It is good that our teens are discussing the issue openly. That signals to me that they may be cognizant, at least on some level, of how their attitudes have been influenced by the media. But there is no doubt the media has taught them that if you are a dark-skinned African-American woman, you start out with a major strike against you in the “beauty” category.

Being the spokesperson for a “Brown Women Are Beautiful Too” campaign was likely the last thing on Mrs. Obama’s mind when her husband was elected President of the United States. But our children have taken note of her complexion and they are actively trying to digest and reconcile this new information with the previous information life in America has taught them. It is sad, that in 2009, our children have to use their mental energy going through that exercise.

African-Americans need to demand that the full spectrum of our beauty be utilized and promoted in the media. We should rise up and start a campaign of our own that embraces the beauty of African-American women of all shades and hues similar to the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. That type of campaign is long overdue and is desperately needed to eradicate the last bastion of racism and self-hatred that exists in the psyche of our people. Perhaps the mere presence of Michelle Obama will jumpstart the movement. For the sake of our children, I certainly hope so.

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Listen as NPR's Allison Samuels talks with Cheli English-Figaro in "Age-Old Complexion Debate Takes New Turn"

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Cheli English-Figaro is a cofounder and President Emerita of Mocha Moms, Inc. She graduated from Yale University and Columbia University School of Law. Prior to leaving full-time employment outside the home, she practiced law in New York and Washington, D.C. She currently works part-time from home. She has been featured in Ebony Magazine, The Washington Post, The Washington Post Magazine, The Prince George's Post, the Washington Afro-American and The Gazette. She has written articles for numerous Mocha Moms, Inc. publications and is a featured writer for the Proctor and Gamble website, HomeMadeSimple.com. She was also a regular guest on National Public Radio's Tell Me More with Michel Martin. Cheli lives in Bowie, MD with her husband and their three children.