Hey Tyra!
I'm a 13 year old 90% Caucasian girl who was completely amazed about how black people felt about lighter skinned people. I believe that we are all equal, if we weren't equal then why do we have the same priorities, motherly influences and love for each other? I think that everyone should just love each other, love is all we need. To make this better, I think that we should all have MORE discussions about what we think of each other. I unfortunately go to school in Bend, Oregon with 3 african american students. I wish that we were more different in mind and body. I think that when there aren't any differences between people then we would just be a lot of mindless drones.

With much hope of a better future,
Laurel, 13, Bend, Oregon

Hi Tyra, I just want to say that I really enjoyed the show today I am a 21 year old black woman and I consider myself to be medium brown skinned. Some people have called me light skinned before, but I dont think I am. I'm a brown skinned girl with longer hair than most of the people I went to high school with and people used to say when they first met me they thought I was stuck up and that I thought I was all that and it was weird to me because I had always heard people say that about light skinned girls which I don't feel that I am. Once they got to know me tho they realized I was far from that. For someone to say that dark skinned people are uglier than light skinned black people are crazy, to me it's not about the color it's more about the features to me cause light skinned, brown skinned, and dark skinned can all have big noses, smal noses, full lips smaller lips, it really doesnt matter everyone is beautiful. We need to stop coming down on each other as black people and just love each other, because we get enough hate towards us from others.

As usual Tyra, we can always count on you to further separate and instigate when it comes to racial differences. As you and your audience demonstrated..it seems like the black women in your audience are way more judgmental about skin color even amongst their own sisters than white people tend to be. Segregation, separation and racial indifference will never ever leave humanity until people like you can let it go and stop perpetuating it!

Growing up, I felt the same way the dark women on the show felt. It made me not talk at all but fight a lot. Then I started to think that they can only look better than me, they cannot be better than me. I believed that that is one of the reasons that I am as motivated and successful as I am today. But when I went into the military it changed. I found that there was still a little of light skinned black people being treated better but I had to deal with people hating me because I was American. So when I came back from overseas, I felt that that was a much bigger problem. Being racist against your own race did not seem that important any more. Also, I notice that men are mostly attracted to confidence not color. But it’s still there.

Hey Tyra,
I am a 16 yr old dark skinned girl. To behonest sometimes I do think not only women but all people of a lighter complexion have it easier. All my life especially now in high school-ive ben teased for being dark. They have called me monkey/gorilla,blacky,black ice, nite,and alot worse so of course im goin to have this type of opinion.Ive never had a bad thought about people of lighter race or anything but its like it depends on the situation. Of course now me being in high school I feel like all the light skinned girls get all the guys and all the guys only want the light skinned girls. It just average day-to-day activities I go through where someone has to say something about my complexion. Like if I go to a mall or something there is alwayz one clown...well dude that says "o there go your girlfriend" to one of his friends and they start laughing or something or someone says your very pretty to be a dark skinned girl.Basically saying if I were a lighter complexion I wouldnt make the cut of being pretty. Sometimes even my family says things about my complexion that hurts so from where Im comin from of course im goin to think people of lighter complexion has it better.Im only 16 and I feel this way and it shouldnt be like that. Because of the way im treated now from guys of dark skinned and my dad(dark skinned) i dont want to have a boyfriend that is dark because of what they have done to me to make me feel this way.

I think light and darked skinned people are equal. I think its stupid that people discriminate people because of how they look and everything else. People have to realize that everyone is the same and unique and beautiful in their own way. Everyone should be treated equally.

hi tyra!
was listening to your show today(picture on my tv is shot)and was saddened to hear some things some women had to say about others, now i didnt see any of these people and i myself am quite a pale,white girl so i havent had to deal with a lot of issues other people have, but skin color should never be an issue and its a sad thing that it still is. personally,as far as beauty goes,i think black skin is beautiful, i love to draw and some of my best drawings are of my black friends (you can see them on my myspace page if you feel like it) when i was in school many years ago, i lived in a very white area. there was a small group of black kids that came in from the city and my experience was, they were all very nice,nicer than the white kids. in my adult life, some of my favorite people in the world are from trinadad, all kind,friendly,beautiful.and that wouldnt change even if they were green with purple spots!

Hi Tyra,

I found your show today to be very interesting, but I would like to comment on what you said of your process while choosing the contestants for America's Next Top Model. I am an 18-year-old Asian girl, and I have always wondered why there are no Asian women on your show. You said that you make it a point to show diversity in skin tones so that younger girls who watch the show will realize that they are beautiful, no matter what skin tone they have. Why should this only apply to black women? Growing up, I had the idea in my head that all Asian women were less beautiful than white or black women, as they were not portrayed as beautiful in the media. I always assumed that I wasn't as good looking as the other people around me, and that I wouldn't have a chance with any of the "hot" boys because of my race. I even began to dislike Asian boys, and always imagined myself dating someone outside of my race. However, over time I have come to accept that Asian women are extremely beautiful. It just bothers me that by making that comment, you seem to disregard Asian women completely in your show.

