WELL HERE IT GOES IM A DARK BROWNED SKINNED FEMALE IVE BEEN ASKED IF IM OF DOMINICAN DECENT FROM SOME PEOPLE BECOUSE I HAVE SOME INDIAN IN ME AND MY HAIR NOW I FEEL THERES UGLY IN EVERY RACE EVERY COMPLEXION AND TERES PRETTY IN EVERY RACE AND COMPLEXION JUST BECOUSE YOUR LIGHTSKINNED DOESNT MAKE YOU PRETTIER OR BETTER AND VICE VERSA I HAVE ALL COMPLEXIONS IN MY FAMILY SO I DONT CARE ABOUT THE COMPLEXION THING IT JUST DOESNT MATTER TO ME PEOPLE NEED TO GROW UP AND CUT THE NONSENCE OUT

WELL HERE IT GOES IM A DARK BROWNED SKINNED FEMALE IVE BEEN ASKED IF IM OF DOMINICAN DECENT FROM SOME PEOPLE BECOUSE I HAVE SOME INDIAN IN ME AND MY HAIR NOW I FEEL THERES UGLY IN EVERY RACE EVERY COMPLEXION AND TERES PRETTY IN EVERY RACE AND COMPLEXION JUST BECOUSE YOUR LIGHTSKINNED DOESNT MAKE YOU PRETTIER OR BETTER AND VICE VERSA I HAVE ALL COMPLEXIONS IN MY FAMILY SO I DONT CARE ABOUT THE COMPLEXION THING IT JUST DOESNT MATTER TO ME PEOPLE NEED TO GROW UP AND CUT THE NONSENCE OUT

im darker skin-ed (tyras extra ed) and when i was young i thought all the lighter skin girl were really pretty. as i got older my opinion has definitely change but i still have those ugh im so dark skin especially when you see all these cosmetics, skin cleanser, payless bogo sales commercials with light skin blued eyes girls. like as if us chocolate sistahz are not as pretty.

Ok......I have longed for the day for this discussion to actually become a "discussion". I am what they call Tawny, I am the dark of the light spectrum and the light of the dark spectrum. I am a divine mixture of a very fair light mother and a dark skinned father. I have black curly hair and to by most I am called light-skinned, to some who are lighter I am true-tawny. I grew up in a house with a very-fair mother and a sister who was a chocolate color. Now, let me begin by saying... those who were born with people on color may have a different view on things, but I was born in 1974 and the first woman of color that I saw praised in the media for her beauty was Vanessa Williams. I love her and she is in my mother's so called category, but she did not reflect most of us. Let's face it dark skinned women have been abused!!! PERIOD, look up the full meaning of abuse. They have been discounted. There once was a saying that black men use to say "if its white or light-its alright, if its black jump back" for me that sums it all up!!! I too have fell victim to comments by darker women assuming that I have some preverbial "golden spoon" in my mouth and I promise you that couldn't be further from the truth. You see I have been on both spectrums, I was considered dark by my mother's relatives and light by my fathers. I have had both identity challenges. Its easy to say comments like don't let men who like lighter women forge your self-esteem, but let's look at it from this view point. As a people who have struggled just to have identity as humans. We as a whole have been called UGLY! Beauty gives one the sense of value, in essence that which is beautiful is meaningful and therefore can not be dicarded or mis-treated. You women of other colors besides dark, better here this... I remember the tears my sister shed whilst being told that she would have been cute if she was lighter. She was gorgeous yet the ideal of dark verses light, caused her to be discounted. I pray my point has been made.

I'm am a very dark-skinned African American teenager with very dark skin. Its much harder for me because I am very dark. My father has told me that my sister, who is lighter, will always have it easier than me, simply because of my skin tone. The teasing that I have gotten from school because of it has caused me to become greatly depressed. I remember once I was in school and someone told me that if I laid on this black table I would blend in with it. So is black less beautiful? I would say so, considering treatment that people that are as dark as I am get.

I'm am a very dark-skinned African American teenager with very dark skin. Its much harder for me because I am very dark. My father has told me that my sister, who is lighter, will always have it easier than me, simply because of my skin tone. The teasing that I have gotten from school because of it has caused me to become greatly depressed. I remember once I was in school and someone told me that if I laid on this black table I would blend in with it. So is black less beautiful? I would say so, considering treatment that people that are as dark as I am get.

hey tyra,
Am 15 years of age and i got a very dark skin and i come from a family of 3 and am the only girl and both my brothers took from my mother who is light in complection it always affected me but i grew to know that black is bueatiful i am told am good for the modelling industry but i have not tried it out,help me tyra its also my dream to be one am 15 and 1.68 tall.

