Male or Female

Halle Berry Says Her Daughter Is Black; Mixed-Race and Others Up in Arms

In addition to the reporting of the ongoing crisis in Egypt, last week’s online news agencies exploded with allegations that in a recent interview with Ebony Magazine, Halle Berry referred to her mixed-race daughter, Nahla, as Black.
The Halle/Gabriel Background
Halle is in the middle of a contentious custody battle with her ex Gabriel Aubry, a White male model. The tabloids are reporting all types of accusations from sources in both camps. Allegedly, Halle’s ‘people’ say Gabriel gets angry when people refer to Nahla as Black. Gabriel’s ‘people’ say Halle throws fits and rages at the slightest things.
Let’s be reminded that we are hearing of this through the tabloids and un-named sources. I haven’t yet directly heard Halle or Gabriel make any of these kinds of statements.
Halle’s Recent Race-Related Quotes
Halle is being quoted as saying:
“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,” Halle told Ebony. “What I think is that that’s something she’s going to have to decide.” “And I think, largely, that will be based on how the world identifies her. That’s how I identified myself,” she said. “But I feel like she’s black.”
She goes on to say “I feel she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother, and I believe in the one-drop theory.” (note – I only found this last quote on tabloid website (TMZ, People etc. – so this is definitely suspect)
What is the One-Drop Rule
The one drop rule classified individuals with mixed European and African ancestry as Black. In the 1920s free people could have up to one-eighth to one-quarter African ancestry (depending on the state law in question) and be considered legally White. The one drop rule was intended to inhibit racial mixing and ‘tainting’ of White blood. If you had a drop of any other than White blood, you could not usually classify yourself as White.
For decades, mixed-raced individuals were either one race (their non-White race) or they were mixed; but they certainly could not be considered White in most cases.
The Backlash from the Public
When the reports of Halle’s comments to Ebony Magazine hit the online community, the switchboards lit up. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion. From mixed-race individuals, to those in mixed relationships, to everyone else, reactions came pouring in.
From what I’ve seen so far, the reaction has been strongly negative. Many feel Halle’s alleged comment about believing in the one-drop rule is an offense to those who have struggled to get the world to embrace mixed-race individuality. As non-White ancestry was deemed to be inferior to “pure” White ancestry, the one drop rule was a way of socially keeping White blood free of the tainting of others. So for Halle to even mention the one drop rule in the context of her self-identification or that of her daughter’s, is a true offense to many.
Additionally, some online commentators believe  Halle isn’t respecting her own White heritage, as a mixed Black and White woman. One White commentator recounted her anger watching Halle accept her Oscar and saying as a “Black woman….” The commentator notes how just after Halle said this, the camera cut to show her White mother. For this angry commentator, there was a definite disconnect between Halle’s speech and reality.
Finally, there are waves of people who are calling Halle an outright ignorant racist.
The Most Disturbing Issue
The thing that stands out most to me is not Halle’s identification as a Black woman or how she sees her daughter, but that she and Gabriel are in this nasty custody battle and seemingly had not come to a common understanding of how they view race. If you are entering a multi-racial relationship and you plan to have children (and of course you live in America), you may be confronted with issues relating to race, being in a mixed-race relationship and/or having mixed-race children. It would behoove any proactive person to have discussions around how these issues might be handled.
Listen, if a practicing Muslim and Catholic were going to marry, wouldn’t you assume they would have some dialogue about how they were going to work cohesively to raise their children? Why is this no different?
Speaking of religion, as parents, we make religious choices for our young children. If you are a practicing Protestant, you might introduce your children to the church. You would probably refer to your child as a Protestant, seeing as how you are a Protestant. You might believe that when your child is older, s/he may make other choices in life and become whatever they saw fit.
For many religious individuals, their relationship with God is their identity. Their values dictate how they see themselves. Their very deep sense of identity IS their religious values, their religion and their way of life. Why is it that a parent can self-identify religion for their child, but not identify the child’s racial identity?
Everyone is Guilty
I completely understand the historical backdrop for why we see race as we do today. I hear Black Americans on these discussion boards over and over again saying they are tired of mixed-race Black/White individuals claiming to be simply “mixed.” For some Blacks, this mixed declaration is yet another way to say “I’m ashamed to be Black” and reinforces the idea that being Black is just not enough. Even if the person expands on the mixed term and says I’m ½ Black and ½ White, it can be quite offensive to some Blacks*.
When some Whites hear a mixed Black/White individual say they view themselves as being “Black,” they too become offended. It’s as if they feel the person is ashamed of their White heritage.
Some mixed-race individuals feel mixed-race people should refer to themselves as mixed. However, I’ve heard from other mixed-race individuals who feel “mixed” is too broad of a term and doesn’t reflect their unique culture or social affinity and they prefer to identify with the ancestry they feel closest to.
So if I say I mixed and I’m Black and White, Blacks will think I’ve rejected my Black side. If I say I’m Black, Whites will think I’ve rejected my White side. If I say I am either White or Black, mixed-race individuals will be upset because I haven’t promoted the cause of our mixed-race group.
To me, we are all guilty of once again, telling mixed-individuals how ‘they’ should identify. Mixed-race people, like any other groups of people, are not a homogeneous group of people that think, talk and act alike. They don’t vote the same way. They don’t eat the same meals. They don’t all have the same social status.
Why then do we all expect them to self-identify the same? Why is it not OK for a person to claim any side of their heritage that they feel they represent? Why is it so wrong? Why is it your business how I see myself?
Why can’t Halle be honest and say “hey, I see myself as a Black woman and guess what? I kind of see my daughter as a Black girl too.” Of course we’d all hope that Halle doesn’t over-impose her views of how she sees herself onto how the child should see herself. However, according to the more complete quotes from the Ebony article, Halle says she hopes her daughter will develop her own identity as she grows.
We can all hope that little Nahla grows up to be a happy and healthy individual. If she’s not too screwed up from the nasty public custody battle, she might have a chance.
As an aside
I find it quite interesting that in many of the commentary regarding this story, people find it necessary to say that Halle should be happy because she has a beautiful daughter. Everywhere, people are saying how gorgeous and beautiful Nahla is.
What does Nahla’s beauty have to do with how Halle should feel about her race? What does Nahla’s beauty have to do with this custody battle?
If Denzel Washington and his wife (two Black Americans) were going through a bitter custody battle, would everyone tell them they should be happy they have “beautiful children?”
For more on the One Drop Rule See:
Abc news
Onedroprule
Wikipedia