Tyla Gets Candid About Identifying as Both Black and 'Colored' Following Backlash: 'I Know Who I Am'

Mar. 15, 2025

Tyla for ‘British Vogue’.Photo:Rafael Pavarotti

Rafael Pavarotti

Tylais confident in her identity.In a new cover story interview withBritish Vogue, the South African singer, 23, opened up about identifying as both Black and “colored” in response to backlash from some fans who previously took offense over her use of the latter term due to its negative connotations.The controversy was sparked whena TikTok video Tyla posted in 2020referring to herself as a “colored South African” resurfaced three years later, and some viewers pointed out the historic use of the term in the United States to negatively describe Black people.In the “Water” artist’s native South Africa, according toBritannica, the term was used to classify people of color seen as in between white and Black and ultimately treat them as superior in society.Tyla for ‘British Vogue’.Rafael PavarottiWhen Tyla used the term, some viewers felt she was claiming to be better than people who identify as Black, but that wasn’t the case.At the time, she felt she had “no control” over the situation. “It just went so far that I didn’t know what to do. The way people painted me… And I understand that word is a sensitive word to people, so I don’t blame people for being touché about it. I just would have wanted an opportunity for people to actually truly listen and learn,” she said.While the new interview finds Tyla addressing the topic directly, she opted not to speak on it ina June 2024 conversation onThe Breakfast Club.“I didn’t want to explain my culture and something that is really important to me on a platform that is just going to be purposefully misconstrued,” she recalled toBritish Vogue.“I’ve explained it a lot of times before, but people took that and put words in my mouth. They said a whole bunch of things that I never said and ran with it.“Noting the term’s history where she’s from, the “Push 2 Start” performer explained, “If people really searched, they’ll see that in South Africa we had a lot of segregation. It was bad for a lot of us. They just classified us. And that just so happens to be the name that the white people called us.“Tyla for ‘British Vogue’.Rafael PavarottiShe added, “They chose to call people that were mixed ‘colored’. And I’m not gonna lie, it was hard because all my life, obviously I knew ‘I’m Black’ but also knew that ‘I’m colored.' So when I went to America and people were like, ‘You can’t say that!’ I was in a position where I was like, ‘Oh, so what do I do? WhatamI then?’“Tyla then opened up about bullies making fun of her hair and skin at “a very white primary school” she attended: “I really hated myself. And then I went to high school, which was predominantly Black and cultured, and that’s where I actually grew to love myself and became really proud of who I am.“Despite her explanation, she claimed “people will still choose not to understand” why she chooses to describe herself as “colored.““I’m at a point where I know who I am. I know I’m a Black woman and I know I’m a colored woman as well and you can be both,” said Tyla. “And the people that care to learn, they understand now. And that’s enough for me.”

Tylais confident in her identity.

In a new cover story interview withBritish Vogue, the South African singer, 23, opened up about identifying as both Black and “colored” in response to backlash from some fans who previously took offense over her use of the latter term due to its negative connotations.

The controversy was sparked whena TikTok video Tyla posted in 2020referring to herself as a “colored South African” resurfaced three years later, and some viewers pointed out the historic use of the term in the United States to negatively describe Black people.

In the “Water” artist’s native South Africa, according toBritannica, the term was used to classify people of color seen as in between white and Black and ultimately treat them as superior in society.

Tyla for ‘British Vogue’.Rafael Pavarotti

When Tyla used the term, some viewers felt she was claiming to be better than people who identify as Black, but that wasn’t the case.

At the time, she felt she had “no control” over the situation. “It just went so far that I didn’t know what to do. The way people painted me… And I understand that word is a sensitive word to people, so I don’t blame people for being touché about it. I just would have wanted an opportunity for people to actually truly listen and learn,” she said.

While the new interview finds Tyla addressing the topic directly, she opted not to speak on it ina June 2024 conversation onThe Breakfast Club.“I didn’t want to explain my culture and something that is really important to me on a platform that is just going to be purposefully misconstrued,” she recalled toBritish Vogue.“I’ve explained it a lot of times before, but people took that and put words in my mouth. They said a whole bunch of things that I never said and ran with it.”

Noting the term’s history where she’s from, the “Push 2 Start” performer explained, “If people really searched, they’ll see that in South Africa we had a lot of segregation. It was bad for a lot of us. They just classified us. And that just so happens to be the name that the white people called us.”

She added, “They chose to call people that were mixed ‘colored’. And I’m not gonna lie, it was hard because all my life, obviously I knew ‘I’m Black’ but also knew that ‘I’m colored.' So when I went to America and people were like, ‘You can’t say that!’ I was in a position where I was like, ‘Oh, so what do I do? WhatamI then?’”

Tyla then opened up about bullies making fun of her hair and skin at “a very white primary school” she attended: “I really hated myself. And then I went to high school, which was predominantly Black and cultured, and that’s where I actually grew to love myself and became really proud of who I am.”

Despite her explanation, she claimed “people will still choose not to understand” why she chooses to describe herself as “colored.”

“I’m at a point where I know who I am. I know I’m a Black woman and I know I’m a colored woman as well and you can be both,” said Tyla. “And the people that care to learn, they understand now. And that’s enough for me.”

source: people.com