said his feet was like brass but after brass has been burned it turns to a real dark coler like if it was burned witch is wut he looked like they were not mix so theirwas no light and dark just dark i will not be ashamed to be daker but just need to know wut to tell someone when blacks do this to other blacks remember im just 14 i got 2 stay strong an wise. i just need help on wut to do.sorry if i miss spelled words its real late. thank yall 4 yalls time love ya miss banks

Hello darling, I go by the name jenny. im from bowling green kentucky and i go to warren central. sophmore. im also 16. I have watched your show for a long time and everytime i watch it i get inspired everytime. you are so motivated and you just help so many people. i love the face that you can just be yourself and everyone loves you. i would love if you talked more about relationships. i have a boyfreind named justin and weve been dating for a year and a half and ive always neeed help on that. today show was amazing except i couldnt learn anything from the different things that the countrys did because i am young and dont have a job yet. you are doin a great job! =]

hi tyra my name is tanya i live in the caribbean in antigua a 108 square mile place i have always dream of becoming a top maodel, people always tell me i have the height and so to be a model but there is not much opportunities here in antigua. Even when i was in ny i was at the bus stop an this woman said to me i should go on oprah winfrey show maybe i could get a oppurtunity to model, but u see the kind a problem is i dont walk straight i love heels but i was a tarn boy when i was young. so i kind a have a manish walk but i could walk good am always modeling in my house and my mom see me watching ur show u would say u always watching stupidness i tell no i soon be the next top model. i don't no wat i should do could u help me or give me some kind a advice. love tanya

hi tyra my name is tanya i live in the caribbean in antigua a 108 square mile place i have always dream of becoming a top maodel, people always tell me i have the height and so to be a model but there is not much opportunities here in antigua. Even when i was in ny i was at the bus stop an this woman said to me i should go on oprah winfrey show maybe i could get a oppurtunity to model, but u see the kind a problem is i dont walk straight i love heels but i was a tarn boy when i was young. so i kind a have a manish walk but i could walk good am always modeling in my house and my mom see me watching ur show u would say u always watching stupidness i tell no i soon be the next top model. i don't no wat i should do could u help me or give me some kind a advice. love tanya

a poem i wrote some time ago about the light skin dark skin battle.. peace

Dark Lights

God made man from dust
Well he must have made you from mud
Cause you blacker than black gums
You’re blacker than black lungs

Black your so black your blacker than rotten food
Black your so black your blacker than a burnt spoon
Black you so black, you’re blacker than stool
Black your so black your blacker than everything unnatural

Black you so black your blacker than concrete
Black your so black your blacker than these streets
Black your so black, walk showing your teeth
Cause black you’re so black that’s the only way you’ll be seen

Ouhh black you so black you blue black
Black you so black head full of those black naps
Black it is not even worth speaking
Just marry somebody light skinned
So your kids come out even

Curse you dark skin they say I ‘m to dark, scorched by the sun
Came out the oven crispy, burnt, Cajun well done

Curse you dark skin why can’t I been seen as those Hollywood beauties
You know the ones all on the magazines
Say them with me
Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Halle Berry
Lights get everything

Wait baby wait
I think I need to set your mind straight
Let me get you familiar with the other side of black on black hate

They don’t like you cause of whom you are within
They only say you look good cause you light skinned
Ooh you black, what else, you got to be mixed in
What are you, Brazilian, Asian, or Puerto Rican?

Look at the light skins running in the sun, trying to get them some color
You know black don’t crack
But when that tan peals off
Lighties crack all over

Oh light skin don’t date someone else pale
Oh not one of those
Cut off the electricity
Cause you’re kids will be brighter than some 40-watt light bulbs

Looking at them light skins
Think they all sexy and cute
Don’t you know its
The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.

Curse you light skin, I know I’m black, but why can’t I be accepted by my own
They call me white girl
High yellow
Or a redbone

Why do I have to prove my blackness, show you the rainbow I call my family tree
Show you my mother she’s from Mississippi she’s part Cherokee
Show you my grandfather he’s from the West Indies
He married my grandmother she’s Creole by way of New Orleans

Curse you light skin, why couldn’t I be darker two
they always show the dark skin
As strong, natural, black and Powerful

Curse you skin complexion
My people were once united
Now all we do is bicker and bicker
Stay divided up
Like different courses of dinner

We were once the same until they plucked us off at different docks at the river
It’s a shame we don’t realize to white America we don’t differ
Dark or light skinned
To them you’re still just Ni**ers!

Hi Tyra,

Today's show was very good. I think no matter what color you are, you are beautiful in your own way. People judge others by looking at them, without knowing who that person really is. I think no matter what color, race, religion, we have our own views, stories, and opinions. It is all about confidence and believing in yourself. Your "skin" color does not determine who you are; its about the individual. It's about being who you are and not letting others disparage you. Just being yourself makes anyone and everyone the most beautiful. Thanks Tyra for this show and for being such a wonderful role model!

