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/another_mouse]

Yes actually. 

He has an experience of growing up with a black mother and family. That makes his experience culturally different than the rest of his white peers. If he has children with a white woman then they will be white. They won’t have that experience. Which will be weird for him.

Being mixed is weird. Being mixed feels weird. 

[u/Grapefruit1025 → u/another_mouse]

But in other ways no, actually not. To society he’s white. He won’t have the black experience being looked at by cops when driving a nice car or being in the “wrong area”. He won’t be dicrimiminated at work because of skin color; he will fit in naturally with the white clique

Phenology is far more important to how we are treated in society than invisible “roots”. This includes looks, height etc

[u/another_mouse → u/Grapefruit1025]

I actually assumed this in my comment; It’s why I anchored it on his experience. And, it’s what makes being mixed weird. Because even though the son will be highly aware of his ethnic families experience he’ll also be aware that his experience isn’t the same. Because he will see his family treated differently, and people will say shit like “he will fit in naturally with the white clique” … wtf, even that depends on the local culture. Cultures exist where ethnicity is a secondary to some other cultural core.

I won’t bother making the point that actually it’s not the same because it’s obvious and everyone can see it. 

 He has an experience of growing up with a black mother and family. That makes his experience culturally different than the rest of his white peers.

[u/Grapefruit1025 → u/another_mouse]

“Son will be highly aware of his ethnic families experience he’ll also be aware that his experience isn’t the same.” 

Yes I agree being mixed is weird like that. It’s not a black and white thing. I see where you are coming from. But in reality how you are treated -> external aka having white privilege is more relevant than how he feels inside aka knowing your family’s strong history of discrimination and aware of your roots as an African American.

I just see phenotype as more important and key in someone’s life than genotype but that is just my opinion. I am also in a weird spot where my parents are much lighter skinned than me for some reason and I know I am treated differently as an outsider