You Took Roles for Black Women...But You Didn't Identify As Black..?

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[@ladybluelotus]

People stay doing the most. What really happened is she left Cuba thinking that her latina-ness would override her African features and she ran smack up against American colorism and featurism. The colorism got her the roles, but the featurism only got her blk roles. This is just another case of the Better Blacks. Better Blacks stay thinking their skin tone, hair texture, features, culture, religion, or class will garner them better treatment, and when it doesn't; they resent the blk folks they got grouped in with for existing. Black isn't a box. It's an umbrella that has sheltered many a people. And provided understanding and discourse that has enlightened the world.

[@dinaf_tommyf]

FACTS!!

[@JulianSteve]

Well written, TJ! Thank you!

[@macummings7818]

Say on! Say on! *Hard eye rolls forever* This anti Black shyt is endless.

[@robertaskeete5302]

Love this ❤

[@aanyamallick7747]

OMG! What books have you been reading because DAMN! That was so articulate. As someone who has a half Syrian half black mother and a dougla father I identify as afro indo syrian. I don't look racially ambiguous as my hair texture is 4b , my skin is brown and I have small features but I won't fall victim to the whole bi, tri or multi racial complex. I understand whatever you identify as depends on what you look like and what you grew up around, but you aren't monoracial. My father for instance has a dead beat for a dad, but still identifies as afro indian. He spent most of his life around his black family( my grandmother black and she was a single mother up until getting married later in her life) and has forgotten most of the hindi language, but he still accepts both because thats what he is. Her saying she's black and Cuban is kicking my ass🤣😭😭. Because yes, I am Syrian, black AND Indian but I'm also Jamaican. Both my parents are also Jamaican, only my great grandparents are immigrants.

[@annecherae4950]

It's so true. Racially ambiguous Latinas are ashamed of their black side and claim they don't want the "black experience" which is why they only identify by their nationality. However, when it comes to making money they don't mind the "black" title so long as they get prioritised or pedestalised over non ambiguous blk women.

[@andylanegra-thoughtsfromth7451]

All of this

[@JulianSteve]

Yep, and it's messed up.

[@aanyamallick7747]

Oop, I see cardi b 👀 She's been identifying as Spanish(which, isn't even a race its a nationality or ethnicity of being born in or are a decendant of Spain) up until she got backlash for saying the N word on Twitter.

[@AfriAmericanPrincess]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Come on, Zoe Saldana!!!

[@shemeciahaskell322]

only she isn't racially ambiguous! she definitely looks black; look at her lips .

[@ehismichelle]

People have no morals .. like you knew this was for a black woman and you are not but yet you took it. Now you’re trying to play victim …. So disgusting

[@RosalindGash]

People have no common sense... like you knew she started in the industry 30+ years ago when things were very different and casting directors and producers had stereotypical ideas about what each ethnicity/race looked like, but you condemn her for falling in line with THEIR policies so she could work... and, like, you don't seem to know that someone can be Black and Latina at the same exact time. Learn the difference between race and ethnicity, Suzie. Gina Torres is Black (race) and was born in the US (ethnicity) and her Black (race) parents are from Cuba (ethnicity) and raised her speaking Spanish (ethnicity) and immersed in Cuban culture (ethnicity). Gina Torres is a Cuban American Latina who is Black aka Afro-Latina. She didn't take any jobs from Black women and she's not playing victim. She simply explained what it was like for her when she entered the entertainment industry.

[@ehismichelle]

@@RosalindGash Sure let’s keep making excuses like they were not adults and could not read casting papers either…. I’m out y’all, I don’t wanna be in this conversation no more

[@angechrisman1694]

@@RosalindGash American and Cuban are nationality not ethnicity. Gina Torres is black (race/skin color), American (nationality), hispanic or latina (ethnicity/culture) with immigrant parents from Cuba. But she's in fact a Cuban-American woman and a black woman or afro latina

[@alexandrahendrick4352]

@@RosalindGash yes people can be black and Latina, but she herswlf said she doesn't identify as "black". She herself doesn't understand that she is Afro... i understand that she is a mixed race Latina, because they also have black Latinas and white ones, but she has to understand that in comparison to a white latina, people will view her as black.

[@carolperdue7534]

She should have said black American woman, instead of “black” woman. But like she said, there was no space for a black Latina when she started in the industry so she took the roles that were out there. To be Latina you had to look a certain way in terms of color, hair texture and she didn’t look that way. I think Irene Cara was in the same situation, most roles she played a black American, maybe in Fame her character was Latina. We have a f*cked up system that divides people.

[@Jae.Edmond]

That was a disappointing take. You completely misunderstood her. Her struggle does not lie with being biracial, which she isn't and never says she is. She is Black and Latina, she says it in the clip you showed. However, America, with it's narrow view on race, would only allow her to play African Americans. Which she is not. When she started working in Hollywood 30 years ago. Back then, Hollywood didn't believe that a Latina could look different than Jennifer Lopez or Sofia Vergara. So, she would never get casted in Latina roles no matter how many she auditioned for. She had to put that part of herself away if she wanted to work and only play African Americans. I completely understand how that would be frustrating for her because she isn't culturally African American. I refuse to put the blame on her for that.

[@dominiquewyatt6704]

She still shouldn't played the roles, very simple

[@pikachu7572]

Tbh even though she's obviously black, I think she would be seen as mixed in Cuba because Cuba is like 50% dark skin unambiguous black. I think in this interview she's sad about being grouped with unambiguous black people. It's really disgusting and shady because no one forced her to grab those roles. That's what that laugh is

[@MIA-fq1di]

​​@@pikachu7572yeah true that's excatly the problem Americans need to understand that in other countries historically mixed and black were never the same and weren't treated the same either so ofcource mixed ppl believe that they are superior than black ppl it's not only in Cuba where they behave like this but everywhere where there are ppl of mixed ancestry they think they are better than black people so grouping them together with black ppl they feel like it takes their privilege and proximity to whiteness away from them

[@yellettelley]

@@pikachu7572😊

[@SheedMack88]

But if she doesn’t identify as a black woman why take the roles from BLACK WOMEN … Two Wrongs don’t make her RIGHT 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@tulanibutler]

You hit the nail on the head, a lot of people don’t know the difference between ethnicity and race. Some even use one as an excuse to do certain things 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@tyronegladde5952]

I totally understand her statement. Its not that complex. She's saying her parents are Cuban which are afro/spanish/taino. Shes not included in the latino community as a Latina. In the black community shes not really invited as a FBA. She's in a box because how America places you in boxes. So you adapt to what the world, America sees you as regardless to which YOU identify yourself as. She said Spanish speaking Cubans, which Cubans identify as black/spanish/tainos. But not every Latina because the racial makeup is different. Some Latna are Spanish/Taino with bared african blood. Some are more black/taino with non or little Spanish blood. So it really differs. I see no problem with what she did, played black roles, identified with her black heritage, identified with being FBA because that what she expected to do. Now they are interviewing her and she just telling her truth. FBA sometimes always what to police your blackness. Alot of Cubans identify MORE with there AFRICAN roots then FBA. Thats a FACT.Ive been there and seen this with my own eyes, from culture, foods, fashion, religion, names. You have FBA that don't even identify with there black Africanist.

