Tyla Explains Her Decision Not to Address ‘Coloured’ Question on The Breakfast Club

Tyla, the South African singer and songwriter, recently shared her thoughts with British Vogue on why she chose not to respond to the “coloured” question during her appearance on The Breakfast Club.

Reflecting on the moment, Tyla explained, “Me choosing not to say anything, I’m happy that I didn’t. 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 expressed frustration over how her previous attempts to explain her heritage had been misinterpreted, with others putting words in her mouth.

Tyla further delved into the historical context of the term “coloured” in South Africa, noting the painful legacy of segregation in her home country. “In South Africa, we had a lot of segregation. It was bad for a lot of us. They classified us. And that just so happens to be the name that the white people called us,” she said. She shared how the label “coloured” was imposed on mixed-race individuals by the white community, making her identity a complex mix of both Black and coloured.

When she arrived in America, Tyla found herself confused by the reaction to the term, with some people telling her she couldn’t use it. “I was in a position where I was like, ‘Oh, so what do I do? What am I then?’” she shared, expressing the emotional weight of trying to reconcile her South African identity with American perspectives on race.

Tyla’s decision not to engage in the conversation on The Breakfast Club was rooted in a desire to protect her culture and prevent further misunderstanding, emphasizing how important it is to recognize the historical and cultural significance of such terms.