HI TYRA,I THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD SHOW TODAY.I AM A WHITE GIRL BUT I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WHY DARK AND LIGHT HAS TO BE SO DIFFERENT.I THINK BLACK SKIN IS JUST AS BEUTIFULL AS WHITE SKIN AND THAT GOD MAID EVERYONE SPECIAL AND BEUTIFULL IN THERE OUN WAY.DEBORA

Hi Tyra,
My name is Ashley and I am from Charleston,South Carolina.Yes there is a major problem with with society when it comes to skin tones. I can say this because I am a dark complexion female. growing up in the South people have tendency to think the darker you are the uglier you are. I totally DISAGREE . Thats why I look up to people like yourself to let people that BLACK IS BEAUTY. Thank you Ashley L Smalls

Hi Tyra,

I was watching your show today and it really moved me. I am a dark skinned young woman and I am now proud of my complexion. I notice that the other comments state that we should move on and everyone is beautiful however I feel that as long as the media blinds us with the light skinned, long hair image we will constantly have problems with complexion within the black community. I used to be very insecure about the color of my skin and if it weren't for my mother I wouldn't be as confident as I am today. I think all shades are beautiful and I am sure alot of other people do as well, but that is not openly expressed and that is why there are still many issues with beauty within the black community.

Hi Tyra,
My name is Jasmin and I'm 18 year lightskined woman. I feel that all women have something beautiful about them. Women, are just beautiful creatures naturally. I hate the fact people act is if being darkskinned is a flaw because it is not! We all have flaws and things that we love and dislike about oursleves and should except that god has blessed us individually and equally.Women who have confidence in my opinion are beautiful. No matter what complexion you are personality is what matters most!

I am bi-racial and I have always been intimated by dark skinned black woman. All of my friends are dark skinned and I sometimes hate that I am so yellow. I try so hard to prove that I am black, but my real friends know the deal. Dark skinned black woman are beautiful, original and truly natural. I had it hard because the blacks did'nt like me and the whites did'nt either, but my real friends are natural black woman with class and respect for themself, so they know who I am, just as I know who they are. We are real woman and we don't have time for the game.

I

The sooner the world realizes that we all bleed red blood, the sooner we can move on. ALL of us are gods' children, no matter what color our skin is. It amazes me to this day that we still have racial issues. We are all the same, we should all be treated the same and those that do not treat others as they would want to be treated, need to get out the book and get over it. There are WAY more pressing issues in life then the color of ones skin. We, are all ONE world, one family, ONE COLOR. HUMAN.

Marcia

Hi my names Kristie
I'm light skinned but i'm native
and i've always got put down about it even though im light
i've had numerous people be racist call me a squaw and so on.

Hi Tyra,
My name is Jasmin and I'm 18 year lightskined woman. I feel that all women have something beautiful about them. Women, are just beautiful creatures naturally. I hate the fact people act is if being darkskinned is a flaw because it is not! We all have flaws and things that we love and dislike about oursleves and should except that god has blessed us individually and equally.Women who have confidence in my opinion are beautiful. No matter what complexion you are personality is what matters most!

Hello All,

This message is for all of those who have skin of color, and struggle with seeing the beauty in that.

Through out my family we have skin tones that range form the lightest of lights, to the darkest of darks. Even our hair and eye colors range, hair texture included; even my own twin is lighter than me.

Through out my family, we have African, Irish, and two tribes of Native American, but when I see my family, all I see is my family.

Love is unconditonal and no respecter of person, that includes loving yourselves for who you are, just the way you are.

This is a poem that was sent to my friend, who passed it along to me.

I would now like to share it with you; please read it in it's entirety.

I pray it helps you to see yourselves in an entirely beautiful way.

God Bless you

****************************
A POEM FOR THOUGHT

Lord, Lord
Why did you make me black?
Why did you make me someone the world wants to hold back?

Black is the color of dirty cloths,
The color grimy hands and feet
Black is the color of darkness, and tire beaten streets.

Why did you did you give me thick lips,
a broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did you make someone who receives hatred stares?

Black is the color of the bruised eye when someone gets hurt
Black is the color of darkness, black is the color of dirt.

How come my bone structure’s so thick, my hips and cheeks so high?
How come my eyes are brown, and not the color of daylight sky?

Why do people think I’m so useless, how come I feel so used?
Why do people see my skin, and think I should be abused?

Lord I just don’t understand, what is it about my skin?
Why do people hate me, and not know the person within?

Black is what people are “listed” when others want to keep them away.
Black is the colors of shadows cast; black is the end of the day.

Lord you know my own people mistreat me, and I know this just ain’t right.
They don’t like my hair, and they say I’m either too dark, or too light.

Lord, don’t you think it’s time for you to make a change?
Why don’t you re-do creation and make everyone the same?

GOD ANSWERED:

Why did I make you black?
Why did I make you black?
Get off your knees and look around.
Tell me what do you see?
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness, I made you in the image of ME!

I made you the color of coal, from which beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you the color of oil, the black gold that keeps people warm.

I made you from the rich dark earth, which grows the food that you need.
Your color ‘s the same as the black stallion, a majestic creature is he.
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness, I made you in the likeness of ME!

