I've been meaning to respond to the episode on light skin women, having it easier than dark skin women.

I'm what you would call red bone and yes I think I've had it a lot easier than dark skin women. My grandmother on my mom's side grew up in Chicago, & passed as white like the rest of the family. So, she grew up hating dark skin African Americans. When she married my grandfather who was Native American & had children, my aunts were raised to not associate with dark skinned
people. She always said, she didn't want her daughters bringing home any ugly, black babies.

When I was born, my grandmother started in on me to stay away from dark skinned people. My mother never expressed that point of view with me, it was solely my grandmother. I however from a very young age & even now, I've had nothing but problems with dark skin African Americans, mainly females. They made life hell for me in school growing up. As an adult, I still get nasty glares & comments from random women that I don't even know. I have to say that the audience wasn't truthful about light skin -vs- dark skin. Reverse racism is still in full effect in the 21st Century & it's not just with African Americans it's with all ethnicities. The lighter skin is deemed the fairest.

I have to say, that I have never been friends, or dated anyone who would be considered dark skin. I think in part because of the awful way I was treated by dark skin African Americans and to be honest I'm simply not attracted to dark skin, & I can't say I've ever met anyone with dark skin that was attractive.

i think it is horrible what is going on in this world.we have black celebrities and the average every day person using skin lightening cream and bleach creams.you should love your color that

i think some people are too
racist its horrible black woman of all colors and race are beautiful
this is a serious issue in this world thats why we celebrities and our society,average people using skin lightening cream and bleaching there skin and becoming alot lighter than they really are or was born. black men that dont like black woman and they think going with another race there going to have mixed kids or certain features its horrible if your going to go with someone be with them because you really love them not because you think there light or mixed
and your kids will look that way.black people love yourself.

This topic really hit me... im a dark skinned black female(23) and i am just now becoming comfortable in my skin...and im not even fully comfortable...i remember getting talk about for probably 85% of my life for being dark skinned like the remarks were crazy"burnt toast" "dark vader" alot it was horrible...and i could remember watching music videos and actually wishing i was someone else...it has taken aloooooooot of years to get to where i am now...and i still have a long way togo....i have alot of people compliment me all the time...but i just be like yeah what ever...u have a lot more feelings on this topic and if u guys ever do a show like this again...please consider me to be on it...

Hey Tyra when I saw this show I was thinking wow how different white female feel. I have very pale skin it is super sensitive to the sun. I cant even pay to tan if I go to the tanning bed I just burn as well. Its funny to see other white females tanning because that makes you more "beautiful". I am sure I could go to the extremes but I choose not too I am who I am plus I can always get a good bronzer. I was happy to watch the show though since I am dating an african american male and always like to see some of the things my children will face. It is my job to keep up with the african american issues so I can teach my daughter or son about a part of who they are. Thanks for going where noone else wants to go.

Tyra,
You hosted a wonderful show, I really enjoyed watching this episode. Lets get to the subject. Maybe light skin black woman have a ruff time too and I do think dark skin black women has the same amount of beauty. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, your beautiful no matter what.

I am 9, in fourth grade and one of my friends called me a "B****", just because I looked like I was white. She said, "you are white." I said, "I am African-American." Then she called me that rude word "B****". That is why I am posting this comment.

My mom posted a comment too, so I wanted to comment on this subject too. Her name is Tawana.

I think you should share some of these comments on one of your shows or have a followup show.

I really, really hope that you read these comments, especially mine, because I am only a 9 year old.

By Angelica

I never really had the time to watch many of your shows, but this week I was on spring break and I saw a preview of your next day show that was about skin color and that if light skin people have it better; instantly i knew had to watch it. I would have never watched it because ever since two months ago that my "boyfriend" told me that he loved puerto ricans and light skin I couldn't
stop thinking about it.

