This has been going on for years. There is a book everyone should read called Colorstruck it is a novel but worth every page

Tyra,

As a Latina I have also experienced skin color issues. I've dated all types and races of men, but it seemed that whenever I dated white men they always would make comments about my skin tone. Usually they dated latinas because they liked the darker skin while still feeling like they were dating a "white" woman. I actually had one boyfriend who made me go tanning (so unhealthy!) twice a week just so I could stay dark in the winter. Luckily I realized that the relationship was all about an image and not about love so I got rid of him! But even my husband has made comments about how light or dark I am at different times. I think as a society we need to look at each other as people and not divide ourselves up into groups based on physical features. After all, we were all human and God does not discriminate!

Tyra,

Thought your attitudes were far more offensive and vile than those of your guest who suggested that she was treated poorly because of he light skin color. There are no more "white masters"...haven't been for quite some time. And no...people do not HAVE to understand why people feeling oppressed "lash out" and we just have to accept their poor behavior. "Oh girl...you are a dream of the White Master." I was and am repulsed by your comments. You should not be allowed to pollute to process of racial healing the the USA. You sound like you might be a relative of Al Sharpton, and America is a worse place for it.

Rick

i feel no matter what race u are everybody is beautfull.

I am so glad you brought this out into the light, Tyra. As a chocolate brown skinned ballet dancer, I have had to deal with prejudices from white people AND lighter skinned black people AND dark skinned black people. Things like casting make it that much harder to bring the two sides together. (Lighter dancers get preference in white ballet companies and black ballet companies particularly females.)
I also can attest to being limited in my ability to freelance because many companies want a white Sugar Plum Fairy (or at the least a light skinned enough one to pass for white). I was surprised because one company actually did pick me based on my ability and I was featured in several roles where the whole scene is supposed to be a pure white! Fortunately, my brown skin didn't seem to bother this company.
On the other hand, some black people don't think brown skinned dancers should do ballet, they think that in some ways I'm "acting white" and that modern and hip hop are the styles of dance that "we" should be doing.
Another important point is that there are so many people who are obsessed with having lighter skinned babies, both dark and light skinned people are wanting this--possibly for different reasons. For me, a lot of it, comes from how we think the world will treat our kids. I even want a kid that's lighter skinned than me!! For some reason I feel they will have a better life than me, maybe they will be accepted into more circles. It's not right, but I want better for my offspring. There is a problem with this thinking and it's bad news for the darker brown skinned people of our race! We as black people are going to have to find a way to redefine what we see as beautiful.

What do we do about it? Educate each other about where these hurtful lies "about who's pretty and who's not" come from. I have to say I have noticed and appreciate seeing beautiful brown skinned models on Top Model every season and I am cheering for them and others on the show. I also think Cover Girl has done a good job in featuring brown skinned black women in a positive light. Thank you Tyra for using your influence in a positive way for the Black community, keep it up!

Hey Tyra,

I am a light skinned female. I remember working in daycare centers or just being around kids who called me white. It was completely innocent so I told them that I was African American like them, just light skinned. I soon came to find out when I got older that not everyone would consider me to be light skinned. I found this out when I got involved with my current partner. Her ex had very light skin (high yellow), so compared to her, I was considered brown skin. It was ridiculous. I don't think light or dark people are any better than the other. Still I had to come up with a way to break down skin color to her. This is merely my opinion. People in Tisha Campbell's color range are high yellow (I hope that's not an offensive term), Beyonce is light skinned, 2 or 3 shade darker than that is caramel, Gabrielle Union is brown skin, and Seal or Wesley Snipes is dark skin. I don't think that most of the people we call dark skin are acutally dark skin. There's a significant difference between dark skin and brown skin. In my opinion anyway.

Thanks Tyra

Tyra,
After watching today's show I was left feeling hurt and angry. How will we ever rid the world of racism between different races if we create it within our own race? I wish we could embrass and love all mankind. All women are beautiful no matter what color their skin is.

I do want to add that in the white race we also face similar issues, but reversed. Tanned white women are considered to be more attractive. If you are very light or white you get called pale or ghostly or pastey. So it goes both ways for all races I assume.

Hopefully we will all embrass everyone's individuality and celebrate it one day. I can only raise my children (all 3 of them) to respect all people and treat them as equal because we all come from one place....our almight God and the bible tells us God makes no mistakes and does no wrong.

I agree Tyra, that today's topic about skin color was overdue; the show was magnificent and provocative. I am a light skinned white woman with blonde hair. Young white women deal with many of the same psycho-social issues regarding their physical characteristics. You've heard of "dumb blonde" jokes!(when I was a kid, they really upset me and I wished I had dark hair) In no way am I trying to equate the prejudices exposed on your show with similar issues that white women face, but it is relavent to note that young white girls and women deal with hurtful experiences regarding physical characteristics. They are subject to comments, comparisons and preferences that are often hurtful and damaging especially to young girls, as your show today emphasized so nicley. We women should embrace our differences and not focus so much on the narrow minded people who choose to voice their preferences for this or that type skin or hair. Viva la difference!!
p.s. It might be fun to have a comparative show demonstrating the vast physical varieties within the white race;perhaps this would generate some bonding between the races.

