Confessions of a D Girl: Colorism and Global Standards of Beauty | Chika Okoro | TEDxStanford

If you look like me, you’re used to colorism, says Stanford Graduate Business School student Chika Okoro. She calls the phenomenon known as colorism - discrimination against those with a darker skin tone -- “both as sinister and as subtle as racism.” In a world where light skin, light eyes and long “real” hair are sought after features, Okoro tells us how she copes, and what we can do to unlearn this deep rooted, destructive mindset.
Chika Okoro is a second year MBA student at Stanford. Passionate about race and gender equality, she is excited to raise awareness about the many issues that women of color face around the world. She hopes that her talk will start a conversation about important issues that people are less vocal about today. While at Stanford Chika is an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow providing leadership coaching and training to MBA 1st year students. Before coming to Stanford she worked at Procter & Gamble as an assistant brand manager and spent last summer at Google as a product-marketing manager. Chika holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University where she wrote her honors thesis on race and identity in the black community.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@bombee8824]

honestly, this girl is beautiful. it hurts me that this whole skin preference thing still exists between us.

[@walterwidmaieriii8498]

skinny pisces calm down. not all that

[@farhiyasheikh1635]

flowerphxbia w

[@halearly3749]

Not surprising though. The roots of indoctrination run deep . . . . . . SAD!!!!! BTW - Yes, she is Beautiful.

[@misshoneynevercame4832]

Yeah. She is really pretty.

[@MrALenCar321]

Not prevalent in the west but definitely In the east specially in India.

[@KirkDickinson]

She is beautiful and well spoken, confident and engaging. To me she is an "A" girl.

[@Anthonyjt12]

A+

[@bknisha120]

That's a beautiful comment you made sir. 🥰

[@bknisha120]

@SOUTHPARK KEN tap it raw and never pull out 🤣

[@KirkDickinson]

@SOUTHPARK KEN Honestly, she is way out of my league. But I would gladly hold hands with her in public. The rest of your statement is rude and uncalled for. She doesn't deserve that.

[@thomasdecker7631]

@@KirkDickinson I don't need to say anything here. You have said it perfectly sir. She is an intelligent, articulate, beautiful dark skinned woman who certainly deserves so very much more civilized treatment than the earlier poster's complete crudeness

[@corrijackson]

As a darker woman I COMPLETELY relate to everything she's saying 💜

[@Dina10387]

As an Ethiopian (and proud) and considered a ‘D girl’ this message should really be heard more. Thank you so much for this 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@ethiopianabesha]

Yes-----From another 'D girl' from the Horn!

[@MegaDiva1999]

actually Ethiopins are considered A girls in some places especially with that hair...

[@ethiopianabesha]

@@MegaDiva1999 . . .what is an 'A girl'???

[@littlebabe9317]

Ethiopian here too, i was once told i was too dark to be a girl, by a dark man!!!! Girl im here with u

[@missabyssinia2293]

Yes this is deeply rooted in our community. So shameful considering how parade around how we’re not colonized by Europeans ...pfft!

[@donfreud212]

If only I could change the world. That little girl pointing out the "good looking" child because "she's light-skinned" is heart breaking. I think dark skin and mysterious, dark eyes are beautiful. But nobody cares what I think because I'm not tall and handsome with an aura of self-esteem that nullifies prejudice.

[@ertfgghhhh]

Morton downy jr is very short and desirable

[@windiarathakrishnan]

Yeah by now honestly why do people care so much. Just look at the person, regardless of skintone. It's like judging people for eye colour or hair type. It's just old thinking and a very toxic mentality.

[@ertfgghhhh]

@@windiarathakrishnan they do it cause it makes them feel better about themselves. They feel they are better than someone else

[@MiguelMendoza-pq6qr]

Don Freud bjfshdhjc

[@souhaibammar6419]

الات العجىن

[@heartsmyfaceforever8140]

That little girl broke my heart.

[@murrygrace827]

colorism is so big in asia

[@aliooh4756]

Murry Grace Ikr....HUGE in Asia.

[@wolftownesque]

wherever the white man has stepped foot, colorism exists.

[@veipuniilana1842]

I know

[@iHeartHPandTwilight]

Murry Grace it’s big in Latin America too. The closer to Native you are, the worse you are treated. In a lot of cases, you can’t get jobs or even get into school because of your skin tone

[@redvelvetcakeYUM]

Africa, The Caribbean and Latin America as well.

[@friggindoc]

In the real world you are totally a A+ girl!

[@dd9105]

OMG! She looks like this model named Oluchi Onweagba. She's stunning!

[@briansmith3537]

Sadi S g2gc

[@ladymarish]

I wish I had her shoulders. I'd never wear sleeves again

[@nanaka1074]

If I were she I would never wore a bra again

[@Kescy.]

😂😂

[@befree3634]

Her shoulders are actually very broad. Men prefer women with soft features. Broad shoulders are not a feature that Men look for in women. Just so you know. She is still beautiful because that is how God made her.