So here I am at 11:35 a Sunday night suppose to be in bed for school, but I just got off the phone wiht my boyfriiend and he said the same thing agin that he prefers light skin women. I'm Indian and i consider my self my brown skin and he's a very chocolate black man. I was very offended and hurt that he would say that to me; he loves Puerto Ricans and they have "banging bodies" and nice skin and he even told me once that he loves Alica Keys and she's every man's dream. Imagine how you would feel if the person you love told you that!

I find it a disgrace that black men, in the NBA and NFL are heading examples, that these men prefer light skin women n that's not even black. They don't love their own women and would go after someone who has a better body and probably doesn't even love them. I don't have a big booty or huge breast and I'm not light skin, I do consider myself attractive, but when i hear and see men doing and saying these things i don't feel attractive or worthy anymore. I didn't know skin color was such a big deal until he told me and you did your show.

He told me that she saw this very beautiful black girl with a nice body, but he wouldn't get with her because she was too dark; she and him wouldn't look good together. I just makes me feel like crying. Our world is becoming a disgrace and the men are the ones who's encouraging it.

I would love for you to do another show on this topic and get more of the male opinion from different parts of the country. And i think you should have some Latino women also involved because these black men seem to really like them and I would like to know some of their opinions on this matter.

P.S. I'm from New York and my "boyfriend" is from Georgia. I don't know if geography plays a part is what kind of women men like. In the North men don't seem to care much.

Hi Tyra

I'm a light skinned black girl but it still disgusts me how some light skins think their better than darker skins. We're all the same race.

Very mixed emotions about this show. I am a light skin BLACK WOMAN, age 47. I was raised in the inner city and always felt that I was judged "on site" by other woman and could never understand why. It wasn't until I was in my early 40's (not long ago) that I realized this was THEIR SELF ESTEEM issue, NOT MINE. Does anyone ever stop to think that the light skin woman struggles may have been just as bad back in slavery days, if not worse. My ancestors were RAPED in the big house on a regular basis, doesn't this make my scars just as deep and hurtful?

Still, to this very day, I am judged on site and I keep it moving because there are so many myths in this world that I cannot justify why someone would treat me the way they do just because of what they are looking at...I realize they were not born this way, someone raised them to think that way and again, this is NOT MY ISSUE.

We all have our burdens to bare and frankly, as a light-skin sister, I have seen so many gorgeous dark-skin black women. I frankly think they are more gorgeous than us light skin women, they usually don't have to wear foundation because their skin is flawless, nor mascara. This may sound cliche' but, beauty really is skin deep. I believe that no matter what color you are, if your 'tude is not in check, you ugly, spiritually ugly and you need to check yourself. Finally, in the words of Mary J Blige, be happy with yourself and stop worrying about someone else. If you are really that bothered by someone else's skin color, take it to the altar!

It is sad, that in 2008, there are still complexion issues. I feel in the African American community, we have enough to overcome. We don't need to continue to divide ourselves. I saw how strong the pain still is just by seeing members in the audience cry. The pain is so evident and it is very bothersome that we still experience this pain so long after slavery. I am dark skinned and love my skin tone. I have also been told "You're pretty to be dark", as if dark is ugly. I also have curly hair and people seem shocked that a dark skinned woman can have naturally curly and soft hair. The misconception of hair, facial features, etc... based on complexion are appalling and insulting. I truly hope that the show will HELP to reverse this horrible mindset and epidemic that plagues the AA community.

HI TYRA THIS SHOW WAS TERRIFIC TO DO. I AM HALF BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE THINK I AM MEXICAN OF SOME SORT. I WAS BORN IN CHICAGO AND HAD NO PROBLEMS YET MY DAD'S COMPANY MOVED US TO ARIZONA WHERE IT ALL STARTED. I WAS CALLED THE 'N' WORD ALSO AN OREO, BLACK AND WHITE TV, NEWSPAPER. IT WAS HORRIBLE GROWING UP I WAS TO DARK FOR THE WHITE PEOPLE AND TO LIGHT FOR THE BLACK PEOPLE. MY 2 OLDER BROTHERS COULD PASS FOR WHITE IM NOT DARK AT ALL BUT DARKER THAN THEM. I DID HAVE SOME FRIENDS AND THERE FAMILY WHO DIDNT CARE BUT IT TOOK THE OTHERS YEARS TO COME AROUND AND WHEN THEY DID IT WAS A GOOD TIME FOR ME. YOU CAN GO TO MY SPACE AND SEE MY PICS.
THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR THAT SHOW,
KAREN

