Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, recently shared that she identifies as a Black woman, despite being mixed race. She says her father always told her to “be proud of your roots” and insists, “I consider myself Black.” Born in 1998, Paris and her brothers grew up in the public eye, but were shielded by their father until his death in 2009, which led to PTSD for Paris. She also struggled with depression and attempted suicide multiple times,

Today, Paris, 25, is influenced by her brother Prince, who sees her as similar to their father in many ways. Paris is passionate about her music career and honors her father’s legacy, blending her Jackson heritage with folk indie music. While she has lighter skin, Paris identifies as Black, as her father did, despite public scrutiny, explaining she believes what he told her about her roots.Her racial identity has sparked some criticism, notably from talk show host Wendy Williams, but Paris remains firm in her connection to her father’s African-American heritage.