Travicity
02-08-2011, 03:48 PM
HALLE Berry considers her daughter to be “black”.
The Oscar-winning actress — who has a white mother and an African American father — doesn’t want to put any labels on Nahla but considers her child’s heritage to be African American, even though her father, French Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, is Caucasian.
“I’m not going to put a label on it,” she said. “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.
“I feel like she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory.”
The one drop theory refers to the controversial US racial classification system which states that anyone with even “one drop” of black heritage should be classified as black.
However, the 44-year-old actress admitted it was difficult for her to identify with just one race when she was growing up because of her parents’ mixed heritage.
“I identify as a black woman, but I’ve always had to embrace my mother and the white side of who I am, too,” she said.
“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?’ ”
Halle also insists her high-profile relationships with several non-black men — including Gabriel, who she is locked in a bitter custody battle with, and French actor Olivier Martinez – have not diminished her affiliation with black Americans.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The Oscar-winning actress — who has a white mother and an African American father — doesn’t want to put any labels on Nahla but considers her child’s heritage to be African American, even though her father, French Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, is Caucasian.
“I’m not going to put a label on it,” she said. “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.
“I feel like she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory.”
The one drop theory refers to the controversial US racial classification system which states that anyone with even “one drop” of black heritage should be classified as black.
However, the 44-year-old actress admitted it was difficult for her to identify with just one race when she was growing up because of her parents’ mixed heritage.
“I identify as a black woman, but I’ve always had to embrace my mother and the white side of who I am, too,” she said.
“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?’ ”
Halle also insists her high-profile relationships with several non-black men — including Gabriel, who she is locked in a bitter custody battle with, and French actor Olivier Martinez – have not diminished her affiliation with black Americans.
“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,” she said.
“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.”