Is Zendaya mixed rather than black?

[EricSummer]

Zendaya Coleman identifies as black, same as Barack Obama, but as a European I feel a bit disappointed that these people are effectively denying their European ancestry which for both of them represents about half of their ancestors.

Do you think this is appropriate? Are Americans still implicitly applying the "one drop rule" by which one drop of "black blood" makes you black? How can they stick to a rule from times of slavery?

[jennifer_bloom]

It’s not always voluntary for a mixed person to choose their black culture over their non black culture because historically and socially, partially African or Caribbean people are viewed as being more African than European. In Europe, Anglo Saxon Protestant is considered the common and presumed affiliation so if somebody is part of a diverging community, it’s their difference that is commonly authenticated for conversation and not their socially typical traits.

[EricSummer]

Anglo-Saxon Protestant would be a predominant group of early immigrants from Europe to the U. S.

In Europe itself we do not see an Anglo-Saxon Protestant as stereotypically European. An orthodox Greek or atheist Czech is completely European without being Anglo or Protestant.

[DizzyDesii]

A cop would identify her as black before asking what she's mixed with. So thats partially why she “identifies” as it. Most would go based off certain features rather than simply asking. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't claim her other parent’s ancestry

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Take the foundation and makeup off her face and her black features show.

Society will never accept her as a white woman because she doesn't look like one.

Her father is black therefore she will be pushed by society towards her black race category and she knows that, that's why she identify as a black woman.

[Grond21]

Because we are unfortunately dealing with oppression Olympics. The more of a victim you are, the more the media will treat you as special and act as if your voice deserves to be elevated. Therefore, anyone with any hint of black in their ancestry will embrace it in the show business.

[ShesRad80]

she's mixed, there are tons of us mixed kids out there, if she is denying her white side, she is denying her white mother. im a mixed kid i identify with both sides, people are looney tunes spinning their own hypocritical spin on race in hollyweird. she also dates white men, smh

[Malwi93]

R u mixed

[ShesRad80]

@Malwi93 yes

[Malwi93]

i can't see it

[Grond21]

Normally I don't say this, but I think your hair compliments you.

[ShesRad80]

@Grond21 thank you

[ShesRad80]

@Malwi93 stereotypical response, smh

[Tonita91996]

I don't think she looks fully black nor fully white. I think a lot of this stuff has to do with slavery on how you are identified. There really no such thing as race I believe that it is a social construct. People worry about race too much that stuff is very old slavery that has been said and done with even segregation is over for a long time. We have less problems in the world if people stop talking about race.

[heyuas]

I believe most people are already aware she is not fully black. Same as Barack Obama.

[heyuas]

I knew before ever reading your question they are both mixed race

[EricSummer]

Yes, sure. But why then is Barack Obama called the first black president of the U. S? This is a bit more official than being a black hollywood actress.

[heyuas]

He is still black but just not fully black.
His skin looks more brown than white anyway.
He is the first us president with African ancestry. His father is from Kenya.

[Smashingdoozy]

She identifies as both. She is proud to be mixed. But fact is she is still black. It would be more offensive if she said she was white.

[notmysundaybest]

I believe she's mixed (50% European, 50% African-American)

[hahahmm]

Race is a social/political idea. If she was a mass murderer you would be singing a different tune, I'd guess. So eh. I don't really care what race a person claims to be.

[provokeesmokee]

How about you sit down and let people of colour decide for themselves, you milquetoast paleass racist fuck.

[EricSummer]

This is a bit harsh. Of course, I respect her decision to identify as black. I suppose my question was worded to provoke answers, but I honestly want to understand.

Over here in Geneva, Switzerland, I know people of different skin colors, but they do not see themselves as POC. It's more of a U. S. cultural thing, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

My guess is she probably feels more accepted by her African heritage than her European.

[EricSummer]

I know. My question is only why in the U. S. they are often called black. For example, Barack Obama is often called the first black president of the U. S. By the way, African Americans also often have some European admixture already, and sometimes the other way round. Statistically, Zendaya would be about 60% European, but Obama 45% European.
Of course, working out percentages is reminiscent of German racism from Nazi times. I realize that the U. S. system is social and does not pretend to be biological, so I guess the main thing is really what you identify as.

[Opinion Owner]

Well I didn't go too much into detail with my initial answer, but yes. We're talking about Hollywood here where they PRETEND to be PC but in actuality judge EVERYTHING about you. In short Hollywood doesn't accept Zendaya she's thier new mixed moneymaker that they can hold up and say, "look how inclusive we are". This is what I meant when I said, "she probably feels more accepted by her African heritage". The truth is Zendaya is like ANYONE. Just trying to live her life the best way she knows how. She has pride and dignity and if she embraces her African heritage it's only because she's showing her pride by saying, " I am who I am, I'm proud of who I am and I don't need or want to be part of your "Caucasians only" club. Ironically I don't really care for Zendaya (that's another subject though). But I say, "good on her" for not kow-towing to anyone for what THEY think she should be.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

If Black means the skin colour, She’s mixed, like President Obama. If it means ethnicity, She’s mixed, like President Obama.

[Cubus]

Yes, she is mixed. But for Americans if someone is half White and half Black then it's the same as being full Black

[Kelly6]

they think they will get more attention that way

[Miristheiss]

She looks multiracial to me. Black doesn't seem to be a primary race by her looks. More Latina or something.

[Anonymous]

It's better for her career like barrack to identify as black.

[D_Bone_Steak]

Mixed... my wife is blacker than she is... and she's just fucking Asian.

[Anonymous]

Zendaya is half African-American and half Scottish&German, according to Wikipedia. Most people refer to her as mixed

[EricSummer]

Wikipedia is precise there, but I think she is still more commonly referred to as black in showbiz. I'm sure about the Little Mermaid actress, Halle Bailey, who is actually also half European American. There are lots of articles like "Arielle is black".

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, I don't get that. She doesn't have the same features and experiences with other African-American people and she's probably profited from being light-skinned.. So that's ridiculous

[Anonymous]

I don’t think she is denying her ancestry. Phenotypically, she looks black, so I think she prefers to identify as such?

[Tonita91996]

I don't think she just looks black I think a lot of this identification has a lot to do with racism in the United States during slavery. There isn't really such thing as race it is just a social construct.

[Opinion Owner]

She looks like a light skinned black woman. But yes, race is a societal construct. But who cares what someone identifies as? It isn’t anyone’s business.

[Tonita91996]

I still don't understand why you only see black but it is not that big of a deal which race isn't a thing.

[Opinion Owner]

She doesn’t look just black. She looks mixed, but if she wants to identify as just a black person, maybe we should respect that.

[MizzArtFreak89]

No she’s mixed isn’t she? She had a white mom and a black dad I believe.

[Christoff92]

Yes of course. If you're mixed with black you ain't black. That's my philosophy by the way 🙂

[Juxtapose]

She looks like she's fucking Italian and is almost as white as I am lol.

[AutisticLonelyWoman]

Light skinned black

[Blueeyes81]

I don't care what a person identifies as.

[Iron_Man]

I have no idea

[LimitedBenefits101]

She's mixed thats her race.

[justabuddy]

We are all mutts.