All the colors of the heavenly rainbow are found through out every nation; but when all of those colors are blended, you became my greatest creation.

Your hair is the texture of lambs’ wool; such a humble little creature is he.
I am the shepherd who watches them; I am the one who will watch over thee.

You are the color of the midnight sky; I put the stars’ glitter in your eyes.
There is a smile hidden behind your pain; that is why your cheeks are so high.

You are the color of dark clouds formed, when I send my strongest weather.
I made your lips full, so when you kiss the one that you love, they will remember.

Your structure is strong, your bone structure thick to withstand the burdens of time.

The reflection you see in the mirror…
The image that looks back is MINE.

By
RuNell Ni Ebo

(Love thy neighbor as thyself)

hi tyra im lyk ur biggest fan eva. iv wtcd al ur shows nd i lve u

I just want to thank-you for bringing this topic to light! I'm a lighter-skinned African American, and I have always resented my color, but now that I'm more mature & older, I think ORIGNALITY is beautiful! So all of the girls and women dealing with their own race/color issues, just remember that it is better not to a clone, because no one remembers them/you! Be your beautiful differnt self!

Oh yeah I just love you Tyra! Thanks for staying so humble in this ego driven industry!

Hi tyra,
My name is Jasmine Stokes. I'm 16-years-old and yes i am dark-skinned. I live in killeen,tx your average little town and ever since i started going to school i've constantly been made fun of because of my color. My mother has always been pushing me to be strong and not to let anything get to me but i could never help it. Everyday i get ready for school with such confidence but it seems like whenever i get to school i feel like i lose it. i'm constantly comparing myself to other girls at my school thinking what do they have that i don't. out of the three of my older sisters and both of my brothers i'm the darkest. Whenerver i come to school with pictures of my family everyday people often ask me why i kind of don't look like the others. I'm always taught to keep my head which is a really good thing. I'm different from most girls. My mother has diabetes which she's had since she was 21 which effected her eye sight and her legs to the effect where she uses a walker also she has kidney failure. Good news is thst if she gets a transplant she could also get a pancres transplant meaning she won't have diabetes anymore. i'm not looking for anyone to feel sorry for me or my family because we are very strong but i would like to be a teen model to show all people that dark-skinned is in and it is and always will be beautiful. i want to become that role modeol and represent all dark-skinned girls. I do my research but i need an extra push tyra what should i do?

hey tyra this is michelle from atlanta i think im your biggest fan!!!.. but i jus want to say that i think im cute for my color sometimes,, meaning sometimes i would wake up dress up and go out and look good, but when i see lighter females my confidence jus drops a whole lot and i hate that.. and not only that but i was born with a birth defect i have 8 fingers and everyone knows in my neighborhood and thats another reason why i have low self esteem...its really bad for me becuz i cry alot and it jus hurts...but alot of people say i have beautiful skin but i jus dont believe it...

hi Tyra,
this is my first comment ever on your site and i have a mixed skin tone my mothers white and my fathers Hispanic well if i get technical hes Guatemalan i can get pretty dark in the summer almost black and very light in the winter almost white and i don't know what to do for make-up colors I've been told i don't have a pallet and that i can wear all colors but I'm having trouble choosing i need help :( i also have family trouble well distant family trouble my parents are trying to adopt my cousin he's only 8 months old and my cousin Ana(his mother) is a druggie so Davis is in social services right now and the whole trial is making my family and i really stressed its all thanks to California social services they don't want my family and i to have Davis because we'd be good for him and they don't want him to go to a good home they just want to adopt him out to a stranger so they can get some money gosh i hate them and now their trying to say my mother isn't a suitable mother for him because she fed him and he was no longer starving to death stupid foster mother!and this has all been going on since about five days after he was born I'm sorry to say this but California SUCKS! and while were all stressing my mother is gaining weight because of her stress and I'm breaking out in pimples that are turning into cuts when i pop them eww gross pimples!! i don't know how to stop stressing so i will stop breaking out and i need some pointers for something that will help with that and maybe if i stop stressing my mom will two?we need some help and if you will say a prayer for Davis as he is now in foster care waiting for us to get cps off our backs and away from him :(

Hi Tyra,
My name is Jessica. Im 16 years old and I live in Boston. I am a darked skinned, African American girl and growing up the kids always made fun of me. They called me names and some people even called me ugly. Because of this i suffered from low self-esteem for a long time. Eventually I realized that I can't change who I am and i learned to love the skin Im in. Thanks for talking about this topic on your show!

Dear Anchal :
I'm Wayne Covington I will like to get to know you better I think you look very beautiful.I enjoy watching your show I love to make love to you.Keep smiling.I want you to know that I went to pick up a book and study a differnt language because of you.I want to be a smart man.I want all the money that I can get.Say happy birthday to me and tell me you love me forever.I want to know if you is a real Princess.We can go on a date I love to meet every nationality.I want you to send me some money A trillion dollars anything.I want to meet you all in person.See you later .I love you,and give me a big fat kiss!!