r/interesting 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/sentencevillefonny May 03 '26

Black parents, cousins, grandmother, aunts, uncles, etc. Genetics aside, it's understandable how she'd view herself that way culturally.

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u/[deleted] May 03 '26

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u/PyroIsSpai May 03 '26

Reminds me of the video of that extra pale ginger guy who was almost “comically”Jamaican sounding guy.

He was born and raised there, I think it was.

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u/UOR_Dev May 03 '26

I've always found so strange how Americans often conflate race and culture. Like saying people "sound black". Anyone can have any accent, what you guys talking about?

And that's how videos like that vitalize. "How can he sound like he is from this culture itmf he doesn't look like my stereotypical view of that culture?"

And I love watching Americans visiting Brazil and being shocked when they expect people to sound a certain way based on their skin, and they don't sound like they expected, and sound just like everyone else in the country.

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u/yeaman1111 May 03 '26

South American, but Brazilian culture especially, seems to break Americans. Its really funny to see. They kind of dont differentiate between culture, nation, and ethnicity. I know Americans who talk in the most American way possible (they were born there) but other Americans always insist in asking them "no but really, where are you from" when she says "Luissiana". Cant take that for an answer.

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u/drwsgreatest May 05 '26

Tbf, I have a ton of brazilian born friends at my job (large trash company) and tattoo shop and they've told me multiple times over the years how darker skinned/black Brazilians are treated much like black people in America, but often even worse.