How you doin Tyra,

I'm a black man and I thought today's show topic was very interesting. I like that you are bringing to light some of the issues that are dividing us as a race. I think you were right on the mark when you stated that this is something that manifested from slavery time. Society has chosen to manipulate black people into thinking that there is a significant difference between us to keep at odds with eachother. By favoring light-skinned people and pretending that they were "better" a wegde was placed between them and darker toned people and as a result darker toned people rejected light-skinned people as if it was their choice to be favored; so some light- skinned people chose to accept it and felt superior and see them as haters, when in fact the issue is irrelavant because we are all still one beautiful black race. I believe this is another example of why african-americans can't be unified as a people, we are victims of divide and concour.

Don't do me EVAN. Slavery still exist and like I said, most/some but not all, are real slick with it. So if it is not you, I wasn't talking to or about you, so Ima need you to chill out. I witnessed it in high school so I know what to look at. Like someone said in their comment, they have become nonverbal and I know exactly what they mean. I get looks and hear words under the breath. Recently, I got into it with a white guy who wasn't getting and play and he was very blunt. I don't have to get over shyt!!!!

Tyra,
I'm sixteen years old and I have a bit of trouble fitting in with my race. My mom is Jamaican and my dad is white but people think that I look asian. When I look in the mirror I don't see what there talking about. Being raised by my mom I identify myself more with blacks even though I have light skin.But it's hard when I meet new people who are black, because I have to be careful what I say, beacuse I don't look black and they can be offended by what I say, where as if a was fully black they would be fine with what the stuff I'm talking about.Like if I say something to people that don't know I'm black,they'll be like you can't say that your not black but when they realize and get to know me they're okay with it.But with my friends that are black and know where I come from are comepletly okay with the jokes and comments I make. I dont think race or different skin tones should matter. And that we should all see ourselves as equals.

Hi Tyra, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the show today. I am a white 15 year old girl who attends a school with only 3 black students, so as you can tell, I experience little diversity. It was a real eye opener and from the show, I realized that racism does not only occur from race to race, but also between people of the same ethnicity. I also wanted to tell you and all other black people that whether you are biracial, dark skinned, light skinned, or wherever you wish to classify yourselves, that to me, all are equally beautiful. Fortunately, I've never been in a situation where my skin tone, not race, was a factor and I can't even imagine how it feels to be looked down upon based on the lightness or darkness of it. Thank you, Taylor

i'm 1/2 black and white laening more towards the white side. i live in a predominantly white town and have been the victim of race hatred by white and some asian people (cops store owners etc.). and on the other hand black people dont accept me because i do look very white. its this way with my family (treating me this way) aS well. its been this way all my life. it hurts my feelings. i'm 25 and i try to not let myself get angry when things happen but... oh well. i would write more but i cant type fast.

Hey Tyra! I just wanted to say that your show today was perfect for what I've been dealing with recently. Though I am just a 14 year old white girl, I've lately realized all ways that skin color can effect a person. Ever since I've been old enough to care about my looks, I have always in a way wished I was or had some black in me. I've always been somewhat jealous of black girls because of the big lips and the thickness to them. By thickness, yes, I am including the booty of a black woman. Even though my friends say that I have a "ghetto booty", mine is not quite in the bootyliscious category! :] The confidence that black woman have is something that I've always wanted, too. Let's just face it...black is beautiful! I have a best friend who is black and I've always loved her skin tone, and when she wears her hair all out and natural. When I was little, and still thought that boys had cooties, I always thought that I would date a bunch of white guys, when I got older. Now that I'm older and a little boy crazy, I've found that I have a certain attraction to black guys. I don't know what it is about them that I'm so head over heels for, but I just know that I am. My mom and I get into pretty deep discussions and one of those discussions were about guys. I was telling her a story and all of a sudden she asked, "Are you attracted to white guys?" I said, "Yeah...why do you ask?" And she was like, "It just seems like your more into black guys than white." Because of my recent discovery, I've had a lot of comments made to me about it. One time, I told one of my closest guy friends who I liked, and when I told him, he said "You like black guys? That's gross!" I thought it was completely uncalled for because I have no problem with mixed relationships, at all! I do have some family members that are racist, and I try to not pay attention to what they say when they see a mixed couple or a black person. Sometimes it does get to me that this world still has so much hatred in it that people have to be racist. Why can't we all just except eachother for who we are, instead of the darkness or lightness of our skin? Well, I'd like to say that I AM a dark chocolate lovin white girl...SO WHAT! For those people that have prejudice comments, they need to just keep their mouths shut, unless they can think of something nice to say. I'm glad I finally got that off my chest, and thanks for reading.

