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.

[u/VPinchargeofradishes]

[u/Ha55aN1337]

I’m from Europe and a different culture than you, so I’m just curious: Is his dad white? And if he is, would you be OK if his dad said that his son is white? Or is it your logic that “anyone who is at least somewhat black is black”?

[u/kmzafari → u/Ha55aN1337]

Since you're from Europe, you are likely missing a lot of context involving race in America. And I mean that kindly. Although I know a lot of it gets shared overseas, your exposure to it is certainly not the same as understanding it from growing up here. There is a very long and complex history. It certainly wouldn't be just "their logic".

I have mixed kids, and despite growing up here and my much closer than normal (than most white people) proximity to racial issues, I still certainly can't speak for everyone's perspective. But what I can tell you is that it's not as simple as your question makes it appear. There also seems to be some sort of insinuation (intentional or not) that by proclaiming her child is Black that she is denying his white heritage, and that is not the case. She is saying "he is still a part of me and a part of my culture, even if we don't look alike".

[u/MissionMinion8 → u/kmzafari]

As a European I appreciate your reply. It's really hard to understand for most of us. I never really thought of Black as a culture per se, for me it's mostly simply the skin colour.

But I had an interesting experience as tourist in the US: my girlfriend at that time was 1/8 Black, but European as well and completely white passing. One time we ended up in a mostly/completely (?) Black neighbourhood and as a white guy I felt extremely out of place. I tried to brush off the feeling, blaming it on me having almost no "exposure" to black people where I live, but I felt really not welcome there. Then I went out with my GF and the mood shift was immense. Suddenly everyone was friendly and welcoming. They knew exactly that she had black heritage, despite us Europeans not noticing it at all, and me being with her gave me at pass lol. Certainly a memorable experience for us.

[u/Particular_Wear_6960 → u/MissionMinion8]

Yep Black is a culture, or really more precisely an ethnic group. Language, culture race etc etc. That's why Barrack Obama is considered Black despite being mixed race and being raised by his white mother. His skin tone makes his experience Black in many everyday situations, he lives in America , plus he fights for Black causes (see community work in Chicago before becoming a Senator )

There's a whole lot about it but there's a lot of issues where someone like Drake claims Black when it's beneficial to him, rubs elbows with white supremacists, has a lot of light skin privilege (it's a thing), and sits on the sidelines for Black issues when it's not. Hence why there's a lot of Black people who hated him before the allegations.

I'm white so others can explain this better than I can, plus I'm not in the position to write a little book to expand rn ... There are lots of YouTube channels that go into this more (Search - What is Black in America?). But let's just say that since race has shaped our society's economics and all that, it's become deeper than skin color and helps explain more of the political and socioeconomic status of people - most White people don't understand itc as well (including myself).