hi tyra. My name is inês and i am portuguese. I'm 12 years old and i have light brown skin, but still people can be very mean at me.some students in my school tease me because of my skin color and sometimes i get really upset.but everytime i see a black woman like beyonce, halle berry and others, i remember that beeing black is no shame, so i stand up and i fight every day and i show that people that i'm proud for beeig black. (i apologize for the language, because i'm portuguese and i'm learning english at school)

This was a very good show. I am a black women who always thought that lighter skin was better than darker skin. I never said anything when I was young. Now I am ok withe all colors and races.

Thank you Tyra for your enlightening, but terrifying show. As a Canadian caucasian mother of 6 bi-racial boys (all from the same father) but who range from light (pass for white) to medium (people don't know he is bi-racial) and every shade in between, I thank you for addressing the issue, as sad and true as it is.

Their father was raised during the days of integration in Florida in the 70s and has some very specific and horrible memories of that time in his life. He still harbours some of the same resentment and backwards beliefs that were ingrained from his older brothers, sisters, mother and elders of his time.

When visiting relatives down "south" we have heard comments like "bright skinned babies", "good hair" and I was even taken to the local store to be "shown off" to friends that they now have "white" in their family! I have to say that was a culture shock for me and I still have issues wrapping my brain around those kinds of remarks!

However, today, I am faced with trying to explain the human race versus any specific race and forms of racism. It is difficult to battle the discussion in your own home and family as well as against the world.

Being caucasian, I didn't have to deal with the same types of prejudices but we ALL have had our battles to endure. I have been called a "white-devil" by a black woman because I was taking all the "good black men". My light skinned son has been told repeatedly that he is a "white boy" but in the next breathe that "if you are 2% black you are black" (confusing to a child). My other boys have been asked "what are you?" Keep in mind now that all of these boys are under the age of 10....we haven't even hit the real painful teen years yet.

I am proud of my boys, and embrace their differences in skin tone and types of hair, eye color, body type, etc. in spite of the fact that often people think they are adopted, foster children or that I am babysitting.

I intend to raise them to be upstanding citizens, regardless of their or anyone else's outward appearances, considerate of others' thoughts and feelings and sensitive to issues.

I am aware that certain light vs. dark beliefs and ignorance continue. I talk to my boys about slavery, what it was, why, how, when. They ask questions and I try to give them honest answers so that they don't have the frustration building up inside of them.

My ultimate wish though, is that there was some way to better educate everyone....starting with the parents....so that this perpetual cycle of self-loathing, closed-mindedness, frustration, ignorance, internal slavery and division of the human race can end once and for all and we can all bleed the same blood as we build a better world.

Hey Tyra,
I thought the show was a great concept but it made it seem like all "light" skinned or "medium" skinned black women or people were treated better. I completely disagree because being the woman I am (I do not label myself with a complextion because I am proud to be a STRONG BLACK WOMAN) I have been treated poorly for just being black. Majority of the time other races do not look at a black woman/man and say "Ohh well, she/he is not that dark so I like her/him", No, they look at us black people as a whole and finds us ridiculous for even trying to seperate ourselves by complextion. I have had so much mistreatment starting from school as a child until today in relationships with men because I am black regardless of complextion. It really seems as though I am not excepted for being who I am from all complextions of the black race because I am not who they label themselves as and refuse to label myself as most do. It seems as though the show made it seem like every "light" or "medium" skinned black person did not have typical "black" features which is completely false. In a sense, the topic of the show upset me because I just know there were people of other races looking at the show laughing and saying that they are all black and it does not matter their complextion and they are all fools for even thinking so. I personally feel that black people as a whole need not think about which complextion has it worse but should work together as a whole and breakdown barriers that the "majority" of society has set for us. It time to build the race as a whole instead of dwelling on situations that all black people face. The black race as a whole has it bad, look at Barack Obama who is a "light" skinned black male who is attempting to do the seemingly impossible and even with his complextion, he still gets criticism and mostly from the black society. It time to grow and not let what Willy Lynch try to put into our ancestors minds affect our success in today's times.
-Nydia

