Grace Gealey Talks Growing Up in the Cayman Islands

After playing a game of Spin the Heel, Grace Gealey talks about growing up in the Cayman Islands and adjusting to life in America. Watch her show off her accent, in this clip.

[@nessak1993]

I'm from the Cayman Islands and she's so right we dont really look at colour and thats how the world should be.

[@101babybush]

Im from trinidad and we never looked at color but we also never had to deal with white people either. Being 10 years old in Canada and being chased out of a neighborhood by a group of white kids because I was black kinda pushes you to one side quickly.

[@GodzillaDahRUthless]

vennessa scott LOL, but we do judge them on who dah fah (Caymanian joke)

[@archer3960]

isCaymanian oh my god yes

[@bobwobbabble5151]

But you sure do look at culture, especially in West Bay.

[@esthergrace6466]

Grace is gorgeous! And she seems to have a beautiful heart as well!

[@LL-el8sl]

Esther Grace I notice she said the same thing in Meredith

[@rhondaweekes2379]

I charge my phone

[@marce999love]

Shes such a gorgeous girl. I'm always admiring her face and makeup when I watch empire😍😍😆

[@taviaaaa]

Being mixed seemed like such a burden when I was younger b/c I felt like I was never fully accepted by black kids or Samoan kids but then I got older (surrounded by the same people) & all of a sudden being mixed was cool, made me more attractive, exotic, etc. which is crazy. I don't appreciate being excluded b/c I'm biracial but I also don't want to be fetishized for it.

[@shawntayedavis822]

that was me also when I was younger...girls would always ask me are you black white asian spanish...what are you ...and I would just say mixed...I am all those things so ...I just say mixed...I agree you should not have to pick a race...be proud of who you are..and wear it proudly!

[@FromEricaWithLove]

I couldn't have said it any better. My sentiments exactly!

[@laurynshoulders6201]

she is so cute and my favorite in Empire

[@TerraKIT]

Only in America, have I seen such strong need to find out what race are you. In the Caribbean, it does depend on culture not race. One race that bleeds red. Never the outside.

[@JoslynJoy]

Not only in America .. In Europe as well.

[@tessavaldes7774]

+ShadesOfPerfect that is not true there is no race talk in europe

[@Scandalsessed]

I Sephora There might not be race talk, but the racism there is just as bad. The US is full of it, but don't get it twisted so is Europe.

[@tessavaldes7774]

Jrinity Fan nope ! that is not true the racism in US is out of control in europe we are good ! at least no as bad as US for sure

[@Scandalsessed]

I Sephora Go do research it's fuckin terrible in Europe as well. Just because you hear about the happenings in the US more doesn't mean it happens more. Both places are equally filled with ignorant assholes.

[@rhi3165]

she makes me feel proud to be a Caymanian and shes sooooooooooooooooo beautifulll

[@Theekeys2thekingdom]

She literally repeated exactly what she said on the Meredith Show....

[@NIyAHNINILOVE]

keys2thekingdom LMFAO RIGHT

[@keeshonanderson6046]

So you are trying to wrap this girls whole adolescent life into your KZbin binging... just for a like.

[@queentetemsp7410]

I'm Caymanian, and I am so proud of you Grace. I want to become an actress just like you. Keep up the good work, and come visit us down back in Cayman sometime!

[@tweetypieplansandreads]

Cayman is so incredibly proud of you Grace!! Sending so many blessings your way!! Than you for always representing while you're on your ascent!

[@kaylaalexia9117]

I totally get what she's saying, my mom is from the Cayman Islands too and I go there, and it's really a different culture from America. When you are in the islands you really don't identify with race, you are just surrounded with culture and America is just the complete opposite you have to chose and she's right its a culture shock !

