Tyla explains her stance on identifying as “colored”

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 1 minute read

Tyla addressed the controversy surrounding her racial identity after an awkward moment during a recent interview. During the interview, she was asked about her past comments identifying her as “colored.” This term is commonly used in South Africa to refer to mixed-race individuals, but is considered an insult in the United States.

Tyla's explanations

The question was met with silence from Tyla, and her publicist stepped in saying, “Can't we?” Please.”

After the interview, Tyla took to Twitter to clarify her position. “I’ve never denied my blackness, I don’t know where it comes from,” she began. “I am a mix of black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian and mixed race. In Southa I would be classified as a woman of color and in other places I would be classified as a black woman. The breed is classified differently in different regions of the world.

Resolve misunderstandings

Tyla emphasized understanding the different connotations of the term “Métis” in various regions. “I don't expect to be identified as Metis outside of Southa by someone who isn't comfortable doing so because I understand the weight of that word outside of SA,” she said. -she explains. “But to conclude this conversation, I am both mixed race in South Africa and a black woman. As a woman for culture. It is and not or… with that said ASAMBEEE.

The controversy began when Tyla identified herself as a “colored South African” in a TikTok video. According to the BBC, the statement sparked a cultural debate, as “colored” is considered an insult in the United States but is an officially recognized identity in South Africa.

Tyla has made it clear that her identity encompasses multiple heritages. She respects the different cultural contexts of her identification and accepts being both colored in South Africa and black in the world.