Keyshia Cole Shuts Down Race Denial Claims
While the 31 year-old Oakland-raised singer has been dodging bullets about her marriage, Keyshia Cole faced off with critics about her race. Some fans took offense to Cole’s recent comment about possibly being bi-racial and her brief hesitation to represent a black women’s organization.
On a recent visit to BET’s “106 & Park” show to promote her new album Woman to Woman, Cole revealed that she really didn’t know much about Black Girls Rock, an annual event that seeks to uplift young women of color. When she was asked to participate in this year’s show, Cole said that because of her interracial blood, she was a bit uneasy about representing the organization before signing on.
“I’m bi-racial, but it’s okay. I’m Black, I’m black.” she said on the show. “At first I was kind of skeptical about being a part of the Black Girls Rock organization, but then when I read on it and I realized how strengthening it is for our Black women, and women in general, how strengthening it is for us to come together and understand that we rock…”
Cole’s fans then took to Twitter to address the shiftiness over her bi-racial claim. Some followers tried to claim that Cole was trying to deny her blackness. Cole responded and quickly shutdown the chatter.
“I was raised in Oakland. My mother is a Black woman HOWEVER I do not know my father. Nor really care to know.”
“People talking about I said I’m not black? Wtf.. People are crazy. They will take your words and do what they want with them! #GetaLife,” she tweeted.
She confirmed via Twitter and on the show that after doing her research and learning more about the organization, she was proud to support the program
People hate being called black but love screwing black men…I don’t get it. Being Black is an honor in my opinion…we come from some of the strongest people on planet Earth…don’t get it twisted.
IMO, it has to do about the underlying consciousness of blood quantum and how having mixed ancestry plays a part in what one looks like. It’s all good because the children will be mixed, even if they don’t look it, by what stereotype dictates, they have the genes…
IMO, many people think, no matter their or their fore-parent’s race identity, that having mixed ancestry produces more attractive/desirable people.
This is ridiculous…..I really can’t stand it when Black people all of a sudden want to down play thier blackness and claim other races when they really don’t know factually what thier racial make up is. She said it herself: she doesn’t know who her father is or what race. It just sounds like she didn’t want to participate in Black Girls Rock for a totally different reason at first, and is now using her identity issues from not knowing her real father as a cop out. I think its sad.
Why do blacks always feel the need to identify with other races as if that makes you a better person if you’re multiracial? If she doesnt know her father, what makes her assume he isn’t black? There are light skinned black people who are just black with fair skin. Why are we so quick to jump the gun at opportunities to include other races in our make up? All of us whose ancestors were slaves in the American slave trade are mixed with something. That doesn’t make you better than anyone else or more special.
I dont know the real reason she didn’t want to participate in Black Girls Rock or was hesitant. But it sounds like she is having some identity issues. Not about race necessarily, but just because she doesn’t know her real father (or his race). I think her mother needs to be honest with her and say whether or not the man is black or otherwise (if she even knows or can remember). But all this trying to claim other races when you really don’t know the truth is for the birds. For Keisha Cole and Black folks as a whole….
Foolishness…next
I’m someone who believes people should be able to self-identify anyway they want because, ultimately, it won’t change the discrimination they will face by those who see them in only one way.
People were not upset at the possibility of Keyshia Cole being biracial (especially considering that many of our high-profile “black” celebrities actually are biracial or mixed race).
I think what is upsetting about Keyshia Cole’s statements is: (1) they are unfounded; (2) even if she is in fact biracial that should not prevent her from taking part in an event that empowers those from at least one side of her heritage; and (3) she said this on a network whose target audience is the black population and is one of the few platforms she has been afforded to display her talent and promote herself and her work.
The whole thing screams of ingratitude, and that has a tendency to rub people the wrong way.
Yeah and that too!! LOL, I dunno, I doubt she meant it to be a serious discussion, like taking a position on the fluidity of racial identity, it’s complexity and various didactic theories. but maybe she did who knows at this point?
smh……Keysha booboo, have a seat, with superglue on it. Thanks much. Her PR, better be on it….or she is about to loose her one and only market!
Wink wink, Ms. Info.
Hey sweetie!!!Hope your day is well!!!