Paris Jackson, daughter of the iconic Michael Jackson, has always been in the spotlight, from her famous family to her own career in music. Recently, she opened up about her identity and why she identifies as a Black woman, despite having a lighter skin tone.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Paris shared that her father, Michael Jackson, made it clear to her that she should embrace her Black heritage. “He’d look me in the eyes and he’d be like, ‘You’re Black. Be proud of your roots,’” she recalled. “And I’d be like, ‘OK, he’s my dad, why would he lie to me?’ So I just believe what he told me, because to my knowledge, he’s never lied to me.”
Michael Jackson, despite his lighter skin tone due to vitiligo, was always proud of his African-American roots. He had once told Oprah Winfrey, “I’m a Black American. I am proud to be a Black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am.”
Paris further explained that many people assume she’s white because of her lighter complexion, sometimes even jokingly asking if she’s “from Finland or something.” However, she points out that other mixed-race individuals, like actor Wentworth Miller, who has a Black father and a white mother, also share a similar appearance.
Paris Jackson says it has been difficult to talk about her s**uality to family. Credit: Alamy
Despite her personal connection to her African-American heritage, Paris has faced criticism for her identity. Talk show host Wendy Williams dismissed her claims, stating, “Black is not what you call yourself, it’s what the cops see when they got steel to your neck.”
It has been reported that Michael Jackson suffered from vitiligo. Credit: Alamy
Paris Jackson, however, stands by her identity and the lessons her father taught her, embracing her roots and her family’s history.
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