[@KingVargan]

Be Free show off to em other girls 😘

[@hannagg9365]

ladymarish You mean, Michelle Obama, masculine shoulders?!? Why don’t you try taking testosterone supplements, working out, and shoulder pads! You’ll be a man in no time.

[@girlcalledmango]

I'm a brown skin woman and I nearly completely related to her experience. Thank you for your fearless honesty.

[@stereotypea123]

All the guys in the comments section who are only commenting on her looks are missing the whole point. You are still judging her worth based only on her appearance.

[@user-eg5jr7qm4p]

There is nothing wrong with the appreciation of beauty. You're missing the point: all people are beautiful when they love and accept themselves in spite of any negative outside opinions (a beauty that shines through in their confidence and love of others). Especially in spite of the mindless societal opinions that are cultivated and perpetuated by a handful of rich/powerful people to appeal to whatever it is they think that the masses want- for the benefit of their ever increasing power/wealth. Those powerful few want division and conflict, they thrive off it and use fear and self-doubts to build a strong consumer base. The last thing they would want is confident and content people no matter their outward appearances.

[@hiredgun0551]

No, I didn't miss the point. MY point is that I think she's the prettiest girl in the house, and if I wasn't old enough to be her dad I would be very proud if she would join me for dinner! And she's smart, too! Beauty and brains in the same package? Hard to find.

[@monikadonald8725]

I know right.

[@kevinc3342]

​@@monikadonald8725 Well...she is young, thin, pretty, with a smoking body, and a flat stomach...features and qualities that most men love in women. Women are judged by their looks FIRST, all follow-on qualities thereafter are either negatives or a benefit. She seems feminine and demonstrates intelligence by virtue of her brief...although most college students SHOULD be able to give the same presentation without too much trouble - after all, as of this presentation she's a student at Stanford University. The only glaring problem I see is the outfit (shorts/dress combo or whatever that is...) seems inappropriate for a professional presentation. A business suit/dress would have been much better choice.

[@emotophobiccdd8006]

They might be missing your point, but they certainly aren't missing hers. She just wants opportunity to be as shallow as any white....

[@reginalove8054]

Excellent presentation of a topic that is not often addressed. I, too, am dark skinned (Hershey bar brown), and first experienced colorism as a child at the hands of lighter skinned blacks who would call me derogatory names. I especially remember my light skinned uncle who despised dark skinned blacks. He married my aunt, who was dark skinned and would insult her because he thought his light skin made him better! Crazy, isn't it?? I have also witnessed how many black men will show preferences for light skinned women in my own life, as well as in the media. As the years have passed (I'm now 54), and I feel that having dark skin has been a blessing. You see, I have no wrinkles!! I am thin (I have very good muscle tone), and I wear my natural hair (sisterlocks), which is down to my shoulders. In other words....I think that I look pretty darn good compared to a lot of other women in my age range. Haters gonna hate. I just shake it off and keep it moving.

[@missccarr89]

Regina Love dag why he marry her then???

[@silvermediastudio]

Regina Love except she's wearing weave and citing debunked studies used to create division rather than unity. Yeah awesome message, doing the globalists' work.

[@WM-rs9qv]

And we as dark skinned people don’t show blemishes as do lighterskin tones... many blessings of being dark skinned....

[@peacheskong2245]

At the end of the day it's about self love and self acceptance. People who didn't learn to love who they're wanting to hold society accountable for that. This is perhaps understandable but the truth is that The beauty, acceptance, representation and love you're looking for lays within you. 'Fearfully and wonderfully made'.

[@ese4741]

Beautiful message by a BEAUTIFUL NIGERIAN GIRL...

[@silvermediastudio]

ESE with fake hair

[@Ichinen220]

I was taught Black Pride early on and only wanted Black dolls. One year as a child I asked for a Black Barbie for Christmas and got a White one. I cried and cried, and pouted most of the day.

[@cjyayaya]

Ichinen220 Im curious, do you know why or think you know why your parents or someone else gifted you a white doll? I have a feeling it’s because although your parents wanted you to have pride in your ethnicity and skin color but also wanted you to be able to embrace and accept other races. Just a thought

[@llIllIlI]

@@cjyayaya Delete your account.

[@cjyayaya]

TosmekopFanel Why do you suggest that I delete my account?

[@llIllIlI]

@@cjyayaya Read what you wrote. If you still need to ask, then you aren't ready for the answer.

[@flawlessgogo8650]

@@llIllIlI He said ' just a thought'. whts your problem??

[@evelive4101]

I wonder why school has never taught us anything about racism or colorism.