Hey Tyra for one I absolutly love your show, you are helping me over come my personal demonds. About the race show today first of all I did not realize there was such an issue of different colors. I am fully white as far as I know my mother slept around so much she hasn't got a clue who my father is. Although I have some black features. I have frizzy, curly, almost black hair,medium brown skin, a black nose and pretty full lips. In high school I was asked all the time if I was mixed. There was one instance I can think of with a mixed girl, she constantly aggravated me about the issue as if I was hidding that I was mixed. She never did believe that I was white. Which personally I was flattered because I just feel blacks have the most gourgous features. I was shocked watching the show that there is such conflict among your community. I feel you are all beautiful dark, light and all colors inbetween.

It is a terrible shame that in this day and age we as black people would prejudice each other because of complexion. This is no better than racism in and of itself.

Firt of all, anyone who hates another person for any reason, hates himself first. Love and hate begins with you and it will ends with you.

I am a light skinned black man, I have thick lips and all of the other features which are innately black. So, obviously these characteristics are not contingent on the basis of complextion, they are features which distinctly belong to BEAUTIFUL BLACK PEOPLE.

We as a race have nothing to be ashamed of concerning our characteristics, but, we should be ashamed of judging our very own people by the ingnorant standards the rest of the world judge us by.

I have no preference when it comes to the complextion of a black woman, in fact, I am one brother who will tell the whole world that black women are beautiful, drop dead gorgeous and simply the most beautiful women in all the natural earth.

I am happily married to a beautiful black woman, and let me say, I have never cheated on my wife and never will, because I love her.

What is this nappy hair stuff? Black women have the most beautiful hair that I have ever seen wether it is a perm or natural, their hair is gorgeous, especially when it is long. Sorry, Tyra, This brother does not like weaves or wigs, I prefer what god gave you.

I have been rejected by light skinned women and dark skinned women, I simply pass it off as the opinion of that individual.
You can not judge a multitude of people based on a few.

Let me share this before I go. As far as wigs, weaves and make up goes, I feel like everyone should simply be happy with what God gave them, as God does not make mistakes, and no man can improve upon what God created.

Let stop dividing our beautiful race, and start lifting each other up. Men compliament the women, women compliament the men.

Beautiful is Beautifu.

Thanks
Shawn

Hi Tyra
I was glad to see this show today because I am a 62 year old dark skinned black woman.I have had the same problem that some of the women had on your show.When I was a child every that came to our house would tell my older sister was beautiful and I would stand there and think what about me. I would tell my mother but she would say you are just as beautiful as she is but I didn't believe her because I thought she was just telling me that so I wouldn't feel bad. I was always the ugly one and my mother had seventeen children.

Deborah

I just got finished watching the show today about "Do light skinned blacks have it easier than dark skinned"?. I was so angry. I don't remember her name (it was the light skinned woman who didnt like dark skinned black women) but she absolutely disgusted me. It's women like her that keep racism going and going. Just to comment on her comment that she thinks light skinned women are prettier than darker skinned... ANYONE, and i mean ANYONE can have a big nose, big lips, no hair, long hair, pretty, pale, light, or dark skin and still be beautiful. It's very funny to me to still see in 2008 that some people in this world are still so stupid. Those same people give white or black people a reason to say that it is alright to be prejudice. I just feel as if that woman needs a really big reality check. I'm personally not black. But I do date black men and my daughter is mixed. (And she looks black, not mixed) And she is beautiful. People in this world that are still believing that one race is better or one skin tone is prettier are holding the rest of the world from moving forward. I hope these people wake up and realize this is not going to better anyone. Especially themselves.

I just want to comment on the light skinned/Dark skinned issue. i love the idea about the cinnamon complexion and the red bone. Well I guess I have two cinnamon babies and 1 red bone, and everywhere I go I am told about how I have three beautiful children, nothing more. So life can be full of ignorance, or acceptance, Thank god my children have been treated so kind.
Thank you

Tyra
Your show today was great. I feel that this is a subject that needs to be talked about. I am a mother of a ligth skin child and a dark skin child and truly see the division it has cause in my family. My darker skin child seem to always be left out. When the two young ladies was talking about it I just cried because it is so true, seem like my light skin daughter gets all the attention. This dark skin and light skin issue just seem to separate us and it need to stop and that lady you had on the show did not help.

Tyra I love your show. I watch it every morning.

This episode was one I really wanted to watch. I'm a hispanic woman and my husband is a "light-skinned" Jamaican. I think that discrimination is stupid but people don't seem to know how to put race past them and get to know a person for the way they are. When I go out with my husband, we often get starred at. I'm not sure why but they we do and they aren't friendly looks either, it's like they hate me and they don't even know me.

Racism is stupid and uncalled for. Everybody is the same and if you are going to judge a person by their skin tone you are ridiculous.

