I winder how many have weaves or considers themselves "light and bright". They remind of the AKAs back in college who thought they were cute.

Wow, who cares what complexion they are going into 2010. I am just ecstatic that we have so many sisters of all shades representing our people.

Light vs. dark skinned, here we go again!!! Did it ever occur that these women where chosen for their jobs based on their qualifications, NOT their skin color. We are still our worst enemies despite all of the accomplishments of this year!

Nene, think of it this way. The woman the pres. chose to be by his side, Michelle, is darker than all of them. NONE of them have more power or status than Michelle. Ha, ha.

I have tears in my eyes right now viewing these great photos of our accomplished sisters! I can only hope and pray God will bless me with such opportunities, but He hasn't. Sad face.

Let it go! The color of the skin does not determine how black a person is. One drop of black blood puts you in the African category. I'm dark skinned but I've seen light skinned blacks represent our race better than some of the darker shades. People it doesn't matter!

I'm so thankful for these healthy role models for older and especially our younger sisters. It shows that not everyone has to make an unhealthy reality t.v. series like the housewives of Atlanta to make a buck. Thank you, sisters.

To everyone talking about the light skin factor, I don't see it. I flipped through each of the people's individual picture in the gallery and I saw an array of brown to light. Look you guys can't go off the main picture alone. Alos, there are THOUSANDS of people working at the White House and I'm sure there are a lot of dark skinned brothas and sistahs working towards these top positions one day. I'm happy for each and every one of those women and I'm sure they've worked hard to get there and they deserve to be there. I'm just happy Bush is out of there. I wouldn't care if purple crocodiles and pink doves where running things.

OMG, get over the color shade issue already !!! black people you're your own worst enemy !!!! The first thing you saw when you looked at this picture was the shade of the skin???? c'mon people....lets move one...Obama is lighter skin...now what ?

Yes, Nene, Mike, it really does matter because it speaks to vestiges of a painful past that we still have not recovered from. What does it say to the darker young girls/women when they look at this picture and don't truly see themselves. (Although I do see a couple of "browner" women in the photo; I wish that Essence had captioned who these women are.) Don't get me wrong, I'm very, very proud of the accomplishments of all these sisters and think they're doing the best they can on behalf of our President and country. Perhaps this can be another one of those reflective, "teachable" moments when we lay bare the angst that trappings of color have affected all of us.

"I find it interesting that most of these women are of light complexion." Actually, I don't think Nene is complaining. She's just making an observation. And it is a very glaring one. This picture could have been taken from some sorority that in the past used skin color as a determining factor for membership. So, it does matter. Maybe it's residue from the privilege that light complexion African Americans had and still enjoy in this country. Maybe?

Nene, it doesn't matter - they're all black women. Do you realize there is no pleasing of of everybody. We have to do what we think is best not what someone else thinks is best. Enjoy the show and stop complaining.

I find it interesting that most of these women are of light complexion.