Hey Tyra. I thought this tyra special was interesting to watch. I am light skinned woman and I feel like I don't get a lot of respect. I feel like I am always competing with them to get to the top of what i Want and at times it is not fair. I have been competing with my older brother all my life. I am sick and tired of it.

Hi Tyra,
I literally just finished watching your show. I am a 22 year old "dark-skinned" female and a lot of the issues your show touched on hit so close to home that it brought back memories. Your show exposed the ignorance that many of our own people are displaying towards one another. The direction that society is headed towards regarding race is not proving to get any better. I think that at moments like these, it is very imperative that we love one another regardless of what color we are. And another thing, how can we criticize white people for racial discrimination when a lot of our own are guilty of color discrimination? There really isn't a difference. I think it is very sad that people are judged based on their color and nothing more. Those who behave that way could be missing out on getting to know a possibly really good person.

Hello Tyra, I think that race does play a role in life. I am a brown skinned girl, I have a really pretty tone, long hair, 15 years old and I'm in High School as a freshman. Since Elementary school, I've had girls who are darker then me mess with me and want to cut my face up, because my skin tone is considered to be pretty by many. I've witnessed people going into job interviews with people who were lighter then them and get turned down, not because they were unintelligent or ghetto, but because they were darker in the skin tone area. I, myself believe that no matter what skin tone you're categorized in, every category has it's displeasing side. You have some dark skinned people who just have a unattractive skin tone as for light and medium toned too. I like all skin tones, dark, medium, and light. I do not believe that just because you're darker in skin color that you are ugly, Morris Chestnut is a handsome guy and Gabrielle Union is a beautiful woman. The thing that I'm sure a lot of people would not like me for is that I do not date outside my race and I will not encourage anyone around me to do so either. I won't even date someone that is mixed, I want black. This is only because we don't really have any fully black children anymore, it's like the black population is being wiped out secretly. I want my son to be fully black, I want his son to be fully black and so on. Again I have no problem with other races, I just want more fully black children around. And to black women, stop with the little ghetto attitude, it's really unattractive and displeasing. Us black people really need to work on ourselves so we can be a strong race and stop acting like the white man still has a whip on our backs and stand together.

Ms.Tyra,

I would like to say that this was the most interesting topic to which you have cleverly brought to light (no pun intended). And I say cleverly because you and I and all the sistas watching (and anyone who is educated) know that the manner in which the topics were discussed begs the question: THEN WHERE IS THIS S*** COMING FROM?

And that answer brings us the root of 'it' to which we find in history. As much as people get tired of hearing it, history doesnt go anywhere so JUST DEAL WITH IT(which is what you are trying to do for us..for everybody).

See..today we have been lead to believe that all is in the past. The constitution is from the past. Do you hear people sayin..."but they wrote that soooo longgg ago..so lets just forget about the rules". No...we dont. What we do in the past affects the future. Heck..many minorities are just NOW reaping the benefits of the constitution in which they should have had decades ago. Thanks MLK and the freedom riders(black and white etc). All nations have their battles.

But back to the past. Yes we an get over it, to a degree that is true. We CAN achieve anything we wish. And we certainly push very hard to do so "Everyday Im Hustlin". And some are too discouraged.

But many cant deny that you feel what is buried underneath. This is where and WHY the pattern of bringing up race ..ethnicity...social stratification keeps coming up. Because we (black , white, whatever) keep trying to bury the BEAST.

That "It" (history and other causes) had thrown a bomb in the middle of the black family which created self hatred against eachother, therefore self distruction...which is exactly what some people and institutions in history wanted to happen.

And it sadly continues today. But we have been taught through media that if we get gold and bling, that it must symbolically mean we got out of that system. Which to me is like "the" institution (the mother) giving a baby a sucker to keep him quiet and ignoring the fact that a babys diapper still gotta be changed. And then the "Mother" teaches the siblings how to pacify eachother while she is away and the s*** keeps building up. (were not babies though). DONT BE FOOLED!

I have recently graduated with a degree in Anthropology. I love different cultures and people. So no s*** here. I love my culture as well. But I am also open. My boyfriend is from Okinawa Japan and mainland Japanese dont even consider him Japanese. I witness the racism he faces when we go out into the asian community here in San Diego. Both because he is Okinawan and because I am black (from South East Diego..aka "The Hood") So this s*** is world wide. I boldy call it s***.

I am African-American with a very enriched skin tone to which people call "dark". My sister and I have the same parents, she is "light" because of the french genetics my dad picked up from Louisiana. So?!?! Ya know? But people sometimes flip a lip when I try to explain that I have white spanish and native american ancesters. I shouldnt feel the need to explain. I just try to create a buffer zone so my sister wont feel so akward to peoples ignorance. Or they say I am "too dark" to have had inherited the genetics my sister shows on the outside. Though I am 5 years older, they ask if I am HER sister...and not the other way around.