Tyra, I found this episode to be something that was long over due and society needed to be aware of this. I don't think the world had been aware of the prejudice within the African-American culture nor does some African-American's realize or recognize the racism in our own culture. I talk about this topic a lot and when I saw this episode, I thought "it is about time" society can now see and hear it. I wish I could have been a guest.

I am a very light complexion African-American and many times people ask me if I am White or Mixed. I let them know immediately that I am black. My response is I am black, both of my parents are black, and the majority of blacks are mixed from generations and our ancestors.

As I grew up I was constantly harassed and abused about my skin complexion. When I attended elementary school in South Central, LA, this was an all black school with a few hispanics. The kids thought I was white, they pulled my hair threaten me, all the boys pulled up my dress, etc. It lead to me not being able to enjoy my recesses or lunch period. I had to sit with the princpal during this period to avoid any harassment. A girl actually threw a beer can at me on my walk home from school, making a cut above my eye, because I would not help her get boys to like her. She said because I was white I thought I was better and all the boys liked me. This was crazy, we were only in the 3rd or 4th grade. I later moved to Seattle, WA and went to a school that was majority white students, I fit in and didn't have problems with the students. I moved again later to Portland, OR and it started all over again pulling my hair, remarks that I thought I was prettier than everyone else, I didn't know what color I was, threats from some students that they will mess up my face, etc.

My step sister calls me white girl and she is light complexion (she calls herself red bone); however, she is darker than me. My sister-in-law made a comment how come my hispanic friend was darker than me, whats wrong with this picture and when I came back from my cruise to the Carribean I was darker than my sister-in-law and she made it a big deal, she couldn't believe I was darker than her and everyone still talks about it. I actually liked being that dark. But I am comfortable with my complexion and have confidence in myself. I am very down to earth person and don't think I am better than anyone nor do I think I am prettier than anyone. Beauty is skin deep.

My husband is considered light skinned, more carmel complexion and we have three kids, which we get a lot comments about their complexion. My older son is chocolate, my younger son is milk chocolate, and my daughter looks white. One day my daughter took a newspaper article to school to show her brother (my younger son) in the paper for receiving a scholarship and one of the students comment that he is black, but you are not and she replied, "yes I am." They said, "you don't look like it." My daugher replied, "what am I suppose to look like?" She is 9 in the 4th grade.

When my first son was born everyone made comments of how can to light skinned people have a dark skinned child. I told them we are black and our kids can come out any complexion from light to dark, because it traces back through history and to slavery.

I found your guess Tamara to be very ignorant and your information provided was the best advise, truth, and the world needed to hear.

Finally, I don't think dark versus light skinned African-American's have it easier than the other. It doesn't matter what complexion you are it is what is in your heart and what your character is, as long as you know who you are and love yourself.

Thanks for presenting this episode.

I thought this was an interesting subject but it was not presented properly. Instead of having people go back and forth about what is what. There should have been people with credible studies up there. This was just an I think this and you think this, and if you are not happy then so what. More credible people and should have been present. To show that this is not to be taken lightly. I am sure that a lot of people just turned off the TV once they saw that things got "heated". And it is not solely a black issue. Every culture has their black sheep. The lighter you are the better.
Etc etc... I did not mind that it was "Airing out" the dirty laundry. I just hated the format. There are so many studies out there to back it up and understand why. And this was many just an air out instead of taking the subject further with more credible information and studies.

