Paris Jackson, the only daughter of late pop star Michael Jackson, opened up about her African-American roots and how proud she is of that, as well as the criticism she received.
Paris, 25, was born to parents Billie Jean hitmaker and Debbie Rowe in 1998.
Over the years, there have been speculations that Jackson wasn’t the biological father of his three children, Paris and her two brothers, Bigi, 22, and Prince, 27. This was due to the fact that that many couldn’t see any resemblance between the late star and the kids, especially Paris who has white skin, light eyes and now bleached-blond hair.
The kids were very close with their father who went to great lengths to protect them from media scrutiny. His measures were unlike, however. He would show his son Bigi to the public with his face covered with a blanket, causing him troubles while growing up because his friends often teased him. He now prefers to be called Bigi.
Following the star’s death in 2009, his children were tossed alone in the public eye, turning them a highly profitable prey for the media that were eager to share their photos and followed their every step.
This experience left Paris battling a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I experience audio hallucinations, sometimes, with camera clicks and severe paranoia and have been going to therapy for a lot of things, but that included,” she shared.
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By age 15, Paris attempted suicide “multiple times” and in 2019 she was admitted at a treatment facility. “It was just self-hatred…Low self-esteem, thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, not thinking I was worthy of living anymore.”
Today, she’s a successful musician who follows into her father’s footsteps. Over the years, she has also walked the runway for famous brands such as Chanel. Paris is a member of the band The Soundflowers.
“Everyone in my family does music. I mean, I’m a Jackson,” she said in 2020. “It makes sense that I’m a musician but like, a Jackson doing folk indie?”
Paris is very close to her brothers and looks up to Prince. “He’s everything to me, you know?” In 2020, she told People of her relationship with her older brother. “I’ve always looked up to him and always wanted his approval and everything, and wanted to be more like him.”
He loves and supports his younger sister as much. “Basically, as a person, she is who my dad is. The only thing that’s different would be her age and her gender,” he said of Paris, adding that she’s similar to her father “in all of her strengths, and almost all of her weaknesses as well. She’s very passionate.”
The physical appearance of the King of Pop underwent significant changes over the course of his life and many accused him of bleaching his skin, which was considerably darker in his younger days, but he claimed he had never done anything to his skin and that it turning white was a result of Vitiligo, during an Oprah interview in 1993.
“I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am,” Jackson told Winfrey at the time.
Back in 2017, speaking of herself, Paris told Rolling Stone magazine she “considers [herself] black,” and that “[Michael] would look me in the eyes and he’d point his finger at me and he’d be like, ‘You’re black. Be proud of your roots.’”
“Most people that don’t know me call me white. I’ve got light skin and, especially since I’ve had my hair blond, I look like I was born in Finland or something,” she said. “And I’d be like, ‘okay, he’s my dad, why would he lie to me?’ So I just believe what he told me. [Because], to my knowledge, he’s never lied to me.”
This declaration of race triggered criticism on Paris. Among the rest, it was host Wendy William’s that mocked Paris’ statement.
“I get that she considers herself black and everything, but I’m just talking about the visual because you know…black is not what you call yourself, it’s what the cops see you when they got steel to your neck on the turnpike.”
She added: “It’s what they see. But that’s cute and good for her.”
The Scene Where Archie Bunker Defends The National Anthem Is Going Viral 50 Years Later
Archie Bunker most certainly was a memorable television character. For years, he appeared as a star of “All in the Family” and struck a chord with millions of Americans who felt they could relate to Bunker’s views on being an American.The show described Bunker as a hard-working American man who previously served in the armed forces, which explains why he was unwilling to stand by and let another man belittle the Star-Spangled Banner and be disrespectful toward it and all it stood for.
Bunker loved being patriotic and never worried about his political incorrectness. Although some of his comments have not aged well considering the “woke” revolution overtaking America these days, Bunker’s stance in favor of the national anthem continues to speak to millions of Americans who continue to put their pride in America before all else.During this clip, Bunker was watching television with his son-in-law, Meathead. While the national anthem was being played ahead of a sports event, Meathead complained about the anthem and said that it was not a very good song because it glorified the horrors of war.
Although modern-day critics of the national anthem claim it is racist against Black, brown, and indigenous people of color, Meathead was taking a stance against the anthem because it was written during the War of 1812 between the fledgling United States of America and Great Britain.
While Meathead shared his criticism of the anthem, Archie Bunker quickly came to its defense.
“That is one terrible song,” Meathead complains to his father-in-law. Bunker cannot believe his ears and lets his son-in-law know as much. He turns his gaze to Meathead with his eyes popping out of his head in shock at what he just heard come out of his son-in-law’s mouth.Don’t start up nothing with me, Meathead. I’m watching the game. That’s a beautiful song, and shut your face.” Bunker’s blunt attack gets Meathead riled up. He shifts in his chair and prepares to counter Bunker’s statement with one of his own invention.
“Huh? The song glorifies war, and even as a song, it stinks. Nobody can remember the words.”
“You’re going to ruin this game for me?” Bunker lashed back.
“Can you remember the words?”
“Certainly I can!” Bunker shouts.
Meathead then challenges the patriotic Archie Bunker to sing the first few lines of the national anthem. What happens next will have you rolling on the floor with laughter. Meathead doubles down and refuses to put the game back on until Bunker recites the words of the anthem. Although he recites his lines with gusto, Meathead is the one who gets the pleasure of telling Bunker he is “wrong!” Dozens of people commented on this delightfully funny clip from All in the Family on the YouTube video included below.
“Talk about picking battles. Mike just couldn’t shut up and let Archie enjoy his football game, including the national anthem. Go, Archie!”
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