Tamara on your show, she made me sick to my stomach.

I'm glad you had this show Tyra.

Tyra in watching your show today I was very dismayed that in this day and age people are still so superficial about color. However, I am a realist and I know it does exist. I am of a lighter complexion but, have often times wished I was darker because I find the different hues so beautiful. Being lighter I always get red girls are high maintenance and gold diggers. This is just other peoples ignorance and their personal issues. Tamara, I hope with your help(Tyra) and prayer will open her mind and see the error of her ways. He attitude may potentially poison her sons mind as well. We are all people and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We are all one color in God's eye and we all need to accept that. All colors, hues and races are BEAUTIFUL!!!
~peace&blessings

Hey Tyra,
First of all I would like to say that I love your show and you are so inspiring to women of all races. I am a caucasian woman with two beautiful biracial daughters. There father is "dark skin" black, so my girls are darker that most biracial children that are in our community and family. I love there skin tone and personally do not view anyone as a color, that is just how I was raised. But, I do experience a lot of racism when I am out with my children, especially from older people. I am constantly being asked if my children are adopted or foster children and when I tell them no, these are my children, the reply is usually "oh they look Indian or Middle Eastern". What ignorant people don't understand is that it is not okay to say something like that to anyone, much less a complete stranger. If I see a white woman with children that don't have her same hair color, I don't assume that they aren't her biological children, so why should it be the different for skin color. I do see a difference in the yunger generations, I think that we are becoming more diverse. I just hope that in my childrens' lives they will see a day where race is not an issue. All people are beautiful regardless of size, shape, color, religion etc... It is because of people like you that this is possible, thank you for you positive influence and your work to empower all women.

Tyra,
I was so glad to hear you say that it is your life's mission to help the black community feel good about being black. That statement alone is the ESSENCE of dealing with this "inner" racism in the black community. I have met so many black people that have self-hatred as a result of racism within our own community as well as outside influence from the "ruling" race. I could go on and on and on so I just want to say THANK YOU. You give those of us who have no voice a VOICE.

Tyra,
I can’t believe what I am hearing on our show today. I am a 39 year old white woman. I feel we all have some prejudice in side of us, whether it is race, gender, age, creed, or level of wealth. But to show beauty, you need to look past your prejudice and look at the person in front of you as an individual.
I dated a dark black man until I found out he was using me as a prize.
I have met many beautiful dark black women. Many dark black women have made it in the entertainment industry. (Gabrielle Union, Natalie Desel, Reid, Mo'Nique,, Garcell Beauvais Nilon, Janet Jackson, Tasha Smith, Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Aisha Tyler, Jennifer Hudson, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, Sanaa Lathan, Regina King, Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams,, Pam Grier, etc.
Beauty is how you carry yourself, how you show the world who you are.
Showing your prejudice is showing how ugly you really are.
Rhonda

Tyra, I appreciate you doing this show. I think that in the Southern states, light-skin blacks are discriminated against and judged by darker-skin blacks. They say that "we are not pure". Versus in the north and other regions, it's not as big of an issue.
In addition, I notice that men of other races and cultures are more attracted to darker black women vs. light skin women. Maybe in the white community some light-skin blacks have it "easier", but in the black community I feel it's just the opposite. I do believe that it's more of a regional thing though. Thank you.

Every woman should view herself as Beautiful! no matter the skin color! no matter what others think! Some women on your show were boasting that they were prettier than the darker skin women. I personally disagree-and we should NEVER toot our own horn! I think Adrianne-in the very beginning of the show-happens to be a very pretty woman. It shames me to think there is this 'inner' racism among ANY race. I am a very 'white' caucasian.

I watched your show on skin tone and had to write in. I'm a really white Italian girl that worked at a nail salon in an all black neighborhood for 8 years. Even thou black people come in all shades you are all beautiful! I've seen first hand the struggles alot of black women go through because of the color of their skin. A couple of my clients use to use skin creams to lighten there complection which totally confused me. As a white girl we're constinally trying to become darker with spray tans and tanning salons and anything possible. So I think no matter what race or what color your skin is we all need to get over it. All Women are beautiful! It doesn't matter what color you are when you start disliking people because of their color or skin tone isn't that still racism?

Hey Tyra,
I think this is a very bad expression of sisterhood.Whether black,white or brown we are all sisters.America is a great melting pot of sweet cream.If we look at ourselves truly and search our past,ninty-nine percent of us are mixed with another culture.So I think we should embrace each other and turn our thoughts to what matters.
And that my dear is LOVE.I myself am part indian,black and white and I love each part that makes me whole.Be proud of your own self when others only see the outside and not what is on the beautiful red inside.Because the blood makes us all one color.

I think sometimes it's all about beauty, The human race just love beauty so whatever they consider more beautyful is what's going to be treated more favorable.

I have just posted the last comment and then i have just read Pam's comment and i would just like to say i agree with you and that i am happy that you have found yourself.

Good Luck for the Future Pam!

.Rebecca.