[@sierraburmese4083]

because knowledge is power and the world doesn't want darker skinned individuals to see the reality of their oppression

[@mariapiekutowska2570]

colorism is just racism

[@ashikjaman1940]

@@mariapiekutowska2570 Nah there's a difference. Admittedly same "logic" between them but the distinction is good to make I feel

[@TeeTee-im3zu]

I asked my teacher this question in high school Bc we skipped over this topic in our history books. He said they were told to skip that section to avoid upsetting the students and possibly causing a race riot in school. This was in 2011😒

[@aaronfischer4160]

I'm teaching it right now, for the first time but it won't be the last. I'm working on developing antiracist curriculum in 8th grade, starting with STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Tomorrow, my students will watch this video as we discuss and examine intersectionality and colorism. Peace.

[@anoopgopalakrishnan7823]

Being from India, I experience this first hand. It's heart breaking to witness girls around me buy these cosmetic products to lighten their skin so they could fit in and "chosen" by men. This has influenced my society so badly that many started to think this as normal. Here a girl's worth is highly determined by the color of her skin. If she has a fairer or lighter skin she is considered a beauty and rest are just worthless and made feel inferior about themselves. Ofcourse through experience and education girls do come above this, (like my sister :) but years of agony and living with a broken self-esteem is nothing but waste of her precious life. I hope we change our thinking slowly atleast, one individual at a time.

[@anagha953]

I wish there were more ppl like you!

[@sangramsingh1196]

Anoop Gopalakrishnan

[@piricarmen]

Anoop Gopalakrishnan I, for one, am convinced that I am still single today because of my dark skin. I am almost positive that if I were lighter skinned or white, I would be married with kids today.

[@piricarmen]

Ginger Bread Please, SAVE IT! You have no right to put your two cents in. It is not the same. It’s not the same. You can be very pale and get any guy you want practically or you can be really beautiful and dark skinned and have people reject you and have pre-conceived thoughts about you because of your skin color. You don’t get to say anything!

[@peacheskong2245]

@@piricarmen actually... This is an open platform. There is no restriction of who can or cannot join the conversation. This is where I think some things should just remain at the 'barbershop' level. There's where the audience doing certain things is. Posting this online is for the whole world to see and join the convo

[@kamacachiCBlover]

I hope the people in the room understood her message. She wasn't saying "me before everyone else" she was saying "all of us are beautiful and should be represented as such". Awesome message

[@iacomuslycanthropus7466]

Not everyone is beautiful. Sad but true. Embrace truth.

[@kamacachiCBlover]

+Iacomus Lycanthropus maybe in your eyes but everyone is beautiful to someone. That's the beauty of perspective.

[@iacomuslycanthropus7466]

+Kristian Thomas well yes ... beauty is subjective ... ish so ... what are you saying? That a Renoir should not be held in any higher esteem than a childs doodle of cookie monster?

[@kamacachiCBlover]

+Iacomus Lycanthropus first off I'm not talking about a painting I'm talking about people. Artwork and people are very different. What I'm saying is that people's views on what is beautiful are different. If everyone thought that there was only one way to be beautiful no one would be satisfied with themselves. For example: I'm perfectly aware that there are some people that might consider me butt ugly but then there are others who would consider me very beautiful. The same applies to people everyone else.

[@kamacachiCBlover]

+Iacomus Lycanthropus the directors aren't always using their personal opinion in order to cast people for a movie. The point of this video was to shed light on what colorism does internally to some people. She says "when given a chance make the unconventional decision do so". Everyone should be given an opportunity to to be displayed as beautiful (in her opinion). And we as a community should not have discriminate in our casting calls.(I'm talking about the African American community). I don't know what culture or nationality you are but this is a really big problem in mine that's why I thought and still think that her message was a good one. it's not about people of a darker complexion wanting to be made to feel beautiful (we build our own self confidence). what this is about is the black community being united. Beauty is very subjective and up to everyone to decide but that is not what this video is about so I don't know what your problem is with what I said. Anyway I have a life and this "D" girl would like to get back to it. It's just a KZbin video it's not that deep ✌

[@MikeHarrison3266]

When we ALL stop looking at skin tones and make the character and abilities the focal points we will make very big steps forward.

[@doctormcgoveran2194]

I am not here telling you what to do, or to think, or to look at.I aint got all day to investigate your character and I aint got a lot of money to hire you for your abilities.When we all stop butting in telling everybody else they need to be just like us, we will get along much better.

[@atgunchev]

I see an A+ girl here and I love the light lisp.

[@anoopgopalakrishnan7823]

I see a lot of negative response from many.. But I think I see her point. I'm a guy from India and when I see a girl with fairer skin I automatically think she is beautiful, though I intellectually and emotionally knows that I should know better. I see that as the power of conditioning. And it has HUGE role in our day to day life. Ofcourse we can not "make" others think we are beautiful. but I believe this girl's message is actually addressed to other girls who "feels" what she goes through. Sometimes, we need a reminder from a fellow soul to remember how beautifl we are.. to stay strong.. and this girl achieved that beautifully.

