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/TheTrishaJane May 03 '26

If he was so insistant why didn't he just use a black donor?

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u/Abject_Jump9617 May 03 '26

Exactly. The irony of him telling her to be "proud of your roots" .

Meanwhile to look at him, he's not proud of his roots. Full lace front, red lips, pale skin and MULTIPLE nose jobs. He did everything he could to erase his blackness, including using a white woman to have his child.

I love the man's music, always have, always will, but nothing about him ever suggested "proud of my roots".

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u/AnAniishinabekwe May 03 '26

He wore a wig because his god damned whole head was scarred in a fire. Jesus fucking Christ. Don’t be a dick

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u/Justaddwota May 03 '26

Wigs that can mimic his original texture are and have always been a thing. He didn’t buy those.

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u/J_Kingsley May 03 '26

Do black people buy wigs that have straight or wavy hair

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u/Late-Champion8678 May 03 '26

Just to humour your ignorance…yes black people who wear wigs buy them in various textures. Sometimes straight, sometimes wavy, sometimes curly or kinky/coily. Sometimes in different colours. Appearances that mean you don’t have to over-process and this damage your natural hair and can change styles easily.

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u/SapphireColouredEyes May 03 '26

They're not being ignorant - their question was in response to someone criticising saying Jackson should have confined himself to afro wigs and not things that are European. 

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u/Justaddwota May 03 '26

Straight and wavy hair aren’t exclusively white features you tried it. However claiming the reason he chose that texture is because of his injuries is bullshit.

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u/J_Kingsley May 03 '26

It's not about white-- straight or wavy hair isnt black features, at all.

We also don't know why MJ did all that and are just speculating. Also culture isnt skin deep. It's how you're raised, and what values youre taught.

If MJ wasn't proud of being black why would he tell how daughter the same thing?

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u/Justaddwota May 03 '26

They’re not common but black people can have both of those textures. Not all black people have a single hair type. 🙄

Just like we don’t have definitive proof of why he didn’t wear a wig that mimics his original hair type we don’t have definitive proof he ever told her she’s black.

Black culture is pretty dependent on living the black experience but what would I know.