[@QueenyKay]

OMG What Grace said about people asking her which side she identifies with is so true!! I'm French-African. Born in France, pretty much spent my entire life there. I've been living in the US for 3 years now and I have the same problem. I don't identify as black. I identify as french and African. I personnally see the culture before the color. It's very frustrating when people just wanna label you with a color. A color doesn't mean anything to me. My culture does. I'm proud to be African (maybe more than to be French because I was raised by African parents) but I may have more in common with a White french person than with an African American for example. Because I have the same culture, I went to the same educative system, listened to French artists and songs, eat the food... So I totally understand when she says she identifies with a culture more than a color.

[@Cashhmandyy]

She's such an amazing person. Being from the caribbean myself (Trinidad 🇹🇹) I can confirm the 'or wah' saying lol. Some people eere bashing her saying she was making it up when she wasn't. That's how we speak. Yuh doh like it awah?

[@ralphjames7719]

We have a strong R in Cayman, whereas Trinidadians don't pronounce many R's. As in church. That's the biggest difference I've seen with our accents.

[@kaylamitchell1655]

Im so happy for her! i am from the cayman islands born and raised and it is so wonderful to see another caymanian do so well with their life and if i was her, i would use my accent all the time but guess since shes and actor i guess she has to cover it up for work or interviews.

[@CinquantaCoxSmith]

She is gorgeous! Love her on Empire.. Fiesty!

[@justinagomezadarkwah5759]

I love it! I hated her character on the show but she sounds like such a treasure in person and she seems to love acting as well, power to you Ms. Grace Gealey! :D

[@cameliabush7598]

Miss you so much Grace come back home. You were the best teacher. Which is why my acting has become so mature

[@eliciawilson4078]

yeah Grace! tell em how we talk...hear Tamar trying to say it. i love my country, my home, my cayman #caymankind #represent345

[@gabriellaking7575]

SHOUT FROM CAYMAN, GRACE WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOUR SUCH AND INSPIRATION!!!

[@C.Torress]

Aww little boo boo kitty sounds so cute in her own accent. I LOVE IT..!!!!

[@sanchelles.charles2990]

I loved that she spoke about this. It was the same for me when I moved to the US from Trinidad. It felt like people needed me to identify with one race when I grew up a mixed Black, Indian and Spanish girl singing Parang and celebrating Diwali.

[@KING090589]

LOVE HER! I think she is soooo beautiful. Even though I oddly root for Cookie on Empire (the other woman LOL) I say every week how beautiful I think Boo Boo Kitty is lmao

[@Karamelkissiz23]

LOL I love when Cookie calls Anika "Boo Boo Kitty" lol hahaha

[@laylabradshaw9725]

once I saw that she's from the cayman islands I was all of a sudden more interested. girl we crucians speak the same way.

[@JessJai]

She is beautiful and she is a damn good actress. All this other nonsense in the comments is irrelevant.

[@jakob9666]

Yaaaassss queen represent Cayman

[@lisab5823]

I love Grace's energy.

[@SweetShana123]

I'm from the Cayman Islands, and so proud of Grace she's come so far and she's stunning. And Tamar did good with the accent attempt! Definitely understand what Grace means about the culture/race thing in America. It's my first semester in my Bachelor program in Orlando, I've vacationed in Florida many summers (so it's not a huge culture shock for me), it's still kinda hard trying to find others that are open to my culture, but I know there are people like that out there and I just have to keep looking. (: Love the Real as well!

[@mariabrown6926]

omg I know the struggle, my mum is half Spanish and Black Jamaican and my dad is Korean, I've got kind of yellow/light brown skin but it gets darker during summer, and in the UK I get asked all the time what I am and who I identify as. normally people just assume im a light skin black girl or Latina and it doesn't really bother me, but its seems like people are a bit TOO obsessed with race. IM JUST ME OK XD

[@dollysclub]

maria brown Some people are only interested especially if you look gorgeous. I'm just keeping it real. If Boo Boo Kitty was unattractive I can assure you the questions would be different

[@christinamartinez8547]

She is soooo beautiful!!