Wassup Tyra, I wrote this in response to an episode I watched on television. I've never seen your show before, and I was surprised at all the hate I saw in the audience. Please check out my entry about it. here: http://ronaldarichardson.com/core/2008/04/26/discrimination-of-earth-fat-sploitation-on-tyra-banks/

Hi Tyra,
I am a 35 year old dark skinned woman who loves her skin color. I lived in England in my pre-teens and remember being praised by my aunt for having dark skin but then on the other hand remember being called "sootie" in honor of chimney soot by cousins, but that really didn't bother me. It wasn't until I moved to the States in my early teens that people started focusing on my skin color. That's when I recalled my cousins calling me "sootie", only then did I start thinking that it was derogratory. I remember liking a hispanic boy in junior high school only to be told that I looked like tar, that hurt at such a young age but I eventually got over it. I also recieved the ever popular comment "you're pretty for a dark skinned girl", but what does the color of my skin have to do with my beauty or lack thereof? I've gotten the head to toe stares from dark and fair skinned women, but that doesn't intimidate in the least. I have insecurities just like other women have insecurities and won't allow those stares to make me feel inferior to them. It does make me feel sad to know how little black women value each other because we are so strong, courageous and determined and are such a force to be wreckened with. In the end one has to feel comfortable in their own skin no matter what feelings others try to project onto to them. There are so many conflicts in the black community and skin color is just one of them. If we can't accept each other for who we are how can we build each other up and make things better for future generations? There are days that I don't feel quite up to snuff, it maybe because I'm not comfortable in outfit, but it's never because of my skin color. Tyra, I love the skin that I'm in.

I read the post by Takelia Monique and feel deeply sympathetic for her that I feel obgligated to post a comment. I am a dark skinned woman. I don't think Dark Skinned or Light Skinned Females have it easier or worst. Each person's experience is different. Growing up as a dark skinned female, I could tell there were differences between some of us who were lighter or darker but I did not pay attention to negative comments. My mother made sure that I have confidence in my own skin and I believe that our self image begins at home. My mother is a brown skinned women who is confident with her looks. She tells me that growing up in the 60's & 70's was a time when light was right, brown can stick around and black get back. Because my mother is brown she was considered 'acceptable' but in her eyes she was more that acceptable, she knew that she had the right stuff. She says that because of her generation and the stigma of beauty in this country, she made it her mission to instill confidence in me. Apparently it worked because I am a confident person and I don't focus on my skin color. Women have to love the skin they are in. Our creater did not make any mistakes on us. I have seen all types of discrimination among my light and dark skinned friends. I've seen my light skinned friends discriminated because they weren't "black enough." I've seen my dark skinned friends discriminated because they were too dark. My theory is if someone feels the need to make negative comments about the color of your skin, no matter how light or dark...why bother with them? Apparently it's their problem, not yours. I refuse to keep negative people in my life, as anyone should. If someone makes us feel as if we are not desireable because of our skin color, then it's their loss and don't associate with them. As far as men, there are plenty of men who love us for who we are and not the skin we are in.

I dated one guy who told me that before me he exclusively dated Light skinned or White Women. I thought it to be peculiar because he was dating dark skinned me. Then he told me that he feels that I am absolutely beautiful and he loves my confidence. Althought we discontinued dating because of mutual reasons, he realizes that women are women and beautiy is universal. I have also met guys who tell me they only like dark skinned women. When a guy tell me that I discontinue dating him because the person I am with choose me for how I am not for the color of my skin.

I also believe that if someone focuses their energy on how they feel that society only gravitates to a certain look a person has, then that will be all that they will discover; because that is what that person is attracting into their life. Here's an idea, people should focus their attention on positive things. What about what makes them beautiful and happy? I bothers me that Takelia Monique went so far to prove her case about society preferring light skinned over darkinned that she even pulled an article that was a study about the preference of light skinned over dark skinned & employment, education etc. Throw that article out! That is a load of crap. Reading articles like, that no wonder why she does not like her skin tone. By reading that type of article she is only perpetuating her insecurity. If she constantly focuses on what she feel's that she has too much of and that's pigmentation! Women need to love themselves at any size, shape, color, height that they were born into. Feeling sorry for the things women feel that they lack only creats a lifetime of misery. Women need to focus on the positives, because we have a lot to be proud of.