[@animezae]

Agreed

[@milaharrmartijn9802]

I think you don't understand what she was saying. She didn't mean that she wasn't black as a race. She means like Black as African-American. She is actually Afro-Cuban. Her race is black and her culture is Cuban. At that time there were not a lot of Afro Latino representation and is either you are Black or Latino. Like you have to choose. But Latino is not a race, there are White Latino and Black Latino. So, basically she is not African American and Americans think that being black is only African American or African. So, I can understand what she mean by saying she didn't identify as Black but it was more what American thinks about being Black, because they didn't see Latinos as Black.

[@808sirenz9]

As a mixed person I hate when people try to explain my experience to me and how I think and feel and should act

[@tfh5575]

she’s unambiguously black but i don’t get why spanish speakers of african descent don’t think they’re black lol. english and french speaking people of african descent never have any question on if they’re black or not

[@rhondaherbert9282]

You look stunning, Sis. Great content. Keep it up!

[@blaqobsydian44]

THANK YOU so much for your channel. I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with anything you’ve said and I’ve sure as hell learnt a lot from you. Thank you for picking up the baton and speaking up for DSBW. The disrespect we get, when we’re just trying to live our lives in peace is DISGUSTING. Stay blessed Sis!

[@TheHilikus89]

I've been told I kinda look like Gina Torres difference is I'm actually black and proud

[@roots4140]

She's stunning.

[@jagirl_vendetta2197]

There are blackety black peoples in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Guadeloupe. I think I was really confused when I became exposed to other cultures And it was so many mixed race people identifying as Afro Latino, etc people really mixing up ethnicity, nationality and race their entire lives!!!!

[@auset1276]

Wow, I am a sci-fi fan & supported her as a Black woman since tv series Cleopatra 2525, Firefly and Matrix. She & I shared the fullest lips, glad to see that portrayed beautifully on tv. Welp, now I know where she stands. Wouldn't ask for her autograph thats for sure.

[@danabenson4125]

I agree. Lost so much respect for her.

[@ericmanso7355]

In the year 2525 Lol u brought back a flashback Lol

[@gamecitysavior2910]

Yes your make looks damn good, & your hair isn't nappy it's perfectly constructed beauty. ❤

[@a.c5009]

I don’t think she had much of a choice with those castings because hollywood doesn’t see her as bi-racial. She clearly presents as black but in her mind she expected everyone else to treat her otherwise. There’s a complex with a lot of biracials because the blk community can’t get on code about whether or not they are considered black because mixed ppl can come out looking all white or all black and in between. I have mixed darkskin cousins that get read for filth if they try to only identify as mixed and not black. You have both sides of the community telling them who are and that’s where the identity complex happens. Unfortunately what you actually present as is the only thing that matters, and determines your treatment from the world, not what your dna says and ppl don’t want come to terms with that.

[@orangemoon9634]

That's why we should categorize by how you present and what you actually are. I have two mixed friends, one is a black-passing mixed person and the other is a white-passing mixed person. At the end of the day, they know that they are both still mixed race, not mono-racial.

[@Izlandprincess1]

It is easier identifying with what you look like....I'm starting to see why some ppl in the past were against race mixing....this is the problem those persons are presented with. Not looking like your DNA. But what if someone who is dark skin gets found out to be mixed what happens then? Do the community reject them for being "frauds"?

[@sophieb24]

When you talk about afro latina, they never mention Amara le negra or Gina Torres and they know that, that's why AAs coined the word " tether" because you come over to them and pretend to be them meanwhile you dont genuinely identify as blk.

[@asia8001]

The only thing that rubs me wrong is that being Cuban isn’t a race. Cuba has one of the highest populations of Black ppl aside from Brazil and obviously Africa. She should have chosen rolls specifically for Afro-Latinas. Especially since she’s been in the industry for so long like she should have said that shit instead of choosing to “suffer”. You don’t get to pick and choose when you want to be black cause ur tried of the roles you’ve gotten when you chose not to speak about ur culture. It sucks cause the only reason they chose her is because she is lighter skinned and for white Hollywood she’s the “Black” they want to push. This is why speaking up for YOUR ppl is what should be done. It sounded like oh I didn’t grow up black so I’m not but, many Afro-Latinas or latinos they grow up in their countries and come over some known the fuck shit and speak up and others don’t want to be prideful in their blackness.

[@michellelockert1507]

This is interesting and reminds of the time I went to the DR and most of the people I came in contact with there wanted to know why I looked like them...? I couldn't believe it!... because we're African decent!... duh!

[@nija2232]

There’s actually a great episode from the Atlanta FX show called “Rich Wigga Poor Wigga”. Powerful messages/discourse about race in that episode.

[@skepticalbutopen4620]

People are so race and color focused. There’s so much more to life people.

[@KateeAngel]

Well plenty of people who don't identify as French play roles of French people. Identity and phenotype are different. There are even plenty of cases when people of wrong phenotype are cast like when white actors play Middle Eastern or people or black actors play European royalty.

[@ririflutter]

i am afro latinas n i have many issues bc of it as being a darker toned afro latina BUT! her argument makes little to any sense to me… she’s acting like the term afro latina does not exist. as if in this day and age we have not used that term. being afro latina is not RARE. its not UNCOMMON! there are 2 types. being black mixed with latina. or just being latina AND BLACK!!! they act like that doesnt exist.. you do not have to be mixed to be black and latina. i am 100% black but only half latina. bc my latin side is BLACK. ppl on my latin side are quite literally darker than i am. (i am considered brown skin, more in the middle). so it annoys me heavily when racially ambiguous looking afro latinas try to play a tWo woRlDs card as if we are forcing out culture on them? and for one a large majority of AA and latin americans dont share much culture? being black isnt only being black and american. being black is being BLACK!!! thats it. you do not expect someone chinese to become aPart oF JaPaneSe cUltUre when moving to japan. bc yes theyre the same race but they are NOT THE SAME!!!! being blk doesnt equal being african american. and its even disrespectful bc they treat us african americans as if we are a terrible culture to be apart of. despite us CLEARLY welcoming everyone with open arms even with a small proximity to blackness??? we have received the small end of the stick too many times for racially ambiguous ppl who WE give platform in OUR roled to pay THEIR bills are complaining? you.. dare to COMPLAIN???

[@SheedMack88]

It’s crazy because watching her act I always had a feeling of unease and discomfort, her energy for not wanting to “be black” portrayed on film if you ask me!

[@myishenhaines1706]

“Race is how you are perceived.” Wow. That’s very eye opening.

[@nilebro21]

It's actually erroneous and not at all eye opening.

[@joyjoshua4657]

Gina is not Biracial. She’s Afro Cuban. She did not have the American Black experience so I understand what she’s saying. Imagine if you want to be something or go somewhere all your life and when you get there they don’t accept you for who you are and say if you want a set at the table you have to be who we want you to be and there were few options. I feel like this energy needs to be directed at the industry( directors, producers, networks, etc) who pushes this crap. I’ve seen black women do some strange things to have a set at the table. My point is there are many that have been put in a position to go against what they stand for in exchange for survival. Times are changing and people like Gina believe it or not are actually productive in breaking these barriers. There experience will open more doors. The newer generation is talking on their high horses because we have more options, resources, information, social media, etc. Get a time machine and go back just 20 years and try to walk in her shoes. I’ll wait to hear your story. Listen to try to understand.

