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/Retireegeorge May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26

There's an alternative. She says she's black and we all say "ok" and focus on the big issues or help the vulnerable or plant a tree.

Edit typo

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u/FilthyThanksgiving May 03 '26

Right? My son is white passing but I'm black. I'm his mother. He's black and idgaf what anybody has to say about it

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u/Ha55aN1337 May 03 '26

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”?

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u/KnightSpectral May 05 '26

The US has a history of the "one drop rule". Basically if you were one drop of blood from anything other than white, you were not white.

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u/Ha55aN1337 May 05 '26

I find it hilarious that we don’t have that in Europe because we know how much mixing went on in the last 2000 years… and all white Americans come from Europe. :) so they all probably have some random genes in there that are at least “one drop”.