[@lucyrosevelt5274]

it's a remnant of your colonial days. The British standard...stays with you and ironically I think Indians are GORGEOUS . Why in the world would they not see that about themselves?? Colonialism.

[@anoopgopalakrishnan7823]

You are right Lucy. It stayed in our culture and marketing companies used this for their benefit. Sad part is that millions of Indians still believe they are of less value because of this strong conditioning. And funny thing is that a whole lot of people with fairer skin thinks they are superior in some ways. Such a waste of human energy..

[@anoopgopalakrishnan7823]

Yes Steven, people can have that. Anyone can have anything as long as they are okay with that.

[@helenkifle7067]

Anoop Gopalakrishnan exactly,that is an amazing comment!!❤

[@anoopgopalakrishnan7823]

Helen Kifle thank you Helen. I'm glad that you related with that.

[@manythoughtsreality7151]

In my experience it's us black men especially black Americans who are the worse when coming to choosing women because of colour, most of the black men though dark as coal still will judge a dark skin girl, you see all these rappers actors nba players 90% have light skin women, am not sure if it's because some of us are too dumb to understand symmetry or wants to fit inthe wrecked society ideaology or their too gallible with less Iq. Personally I don't huv problem with people's preferences but I expect it to be easier to choose beauty without any regards to colour.

[@TNDCBaby]

I always wonder who is tallying this sort of thing up. Are people seeing the Dwayne Wades, Snoop, Kevin Harts, Kevin Durant, Denzel, etc. ?

[@designhub360customapparel]

@@TNDCBaby yep

[@kudjoeadkins-battle2502]

CARTER HIGHNESS where did we get it from?

[@sallyjambo5316]

CARTER HIGHNESS pwahahaha hahahahaha hahahahaha Yeap n they r blackest.idieeee.

[@taylorthenatural5509]

@@kudjoeadkins-battle2502 The white supremacists that whipped your bare asses in the fields.

[@richardlabeja]

A great presentation from a beautiful, smart woman.

[@69shovlhed89]

just goes to show humans are mostly morons. Ms. okoro is gorgeous, intelligent, articulate, and appears to have fantastic skin. I hope and pray that people will evolve to a level where color is irrelevant.

[@tanyasmith4380]

69 SHOVLHED

[@69shovlhed89]

yes?

[@hiredgun0551]

" I hope and pray that people will evolve to a level where color is irrelevant." I did!

[@user-pp9df6ml6i]

People can prefer light skin if they want

[@varades5199]

@@user-pp9df6ml6i preference is difference hate is different. Belive it or not, most European men hate if dark skinned person gets white girl, this is what I'm talking about. The girl got a man whats wrong with it?? Why would skin color even bother you?

[@liesdamnliesandstatsweird1934]

Ignore the media,people. Your self esteem will skyrocket.

[@manxx25]

....and only associate with others who ignore the media. :'/

[@thelovelylucinda]

Amen

[@designhub360customapparel]

Right

[@marieiqbal58]

Not realistic. Isolation is not in our DNA. Media needs to change or dark skin people need to create their own protective media messages. And make the wider media compete for your attention or be shut out.

[@christienolasco7783]

the media is one of the main elements of socialization. even if one were to cancel the use of phones, computer, and television, it's still present on billboards, at the grocery store, and in current events (newspaper, books) among other areas as well. ignoring the media is not the solution, but rather have a strong positive presence of other elements of socialization. family, peers, education, etc.

[@ao04280]

welp this is so true... asia is so ADDICTED to having pale/white skin., when i go to Philippines theres is alot of products selling to achieve on lightening your skin. anyways this video is so helpful and enlightened me, i hope it enlightened pple's perspective too. (:

[@TheAAOinfin]

I think Filipino women in the US marry white guys more than any other women other than white women. It is very ingrained in your culture.

[@anandsingh3198]

sodah p

[@reaa1057]

Thats true.. im from this country and a lot of my fellowmen are obsessed of getting paper white skin..

[@bumblebee8724]

Theres alot of racism as well

[@stephenkingsdale2411]

I am a white guy. I think Chika Okoro is a beautiful lady! Period. Love a wife that was so articulate and gorgeous

[@2013lovemy]

She would be even MORE beautiful with her real hair.

[@empresscookie7170]

I like how she kept it simple in approach but still impactful in message. She ate 💅🏾

[@monoludico6166]

To me you're a AAA+ woman: intelligent, sensitive and sooo beautiful. In my opinion racists are the worst people in the whole world.

[@silvermediastudio]

you mean the liberal hollywood types who came up with these standards?

[@KingVargan]

MONO LÚDICO duuuude, is she a battery?

[@quwandathornton]

The. WORST.

[@scrambled_candlesticks2536]

@@KingVargan 😂😂😂💀💀 your comment made my day. God bless you 🤣🤣 heii

[@RajKumar-zl5sf]

No

[@patrickleahey4574]

You are an "A" to me. Your skin color is beautiful...

[@samiraa3671]

Absolutely agree. She is lovely. I have some male friends who would love to date a woman like her.

[@samiraa3671]

What's attractive to some might not be attractive to you. You can't speak for all or even most men, and neither can i. What i can tell you is that there are men, like some of my friends, and some of the men on the comments section who find this woman very attractive.

[@blubastud]

+Charlie Charlie exactly, that's what I couldn't describe, all those things are the reasons I don't find her attractive. The irony is her skin tone IS her most attractive trait to me, she has beautiful skin, lol. The other irony, she talks about acceptance but is covering up her natural hair with weave...girl let that natural hair loose, I love it!!!

[@marialevkovytska3606]

Patrick Leahey true she's beautiful

[@marialevkovytska3606]

Charlie Charlie it's all a matter of preference I think her skin color makes her look like she's outerworldly and glowing. She's a very smart and beautiful person, I don't think the straight male majority, as capable as they are should dictate what's considered beautiful. (which is the point of her talk)

[@elikelly4948]

I wish more people could see the beauty that comes in ALL colors. You are beautiful, Chika!

[@mauve9266]

That video of the little girl almost made me cry 😢

[@BLFulle]

How many of you watched this, like I did, and thought the whole time - Wow, she's stunning. She's beyond beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I know what she's saying is true, but all I could think about was how beautiful she is. How smooth her skin is and pretty her legs are. How can I get her to go on a date with one of my sons.

[@LinzeyLiNO]

BLFulle i know right she is absolutely stunning... but i understand what she is said too well especially what she said towards the ending..

[@wonduxx5355]

I wonder if "smooth skin and pretty legs" are learned standards.

[@BLFulle]

Ghost flyer Her skin has a lot to do with her beauty, IMO. If she was a White girl no one would look twice at her. It's her skin color that make her gorgeous.

[@projektbrot]

BLFulle she's bomb!!!! so so pretty :)

[@opharah4241]

Ghost flyer l know what you're saying.

[@BretSimmons]

That was a great TEDx talk! She has a real "big idea worth spreading" and her talk was very well prepared.

[@TheLadyEmerald809]

she is flat out GORGEOUS, idc, fight me whoever dares says d girl

[@godofwar3432]

I was admiring this beautiful speaker throughout ! Her skin is heavenly stunning i wish i had a skin tone like her.

[@spiessensdivers]

Deserves a hell of a lot more views!

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

When people see your clothing before they see you, it is safe to say that your talk no matter how good it is, has failed.

[@ibexlove7009]

Make Humanity Great Again Are you saying the messenger is more important than the message itself?

[@stevegwizzle3560]

I love dark skinned women with an even-colored glowing skin tone like Lupita Nyong'o or Bria Myles. The whole body has to be the same shade of color to a point where it glows. So dark skinned ladies, do not under estimate the power of an even-colored glowing skin tone! It's so sexy!

[@oliverbirnso2884]

It's all in the skin glow and not the hue. An even skin color, black or white, is a positive sign of good health.

[@aymenahmed5525]

Ste B

[@Nisha.Unfiltered]

Her message was amazing but I’m so mad at her dress. I want her in something brighter like Orange or yellow. She’s too beautiful for that color

[@johnhrock1009]

she's dropping real facts.

[@coreythomas3633]

i love black women

[@Logan800]

cuz u are a simp

[@filmtressmu8552]

Your types are through. You're going down, idiot. It's your types that hold yourselves back. May your dreams reflect the poison you dish out. Judgement time the Universe will no longer tolerate you. BYE!

[@filmtressmu8552]

Thanks Corey.

[@instinctivetravels6097]

We love you too!

[@veeanderson2874]

We love you too

[@BPantherPink]

Chika... I think you are GORGEOUS... And anyone who doesn't, must be blind in the mind. You go girl... luvya !!

[@Bas_Lightyear]

Blind in the mind insane in the membrane!

[@nicaise_t_jonah6300]

Trey516 347 well said.

[@JohnDoe-fv3vs]

@cool C uh yes... black women can have long curly hair that looks really good, google it. I honestly have never been a big fan of straight burned out looking hair.

[@rickjason1786]

Charlie Charlie She attractive, you just don't have good taste.

[@nakibo]

I'd rather be the woman who wasn't desired by most men so that ONE good man will love me for who I am and not just how I look. Being an attractive woman who is desired by all men has its cons too. It was usually incredibly attractive women that married men who would beat them/throw acid in their face because they were jealous of the attention that they got from other men. Yes, being desirable has its perks, but so does being average. I am happily average and with a great man who loves me.

[@moses3400]

You are ABSOLUTELY, DEFINITELY an A girl. God job !!

