Hi Tyra,
My Name Is Marilyn and I love your show this weeks show made me really think. I am a very light woman and i dont see myself dating anyone of the dark skin its not that i am racist i just feel like the guys in the new age are ignorant. But people think that i am white all the time but i am black,white,and Cuban so consider myself Hispanic so people don't call me ignorant. I have a big nose big lips and a big behind, and long hair what can i do about not hanging out with dark skin girls.

OK since nobody has mentioned it I'm gonna go ahead and "throw" it out there. Why, why, why, why did you condone the wasting of all that paper at the end of the show. It totally destroyed your point in my opinion. Now of all times, when the earth is in turmoil and you do the most American thing possible and waste a ton of perfectly good paper bags. Some people just have no sense.

hey tyra im 11 i watch your show. u really pretty . im girl and im the only dark skin kid in my faily. my mom is light my 2 sisters no brother.and my dad is dark i use to give my family a problem about that. my dad make me meet all dark people in my family . and now im that ge i have a feeling im adopted. i always think my sisters r the pretiest. people awaystell them their pretty not me . it feel bad .i really want the truth if im adopted or not.

luv tyra.

Tyra,

I watched your show today about light skinned and dark skinned black women. My comment does not fit into this category but, You made reference to America's Next Top Model and how you include all bodytypes, skin tones, etc. on ANTM. However, you failed to include or talk about height. A specific requirement to be on ANTM is that you are atleast 5'7; am I correct? I've looked into auditioning for the show but I'm only 5'1 and after seeing a strict height requirement of 5'7 I gave up quickly. Now, I know that in order to fit into the clothes you've got to be pretty tall. But do you not accomodate the 'full figured' woman as well? Aren't you and the modeling industry discriminating against those of us who are vertically challenged? Just a thought.

Abbie
Mankato, Minnesota

Kudos, to Tyra show producers for bringing this topic to light. It is well overdue and so many talk show host shy away from topics about racism.

To get a better understanding of racism white supremacy, I personally challenge everyone to read Dr.frances cress welsing. "The Keys to the Colors." or simply do a search online about her work it will forever change the way you feel about racism.

Hey Tyra,

I have never wrote in after watching a television show. I just want to say that I'm from Canada and I'm a light skinned woman. I'm married to a dark skinned asian man. I think that dark skin is beautiful. I find a lot of light skinned woman pay good money for tanning booths, to get that darker complexion. Well at least I find that here. I hate that people in general are racist whether it's color or the way someone looks. After watching this show, myself as a person . This show has open my eyes to how mean people can be and myself as a person will make sure that I treat people with the respect they deserve.

Thank you so much for exploring this topic, I am darkskin and I recently experienced hate from a black person after 30 something years of living. This brown skin 54 year old woman that I worked with would say things to me like black men like light skin women were better because they have prettier "bleeps" then dark skinned women, or don't get upset when you go out with our light skin co-worker cause black guys perfer lighter women. The crazy thing Tyra is that that I never had a problem getting a man light or dark and I really never experienced the light and dark with blacks I got it from Hispanic people. And I knew why they did what they did. I really believe there is beauty in all sometimes u may need a little work to bring it out but we all are beautiful. If u ever need someone to counsel our black women call me.

Love u Tyra

hey tyra,
i think the show today is great. it shows what's really happening in our communities. im not black, but i see it in almost every race. im asian and i notice that light skinned girls are thought of as more beautiful than those who arent. im from toronto and where i live is very multicultural but i notice that others are treated as though they are better than others because of their skin color. light skinned girls do have it easier in most races and i dont think it's right. i think this is what's wrong with our society. we judge everyone without knowing who they are and what they've been through. we have to be more open minded as a society and realize that we're all equal in God's eyes so why treat people like they're less. i think that to make our society better we all need to start with ourselves and look at who we are and how we can be better. we all have our insecurities, but we shouldnt treat others bad because of our insecurities.

DEAR TYRA,
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE COLOR OF SOMEONES SKIN. IT IS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. CAUSE YOUR CAN BE PRETTY AND STILL BE UGLY ON THE INSIDE. SO LETS STOP WITH THE THEY DON'T LIKE ME CAUSE I AM TO LIGHT OR TO DARK. AND BE HAPPY WE HAVE CAME THIS FAR IN A WORLD THAT WAS MESSED UP FROM THE BEGINING. LOVE YA GIRL.