Okay, i've read enough!First of all, I want to start off by acknowledging the few and i do mean FEW ladies that doesn't need to seek a therapist. ROSE, YOLANDA, ROSETTA, and CHRISTINE, i couldn't agree more, what great advice you all have given. Now listen up ladies, I'm not Tyra, but i'm sure she would agree with my opinions about the comments some of you are making. There's nothing more less attractive than a pessimistic, low self esteem having, self pitying, person with little to no self worth. Doesn't matter how light or dark your skin is sistah. I know we all heard the old saying " beauty starts from within" and it couldn't be more true. Many of you have held on to so many negative comments that instead of pouring them out(let go in one ear and out the other) you've marinated in them, which caused this self hatred. Lets be honest, it's not a battle between light skin vs dk skin, it's a battle you're going through within yourself that you need to end as soon as possible. Nothing good is ever gong to come out of it as long as you keep this mentality. It's all about POWER, yes power, and with whom you choose to give it to. With power you get control. If you allow someone to ruin your self esteem and hurt your feelings, you've given them power to control your emotions. Once that happens, it changes your attitude, which changes your mind state, which eventually tampers with your mentality, then you start what we call hatin' on people. Ladies stop targeting females that look opposite of you and viewing them as your enemies because they're not. For the record,ladies quit letting guys dictate how you feel about yourself and especially other women. If a guy prefers light skin to dk skin, blonde to brunnette, long hair to short, curvy to petite, that's just HIS opinion on what HE thinks looks best, that doesn't mean that you are less attractive than your opposite, so stop lashing out and envying your fellow sister,sister! One more thing i wanted to address. JOYCUTIE blogged about how dk skin women wasn't getting as much praise and attention as our Hot Chocolate brothers, hmmm i don't know about that. See JOY, its not that dk skin women arent in demand, it's dk skin women who constantly complain about why they're so inferior to lighter toned women who are not desiring. Harsh but true, no guy wants a complaining, self hating woman and nobody wants to be around one! Work what you got ladies(in the words of MJB)with confidence and a little effort in making yourself alluring(NOT SLUTTY)and i promise you, it will rain compliments and you better not grab an umbrella, soak in them, you need to feel special because you are special and beautiful, and can't nobody tell you differently if you believe it and don't give them you know what(power). Remember ladies skin isn't anything, it's the person whose wearing it! love, like, and appreciate yourself, take care my gorgeous yellow, red, caramel, mocha, chocolate coated sistahs!- Stephanie

I grew up with 2 beautiful light skin sisters and we are real tight. I have always love the skin I'm in, Beautiful DARK skin. Often I wished I was a little darker. I had an experience at the beauty counter at a big department store. I walked up and asked for make-up and told the lady I did not want the light make-up I was not trying to be lighter. The lady was so shock and call the other black sisters and told them and me that I was the first Dark sister to come in and not want make-up a shade lighter. They were amazed and gave me a free make-over.

When hanging with my sisters, I'm always the girl friend when approach by men, but my sisters will get them straight. I don't have to say anything. As for my attraction for men I do prefer the darker brother, he's just my Black man.

The Black race is a beautful race, we have so many colors.

Some would not agree with me but I think the hip hop singer (American Boy) from London, ESTELLE is a truly Beautiful Black sister.

I grew up with 2 beautiful light skin sisters and we are real tight. I have always love the skin I'm in, Beautiful DARK skin. Often I wished I was a little darker. I had an experience at the beauty counter at a big department store. I walked up and asked for make-up and told the lady I did not want the light make-up I was not trying to be lighter. The lady was so shocked and call the other black sisters and told them and me that I was the first Dark sister to come in and not want make-up a shade lighter. They were amazed and gave me a free make-over.

When hanging with my sisters, I'm always the girl friend when approach by men, but my sisters will get them straight. I don't have to say anything. As for my attraction for men I do prefer the darker brother, he's just my Black man.

The Black race is a beautful race, we have so many colors.

Some would not agree with me but I think the hip hop singer (American Boy) from London, ESTELLE is a truly Beautiful Black sister.

I grew up with 2 beautiful light skin sisters and we are real tight. I have always love the skin I'm in, Beautiful DARK skin. Often I wished I was a little darker. I had an experience at the beauty counter at a big department store. I walked up and asked for make-up and told the lady I did not want the light make-up I was not trying to be lighter. The lady was so shocked and call the other black sisters and told them and me that I was the first Dark sister to come in and not want make-up a shade lighter. They were amazed and gave me a free make-over.

When hanging with my sisters, I'm always the girl friend when approach by men, but my sisters will get them straight. I don't have to say anything. As for my attraction for men I do prefer the darker brother, he's just my Black man.

The Black race is a beautful race, we have so many colors.

Some would not agree with me but I think the hip hop singer (American Boy) from London, ESTELLE is a truly Beautiful Black sister.

Hi Tyra! I watched the episode on "Is lighter skin better than darker skin" and I wasn't surprised by what I heard. I'm 23 and would be what u would call a "paper sack brown". My sister is a couple of shades darker than me and my paternal side of the family has always favored me because I'm lighter. My sister and I resemble so much that everyone thought we were twins in high school...and yet I was favored more? My maternal side is mostly dark skinned and she is favored more on that side! So its really ridiculous how much color plays a part in our everyday lives. The funny thing is...though my sister and I are favored on different sides, its never effected our relationship. We love each other to death and thats all that matters!