[@ant830950]

Lady YOU ROCK!!! Been telling my young international students this for many years

[@burrochapadogrl]

Im half Brazilian and people just call me "white girl", but Im not. I get more compliments on being white than being brazilian. Even my Brazilian mother shames me about being white and being a female...she doesn't notice or is oblivious. My father shames me for being female and shames me about wanting to have a career and a future. It gets annoying. That poor baby girl, I want to give her a biiiiig hug...she made me cry. I always tell any colored girls that they are all beautiful. My son is mixed and I tell him that he is amazing and I watch a mixed girl (a friend's daughter) and tell her she is capable of anything and she is the queen of her world. I had to teach her how to talk bc she was afraid to. I taught her to be brave and that she should be proud. Every time I see her, I tell her that her hair is beautiful. The best thing is that she IS IMPROVING. Her confidence has become better.

[@shadegamu9747]

burrochapadogrl u right that is what any right thinking parent or guardian should do including d caucasians who re obviously benefiting from this nonsense

[@mahiee24]

I am from India, and I am dark colored and interestingly, like the kid over there, I prefer light colored ones, relative to dark colored ones, even though at the end, I my self get discriminated...self hate is something that needs to be overcome and accept what ever I am, irrespective of what society thinks...

[@scapegoatwax2001]

Mahendra B I dont think the issue is with skin tone but rather facial features. Check out this topic on lipstick Alley www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/325066-Dark-skin-Indian-women

[@merveillebanza248]

My friend is from there, he is amazing !

[@mahmoudhassan2597]

Mahendra B you have a problem

[@JamesBond-mg7md]

Mahendra B : high time u change buddy !! Once u go Black; u may never go back to others

[@guacgirl]

Mahendra B thank you for sharing, it is very hard to be "dark", whatever is considered dark where you live.

[@adriqos]

You are stunning. Period

[@silvermediastudio]

She's also bald.

[@raceandcrime]

800 bald? i don't get it... is there another definition besides no hair?

[@raceandcrime]

BALD, 2. not having any extra detail or explanation; plain or blunt.

[@TeeRql]

Beautiful speech and very relatable. I've watched it about 5 times now. Thank you

[@storiestotell]

she is so informed amazing love her

[@dr.paula.mcgriffdmd1840]

I am a thinking African American Man. I would never dog a woman for features she was born with. To do so would be to attack my mother and all other women of African descent around the world, which would be ignorant. This perpetuates negativity in our community and our lives. Think of every handsome, Intelligent, dark brother you know in the world. Chances are he has a dark mother who raised him at home. You gonna dog her and his grandma and sisters with this nonsense. Think! Where did this come and why would you want to be a part of it. I love women. They can be beautiful in any shade period. As far as black men being part of the problem, I say yes we are at times. I had come to my own conclusion about this issue as I heard relatives in my own family and "friends" make comments like this when I was young, both male and female. I had to make up my own my mind. I would encourage you all to do the same. In the meantime stop hatin' on each other. Its petty and gets us nowhere....

[@MrJungleWarrior]

Yes indeed. Key word "born with".

[@bjones8698]

Exactly. We are born with beauty beautifully made features.

[@semajnoxid5296]

This just changed my life! Thank You!

[@jamesgamble8725]

How is it even possible to make her believe she’s amazing and oh most beautiful!!

[@winluvwinluv3734]

She's beautiful for any girl.

[@meladenosine4995]

I know! Beauty and brains

[@cv4809]

Jan Jorissen Not according to the leftards

[@kilkee526]

What is "Czechia"?

[@serious7179]

Charlie Charlie So, Western European standards are somehow right? Apparently you're not too bright.

[@Hagfan789]

If you're a bottom feeder...I suppose so.

[@Fresharies]

why did so many people in the comments not get the point of the video at all? if you weren't here to listen then why are you here

[@silvermediastudio]

Welcome to Earth, where everyone has an opinion. Why did you share yours on other people in the comments, do you think anybody actually wants to read your opinion?

[@GeneralG1810]

Because the thumbnail had a hot chick in a nice tight dress

[@flurbanmoran7797]

Man, I wish I was sitting in the front row

[@schmui]

I'm sorry, couldn't listen cause she's so HOT!!! :D

[@4u2cre8]

Because they have the same mentality as the people she's talking about.

[@lisaogrady1214]

so great. Helps people look at themselves and others and how bad it is for dark skinned beautiful people. Very needed. Thank you for sharing

[@ajl2232]

Love this talk. What an elegant, beautiful and articulate woman. I am light skinned but I can relate. Well done!

[@fabioramirez8195]

I am really impressed with her speech skills and her stage presence!

[@bubblebubbleblip]

Amazing but heartbreaking talk. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

[@vbwelllife7947]

Such a great speech and you are beautiful and beyond. Thank you!

[@lizzas4574]

I am so proud of you girl keep fighting for us I used to be you about 30 years ago and it's a lifetime struggle but keep fighting I'm so proud of you

[@oldgymrat71]

She looks good, very good to me!