I just finished watching the segment you did about this topic and it moved me so much that I felt I had to comment. I am a very light skinned woman. And although this segment was about black skinned women, I have had to deal with people making fun of my skin color since grade school. I remember in 6th grade I got on the bus to go home and sat next to another girl. Just as I sat down she got up and said "I aint sittin next to no white girl". Then other times there were kids that would yell out in the hallways how they didn't like white people, and the teachers wouldn't say or do anything. And I can understand how black people feel anger about society not treating them fairly, but it is just as racist for a black person to judge white people for their skin color as it is a white person to do so to a black person.
Another thing is that my family is of south american origin, but me being so white, I feel like I can't be part of the latino community. Its funny, I actually want to have other friends that grew up in a spanish-spekaing household, but I've always felt like I wasn't allowed to because of my light skin. I get compared to other white skinned people and my friends often say, "man she looks more mexican than you".

Honestly, I feel that every shade of any color feels a prejudice in their life. Being a mixed girl, (my mother is french and native american, my dad is 100% mexican) people only see me as mexican. I experience prejudice from mexicans, blacks, and whites alike. I have been with the same black man for 2 years now, and we still get stares. How is it that in America, the country full of all different races, a mexican girl can't date a black guy without getting stares? Once, when we were in Walmart a black woman with her two teenagers were staring us down and i overheard her say "Damn. Look girls. Some mexican b**ch stole another black man." It shocked me to hear this. I've had mothers of ex-boyfriends tell their sons that they didn't want me with them because i wasn't black. And when some of my ex boyfriends found out my biological mother was white... they didn't want me anymore because they were raised to not like white people. I had even gotten beat up in elementary school by a white boy who's parents didn't like mexicans and passed on the hatred to their son. The bottom line is we need to stop prejudice, whether it's against blacks, whites, hispanics, asians, p.i.'s, or anything else. We all experience it, we all want it to stop, but we all need to stop ourselves as well.
Sorry so long... just had a lot of experiences. LoL

I'm glad the show was aired, however, when I see and read stuff like this it reminds me of the obstacles I have to face everyday because of my dark skin. I've been teased almost all my life about my skin color. I am really really dark, just a couple of shades lighter than Alek Wek. She is African, so she is respected more for her skin color, however I am Black-American. I think this is a curse. I hate my parents for being so young and dumb and not thinking about what I would have to go through being a "very black" girl growing up in the South where lighter-skin and biracial blacks are prized Olympic medals. Black men treat lighter women better, black women also treat lighter skin women better. I can remember being so young and hearing negative comments about my skin color and nappy sandy-colored hair from classmates, friends, and even my own family. I wear a simple weave (shoulder length, looks like my hair) that I'm so tired of,but its the thing that gives me a little confidence. I don't consider myself very loud, aggressive or "ghetto", but I believe when people see my darkskin and hear my name, they of course, believe I am. "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice" is played out.Black men sometimes disrespect dark skin women and expect them to have lower standards. I honestly don't want to have dark skin children, especially girls, because I don't want them to go through what I go through. I wish so bad that I were lighter skin, or even brown skin! I mean look at the MAJORITY of continuous ly successful black women in history: Josephine Baker to Halle Berry to Beyonce and you can probably name more.You don't even have to be very light, you can just have a "white" physical feature such as lighter colored eyes or "good" hair. Because lighter is considered prettier, its easy to make friends and people may consider one easier to approach; some even think lighter is smarter. Let's face it, lighter skin blacks do have it easier when it comes to everything. I wonder sometimes, is it worth it getting a degree, or will I find a man who will respect and love me? I thought I could somewhat escape this colorism thing because I thought it was harder in the South being darker, but some people act like its even worse in other areas of the U.S. Darkskin black women probably have the hardest struggle in the U.S. I'm pretty sure if some kind of study was done, it would show that darker skin black women are the most poor, less educated, single parents, unemployed, etc. I know all of this can sound like I am depressed and ignorant, however, I am dealing with this struggle on my own and hopefully through my growing faith, I can get over this.

