Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the legendary pop icon Michael Jackson, recently opened up about her racial identity, revealing that despite being of mixed race, she identifies as a Black woman.
Paris shared that her father, Michael, would often remind her to be proud of her African-American roots. "He would always say, 'You’re Black. Be proud of your roots,'" Paris said, adding, "I consider myself Black."
Born on April 3, 1998, Paris Jackson has grown up in the public eye as the daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. Along with her brothers, Prince, 27, and Bigi, 22, Paris was raised under intense public scrutiny, with her father taking extreme measures to protect their privacy during their childhood.
However, after Michael Jackson’s passing in 2009, that protection was lifted, and Paris found herself thrust into the spotlight. The pressure of public attention took a toll on her mental health, leading to struggles with PTSD, which she attributes to the relentless presence of the paparazzi.
Paris revealed that she has experienced audio hallucinations, paranoia, and has been in therapy for these issues. By age 15, she had attempted suicide multiple times, later seeking treatment in 2019.
In her journey of healing, Paris has leaned on her brother Prince, saying, “He’s everything to me.” Prince, in turn, sees his sister as embodying much of their father’s spirit, noting that “as a person, she is who my dad is… in all of her strengths, and almost all of her weaknesses as well. She’s very passionate.”
Paris has pursued a career in entertainment, modeling for major fashion brands like Chanel and performing as the lead vocalist and guitarist in the band The Soundflowers. She remains committed to honoring her father’s legacy, both musically and personally. "Everyone in my family does music. I mean, I’m a Jackson,” she said in 2020. “It makes sense that I’m a musician, but like, a Jackson doing folk indie?”
In addition to her musical pursuits, Paris resonates deeply with her father on matters of race. Michael Jackson, who suffered from Vitiligo, was often misunderstood due to his changing skin tone, but he remained proud of his African-American heritage. In a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael stated, "I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am."
Paris, inspired by her father, identifies as Black despite her lighter skin tone and distinctive features. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, she explained that Michael would regularly remind her to embrace her roots, telling her, "You’re Black. Be proud." Despite many assuming she is white, due to her blonde hair and blue eyes, Paris says, "He’s my dad, why would he lie to me?"
While some, like talk show host Wendy Williams, have questioned Paris’s self-identification, Paris remains firm in her belief. Williams commented that race is often perceived based on appearance rather than self-identification, but Paris continues to honor her father’s legacy and teachings.
What do you think of Paris Jackson’s decision to identify as Black in honor of her father’s legacy? Let us know your thoughts and share this story to hear what others think!
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