[@lsweet222]

Beautiful and intelligent woman. Thank you for getting us all talking, thinking, learning and unlearning 💖 I too know of colorism, especially with black male rappers and singers saying they only like light skin, but they are shallow and foolish and not worth any good hearted woman's time💕💕💕

[@carlar1820]

Very true. I'm glad I was raised with a sense of self. These things don't have a huge, negative, personal affect on me.

[@Jenmag1]

Well said, Great communication and interaction with the audience..

[@tori7367]

You're so gorgeous! I'm biracial but I have an unusual mixture of traits. I'm used to feeling out of place. I'm used to being asked why my hair's so frizzy or my eyes are so dark if my mom is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white woman. The societal preference for Eurocentric features is pervasive and insidious, but it doesn't have to be permanent, and it doesn't have to define you. I think you're intelligent, wise, and beautiful, and I know you're going to change the world! You're an A+ girl in my book. Thanks for the talk!

[@bennyboyjones]

There is no such thing as a "beauty standard". People like what they like, and no amount of talking about "colourism" is going to change that. If they started putting morbidly obese women with no teeth and tattooed faces all over magazines, TV and films, do you honestly believe that men would suddenly find them attractive?

[@kaysinger6960]

bennyboyjones Your puny little mind equates this gorgeous woman to being obese and toothless?. You are part of the moral decay that promotes this negative rhetoric. The good news is that your types are being eradicated like a putrid leper, and not a moment too soon.

[@IcedTeaBeingStirred]

you should tell those people to pick up a book and read once and a while! Genetics have so many variations and are what make us look unique from each other. I think it’s so fascinating how people who are biracial can inherit their parents’ looks in so many different ways. It would be interesting to see, if you decide to have children someday, if you passed some your mother’s lighter features that you didn’t inherit onto your children.

[@dantan1249]

I can't believe the casting was that explicit? who knew it was this bad and in a hood movie at that ?

[@auraantonia8289]

I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, so beautiful! The way you carry yourself! We have to start ignoring the beauty standards of society. I still to this day have a problem with food because I grew up thinking I need to be skinny. Slowly I am learning to love myself. Because there is only one me on this world. And I am glad I am unique

[@MegaZedlav]

So a stunning beautifully made woman knows this is all not enough!

[@sandiegoslots]

Chika Okoro is gorgeous!

[@bashayer8928]

You're so beautiful it's distracting! God bless you ✨

[@kennethramsey9845]

bashayer qqqq

[@marcusp905]

Good talk! Shocking that this still goes on!

[@amanyaimproves503]

I got goosebumps from watching this and the comments are so wholesome.

[@lovelylex3508]

In my opinion, we all should be A's

[@Nimosayshi]

in my opinion, there shouldn't even be a category of who is beautiful and who isn't.

[@lovelylex3508]

+NImo kim (Omin) True, but that's society for ya. We put people into the boxes and categories.

[@megmitchell1273]

Then from the quality of your post, I can only assume you are albino. :) IQ tests are known to be culturally/racially biased, usually in favor of middle-to-upper-class white people, so I don't know why you'd care about those tests to begin with. IQ tests don't measure your intelligence, and they never have. They measure your test-taking ability and how similar your cultural background is to the person who wrote the test. Lack of melanin will usually help you on an IQ test, since most of them are written by white people, but that number won't tell you much. There's no standardized, sit-down test that can accurately measure intelligence, because there's no way to completely remove test-taking ability and cultural bias as confounding factors. Even once you think you've stripped out all the cultural bias in your test, you will be wrong. Given a list of items like "potato", "shovel", "hammer", "chestnut", and asked to divide them into 2 groups of 2, most western people would naturally divvy them up into "tools" and "food". In other cultures, like the Kpelle, it's more natural to divvy them up by task -- "potato" is planted with "shovel" and "chestnut" is opened with "hammer". If you have any questions that rely on categorization, this will completely screw up the results of your IQ test. You also need to worry about assumptions of "daily life", sports, pop culture, how family is categorized, general life values, etc. The arms of cultural bias are just too long and graspy to resolve within the scope of a single written test. Anyone who tries to sell you on the idea of "IQ" is a moron or a racist. (Also, white people aren't albinic. The genes controlling albinism are completely separate from the "racial" skin color genes, and there are black albino people who, though pale, are pretty clearly black... and probably wouldn't be too happy to see you talking about them like this. There's no reason whatsoever to believe albino people are less intelligent than the rest of us.)

[@artyomarty391]

the world is not the way it should be, it is the way it is. We cant be all A's unless you propose we all indulge in mass delusion

[@sephadetre4349]

Every one is not an A. It should be based on moral, conduct, and how well you take care of yourself. ie...A person with more self respect will take better care of themselves (not make up), ect

[@0Caracalla]

colorism exists in latin america, parts of south and east asia as well... its a long standing cultural belief that interrelates with other social caste systems. still projected today by mass media and now marketed by large beauty product companies to turn a profit based off of peoples insecurities about their own skin tone.

