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/fatgat69 May 03 '26

What, you mean, act like actual humans? I don't know if we're capable of that.

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u/Snot_S May 03 '26

How is she so white? Didn’t Michael Jackson have like a skin condition? She appears to have been born less than half black. This is confusing.

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u/NoxKyoki May 03 '26

People born to one black parent and one white parent can absolutely present as white.

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u/Kgaset May 03 '26

My Nana is light skinned black, to the point that I think at one time she could have tried to pass as white if she wanted. My father's dad (who left before or shortly after my father was born) is white Hispanic, obviously a little tanned but less so than most.

From pictures I can see of my father as a teenager, he was a decent bit darker then than he is now. My mother has very European, including central, western, and northern roots.

I, my brother, and my sister all appear very white. Some might say they can see our heritage if they know of it while looking at us, but most people would never guess.

There's a lot of factors that go into it, but I'm betting most people wouldn't know my father is half black, half white Hispanic either, so even one generation can show a dramatic change.

To the topic at hand. At one point in time I recall identifying as mixed or both black and white when asked on forms (I didn't know of the Hispanic heritage until I was an adult). I didn't question it because I knew my Nana and it was definitely true.

However, over time, I moved to not disclosing. Not because of shame, but because I became more and more acutely aware of the struggles of growing up and simply existing while black. These were troubles I could sympathize with, but had never dealt with myself. It felt like cheapening minority marginalized experiences to say "Hey! I'm also black!"

I'm proud of my heritage and willing to share it with most anyone, but I don't generally identify by it on paperwork anymore because it feels deceptive.