[@Lucismyname]

She shouldn't have taken those roles then. It sickens me when they take the roles but turn around and basically, say eww I had to be black and not be this other. She took roles from black women who are ok with being black. I believe she would have had no issue if she were cast as anything but black. She's a Zoe Saldana, the only difference is that she was quiet all along. They hate the idea of anyone seeing them as black, but have no issue playing black to further their career and fatten their wallet. They want to be associated with with Jennifer Lopez type Latinas so bad. Most of the women listed as Afro-Latina in the video don't identify as Afro- Latina, just Latina and would be upset to be considered black or close to blackness. There are people who claim to be Afro-Latina and they should be the face.

[@gamechanger7007]

Thank you for saying this. It means worlds

[@daniellevaughn4598]

Thank you for playing the interview. I like to hear it out of the persons mouth first. Other channels just went about "summarizing" her statements, and I couldn't find what interview they were talking about.

[@MorganMingo70]

Excellent points, especially on the man from Insecure! He don’t have the privilege! I’m West Indian American… family has serious colonialism and texture issues from way back. I’ll never forget how after one too many times of hearing my father talk about his last wife having “good hair… she got West Indian hair,” I finally responded with… “Um, yeah. She has nice hair but it’s not West Indian hair because she’s not West Indian! We come in every shade with every hair type/texture. whatever texture grows out of my head, Grandma, my auntie, cousin, etc is ‘West Indian hair’!” Eeek!

[@DeeCeeofNY]

I'm in this women's age range. Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's (in the 5 boroughs of NYC) many West Indians and afro Latinos would say they are not black. Growing up in the community and having lantino, West Indian and American herritage, I get the frustration. It wasn't until I moved and tried fitting in with "American", I finally realized what they were saying. In those days "Black" was "African American". Face it how many lables have they given us in this community? No one can keep up and I don't try. I didn't get a vote, my oppressor designated them. Also, their enslavement was diffrent than ours. They had slave masters with diffrent cultures. Due to this they have their own stories and experiences to share. At least they realize that American Blacks had to fight for everything they got. Lauren Velez (from Dexter, and New York Undercover) is probably happier with her body of work. After all these decades the rest of the Country is having the same dialogue. lol Nothing new under the sun.

[@nissimusic2]

As a person who is not american and black.....you all need to realise that all black people are not the same the culture is different it is a different world and we do look at black americans are just that black americans, you all behave as your culture is the standard for black every where when it isnt. It is very cultrally different and its hard to reconcile, when in america everyone assume that you are black american and have the same proclivities... in my country i am black obviosuly but our culture, is very homogenous... so we dont just see oruselves as black whatever but also that culture... americans are very different in that aspect.

[@makaylabailey5822]

I just wanted to say that I love love love your videos 😊

[@chinemeremudoh6639]

Lol! I just loved the times when your "Nigerian-ness" came out.

[@LtheGoddess7]

"You are a guest in their house." BEST. SUMMARY. EVER. Everyone needs to take notes!

[@blackmagic6]

I'm a continental African. I believe that it was Jessie Jackson who coined the phrase "African American." For me, this term has caused so much confusion and ought to be changed because Africans who nationalise as Americans can also theoretically claim to be "African Americans". This naturally can cause offence because these Africans do not have the same lineage of displacement, slavery, Jim Crow etc as the original black Americans. In my opinion, what Jessie Jackson should have said was the phrase "American Africans" when referring to blacks who have a legacy in America. Then Africans who become citizens of America would be free to be called "African Americans" thus giving a distinction between the two groups of blacks in the States. Likewise groups like Jamaicans, Dominicans, Haitians etc would put their country before the name America to describe what type of American they are

[@blackmagic6]

@@princessprincess7708: Millions of people refer to themselves and identify as “African American”. The term is even used on census forms.

[@blackmagic6]

@@princessprincess7708: Lol, Like I said in my original post, I'm not American (or do I ever want to be). I know who I am and I know my nationality. However you seem to be so triggered by my comment that you are coming for me without comprehended what I was saying. I urge you to read it again and take a chill pill. SMDH.

[@sapphirelane1714]

I never thought of it like this! Awesome video!

[@psychedelicpegasus7587]

I wanted to ask what people in the comments define as 'mixed'. I saw a discussion thread about the actor Charles Michael Davis who has an African American dad and a Filipino mum, and someone called him mixed and then another person said he wasn't. Apparently the latter person believed that the term 'mixed' is only used when it's Black parent and a White parent. I found this to be completely confusing, but perhaps it's a common usage of the word in the U.S. Is there a difference between biracial or mixed race and 'mixed'?

[@Kellzbellz786]

She said she is black but she didn't identify culturally as black. So what? That's her truth. She grew up in the Cuban culture. AA stay offended over this type of stuff. Culture and race are two different things.

[@blackroyalness9780]

But to even say she is a black women when she is not a black woman she may have black in her but she is not a black woman and she doesnt identify as such so stay where you at and stop invading black spaces or roles for BLACK women its not hard to understand boo

[@blackroyalness9780]

The point is the only representation for afro latinas are ones who look racially ambiguous

[@kimkim8760]

I have come to understand that black people outside of America, just don't thing the same as black Americans but B.A have this expectation that it should the be same simply because of our skin colour when time and time again it has been proven that our struggle are not all the same.

[@conversationswithmaat8442]

Re: Boxes. I grew up in Canada and lived in USA for a few years. USA LITERALLY HAS RACE AND RELIGION BOXES ON APPLICATIONS OTHER COUNTRIES DON’T HAVE. Forcing you to choose an identity that doesn’t fit. People from other countries don’t have to think about their ethnicity until they come to North America. I have friends that say that they didn’t know they were black or white until they came were surprised when people embrace them as brothers because they share the same skin type.

[@JerzCe73]

SHE BROKE MY HEART....I have been riding since Hercules!!! I was overjoyed she was Nebula, a literal African Queen...NOT BLACK??? NOT BLACK??? Hmmmm.....

[@LaAerial]

That definition of Afro-Latina is WRONNNNGG.. it literally means a Black Person from a Spanish speaking country. People are confused about that fact. Afro Latinas are: Amara La Negra, Juju, Monica Style Muse. Pretty much all those other women you named are MESTIZA!!! Meaning Mixed. Perception is only 1 part of race.

[@lita6313]

She knew what she was doing..Folks like her make me sick.

[@annaalessandrini9965]

I really really appreciate your initial discourse around America and the discussion of racism, I’m Italian and since I was very young I was always trying to educate my self about racism, omofobia, feminism etc.. needless to say, the first time I hear about the term “colorism” was when I learned more English and had access to content made in english by American Dark skin women trough social media, activist and scholar (sooo few, and that’s another problem). I’m so grateful for having the possibility to inform my self and study but I need to acknowledge that even knowing another language is a huge privilege

[@MaddBlakTV]

A lot mixed women or women from other countries play the same game, especially Hollywood

[@fuel4luv28]

I'm not an actress but if I'm not mistaken when they do casting calls, they specify exactly what they are looking for, so why even go for a role that explicitly states they are looking for a black person if you don't identify as black? She's a chickenhead🙃

[@UPPITYUNICORN]

She went on to say she would be refused for roles as a latina because they be looking for eva mendez types when they say latina

[@casscass3277]

The boxes mean the actual boxes, are you black or white. In Canada we don't have to check a race box everywhere. Now they will ask if you are indigenous but it is optional. There was no Cuban box is what she is saying.