[@doriswalker2148]

Elle D v

[@manxx25]

That is the genius of racism. It is self-sustaining. :( Well...not exactly, but the maintenance cost is low relative to other social control, "keepin' em in thurr place" systems.

[@natetorres9948]

Adam N Those colorism ideologies are present everywhere thay Europeans colonized, In summary everywhere in the Globe except current day Russia.

[@bigreg1865]

This is so powerful. I would not change my dark skin for anything.

[@lifeman2k22]

I wanna see more of her she is an inspiration!!

[@sahngcobo]

well prepared and focused message

[@girlcalledmango]

She should be a voice actor as well. Fabulous voice.

[@angelicadarlin8150]

This woman is BEAUTIFUL! And her intelligence makes her even more so.

[@Andrew-im7fg]

Whew! Man, we sure did these things to each other in middle school, high school, and in the neighborhood. These beliefs were so ingrained in our culture that many of us didn't see it.

[@Cheri406]

Job Well Done Chika! Thank you, Sis! Hope you'll make more videos of Substance. To those who left Negative/non related comments below ... you have the Right to. The right to talk about her hair extensions, skirt length, move to another country, blah, blah, blah but ... you might try listening. Never mind Chika is Very Well Educated. When we as a country have an attention span of a New York Nanosecond become distracted so easily or choose to *Ignore the Facts of an Intelligent conversation* on issues facing society lil wonder we continue to slip as a nation. #CrabsInaBarrel Take Care Chika and Have a Fabulous Day Sis :) peace

[@bobjon2282]

This is why I go to my granddaughters school every day to see what kinda messages they are filling her head with.

[@honeypunch8927]

Giving you a huge hug. Many thanks and love to you Chika

[@philcain100]

Beautiful & articulate no "for a . . . " just straight up, unconditionally, awesomely breathtakingly beautiful.

[@Holyground40]

Tbh you'd look so good with an afro...

[@duncansiror5033]

I'm not sure that's entirely true.

[@millymilly8264]

+Lovely_Day why do you care what men think ?

[@juniorgrant5495]

Lovely_Day that's unfortunate. my wife has 4B/ 4C hair and all she gets are compliments and questions on how she got it to grow so long and full. I would imagine though that reactions would be different for different hairstyles. it still seems though that ppl are thrilled by her hair (surely part of the thrill is due to the length)

[@awakenedmelanin5235]

i agree

[@AeryusSalvation]

I concur to that!

[@eddierocksteady5740]

Chika. you are a model and a mentor,speak on and aloud please. Blackpeople need to be aware and know this message and the implications. D girl - you're beautiful too.

[@NikkiJayArtistry]

Thank u for this, more people need to hear this , more people need to give speeches like this

[@luisalfonso8888]

Wow! Everything of this girl is A. I hope the world will listen to you. Your speech is awesome

[@missabyssinia2293]

Oh My God! That little girl broke my heart 😭😭😭.

[@Daya-ir2fy]

YESSSSS PREACH OMG NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT SKIN BLEACHING IN INDIA. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL WITH YOUR DARK SKIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPREADING LIGHT ON THESE GLOBAL ISSUES.

[@nicaise_t_jonah6300]

Gorgeous In and out .magnificent outstanding speech be bless

[@MA-vz2hx]

You are beautiful. Your speech is excellent and powerful.Such a nice message and I am sure people will learn

[@quentin4221]

GOD is the author of beauty not Hollywood and definitely not the white man

[@darquenite]

WHAT?!!

[@quentin4221]

That's what I said.

[@KushQueen9]

indeed!

[@becky15707]

Best comment

[@iamieeesha9619]

Anthony Bates Best Comment Here!!!💯💯💯

[@yaknow11]

Got damn she fine! I'd call the police to move a redbone sista out the way, to get to this melanin rich queen !

[@ecnalted1]

great message. i'm 61 white male and tired of this message. it's way past time to change. you are an AAAAAA girl. thank you for the message.

[@FNFIHOCTW]

I'm am the color of the brown paper bag. This talk was so personal to me. Thank You for sharing this.

[@randylundy412]

Black is always beautiful.

[@Boahemaa]

I'm a dark skinned woman too and I lived in a country where most people look more like me and I was still told I would be more beautiful if I was lighter skinned. Often by people no more lighter than I am. Anyway that was when I was younger. It all changed when I got to the University. That was when men told me I was beautiful because I was dark skinned. And these boys were the handsome popular ones too! To be honest what gave me skin pride was when my "lighter" skinned friends expressed their annoyance that the good looking guys gave me so much attention even though I was so dark. From that time to be honest I always want to be the darkest woman in the room! When I get lighter (somehow that happens) I use creams that have tan in them! I love my skin because it makes me exotic!

[@pdhoggardable]

The basis of racism is learned behavior and you thought an excellent lesson of how important it is to put positive or neutral non-bias images into a child's mind. Thank you for your brains and great looks. I love you.

[@marvinseton7357]

Great message, excellent presentation!