[@dustincarter5534]

Grace is just ..... Gorgeous and seems really chill.

[@dangelobenson1674]

Did anybody else notice that when Grace was talking about when people asked her what she "identified with" and all that other stuff that she mainly kept looking Tamara's way and Tamara kept saying "um him". That's probably because Tamara's been in that situation before.

[@jakob9666]

i really wish there was more to this segment😔🇰🇾

[@SABE1234YO]

I love the accent!

[@loriwitherspoon5549]

BUT WAIT! Do you notice Loni's eye roll at Tamar at 1:12-1:14???? HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@HelloItsMe-oy1hj]

I saw that smh shade!!

[@dm-dy4ie]

Sure did. that's a different conversation. Here's the thing. Tamar knows about that culture. I saw Jamaican influences in one of her videos - anyway, the point is - these Island countries actually have a culture. Not a race so much it's true. It's like - they're black, but that's a secondary comment behind their culture is what she's trying to explain..

[@SnAtk2003]

Yes, I saw that too... Loni lied! She did not like Tamar. She knew about her getting fired and she was more than likely the catalyst for it. She couldn't even keep it together while on the set filming. The video footage didn't lie. She was caught! LOL!

[@jestiny]

I was looking for this comment 💀

[@maddithompson3314]

I’m from cayman

[@lighteyes214]

Aww! Why isn't the entire interview online? Good stuff.

[@missthabie]

She's gorgeous!!! I'm so glad she seems very likeable and fun to be around in real life because I can't stand Boo Boo Kitty lol. Just mean she plays the heck out of her!!!

[@thejoebox1450]

Wow! She's the exact same dialogue in the Merideth Vire...... Show. Cool to know that she came from such a small place though

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

When I first heard her talk on Empire I knew had an accent. Sometimes she can't hide it and I hear more like in interviews.

[@kittyboo2121]

I love her! Boo Boo Kitty

[@diamondbofficial]

She is gorgeous and seems like a wonderful woman

[@kimroyal1863]

I feel like I'm watching the Meredith veira show ALL OVER AGAIN she said the EXACT SAME THING VERBATUM 😂

[@Arlyndonnelly]

She's beautiful

[@wangsmoney]

OMG...I love Tamar,gives me soo much life lol..always saying the things nobody asked her for,this one and ''Go home Roger" lol

[@paccinocappaccino]

I'm Trinidadian and we talk d same way to

[@RedVelvet090]

Her hair looks lovely

[@chantellebrown5008]

her mothers black her dad white both parents are deaf she as lived a long happy life with her sister not dealing with other people's BS if she not picking who she is no one should too she identify with both and that's good enough

[@travisebanksHD]

that true what she saying, i'm in the same situation as her born in the U.S but raised in the Cayman Islands all of my life that's where my family is from & when I came back to the States for school, first thing people ask me is what race are you? I never had to deal with that back home but i guess that's America for ya

[@gypsygypsygypsyism]

Did anyone catch Loni’s fave after Tamar tried to copy?! Oh myyyyy

[@ajsmommy6378]

So is Cayman Islands a part of the british territories?

[@prettiboiantz]

Yh it is an overseas territory

[@ajsmommy6378]

Cool

[@MicahiLove]

Funny. I only came here to hear her say "You goin down der whey?" lol

[@bo-jf7nj]

I had a biracial friend she looked white with her skin and hair but she is black and white. Anyway my school was ALL black people there was one white person, maybe two Mexicans and there was her. She would always be like "I'm black, I'm black" and we would say "no you're not, you're white " (cuz of the way she looked) but then we would say we're joking and make her accept that she was BOTH. But then she moved into a predominantly white area and THEN she claimed her white side so I guess she claims whatever race she's surrounded by. (this was elem and middle)

[@nakiliamatthews353]

I want to do so many different things in life like a talk show host , a dermatologist , n an actress but the thing is I'm from the Caribbean the beautiful land of Jamaica n we never look at race jus culture n i think it would be hard to migrate to america to be an actress because I'm scared that the ppl wont accept me becuz of my race Lol but u knw wat they say never say never if she can do it y cant i do it , if Nicki minaj my biggest idol originated from trinidad n she is the queen of rap in America n she did it n is doing can do it haha y cant I

[@seyra93]

tamargv me life I swear ahahahah

[@eve3363]

Why didn't Tamera say her mother is Bahamian?