http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychweb/Vol16-17/Brown.pdf

Thank you Tyra for your enlightening, but terrifying show. As a Canadian caucasian mother of 6 bi-racial boys (all from the same father) but who range from light (pass for white) to medium (people don't know he is bi-racial) and every shade in between, I thank you for addressing the issue, as sad and true as it is.

Their father was raised during the days of integration in Florida in the 70s and has some very specific and horrible memories of that time in his life. He still harbours some of the same resentment and backwards beliefs that were ingrained from his older brothers, sisters, mother and elders of his time.

When visiting relatives down "south" we have heard comments like "bright skinned babies", "good hair" and I was even taken to the local store to be "shown off" to friends that they now have "white" in their family! I have to say that was a culture shock for me and I still have issues wrapping my brain around those kinds of remarks!

However, today, I am faced with trying to explain the human race versus any specific race and forms of racism. It is difficult to battle the discussion in your own home and family as well as against the world.

Being caucasian, I didn't have to deal with the same types of prejudices but we ALL have had our battles to endure. I have been called a "white-devil" by a black woman because I was taking all the "good black men". My light skinned son has been told repeatedly that he is a "white boy" but in the next breathe that "if you are 2% black you are black" (confusing to a child). My other boys have been asked "what are you?" Keep in mind now that all of these boys are under the age of 10....we haven't even hit the real painful teen years yet.

I am proud of my boys, and embrace their differences in skin tone and types of hair, eye color, body type, etc. in spite of the fact that often people think they are adopted, foster children or that I am babysitting.

I intend to raise them to be upstanding citizens, regardless of their or anyone else's outward appearances, considerate of others' thoughts and feelings and sensitive to issues.

I am aware that certain light vs. dark beliefs and ignorance continue. I talk to my boys about slavery, what it was, why, how, when. They ask questions and I try to give them honest answers so that they don't have the frustration building up inside of them.

My ultimate wish though, is that there was some way to better educate everyone....starting with the parents....so that this perpetual cycle of self-loathing, closed-mindedness, frustration, ignorance, internal slavery and division of the human race can end once and for all and we can all bleed the same blood as we build a better world.

Hi Tyra,

First of all, congratulations on your show. I watch it from Canada every day, not missing one! I think what you are doing is very powerful and you really inspire me, in my everyday life.

That being said, I cannot believe, that still in 2008, we are talking about this. It should be over, but yet we still face the same problem. How can this be?

I was really surprised to hear that black woman saying to his son not to bring a dark skin woman into the house... and she is black too!!! What is going on?

I am caucasian and proud to be friends will black women. When I went to high school, most of my friends were black and I'm very proud that we are still friends today. I don't remember them telling me, ever, that my life was easier because I was light skin. This was definitly a big surprise to me, that even within themselves, they face prejudies.

I was very touched by the two sisters who grew up in the same house but their experience where totally different, because of their skin color. I'm hoping that people are less in less racist, because black women can be very intelligent. In fact, one of my friend is much more advanced than me in life. She's just the greatess. I love her!

I wish to say thought, that here in Montreal and I don't know about New York, but us white women are being treated very badly sometimes by black women. It's as if they can be kind of racist sometimes too toward us. But it dosen't make me hate them because they are black. I just hate these few people who are being ignorant.

I will continue watching your show, hoping you will continue on because you are doing a very good job. You will hopefully get as far as Oprah, because you deserve it too!

Take care everyone!
Sandy, Montreal (Canada)

P.S. If Oprah is a dark skin woman and was successfull, you can be too!