[@auchiethomas2560]

I think you didn't understand what the actress what trying to say

[@LuckeySev]

Black and proud. Black is beautiful.

[@stephenbrooks6514]

When she says she recognized "They" saw her that way... That was code - societally speaking - for White male patriarchy (once she got to Hollywood, in particular)... Were currently living in a #MeToo-slash-WOKE-moment in history... So, have courage to be specific as to who made you feel that way; And, as she also eluded to being raised that way culturally.

[@1love847]

The world has changed. People self identify and we show respect to others by acknowledging how they self define. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that. The one drop rule applied by racist white America doesn't apply to those who define outside of this mindset.

[@dusundavarfreohr3491]

Thank you so much for your insight! And I'm really feeling your look, too, your skin is so glowing 💜💜

[@bunnyrabi]

In China colorism is a thing too. If you are black, most people will only see you as black, as in they literally feel we as black people CAN ONLY be living in a country in Africa or North America. I met a student from Nepal, he was black with dreads... so yea ethnicity and nationality are very different things compared to race, and people don't get that.

[@jujutrini8412]

I didn’t even get “biracial” from what she said. I thought her dilemma was her “latina-ness” and people identifying her as African American. I may have got the wrong end of the stick though.

[@gagoomt4076]

No you got it right. What she was saying was completely clear. We are all black but that doesn’t mean we all have the same cultures. A black Puerto Rican and a black Senegalese have completely different cultures as do a black American and a black Trinidadian. Nothing “anti” about that. Some Americans are offended when one says they are not them but then get angry saying other blacks are taking their place. But have nothing to say about their own playoff movie roles representing Winnie Mandela or Hotel Rwanda. We have bigger fish to fry such as figuring out how to get out of collective poverty and building generational wealth.

[@IndigoCosmic]

Thats kind of what I got. Culturally she identifies more with Cuban Latina, but I think the issue is her accepting roles where the character is African American then saying she never saw herself as a black woman. Not sure if she's using African American and black interchangeably as many of us do.

[@flowerpow8472]

Exactly!! Omg!!!! To my knowledge she is of African descent whether she identified or not. Yes, she is afro latina but uuhhhh still black with Spanish admixtures like most of us African americans. First off your language is not your race. Being cuban doesn't mean one is not of African descent. We are all mixed. People of the Caribbean or Latin america tickle me when the believe or assume that African American people are not mixed as well. They like to say they come from Spanish and indian blood as well as African. Well African Americans also have mixed blood but the language was different.

[@elainedavis6756]

Say It Loud... Black and Proud. Latin is a culture, your heritage is African and that is beautiful,

[@MollieandDollies]

GIRL you look BOMB 👌❤️ love that look!!!

[@tatishowyoudeleon33]

I'm afo latina I can agree with a lot of what she said... You won't understand because you are American

[@vrjanice2]

She is full of crap. In Spanish people would refer to her as la negra. So, she is not black American but she is Black where ever she came from and is that's all she has to say about it. I see it as no different than British and African black people. We need our roles to be played by us and respond in scenes how an ADOS person would really behave base on our historical experiences for serious topics.

[@freddy8479]

Here's another example: There's an actress, Christel Khalil on the Daytime Soap "Young and the Restless" who portrays "Lily" who in my opinion carries this same attitude of playing the role of A Black Woman, but don't FULLY identify with her Blackness, she's proclaims herself to be "Racially Ambiguous."

[@Academiacaramelcurlz]

Once we begin to distinguish between the variations, then we’ll finally have a better representation of race within the community . There’s black, biracial, and multiracial. 🤷🏽‍♀️ You can’t negate the experiences of lighter skinned multi racial ppl as wanting to be identified as what they are but in the same breath pinpoint the differences between dark skinned mono racial blacks and light skinned ambiguous blacks. There is a difference…. That’s why we all look different!

[@laneys2030]

Imagine the women who went for black roles and got rejected for women that are not even black.

[@derricknorris9488]

Anyway, very refreshing take, black love and life to you! YOU GET IT. My friends and I get tired of constantly explaining this over and over to the large percentage of us who are colorized and anti-afrikan, meaning not wanting to be even part black for not wanting to be Afrikan AT ALL. "Kunery" based in colonization, the global catastrophe of evil and sick minded (and spirited) eurasian degenerates bent on "conquering" the world even if it means destroying it. But anyway, salute to you, royalty! I'm glad you get it.

[@paolo4749]

No one should identified as a color. The labels of black and white were designed to divide us. We are not part of monolithic groups, subject to group think or stereotypes based on skin color. We are each individual spiritual beings

[@Them_kids_momma]

Or just don’t go for black roles then. Since she so strong in being a Latina

[@NaturallyKoilyKuteness78]

This is what I'm saying. Why take the roles if portraying a Black woman was such a burden and then she married a Black man to boot. 😕

[@Them_kids_momma]

@@NaturallyKoilyKuteness78 god she irritated me. She was talking like it’s so horrible to be black.

[@prettybrwneyez7757]

It’s really just that simple. I don’t understand the mental gymnastics of these dummies caping for her in this comment section 😂

[@Indigolily80]

She should have made her own production company like Bette Middler, Robert Townsend, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. That way she could have made roles for herself to promote the Cuban culture that she is comfortable and familiar with.

[@sharons5221]

!!!!!

[@kedeeky]

My takeaway is that people just don’t want to be assumed to be a Black American. It’s the “Black American” they don’t wanna identify with. That’s the pattern that keeps repeating.

[@manovrsb]

Afro Latinos grew up with a different racial hierarchy than Black Americans . Afro Latinos had multiple identities based on which group they mixed with . However in the anglophone black world , mixing with black is still black.

[@joshuaagbettor5610]

It's true that this has been the case in other instances. i don't think that Gina's experience is one of those. She clearly alluded to the cultural differences more than anything. I don't think that it's so much that she doesn't want to be black American. it's more like that being honest with herself that she knows that her culture is not the same as what Black Americans experience so she cannot relate.

[@moneybags999]

Exactly. To be a Black American = To be a byproduct of The (Collective) Struggle for civil rights & equality in America. I think black people from other countries don't want to be associated with "The Struggle" but they want to benefit from it.

[@leahmadalyn]

This!!!!!!

[@EssenceRendered]

Bs! The roles they play are of afro Americans! That is the quickest way to be mistaken for an afro American! She could have easily paved a route for blk Latinas but it is easier to step on the backs of afro Americans for advancement! She won’t be the first, she won’t be the last!

[@ALADA]

As a mixed race Brazilian myself it was very difficult when I learned about the process of whitening the population in my country, which as a governmental project that were presented in Europe that the population of Brazil would be white in 3 generations if more Europeans migrated to our country to have kids with light skin women. (A project that can be seem in a painting called the Ham's Redemption) The saddest part of it all is to live knowing that many black people in Brazil were brainwashed by this and the fact that I'm part of this project too, because once I questioned my mother what was the factor of her having kids with a white man, she said: I didn't wanted my kids to suffer what I suffered when I was a kid and what I have to deal until now for being so dark... It's completely heartbreaking having to hear this from a darkskinned person and in Brazil I've heard many times. So, for many years my identity was a very complicated for me to understand, because I was taking "compliments" - as them would say, about my complexion... Nowadays understanding my privileges and the place I occupy in our society, I just try to make dark skinned voices to be heard as much as I can... I'm now living in Berlin and as a DJ I dont play in certain events if I'm only black person in the lineup, I refuse myself and I make my opinion to be very clear. Thanks for your vids, is always helpful. I never miss one.

[@sonyacotton4881]

*(A project that can be seem in a painting called the Ham's Redemption)*

[@bluetaylor9140]

I've been to Brazil. The self hate is real! White supremacy did a number on Afro Brazilians.

[@keishajones3830]

This the comment right here. I applaud u girl! I do the same thing!I’m ADOS, but colorism is too real. I refuse to be “the black rep” in an all white setting. Why? Because I blend in! 😂😂😂 Lil background on me, My light skinned-ness is due to my grannies on down the line being raped. Where’s the glory in that? I love that my ancestors were survivors but….🙄. I ain’t about to be celebrating systemic torture and assault, ever. I’m glad you see what happened in Brazil for what it was, government funded eugenics. And forgive your mom if u haven’t already. She was doing the best she could, and needs all the love and Grace you can give 💕.

[@rctecopyright]

Blanqueamiento... yet ppl still act like these things don't exist even though they are hard written in the history books and it isn't that hard to find

[@darrellgamble00]

That is profound. I did not know first hand what happened there. I only read the plan from the European. What a poor excuse for human beings they can be. I did see a bit of a black power awaking in their movie The City Of God. Is that pervasive or it was just a movie not really prevalent on the ground?

[@WarmZZy]

She was just so miserable falsely inhabiting black cultural identity to GET RICH 😭 Its VERY insulting.

[@darrellgamble00]

It always blew my mind that somebody would use my story, sometimes the city I grew up in, my struggle, make it and then throw it under the bus. If they're not about that life, the least they could do is respect it.

[@Yologism]

I'm so confused, is she black or biracial?? Or, is she one of those 'latinas' that does not know the melanin running through her veins is black inspired. Being black does not stop her being latina. I'm very confused by what she said. Is latina synonymous with saying she is part white?

[@sarai373]

@@Yologism she's thinking like the Dominican republic group of people

[@OrganicAlumination]

A person having mixed ancestry and being black depending on dynamic between parents and external environment can make for the cringiest things... Like I can tell by the picture she's black and white , and even if she's Hispanic it's afro Hispanic she has a percentage of African and European and the self hate that's perpetuated is so tiresome to my soul but has not ceased .

[@msthang5366]

VERY! For some reason I never cared for any of her roles

[@keisha_james]

I imagine that hell must feel like Zoe Saldana, Thandiwe Newton and Gina Torres in a circle complaining bout "I was only seen as Black/not Black enough" 🤣😭

[@eshadiva6600]

🤣🤣🤣🤣tragic you know what lol

[@sailormoongoon90]

ROTFCTFU!!

[@mynameispeaches]

My son is biracial and I asked him if he struggles with identity issues and he said no. It’s just a hunch but I think biracial women do the most with this narrative more so than biracial men.

[@sebleo11]

Meghan Markle, Mariah Carey

[@sebleo11]

@@mynameispeaches I know she mentioned Germany a few times but ever since ww2 they are no boxes to tick your ethnicity

[@joberry877]

As an 'Afro Latina ' I agree with you Sis. People really do think of mixed people when they hear that term. I've been told I'm way too dark to have Dominican heritage and all kinds of mean things. I was raised 'Black American' so I have a Black American perspective. It is extremely insulting when someone takes roles from Black Americans and then turn around and say 'Oh, I don't identify as Black'. Yes! Ppl get race and ethnicity twisted all day every day.

[@rosalynbeatty8310]

I know 2 Afro Puerto Rican women w/darker skin & straighter, longer silkier hair then Gina. They are very proud to the point of being outspoken & almost militant about their black Hispanic heritage. - they take it personally & chew out light Latinos who label black Americans as 'el cocolo!'

[@r.walker7986]

The issue is, Latinas come in all shades with all kinds of features but Hollywood rejects them/has no place for them if they don't look like Jennifer Lopez, Sophia Vergara, or Salma Hayek. Afro Latinas only qualify for black roles but they are/were raised Latina, which is different from being raised black, so if they get cast, they often have to put on their best black girl performance, almost like black-face.

[@shortbreadgirlscout3463]

Right! And it's still so weird to me that in many Latin American countries the white ones appear more in the media. For Americans they look for more mestizo looking people to stand as a symbol for latinos.

[@naturellegal944]

She has a better chance of getting a BET award than a Latin American Award, since afro-latinas are barely recognized.

[@prettybrwneyez7757]

Not almost. It is blackface.

[@Izlandprincess1]

I need some clarity...because there are black people in all sphere. But what does it mean to be black...can an african put on a black face because black in this sense only refers to black Americans? Can black american culturally appropriate africans? Also what does it mean to be raised as Latina or Latino? How does that make them different even if they share the same black skin tone? How would a child born to an African American and a black person from the caribbean (not Latina) identify? I thought that being black was just being black. Yes our ethnicities make us slightly different but arent we seem the same by others? They wouldn't treat us different.

[@r.walker7986]

@@Izlandprincess1 I guess you would have to see the cultures side by side to tell then difference. But in this case its less about reality and more about the often stereotypical tropes and signifiers that the casting folks are looking for based on their perceptions and understanding of what they think a black woman , a Latina woman, or an African woman in America is supposed to be in their eyes. For instance, when they want black, they want a sassy, neck jerking, sista-girl, real housewife.... For a Latina they want a voluptuous, fair skinned "fiery" spicy, sexy woman running around rolling her R's...

[@BeaucoupFemme]

Gina Torres isn’t biracial. She’s not ( American) Black and White. She’s a Black ( race) Cuban ( nationality) she doesn’t identify as a Black American because she’s not. The issue is that she doesn’t identify as what she was playing and proclaiming it made her “sad” yet she continued to do it. She participated in the erasure of Black American women for her gain.

[@ivyrainbitch]

She doesn't need to identify as a black american because she isn't. Black Americans is a ethic group.

[@prettybrwneyez7757]

@@ivyrainbitch no she definitely doesn’t need to identify that way, but what she does need to do is STOP playing in roles intended for black American women for money. Being black American for pay is BS.

[@WinxMagicalHero]

@@prettybrwneyez7757 What’s your opinion on Black Americans playing African roles?

[@Izlandprincess1]

@@jamesl4033 I understand the distinction between black ppl based on ethnicity. I think the person above was saying if there is a problem with black ppl who arent American playing roles for black Americans then would they feel the way playing black people if other ethnicity? E.g. Eddie Murphey playing an African, the black Americans playing Africans in Black Panther etc. Is it such a big deal if the person is a great actor and looks the part? Cause what everyone sees is not your ethnicity but you race.

[@sunkistbabe]

Nope, she is black put culturally she is Cuban. It's just these these Afro Latinos have a hard time accepting their blackness because their culture is very anti black. You are correct she isn't an African American but she is still black. All people with significant African heritage are black regardless of nationally or the languages we speak.

[@JulianSteve]

Thank you so much for this video, Mayowa. As an Afro-Latino, I was side-eyeing Gina Torres's comments a bit, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I do not know if Gina Torres is a mixed-race Afro-Latina, but I do know that her dividing Black and Latino is a problem. Latino can mean any race, and being a mixed-race Latino does not make you Afro-Latino (I explained this more in my videos). People, especially those from or of descent from Latin America, are confused with ethnicity, nationality, and race. It needs to stop, and videos like yours are helping to educate and see why Gina's breakdown of separating the words Black and Latino affects us Afro-Latinos, especially those with two Black parents and dark skin. P.S. - Belcalis and Rosario Dawson are not Afro-Latinas, but the fans, and media love claiming them🤣!

[@imParisthoee]

what makes Cardi and Rosario not AfroLatinas? especially Cardi

[@JulianSteve]

@@imParisthoee I have videos talking about these topics… Long story short, one parent is mixed race Afro-Latino/a (half Black) and one is non-black Latino/a. That does not make their off-springs Black or at least half Black. So, they’re not Afro-Latinas🤷🏾‍♂️💯

[@adesuwa9112]

Yes yes yes! And also I totally agree about the thing w/ Cardi B and Rosario Dawson not being Afro-Latinas. For one- in interviews Cardi B has mentioned that her dating black men was pretty much her “dating outside of her race”. And two- I’ve never seen/ witnessed Dawson referring to herself as an Afro-Latina she’s always just appeared to be kinda racially ambiguous especially in the acting roles she would be placed in

[@RosalindGash]

Did SHE divide Black and Latino or was she explaining how casting directors, producers (and America in general) divided Black and Latino? Because what I heard her say was that she was both but she wasn't cast for roles for Latinas because she didn't fit Hollywood's stereotype for what Latinas looked like. Also, Gina is Afro-Latino because both her parents are Black Cubans. Yes, there's some European in there but that's normal for descendants of the Atlantic slave trade. I'm 85% African but I always used to get asked if I was mixed or what I was mixed with, and when I lived in NYC I was constantly mistaken for being Latina (Dominican or Puerto Rican). It's not as cut and dried as you all try to make it. You have to remember that she's been in the industry since the 1990s and things were very different back then. That's not her fault.

[@JulianSteve]

@@RosalindGash If Gina Torres is a Black Latina who is Cuban descent, she could’ve just said Black Latina, Black Hispanic, Afro-Latina, & etc. Why separate the words Black and Latina then? That would make it sound like the Black parent is not Latino/a and the “Latino/a” parent is non-black. This is usually the case with mixed with Black Latinos who are not Afro-Latinos. Mayowa literally says that in the video and I have said this before in my videos too. Sure, Gina came in the scene in the 1990s, but language evolves, and specifics matter. Like I said, there are different types of Latinos, so her dividing the two words make it sound like someone Black cannot be Latino.

[@maijennasis]

this is mad funny to me as someone of Cuban descent because the colorism/featurism go crazy in spanish speaking Caribbean countries as well so they’d definitely let her know she was black there too so her point missed me lmaooo

[@aaroncohoon5603]

Right , I recall reading some of Celia Cruz’s autobiography and she shed light on the racism she faced as an Afro Latina.

[@deejohnson3662]

A wise old Puerto Rican told me that 80% of Cubans are black.

[@yanique2011]

Thank you! There is crazy colorism in fully black countries so to act like she didn’t know she was gonna be seen as black in America because she’s “Cuban” feels like cap to me.

[@lemoncholyme]

THANK YOUUUUUUU!!!!! I'm a black woman with Cuban heritage too and the tea is Cubanos absolutely differentiate black from white.

[@charlajefferson9220]

I am unapologetically Black/African American. If others don't want to share in our pride, then they can go elsewhere. I'm tired of it this self hate and only seeing the trauma of being Black. There is great beauty in being Black and I am here for it. I love being a melanated person with this amazing wooly hair and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. BTW, your skin, hair and makeup is popping.

[@danabenson4125]

👏👏👏👏

[@vanellesmith4598]

Agreed.

[@tashied422]

Preach. Those types of people act like anyone can just look at them and can automatically tell what types of food they eat, what music they listen to, and what holidays they celebrate. If anything Black Americans are tryna help those types of people on how they'll be perceived in America. If they wanna walk around here blind about that, then we should let them. Once they get that wake up call, don't bring your ass over here for help is all I'm saying.

[@JP-br4mx]

People have different journeys. I think people should be able to come to term on their on

[@booboobunny27]

It’s not about racial hate that Gina is talking about. It’s about personal identity. She doesn’t hate being seen as black. She’s saddened by not being seen as Hispanic, because she is. People don’t see her for who she is/ feels she is and that can be mentally and emotionally hurtful to anyone. I personally stand up for her because I get it. I’m black but no one sees me as black and it’s hurtful. I’m not bashing what people see me as, I’m just saddened by not being perceived as how I identify.

[@goodnplenty1873]

"the biracial complex of being two things becomes a center focus of the hardest struggle of Blackness, when the hardest struggle of Blackness is actually just being only black " Protect this woman. 🖤

[@macummings7818]

YESSS! OK? Sheesh!

[@JulianSteve]

Mayowa said no lies. She's correct!

[@geminidems]

Hit the nail on the head!

[@hana7650]

Really

[@Fridaholic]

COME ON SOMEBODY

[@CoilyTwizzler]

Also I hate when ppl start doing the whole “I wasn’t Black enough 😢” song and dance bc those same people ALWAYS have a track record of trying to distance themselves from Blackness until it’s beneficial. They’ll declare proudly some link to ambiguity or something that makes them “not like other Blacks”…..until it’s time to take a role or a position for their own gain….then suddenly here’s the tears, like let’s be honest

[@happyclappy1805]

Louder please

[@lizziedanse8335]

SPEAK ON IT

[@cocoa105]

I thought the look of the other black women was interesting. She looked confused at the comment.

[@andylanegra-thoughtsfromth7451]

As an unambiguous dark skin Black woman of Cuban and Dominican heritage.....this kinda gave me a headache. We know that Latino/a/e isn't a race, so it definitely felt like she was referring to her white side. The internal racist came through and it just hurts. Gina Torres was that Black Latina I was looking too, and it hurts that she uses "Latina" in the "I'm not like them" context... Like you know the struggle, but you never thought you were Black in the Cuban context, and that's definitely how those that are mixed race think in the Latin America. Ugh I'm disappointed. Really if you didn't think you were Black then don't take the roles. This is the representation Black Latinos have and I promise we're all not like this. Like you said, there are dark Black womxn all through Latin America. We don't all pass that brown paper bag test.

[@JulianSteve]

Well said, Andy. As an Afro-Latino, Gina's comments made me look at her differently. Then again, She did say some wild shit when the 'In the Heights' backlash started. I remember calling her out in a video. She's proving my point.

[@soulsearcher7077]

what is womxn ? i keep seeing this spelling, what is it supposed to mean? i googled but just get conflicting information

[@prettybrwneyez7757]

Period.

[@TiondaRae]

💯

[@andylanegra-thoughtsfromth7451]

@@ForcedDisruption ooo for sure! Like "mommy, so you're not Black?" like what?? And the fact that she's taking the Blackness out of her Latina context, but then she wants to come back and say "I'm Black"...like ma'am

[@Orchid_1026]

"The difference between race and ethnicity is kicking our asses." FACTS! The number of times I've had to explain the difference to people is astounding.

[@dajuice3999]

I feel the same way 😢

[@Hephzibah_n_beulah]

I’m black. I’m Jamaican. My culture/ethnicity and race are separate..I’m a damn proud Black woman!! PERIODT✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 I’ve spent soooooooo much time explaining this to Afro-Latina’s only to get immense pushback😤..I think they just don’t want to identify..racism is too far reaching I mean for God’s sake Brazil was the last freaking Latin country to abolish slavery. And is 2nd to Africa in Black populous🤦🏾‍♀️

[@joshtondurrah8048]

I don't know about the abolish slavery part, but the African (Black) population in Africa is around 80%, whereas Brazil's African (Black) population is around 10%. Brazil is more mixed than anything, with the Biracial population around 45%. The second highest population in Brazil is White (European), with around 43%. I still understand your point, though it's hard enough getting African-Americans on the same page and caring and loving one another, and we are born and raised in the same place within our own culture. I can't imagine how hard that is for Africans outside America or Africa.

[@cutiepiea3687]

@@joshtondurrah8048babe we’re living great 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Windsingerful]

Historically, Spain’s “flavor” of segregation throughout their colonies was a policy of “blanquemiento” (sp?), where mixing with whites generation to generation was considered “improving” the race and bettering yourself, your family, your social standing. So baked into the cultures is strong national identification, and the old black abuelo (grandfather) or abuela (grandmother) in the family closet as the thread tie to slavery/Africa…but that’s distant from now. They categorize with twenty different designations of color based on how you look (as opposed to the “1 drop” rule in the USA to keep as many people in perpetual, generational slavery). So you are “Cuban”, or “Dominican” or “Brazilian” (the Portuguese played the same game), and the public-facing lie was that there is no racism anymore…but just check the population of the poorest, most underprivileged, least educated…and you suddenly come face to face with where the Blackness is tucked safely away. A trip! I have both Cuban,Spanish, and Portuguese in my background, yet I’m American and Black, a descendant in most parts of USA’s chattel slavery system, so no delusion or desire for denial. ✊🏾Culture can be distinct, but nationality is not race (and race is a construct of division, as we are all a part of the many-hued spectrum of the Human race.

[@arushanioshaka5600]

Sad of what we when through I hope we heal and prosper

[@rosalynbeatty8310]

@Winsingerful: I hear Haiti has 33 color classifications. India has: white, fair, dusky (gauri or gold), & dark(Kaala)-- considered a slur.

[@Windsingerful]

@@rosalynbeatty8310 Sigh… Everywhere colonizers planted their wretched feet, destruction of people of color resulted. 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ Still impacted by the warping of the ‘mind-benders’…

[@LeOhio817]

Race: In the box, I put Human. Cut you, cut me, but both our blood is red. - Prince

[@amazingdoublea]

This conversation gets funny to me after a while even as a monoracial black woman. It's like how many biracial people regardless of look or cultural identity have to explain this before we get it 😂😂😂😂

[@RosalindGash]

Gina's not biracial. Both her parents are black Cubans. Yes, there is some European in the mix. But, that's all of us who are descendants of the slave trade.

[@Morenita570]

@Rosalind Gina is multi racial. Mixed Cubans that married mixed Cubans. She went back to Cuba with a film crew and did a story about her family. Like Vanessa Williams or Stephen Curry’s mother or Beyoncé’s mother.

[@natasharules770]

It all stems back to the cape-ing, black women have created a narrative for ourselves that we are responsible for fighting for others which has in turn made us fight for biracials to be seen as black when when they don't.

[@MsBahbii]

@@Morenita570 Ms. Rosalind Gash correctly acknowledged that both of her parents are of mixed heritage, just like all of us who are descendants of enslaved people. Both of my parents are of mixed heritage, as were their parents, but I consider myself black even though I look more biracial than some of these folks who have one white parent.

[@akanwa]

Biracials are always trying to sell their violin mixtape - “Sob Story” vol. 2. 😂

[@LenasLovelyLocs1]

I’m so glad you pointed out the difference between race and ethnicity. A lot of people misconstrue the two. Mayowa, I can tell when you’re passionate about something because your beautiful accent starts to peek out for us 🥰 you’re beautiful girl and your locs are getting so long thanks so much for this video 🥹❤️❤️❤️

[@misterkgb1]

💯.

[@97gin24]

How is Gina black? Latinos are very mixed. You can’t just pick the biggest feature on her and label her black. She’s mixed race. Not biracial, but mixed race. Race is single, and it’s not a color. Even African Americans themselves have white ancestry. Race: Negroid. 100% of African origin. Which only Africans themselves have. Not afro Latinos or African Americans.

[@nola06]

Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud! Period!!!

[@simplyjazznicole]

It's her truth so can't say much to that. But I find it odd how many benefit from black culture and once in good standing in the same breathe tend to almost look down on it. Her wording was a little weird to me. Almost like whoa is me I had to play Just...a black woman. The self victimization of it all when she was paid and compensated and took roles from actually bw who identify as bw is amazing to me.

[@naturellegal944]

Sunni on the "View" says the same, sometimes.

[@joshuaagbettor5610]

But she didn't take the roles from black women, she was chosen for those roles, because she was deemed a better fit for them by the people who created the roles in the first place.

[@simplyjazznicole]

@@joshuaagbettor5610 By not turning down a role she says didn't represent her. That action took an opportunity that the next woman who does identify as such could have taken. Just because something is offered to you doesnt mean you have to take it if it doesn't feel right for you.

[@Styl849]

@@simplyjazznicole also let's not act like colorism and texturism doesn't play a huge role in which black women are chosen. Not saying that she can't act but the fact that she is lighter and doesn't have 4C hair probably helped her more than it hurt her.

[@joshuaagbettor5610]

@@simplyjazznicole Accepting the role is not equivalent taking it away no matter how much it may seem unfair. Also you're assuming that the majority of roles that she got were specifically made for a black woman. Likelihood is probably not. Not to mention that even if they were, the directors still picked her over every other person who auditoned black or not. Whether or not she identified as black the likelihood is that she she still is. Also she specifically referred to culture, so she has absolutely nothing to answer for.

[@Indigolily80]

She should have made her own productions like Bette Middler, Robert Townsend, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. That way she could have made roles for herself to promote the Cuban culture that she is comfortable and familiar with.

[@tiffanylee3866]

I agree with this whole heartedly

[@imhereforfitnessvideos7213]

A lot of the Nigerians I know don’t even call themselves african American…they will specify Nigerian American. The cultures are different even if we are all Americans. She was simply saying she looks like a black woman but didn’t grow up immersed in African American culture. Just because we look a like doesn’t mean we grew up listening to the same music, eating the same food, having the same traditions. I don’t see a problem with what she said. Especially growing up in the Bronx, it’s very easy to live in areas where everything is catered to a certain demographic. There’s also a pretty big Afro Cuban population there and in Harlem.