White power

Hey Tyra,

I am a 22 yr old dark skinned woman. I went to college where I was a minority. Wow! not only was that hard. But the fact that people of the same race will treat you wrong because of a diff. shade was shocking to me. I know this is hard to believe but to make things a little more personal I have never dated not because I don't want to but mainly because of skin color. I'm a christian and I believe God created every one uniquely to fit in this world. I also don't believe in pursuing the guy.( Iam also kindof shy)People always think i'm about 6yrs younger than my true age. My sisters 11 and lighter than me and several people have expressed that it will be easier for her to date. I want to marry and have kids. I want to find a job in my area( Health Administartion) without being descriminated against or given a lower job.I am proud of who I am and will continue to be who God wants.I can't and want change who I am or compromise my morals. Any Advice?

I'm black(west indian) and puerto-rican and Im darkskinned. I grew up on the island of St. Croix where we dont have this problem. I never had an issue with my skin color; coming to America I have noticed black on black hatred which is depressing. I hear young black men saying they wont date a darkinned lady! I couldnt believe me ears. Ive met youmg darkinned girls who hate themselves because of the skin there in. Personally I have never had a problem dating; I actually was engaged to a guy who never dated a darkskinned female. Now he is open on dating any complexion. Confidence is key. Dont care what people say. If you feel and know you look good it will exude from you!

When you criticize an African American for her prejudice against darker skin tones, which she holds because chocolate-skinned and darker individuals treat her poorly, you are thinking about the lighter skinned woman's problems like the white "reverse discrimination" activists think about everyone's problems. The lighter-skinned woman is talking about current problems in the black community; she is saying that until she is treated with the dignity she deserves as a human being, she won't pretend to be friends. More power to her. Everyone on that set was condoning prejudice that is occuring now. Don't you see how easy it is to fall into the same track as the descendents of the 'white masters'? I think this light-skinned dark hater was a bit extreme, but it was also a bit extreme to dub her a racial traitor. When did anyone in that room step beyond the prejudice that "light-skinned women are stuck up," for instance? Commenting on who was casting the first stone.

i was watching your show on the topic of dark skin against light skin...ok for one i'm a white girl..growing a lot of my friends were dark..they seem to be easier to talk to...they were never stuck up...and i always believe they were more beautiful then me. even at five i claim to be black. i HATED the way people treated them.. the way i love at it is everyone is god's little angel.. no matter matter the color...i thought about dating a darker man because i believe they do have the most beautiful babies...but to me it not the color that make the person it the heart..among my friends i'm a honorary sister..and that means the world to me! i hate the way white people treat the blacks! and i wish i could have change its..i am married to a white guy not because of his skin color but beacuse he can make me laugh and he hung around to get to know me,. but i have fallen in love with a dark man once and would have love to seen where it would have gone..but god knows what he is doing... i don't care if you black, white, purple, green, or yellow...i think all woman that believe in themselves are beautiful.

it doesnt matter at all the skin tone.. i love all people and i actually prefer black men over anyone else.. and its no racial reason.. i just love the a[ppearance of darker skin and darker skinned feature such as brown eyes and black hair!..... thanks tyra for bringing up this amazing subject

Currently I am watching the episode titled "Do Lighter Skinned Women Have it Easier?" As much as I believe that still today there are very many problems with discrimination and judgments made on skin color alone, I feel this episode is only opening up one side of the spectrum. After living in Minneapolis for only a year, I was very much judged upon the fact that I was white or fair skin toned. When going out with people with skin tones far different than mine I would get nasty stares and rude comments to say the least. Also since many of my friends were men, I would get comments that I was trying to be something that I am not and I should "go back to my own kind". Unfortunatly there are still very many steryotypes on skin tone alone these days, it is wrong to have a show focusing on the fact that darker women are treated poorly compared to lighter women, when in fact it in some cases can be quite the opposite. We need to band together as all colors of the spectrum and learn to love each other and ourselves and stop putting these harsh steryotypes upon each other. I am white, and I am proud of it and I think that it should be brought into light the ways ALL skin colors are treated...not just the dark.

Hey Tyra. I wanted you to review this. I know that this show is done and gone but you are on to something. I am a lighter skin color. I have had several addopted families since I've been in the Navy and I have found that I am more excepted than my partner. I speak more proper than my partner becuase I am from Texas and I learned after coming out here to VA that I didn't announciate properly. I have gone futher in the navy and I have been favored more than the average black woman. This is so messed up. I have one dark daughter and one light daughter and they used to run home crying because people told them that they were not sisters. This really sucks. One of my daughters is doing great because her dad is black and portugesse and the other suffer because me and her dad or both black. What is up with this. I am so tired of recieveing favor because of the color of my skin but the others of us that are definately black are slighted.