Tyra,
I love your show, and I love you!!!
In watching today's show though, I was listening to your models speaking of their experiences with race, and I would lik to know, what is "acting black?" If we are to put an end to these sterotypes, why are people of color using them? If I as a white person used some of the slang that I hear people of color using, I would be in huge trouble, and I don't use it anyway.
You have these people on using these derogatory phrases, and if you're mission is to put everyone on equal ground, at the point that these words come out of their mouths, why aren't you stopping it?
I think that there is a huge amount of people living the "do as I say, not as I do" way of life, and that is just as wrong for the people you are trying to change.

What about white women who tan? Do you all think that pale white people aren't as beautiful? I think black women are beautiful, regardless of skin tone. There are dark women that are beautiful, just like there are light women that are beautiful. It's about the features, and the personality, not the skin tone.

Hello Tyra,
I was very inspired about your show of light skinned and dark skinned women. I am not black, but i am hispanic but very fair skinned and green eyes. I have always been very white and people always assume i am white, but i am hispanic, and they say that im not "hispanic" because im not tan or dark like the rest of the hispanic race. I feel hurt in many ways because just because im not "tan" as they say im not hispanic. So i completely understand alot of the women that were on there, like the light skinned model that was on there with green eyes. I think people need to put aside the color of people and look on the inside. I AM hispanic.
Thanks,
Isabel

I really enjoyed today's show. The way Tyra chose to approach this "untouchable" topic was very appropriate and responsible. Although I know Tyra loves her some Oprah. This is exactly why I like the Tyra show and NOT Oprah. Oprah handles these topics very wrecklessly. In contrast, this show was honest, but responsible, informing and inspiring. Thank you Tyra!

I was upset in seeing this show.
What makes me so frustrated is that people still go back to the days of slavery.
That was centuries ago, why do people still think that white people think that way?
I think it's appauling that that happened, but it was so long ago. I understand we need to remember it, but not to think that some/most/all white people are like that!

Ok, enough already. I think there have been MORE than enough shows, reports, studies, etc. about race. The fact is that the division is there because we see shows such as this emphasizing the fact that this person is treated differently, so on and so forth..... ALL because of their COLOR. If everyone would put more of their worries, time and effort into just becoming decent, respectable people, then color WOULDN'T matter. It SHOULDN'T matter!! We are all equal as human beings. LET IT GO!! God made us all different so we can be unique. I really don't think He did so with intentions of us letting the issue rule our lives and label people at first sight. He is the one who holds judgement. Are we going to sit around and waste our time here on this earth judging each other?? IT'S NOT OUR PLACE!! So, ENOUGH with all the emphisis on SKIN COLOR.

I just watched part of the show about skin color. I watched because the tv was on. First, I think that Tyra is a very annoying person. Second, she was telling this woman who does not like dark skin women that she believes that she is better than dark skin and everybody went crazy. So what? if she believes that, what's the problem?
Blak people have their own universities, colleges, proms, etc, but if white people say, we want a college where only white people can get in, there is racism, but it is not racism if black people have their own college????
Please, stop whining!!!!!
Finally, if Tyra is so proud of being black, why she is getting her hair blonder?

Hey Tyra, its Jazzy here again!
I have to say that I loved the show as always, and that I too have faced racism because of my dark skin. One of the women on your show said that she gets hit on my light skinned men. Well, here's a little story for you: I'm young, so I like to hang out with my friends. I'm the darkest, my other is light skinned, and the other is Puerto Rican. They get hit on by all types of Black men, and I don't. I get hit on my Hispanic and White men!!!!! I have never dated a Black man, and this is not by choice, so my family thinks that I will only date Hispanic men because I don't want "a tar baby" This is sooo wrong! I love Black men,I don't see color when it comes to my heart, but why is it that only Hispanic and White men approach me? I am not a mean or bitter women who scorns any man that looks her way, so what's the deal? I strongly believe it has to deal with my skin color, and it makes me feel bad. Sometimes I think I am not accepted because if my skin. So what does a fine, intelligent, intellectual young woman like myself do?

Hi Tyra,

I wished I could've been on your show today about Africa American Women's skin tones. I am a very light-skinned black woman who grew up with a serious identity problem. Not only am I light skinned but have small lips and light hazel eyes that tormented me for years.People asked my mother was she babysitting because she had this little half white child with green/gray eyes.

