When talking about ethnicity, race or skin color which I think kind of sensitive and never ending issues, it always triggers many different responses. One of celebrity mom, Halle Berry, who has a white mother and an African American father, mentions her feel that her daughter Nahla – who is at the center of battle custody with French Canadian model Gabriel Aubry– to be ‘black’ to Ebony magazine.
The Oscar winning actress clearly says her believe to one drop-theory which is the theory of controversial US racial classification system that states anyone with even ‘one drop’ of black heritage should be classified as black.
Berry, 44, says: “I feel like she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory.”
“What I think is that that’s something she’s going to have to decide. I’m not going to put a label on it. I had to decide for myself and that’s what she’s going to have to decide – how she identifies herself in the world. And I think, largely, that will be based on how the world identifies her. That’s how I identified myself. But I feel like she’s black.”
For Berry it was difficult to identify with just one race when she was growing up since her parents mixed.
“I identify as a black woman, but I’ve always had to embrace my mother and the white side of who I am, too.”
As in doubts, she asked back to herself in confused.
“By choosing, I’ve often [wondered], ‘Well, would that make her feel like I’m invalidating her by choosing to identify more with the black side of myself?'”
The Monster’s Ball actress explains more about her interracial relationships.
“Well, first thing I want to say is that I’m very connected to my community and I want black people to know that I haven’t abandoned them because I’ve had a child with a man outside of my race and I’m dating someone now outside of my race who is Spanish and French. I have never been more clear about who I am as a black woman. The people I have dated sort of hold up a mirror to me and help me realize more of who I really am.”
In her confusion about his true identity, she remains a mother who continues to be motivated in every aspect of her life since becoming a mother.
“Being a mother is probably the most important thing in my life right now. Career is important, but nothing really supersedes my roles as a mother. That’s the most important thing I’m going to do in this life at this point.”
