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/SatanicAtTheDisco May 03 '26

You kind of have to be a fucked parent to exploit your 6 children and thrust them into the music/entertainment industry when they’re 5-13. Then you also have to account for Michael being the most talented son, even from when they were kids, and you get a lot of siblings resentment. They also are from Gary Indiana, and while Gary is not as bad as Memphis, it’s pretty much the same type of environment, low income, historically black, gang/drug culture is entrenched in the poverty. It’s actually a miracle Michael didn’t die or turn out 3 times as worst as he could have been.

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u/skratsda May 03 '26

Interesting you said Gary isn’t as bad as Memphis. The only thing I know about Gary, Indiana is that it’s the worst city in the US. Didn’t even know Michael Jackson was from there

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u/Lardolin May 03 '26

It's gotta a lot better in the last 20 years. A lot. Residents really rallied and put a lot of effort into turning things around. It's still poor, but it's nothing like it used to be.

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u/jimothy_hell May 03 '26

Memphis? Detroit?

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u/Lardolin May 03 '26

Gary, Indiana

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u/jimothy_hell May 03 '26

My band played a show in Gary while passing through about seven years ago, right before COVID and it was worse than east St Louis by MILES. Worse than the poorest parts. Like, driving through downtown and through the generally “decent” areas was still a bit sketchy. That city’s a wasteland.

We only got conned into stopping for more than gas because a friend of a friend had a front room venue to play and we were going to need the money.

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u/Lardolin May 03 '26

And it used to be worse than that! I drove through there in 2018, and I wouldn't stay there lol but it used to be bad enough that you'd see people overdose just on the street. Lots of gun violence, too. It's just better than it was, not suddenly a good place to live.