When we first moved to my childhood neighborhood, which was a housing project development, we were chased home from school because we were light. Every summer, I tried to bathe in the sun to attempt to get a few shades darker. I didn't have long hair; it was thick and short but not a bad grain.

I grew up feeling like I didn't fit anywhere. I was with a youth group that had Blacks and Whites and when we traveled, someone would start counting the ratio of Black vs. Whites and they would always group me with the white side and that always hurt me, but because I am a very outgoing person and I love people of all nationalities, I overcame a lot of things because of my personality and people learned to know and trust me for ME. I also developed a relationship with Jesus and learned my indentity in Him and realized that I was made with my skin color for a reason. It is still something I grapple with but nothing like I did growing up.

I have to admit that I have felt some people accepted me sooner than my darker skinned peers and that always bothered me because I wanted to be accepted for who I was and not for the color of my skin.

I am asked repeatedly, am I Bi-racial, Hispanic, Porta Rican, Dominican Republic etc. Some Hispanics have come up to me and insisted on speaking Spanish because they just knew I was one of them, despite the fact I kept saying, "No comprendo"!!! Both my parents are black but my father is really light and my mom is a more caramel color. I always thought if I would marry, I would want a dark guy to give my children a better chance of having some color so they wouldn't have to grow up dealing with what I did.

To this day, my black friends and family tease me about "talking white". From nine children, I am the only one that went to college and got both a BS and Masters' degree. It's not that my siblings couldn't because they are all caramel to light complected and are just as intelligent as I am. I think having been a classroom teacher of K and 1st grade and teaching reading recovery, I pronounce the sounds as I have taught them and I do not think I talk "White".

I never thought that I was better than the darker skinned blacks because I was lighter. I just desperately wanted to fit somewhere and would be anyone's friend who warranted my friendship. Your show was helpful to see both sides of the coin.

Pat

Dear Tyra,

I must say that I love and respect you as a person. The reason being you are not only a beautiful extremely successful Black Female, but you have decided to GIVE BACK to help other Females.

I am a Jamaican female, who have also seen that we as persons of color need to EMANCIPATE OURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY (bob Marley). In Jamaica the whole thing is getting worst. Bleaching has gotten way out of hand, even teenaged boys are doing it now!

I remember growing up with no concept of color. In Jamaica our motto is 'Out of many one people' so we come in contact with many different races and degrees of mixes. My mother was LIGHT complexion and my father pure Dark. But I never really noticed until I was older as it was never an issue. It is sad to say, the issue came up when I became an adult and the concept of the BROWNING came up. I was considered a Browning, simply because I was not pure Black. DJ's began idolising the Browning and I would walk on the road and men will not now comment only on my curves anymore (by the way I am not model slim, but Jamaicans LOVES a Curvy woman! I must add). I would hear comments about me being a Browning, much to my DISGUST!

This prejudice was highlighted even more when my girlfriend (who is dark and beautiful), suggested when we both were made redundant, that I will have a easier time getting a job because of my complexion. Even though I had argued that it was not so, IT WAS!!. Another incident, angered me profusely. My son at aged around seven came home in tears (he had his father's, deep beautiful Chocolate complexion). The teacher told him dark people are made of DIRT and Brown people are made of SAND !! You know I marched up to that school and socked it to her and the school after which I took him OUT !! My son, now aged 19, after my counseling loves himself so much, HE MAY BE CONSIDERED CONCEITED !! I had done effective damage control.

My problem is, how many mothers really believe that the shade of a persons skin makes no difference. When all you see and hear is that it is ten times harder in Jamaica when you are dark skinned. It is so sad, I make it a point of duty whenever I see a dark child , to tell them how beautiful they are. I often notice, like the gentleman on your show said, lighter women tend to be conceited, however a darker child in Jamaica, generally is less CONFIDENT!! I would love to see this beaautiful country with so much to offer the world move past the POISON of slavery and become everything we were meant to be A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE inside and out!