Most black people in america have been Creolized. But yes we are BLACK. Black by our own definition. I love being black. And I have ALMOST never felt any kind of split between my sister and I because I refused to. And I was too busy raising her to let it become an issue.

But I can admit that I have also seen that light skinned/dark skinned issue in pre-school through College. The mixed girls getting the attention. And I know they know whats up and the advantages that the reap from the product of forced self-hatred. And they do use that to their advantage with a pursed lip. Because no one wants to talk about it. So we know its true alot of times. It just has to be opened like a pimple to relieve some pressue.

I admit I used to have the same feelings about seeing you on the run way in the 90's. I was too youngggg to think like that. But I was conditioned so early.I am only 22. But I used to think "she think she alllllll dat"..because of your features. And I am so sorry!!! I love you Chal'!

I am the first to graduate from my family and often the only black /dark person in the classroom. I admit I have felt and experienced the color pinch. Partly, due to my own inherited insecurites and the insecurities of others (self-hatred)...from people of all types. So YEP I KNOW IT HAPPENS!!! I FELT IT! I EXPERIENCED IT!.

But...We would like to thank you for being brave and bring it up and re-washing the laundry. Keep it up because your changing the world a piece at a time. No one gets the solution on the first try..but girl...somebody has got to start it. What a TRAIL BLAZER you are! God Bless. I also appreciate the way you keep it so diverse in your shows. Thank You!!

Peace and Vaseline!,

Ms.Candace

I'm a white female and what I think is funny that a lot of white girls actually fake bake and lay out to get darker, when it sounds like some black women would like to be lighter.

I just wanted to say that I appreciate you picking this as a subject for your show. I feel that this has long been a subject that blacks were afraid to discuss, but were experiencing daily. I think it is sad that in today's society, we are still faced with this issue. I am a "lighter-skined" black woman and although many feel lighter-skined blacks are treated better, I just ask that everyone take into consideration that we all have problems and the matter at hand should be how to get over and avoid those problems in the future and not judge the importance of a problem based on the skin tone of the person dealing with it. I think that you are an extremely compassionate person and I want to thank you for shining light on this matter. I would love to see this movement be as big as your "so-what" campaign. Much love...

I just watched your show on lighter and darker skinned black people. I think its great you did it and that it was very enpowering. I also wanted to add that its not just in the black community its in almost every community. It sucks but its real!

o and its me again the 13 year old..
im very pale and its hard being that pale because im the whitest girl in my school and its really hard... there are some dark colored girls at my school and there are absalutely gorgous so in my opinion there is no difference in skin color because every one is beautiful!

hi tyra i am 14 years old and i think your show was very moving to show people that no matter if your light or dark your still an important person. i deeply feel that light people are not better than dark even though they act a lot more stuck up. im am a medium skind person but i still like to have light or darked skined friends because i dont see them by what color they or but by the person they are. thank you so much for doing this show

Hi Tyra, I think some of the comments made today were so foolish. I was truly embarrassed by some of what was said.
I think it's time we stop adding labels to who we are as Black people. I am a proud BLACK WOMAN! Regardless of my skin tone, body shape, hair texture, facial features or even nationality. As people, especially Black people, we should see each other for who we are; and not the shade of our skin, the texture of our hair, shapes of our nose, lips, eyes or even our bodies. We all came from different tribes, and we should celebrate each others unique, but equal beauty. Because were all created and are loved by the God.

Hey Tyra,
Your show today was excellent! I am so glad that you did this show. I really can relate to all the dark brown skin sisters. I am a cinnamon brown, fifteen years old young lady. I love my complexion but I was not always comfortable with it. It always seemed as if the brighter skin girls were said to be prettier. One day I heard a group of boys talking and as I listened I heard them saying a particular girl was the prettiest in the school. To me I personally believe it was only because of her color and long hair. I have an old sister, she is slightly brighter and we have the same parents. Our mother is bright and our father is dark brown. Everyone says that we look like twins. She said to me that I discriminate amongst blacks but I never thought that I did. All of her pass boyfriends have had a dark brown complexion. I have a few light skin friends however my best friend is a bright skin boy. I would never date a bright skin boy because I know how and what my best friend thinks of himself. Most the girls I keep as friends prefer light skin boys and think they are cuter. I once was like that but I have realized it’s not about skin but it’s about personality. I am not trying to stereotype but the majority of brighter blacks seem to think that they are better looking because they are bright. What I am really trying to say is that it is not all of the brighter blacks fault that they feel they look better, but the insecure darker blacks that are not comfortable with themselves.