Quantcast
RELATED

Paula Patton is a woman of mixed-race heritage. Her mother is white and her father is Black, however, she doesn't consider herself to be biracial. The actress who is starring in the new BET + series Sacrificeopened up about her racial identity with SiriusXM's Clay Cane after she was asked about her previous comments regarding race.


Back in 2010, the actress spoke with Women's Health and revealed that she was often judged because of her racial background. "People judged me because I was light-skinned. [They'd assume] I didn't want to be part of the Black race," she said.

She went on to say that she even disliked the term "biracial." "I find it offensive, she said. "It's a way for people to separate themselves from African-Americans…a way of saying, 'I'm better than that.' I'm Black because that's the way the world sees me. People aren't calling Barack Obama biracial. Most people think there's a Black president."

When speaking with Clay, the 45-year-old actress doubled down on her previous comments and further explained why she saw herself as a Black woman versus a biracial woman. "The politics of race in our country are such that when one wants to make it clear that they're not Black, that it's a way to keep them separate from Black people. We have a long history in this country of that. Of it not being popular to be Black."

She continued, "So I've always found that to be an offensive term. I'm Black, and I embrace — you know, that's my family."

Historically, a person was considered Black if they have one-eighth or more drop of blood from a Black person, but over time, conversations about whether or not a biracial person is considered Black has been a hot topic especially since there has been an increase in the number of multiracial people in America and in the world.

Many have argued that they should be allowed to label themselves however they see fit. And while there are many people of mixed race who identify as Black, there are others who identify as biracial such as Meghan Markle, Mariah Carey, and Rashida Jones.

Featured image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET+

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Taurus-April-2025-monthly-horoscopes

May is about being patient, nurturing your dreams, and creating beauty in your world. This is a more stable and generous month than the chaos that April brought, and we get an opportunity for closure, healing, and rejuvenation this month. We are still amid some important retrograde transits, but these are ones we can navigate better by grounding our energy in the present moment, and not allowing ourselves to stress over the what-ifs.

With the Sun in Taurus for most of the month, May reminds us that there is beauty in finding your peace and not allowing anyone to disrupt that.

KEEP READINGShow less
African daughter hugging her mum indoors at home - Main focus on senior mother face

Astrology is gaining new popularity with many beginning to acknowledge what our ancestors have realized for civilizations - that astrology can reveal an awful lot about our lives, our personalities, and our psyches. Sure, we're all pretty familiar with the personality types of certain signs, but did you know that astrology can also reveal insights about your relationships with certain people? Specifically, your moon sign can shed a ton of light on your relationship with your mother, for better and for worse!


Are you and your mother thick as thieves, or is your relationship with her strained? Can you tell her your deepest and darkest secrets, or do you find it difficult to be yourself around your mother? Are you the apple of your mother's eye, or do you feel like you were never able to really please her?

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS