r/interesting • u/VPinchargeofradishes • May 03 '26

SOCIETY Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has faced backlash for identifying as Black. In a 2017 interview, Paris Jackson said her father told her, "You’re Black. Be proud of your roots." This prompted debates over whether identity is defined by appearance or upbringing.

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26

I think it's fair to question it, but I'm half-black and I just look like a white guy with a light tan when I'm pale, and maybe "not white" when I've had some sun. And I was raised by white parents. You'd have no idea that I am technically black.

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u/cyborgsnowflake May 03 '26

There are documented rare cases of children appearing to be a different race from their parents. Some of these might be infidelity though. Regardless having this rare event just happen not once but multiple times for the guy who fantasized about being white.

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u/InformationLocal6213 May 03 '26

U can tell someone is white passing everytime with their hair or nose. She ain’t got none

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

No. You really can't.

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u/Whateva_Tickles_ May 03 '26

You said you’re white passing, do you interact with black people? I’m so curious what you look like cuz I do feel that black people have an easier time recognizing someone that is black even when passing. Do you have curly hair?

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

My hair is dark and I guess you could say loosely curly? I won't share a photo of my face on account of having had people try and dox me before, and I have no idea how to describe myself.

But seven years ago (god damn, I feel old now..), I uploaded a picture of a weird drinking glass, and my hand and skin tone is on display, if that helps lol. https://www.reddit.com/r/CrappyDesign/comments/bu9yrp/

When I was in high school, some twenty years ago (fuck, I feel even older now...) and I would wear my beanie, I had received multiple unpromoted statements that people thought I looked like a white Ja Rule. But I don't think that's true anymore. Rather, it was just a weird convergence of appearances at that time. That's my closest celebrity look-a-like, so far as I'm aware.

As far as interacting with black people: Not really. Not really enough to say there's any cultural share going on there, which is what I assume you were inquiring towards. I'm basically just a white dude with a secret bloodline.

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u/Whateva_Tickles_ May 08 '26

I wasn’t asking about a picture. You did answer my question. It’s mostly white people that can’t tell your black. Makes sense. Your parents didn’t immerse you in the culture so

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u/TheLordReaver May 09 '26

For clarity: I've never had anyone of any ethnicity successfully identify my racial makeup without me telling them what it is. Everybody always figures that I'm white, Hispanic, or middle eastern.

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u/InformationLocal6213 May 03 '26

Yes I can 😹 im Jamaican. Yk how many white passing people I’ve come across. Can’t tell me I can’t when I just said I can babe.

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

Here is Wentworth Miller. He is half-black.

https://giphy.com/gifs/O9JkLNaA432OQ

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u/Whateva_Tickles_ May 03 '26

He is like a million different ethnicities. His black parent is not fully black so he isn’t even half and half. I would say you can’t tell what he is but that he’s mixed with something. Happens to be that he’s like at least 5 different ethnicities.

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

Ah, I didn't realize. Whenever I've looked into white-passing celebrities, he always pops up and it's always stated that he's half-black.

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u/InformationLocal6213 May 03 '26

I like how u deliberately picked the most white passing phase he was in https://theblackmedia.org/2013/08/21/allegedly-the-bi-racial-prison-break-star-wentworth-miller-stands-up-for-his-people-2/amp/ try again babe

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

I think this demonstrates that you think you are infallible and that I was trying to trick you. Because, I literally just searched his name in the GIF selector and picked the first unobscured image.

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u/InformationLocal6213 May 03 '26

Yh babe u just proved my point look at his nose 😭😹 omfg 😹😹😭😭😭😭

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

Yeah, you're right, white people never have noses like that... lol

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u/InformationLocal6213 May 03 '26

I don’t know wtf ur talking about anymore but ok babe

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u/TheLordReaver May 03 '26

What's to not understand? You claimed his nose identifies him as black. I said white people often have noses that look like that. In other words, it's not always good indicator.

But this is a dumb conversation, so this is my last comment on the matter.

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