I believe that no matter what race a person is there will always be a bias toward the persons who resembel most Media's standard of beauty. There is a divide between woman as well as men regarding who is more attactive and who is most likely to succed. Since I am a black woman i can speak first hand for black people. I am a darker skinned black woman and i couldnt love my color more. It took a long time for me to be comfortable with my skin color because societies influence on people of all ages made confidence hard for me. I am 19 years old and my biggest fear is that my daughter will grow up in the same world i did. I was continuously teasesd and made fun of for being in the darker circle of African Americans. My daughter is absolutely beautiful and a lovely dark skin color, but i am afraid that she will not see herself the way myself and her other family see her. I dont want her to have to got through the same problems i went through. I was told one thing by my family but treated the complete opposite by people on the outside.Making matters more difficult for me i have vitaligo. Not drastic enough were parts of my skin is white and the rest black but bad enough were people used to ask me if God didnt know what color to make me. The question on everyones mind first through the fourth grade was "hey two face weres the joker?" And sixth through eighth grade i was called spot and the 103rd dalmation. Skin tone plays a huge factor in every race and the sad thing is no matter how many pep talks or even truths get put out there, there will always be the problem of who looks better than who and will that peron be treated better

Hi Tyra.

I just wanted to say that when I watched that show I was shocked and disgusted (that one lady with the boy was terrible.)

Anyway, I am 16 and white (two white parents.)When I watched this I was suprised at the amount of rascism that goes on between dark-skinned people instead of the normal white-black fued.

I find myself more attraced to dark skinned guys (and I think dark skinned girls are the most beutiful.) I am going to be honest that I find the mid-tone boys the best looking. But I really think dark-skinned and black-haired guys (also love dark eyes) are the best looking guys ever. (example: I perfer Akon than Justin Timberlake.)

I just thought I'd throw that fact in to show that not all 'white' girls are stuck up and like white guys. I'd go out with a nice African-American before I would go out with a nice white guy.

Kim

I just wanted to make a few comments about the lady on your show today that said she didn't like dark skinned women & didn't want her son to bring home a dark skinned woman.
1 - She wasn't even light skinned as far as I'm concerned, so it baffles me how she can sit on your stage and say the things that she did.
2 - Obviously, she has some problems that are most likely from things that happened to her when she was young and she can't/won't get over them.
3 - She stated that dark skinned girls treated her bad, talked about her, and were jealous. I really don't think that she was talked about or treated bad because they were jealous of her but more so because of that foul attitude of hers and the messed up way that she thinks concerning color!!!
4 - She should be ashamed of herself for telling her son NOT to bring home a dark skinned woman. I applaud him for being a mature young man and NOT thinking the way that his mother does!!!!!
This is definately a serious topic/issue that effects the Black race and unfortunately it will be an issue for years to come because of ignorant people and society thinking that lighter is better!!!

I have already posted a comment but now I feel it is necessary to respond to what Britney said above. As a white girl I feel as if you really did not understand the point of todays show and that in just those few sentences you typed, made you look completly ignorant. And I would probably venture to say that you are not very educated, and that you are part of the problem not the solution when it comes to racism. I am sure a lot of people on this blog would aggree with me. Its that kind of attitude that makes racism what it is today, I love all people. Judge people by what they do, not the skin tone.

Hey there Tyra,

I am so happy you are attacking this subject. I have dealt with this issue on so many different levels. As a child, I dealt with is issue because I was lighter than the my immediate family and my sister use to tease me that my dad was white (even though he was not). I use to think that was the worst thing possible. Now I have three daughters and all of them have a different shade from red-boned (her name is Shyra 14 yrs old), mid-tone (Michelle 6yrs. old) and dark skin (Destiny, 9 yrs old). All of them are beautiful: each and everyone of them! I have had to check people because they have made comments about Destiny. Comments like, “She gorgeous to be so dark.” WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN!!!!!!!!! I’ve had to put people in check about this forever. Tyra the truth of the matter is Destiny is more photogenic than my Shyra.( Not taking anything away from Shyra). Destiny has come to me and told me kids tell her that her sisters look better than her. So how do I explain the ugliness of racism within our culture. I let them know they are all beautiful. What I am happy about all of my children love people of every race. And that’s what I teach in my house.

Dear Krystle... Why is it that it is okay for you to get upset about whites getting the blame yet here you are so content to throw the blame on another race? Don't you think they get tired of the white race blaming it all on them? We all make mistakes... sounds like you can't stop reliving mistakes that weren't even made by you. Did someone personally say, hey Krystle...It's all your fault. I am white, and the blame on us isn't ours to handle, that went with the people who were resonsible for that blame. They dealt with it now just let it go.