Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the late music legend Michael Jackson, recently spoke about her racial identity, stating that despite her mixed heritage, she identifies as a Black woman. She credits her father for instilling a sense of pride in her about her roots, recalling how he would emphasize, “You’re Black. Be proud of your roots.” Honoring his legacy, both musically and culturally, Paris embraces the identity her father affirmed throughout her childhood.

Born on April 3, 1998, Paris Jackson has built her own career as an actress, model, and musician. She grew up in the global spotlight alongside her two brothers, Prince, 27, and Bigi (formerly Blanket), 22. The children of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe were raised with an unusual level of protection, as their father went to great lengths to shield them from the public eye. Michael often covered their faces with veils, masks, or blankets to maintain their anonymity.

In 2007, Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard described his children as “well-mannered, well-behaved kids… They were really level-headed. They were Michael’s first priority.” However, everything changed in 2009 when the King of Pop passed away suddenly, leaving Paris and her brothers exposed to intense media scrutiny. Without their father’s protective presence, they became prime targets for paparazzi and tabloid speculation.

The increased public attention had a profound effect on Paris, who later admitted to struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She revealed that she experiences audio hallucinations triggered by camera clicks and suffers from severe paranoia. As a teenager, she battled depression and self-harm, revealing that she had attempted suicide multiple times before the age of 15. In 2019, she sought treatment at a facility, sharing that her struggles stemmed from “self-hatred, low self-esteem, and feeling like I wasn’t worthy of living anymore.”

Through the years, she has leaned on the support of her older brother, Prince, whom she considers her rock. “He’s everything to me,” she said in an interview, “I’ve always looked up to him and wanted his approval.” Prince, in turn, has remarked that Paris reminds him most of their father. “As a person, she is who my dad is,” he shared. “She has all his strengths and almost all of his weaknesses. She’s very passionate.”

Beyond her resilience, Paris has embraced her family’s musical legacy. She has walked the runway for major fashion brands like Chanel, and as a musician, she is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band The Soundflowers. While she acknowledges that music is in her blood, she finds humor in the fact that her style diverges from her father’s. “Everyone in my family does music. I mean, I’m a Jackson,” she said. “But a Jackson doing folk indie?”

Paris has also spoken about her connection to her father’s racial identity. Although Michael Jackson’s skin appeared lighter later in life due to vitiligo, he always identified as an African-American man and made it clear that he was proud of his heritage. Over the years, speculation surrounded his changing appearance, with some questioning whether he had intentionally altered his skin tone. However, in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael insisted that his only cosmetic surgery had been on his nose and that his depigmentation was caused by vitiligo. “I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am,” he told Winfrey.

Keeping this in mind, Paris has firmly expressed her identity as a Black woman. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, she explained that her father had always reassured her about her racial background. “[Michael] would look me in the eyes, point his finger at me, and say, ‘You’re Black. Be proud of your roots.’” She acknowledged that because of her blonde hair and blue eyes, many people assume she is of European descent. “People look at me and think I’m from Finland or something,” she said. “But he’s my dad. Why would he lie to me?”

Despite her personal conviction, her comments have sparked debate. Some have criticized her identification as a Black woman, arguing that her appearance does not align with traditional racial perceptions. Talk show host Wendy Williams was particularly vocal, dismissing Paris’s stance. “I get that she considers herself Black and everything, but Black is not what you call yourself; it’s what the cops see when they’ve got steel to your neck on the turnpike,” Williams remarked. “It’s what they see. But that’s cute and good for her.”

The conversation surrounding Paris Jackson’s racial identity is complex, touching on broader themes of race, heritage, and self-perception. Her dedication to honoring her father’s legacy is undeniable, and for her, embracing her identity is a way of preserving the lessons he imparted.

As she continues to forge her own path in music, modeling, and activism, Paris Jackson remains a unique voice in the entertainment industry, unafraid to speak her truth. Whether her declaration is met with acceptance or skepticism, she stands firm in her belief, guided by the words of the father she adored.