[@Hotgirlbff]

yeah but she didn’t say African American. she said she didn’t identify as Black. i’m Nigerian American and i know i’m Black

[@blackmagic6]

I'm a continental African. I believe that it was Jessie Jackson who coined the phrase "African American." For me, this term has caused so much confusion and ought to be changed because Africans who nationalise as Americans can also theoretically claim to be "African Americans". This naturally can cause offence because these Africans do not have the same lineage of displacement, slavery, Jim Crow etc as the original black Americans. In my opinion, what Jessie Jackson should have said was the phrase "American Africans" when referring to blacks who have a legacy in America. Then Africans who become citizens of America would be free to be called "African Americans" thus giving a distinction between the two groups of blacks in the States. Likewise groups like Jamaicans, Dominicans, Haitians etc would put their country before the name America to describe what time of American they are.

[@lalaland2107]

@@blackmagic6nah…

[@lifeinlife24]

​@@blackmagic6black people in America's have been calling themselves Africans since the 1700s. Black people in are the first people to indientify as Africans.

[@NaturallyKoilyKuteness78]

Hearing the women in the behind saying "mmmm" during her comments was just as cringe as what came out of her mouth. I don't identify as Blaaack, but I didn't have a problem working roles that were meant for Black women (she won't say that part though) smh. 😒

[@THEBATCAVE.]

It’s crazy to me and maybe I’m privileged to have grown up in the US, which doesn’t shy away from letting us know what it is and what it ain’t lol. But we also speak *another* European language due to colonization. I feel as though Afro-Latin ppl see theirselves and their culture as different and see us American Black ppl as regular, as if we don’t have our own culture. The only difference is we don’t try to separate our Blackness from ourselves just because colonization happened.

[@theamateurconnoisseur]

THIS comment! 💯

[@basketweaver912]

Hearing her talk about that makes my lip curl. You took up SO MUCH space. And deadass did not feel Black…I hate that

[@Them_kids_momma]

So upset!

[@NaturallyKoilyKuteness78]

Annoyed😒

[@Carmensidea]

The privilege.

[@DancingDeity]

For real.

[@AS-wj1du]

Yet you probably welcomed her. Bp with low self esteem

[@nguzoloveinlofi3832]

Most Black Cubans I’ve met are very proud and not conflicted about their Blackness…

[@THEBATCAVE.]

I was listening to an NPR podcast last night and they had afro-Latin ppl speak about their experience with racism throughout their lives; and what I noticed from their anecdotes is that, they portray that their respective countries are above all the categorization that us Black Americans tend to participate in bc they believe they’re all just one. However they have hella names to describe how Black you may or may not look, they get told they have pelo malo (bad hair) etc. I think instead of addressing the colorism within their own communities they “rise above it”, and TO ME, it seems like they try to ignore the colonized history and instead, they just say their nationality to not acknowledge the differences amongst their own.

[@Intellectual_Wand3r3r]

THIS. It just seems to me like avoidance of doing the grunt work it takes to overcome the societal biases they face. Also, many of them are still in love with their enslavers (similar to some of us here in the states) so this prevents many from rising up.

[@annecherae4950]

They only pretend to " rise above it" in America. Back in their respective countries they practice the same colourist/racist behaviour against mono racial blk latinas.

[@Kami3mil]

Amen!!!!!!! Yep, that sums things up for a lot of what goes on in Latin America. Your comment is a beautiful observation. Maybe to add to this.... We got to also realize alot of Latin countries have cites that are essential separated by class and the lower class is oftentimes exclusively black or in some part indigenous. So for some people all they ever see is black faces and poverty. AND I see black and proverty come off as hand and hand in many places. Still, I know this is complex and no one persons story can be representative of everyone's story.

[@angechrisman1694]

@@Kami3mil Ppl associates blackness with poverty or "struggle" everywhere. Black ppl are expected to come from poverty/struggle 99.9% of the time regardless of your birth place, city, region, country or continent... Even when we think about most black athletes, musicians, artists, rappers.....

[@Morenita570]

@Brittiny That’s what my fully b l a c k Afro Latina mother did. It took her years to admit to the bullying and abuse she and her sisters went thru in PR. But she and her sisters did kick a lot of jealous w h i t e latina azz.

[@bowerydoll]

Thank you, sis. I saw that interview. It was beyond troubling that there wasn't a deepened conversation of her being Black AND Latin. So much erasure. I've had to check so many white people I know who are absolutely mystified and shocked when they encounter deeply melanated Afro-Latin foks who speak Spanish. Far too many of them have no idea of the brutal reach of slavery in Latin America and the Caribbean. It's a hellova thing to have to call-out Afro-Latin folks for pushing away from their Black roots. It's beyond frustrating and exhausting to hear responses from people like Saldana and Torres distancing themselves from Blackness while not having a damn problem with taking roles for Black women. I hope Saldana is FOREVER haunted by her decision to don blackface to portray the beloved Nina Simone. That child is deeply confused.

[@faysoflife]

I get what she’s trying to say, she understands she’s black, but she identifies with Cuban culture, not black American culture. She’s not trying to say she’s not Black lol

[@siriusakari6729]

I am a black woman and I currently based in South Africa. What I have realized here is is that if you are not white and you are not black then you are mixed and that is okay because they have their own vibrant culture and identity which they embrace wholeheartedly. On the other hand, in America if you are not white then you are black even when you are obviously mixed, that one drop rule still lingers on like a bad cough to this day so to an extent I can understand what Ms. Torres is talking about. We unambiguous Blacks have a problem because we have been conditioned to accept mixed people as black even though we realize that they have certain privileges that we do not have. For example, we were so quick to claim Obama as black, something my European friends could not understand, to them he has a white mom and an African parent so he is biracial. Same with Meghan Markle, people out here forcing Doja Cat to be black and when she uses black culture to gain fame the moment, she reminds us she is not black we will get mad at her.

[@forsoothdegucci]

It’s like this in the UK too. Biracial is biracial or whatever kind of mixed. The one drop rule holds strong in America and I think it can confuse people, especially in the media and Hollywood. I get that there are many different skin tones etc but it doesn’t change biology. Also, race being a social construct, the experiences of dark-skinned people, black or mixed could be similar. But I think we need more diverse stories too which could help educate - you know, if the casting was right. I think, let people be who they want to be and identify themselves and not let media or old fashioned one drop rules do it for them

[@lgfigugg]

and it is not just because a person does not identify as black that he will not be treated as black. race is about phenotype and race relations occur passively (if you say you are white, will you be treated as white? No! That's because your phenotype is black and people will judge you based on that)

[@adesuwa9112]

EXACTLYYYY 👏🏾👏🏾

[@351528]

I don't see anything wrong with what Gina Torres said. She was simply explaining her cross cultural experience. She's not denying her Blackness, she's just explaining that from a young age she's identified more with her nationality and culture, which is Cuban, as opposed to her race. On a related note, I don't know if you're aware but there are some Black Americans (ADOS) who don't see Black people from other countries as Black, they feel it's an identity reserved for Black Americans only. Lastly Gina Torres is not biracial, she Afro-Cuban (Black).