[@nikimarie9386]

Eve cause it wasn’t about her

[@MzTweetyBruce]

Yaaas Tay Tay.

[@darleneramdin532]

hahhaha that was good Tamar!

[@olpes]

CAYMANIAN

[@jakob9666]

Bro she is my bffs cousin and I’m mad bc I could be so close to meeting her

[@Simplykiebby]

HEY BOO BOO KITTY!

[@fwest524]

My father is Rican and my mom is Black. Growing up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, people thought I was Black and White. I've been to a lot of countries and to the Caribbean. Only in America do people put pressure on racial identification. "What are you?" Lol is that question I am use to hearing, more so from Black people than anyone else. Lol I'm me....

[@fwest524]

Zan Rich Silly I never said Rican was a nationality LMAO. I'm American, that's my nationality. Trust me, I know my roots better than anyone. I'm an African American studies professor and creative writing. Puerto Rican is my ethic background. Also, you have White and Black Ricans, as they classify in PR. My husband is 100% Rican. SMH do me a favor, focus on you and pretend I don't exist, as I will do for you. People like you, who think they know, make me laugh and it's beneath me to converse with you.

[@xanniquerichards4143]

And yet you still misunderstand the point of my comment... for a professor you really act dumb. All this emotion for one statement... Someone needs to learn some emotional intelligence.

[@Flavabanga]

Guyana, trinidad, suriname, French guyana, n Belize are all Caribbean/West Indian countries without a black majority. Soooo maybe in some Caribbean cultures race is not an issue but not all. The politics of those mentioned countries will tell a diff story.

[@akil2746]

trinidad is at least 60% african/afro mixed so it is a black majority country, although people who identify as east indians make up 35% of the population.

[@Flavabanga]

Akil I had to check stats. But as I have researched from google the current stats are 35 percent east Indian 34 percent African 15 percent mixed and the rest are Chinese, Lebanese and Native American and euro. mixed could mean two or more of any of those mentioned

[@akil2746]

yeah kwesi i am trini 7% of the people are not even reported, most of the mixed people have large amounts of afro ancestry. chinese/syrian/native only make up 1% of the population. the biggest growing group is probably latino from venezuela.

[@Flavabanga]

Akil and it will prolly be for sometime as in the case for Belize. Latinos now outnumber there black creole population. The African mixture maybe larger in trini now that I think of it, if u count the fact most latinos exist because of the merger of three races Afro, native and euro. Maduro has considered himself black after all

[@akil2746]

BUT i get what you are saying that a lot of the countries are mixed races so good point.

[@elchatodeoro1]

do the big balck wonnen has to yell all the tinne?>

[@Footprintstherogue]

Hear di accent run through her...We as Caymanians are different... done know

[@NeoMagnolia]

arg man I miss Tamar :(

[@WillieFordham]

People do not know the difference between Race and Ethnicity. It is really funny to see ignorance played out on videos like this and other videos on this topic.

[@rko32491]

YEEEEEES

[@youaintneverlied]

RACE VS. ETHNICITY --> Race refers to a person's physical characteristics, such as bone structure and skin, hair, or eye color. Ethnicity, however, refers to cultural factors, including nationality, regional culture, ancestry, and language. An example of race is brown, white, or black skin (all from various parts of the world), while an example of ethnicity is German or Spanish ancestry (regardless of race). (www.diffen.com/difference/Ethnicity_vs_Race)

[@zahrai1235]

Definitely. Which is why I don't get people saying Africans are not Black. Or Blacks are not African. I am an African and I am Black. That is my race and my ethnicity

[@nicolenunya984]

Sahra Issa it's bc in America black, to some people, refers to African American. It's not politically correct but that us just what some people mean when they say black

[@WillieFordham]

***** Yeah because people in Africa, for the most part, are all black. So it's more with tribes than color because everybody looking alike!

[@Kevin-eh4ce]

I don't blame her for having a culture shock. Most foreigners I know feel the same way. It's a shame that in this nation, race is always an issue and its not going away anytime soon as long as you have people (whether black or white) poisoning this society with hate and dislike for a fellow human being because of ones color or ethnicity. Or try to tell some biracial person you this race or that race. I don't know much about cayman, but during my 2 visits there, I haven't seen, hear, or experience any racism crap like I do in the US. Time to bury this cancer called racism once and for all.

[@jaxaveli]

lol, she is my cousin

[@karasaekano]

Must be nice

[@caro2295]

Isn't it strange how I saw a different interview from a different show and she said the same thing lol it's kinda creepy

[@ralphjames7719]

Why would her answers be different, from show to show? Lol

[@kailapowell5500]

Lol I never understod Americans and their obsessions with caribbean accents

[@imancampbell3207]

Its ha snothing to do with West Indie accents Ms. Cali_girl is right it';s just accents period. we love . West Indie or not.

[@imancampbell3207]

***** Oh ok got it.

[@jarenc2048]

It really doesn't matter what the accent is. Americans just love different accents. Lol

[@carmellabrown3335]

I've heard that feeling, the racial issue, once they enter the states from a lot of different people of color.

[@nativprincess1]

Ahhh don't cover up that accent girl!!!! You let it shine!!!

[@JoelJazziBodden345]

you goin down dere awa?...she said that real proper..should have went more raw with it lol

[@poochieloo9870]

I always say this in the Caribbean we don't look at color at all.

[@ralphjames7719]

That's not 100% true. Many whites in the Caribbean look at blacks as inferior. We like to say there's no racism but it ain't so.

[@nellyluscious]

I just cant stand the ''what are you'' or ''what do you identify with'' its like I'm me! Lord this racial war in america has got to stop! Its not about your color at the end of the day, we are all god given! This world with racist/cruel ass people is just too much!!

[@LisaIrby]

***** Say that girl! lol

[@nellyluscious]

***** Yass girl!! Its about who you are as a individual!! Own it, Embrace it!

[@MicahiLove]

you are so right! I personally am always just curious about a persons background not necessarily wanting them to choose. But I can see how annoying and insensitive that can be.

[@nellyluscious]

MicahiLove I dont see anything wrong for asking one's background, but when they start to get political and getting way too personal that's when they've crossed the line!

[@lateshiachilds3640]

I heard that I want a mixed baby and I would hate for my kid to have to go through that in life.

[@SimplyBellexo]

Its so strange to the that mixed people find it hard to fit in in the states. In the UK mixed people are practically glorified

[@ralphjames7719]

Huh? White ppl in the UK are very racist against anyone with a darker skin tone. Not all, but many.

[@Aname87]

I had no idea she was biracial. I thought she was just a light-skinned black woman.

[@ralphjames7719]

Both her parents are deaf. Her mother is Caymanian and a very smart lady.

[@shehzadchowdhury8327]

All colored girls

[@clarke4400]

She looks like Emily B, fabolos girlfriend, who is dating him for 13 years plus..... n still not marrying her n she is pregnant with his second child, and he his still cheating on her...from Love and hip hop days....Empire is a great show, but some of the music is corny

[@nicolenunya984]

Lmao, u just had to throw in the extra about emily b and fab?

[@raggydoll0189]

Il choose Grace over Taraji anyday

[@zazwa1629]

Tamar butchered the accent, no, just no