My Apology to Halle Berry
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 7:22PM The Blogmother Last week I was asked to write a column about Halle Berry, her career and recent statements she made in an interview with Ebony magazine for their March 2011 issue. During that interview she made several statements about race. The first was a comment about Halle Berry considering her daughter to be Black because Berry says she follows the "one drop rule." The second statement was one where Berry declared that she had not abandoned Black people because she dated non-Black men.
During the editing process between the time I submitted my work and the time it appeared on Blackvoices, significant passages were added to what I wrote that transformed my discussion of the statements mentioned in the Ebony article into a broadside on Halle Berry regarding her custody battle. I never thought the two were related because the Ebony article would have had to have been written several months in advance of the current custody mess. When I read the article posted under my name I was HORRIFIED! I don't know if Halle Berry will every read that article, but my name is all I have in the world, and I don't want it associated with a random drive by attack on another Black woman for no reason in particular. The offending post has been taken down, at my request, but who knows how many thousands of folks read the original. I am DEEPLY AGGRIEVED by the words attributed to me for however long they were attributed and I can't even bring myself to go back and read the updated article because I'm still AGGRIEVED and I can't even stomach the level of IGNORANCE that must be in the comments section over there right now.
Regarding my original analysis of the Ebony interview.
I thought both statements in Ebony magazine were a tad bit off. First, the one drop rule was basically a product of racist Whites which was codified into law by many legislatures in the south. So a Black women in 2011 decalring that she follows the one drop rule is like me stating that I refuse to sit at the front of a bus, enter integrated eating establishments through the front door, and will only drink from a "colored" water fountain. Even if I held archaic viewpoint, I wouldn't state so in a major publication. I addressed that in my original submission.
Regarding the second statement about not abandoning Black people, I thought that is was an outright attempt to appease a group of bigoted Black people who believe that they have the authority to declare who Black women are allowed to love. These Black folks probably also think its okay for 40 year old men to "date" 13 year olds, they probably also think Rihanna deserved to get beaten up by Chris Brown, these people probably also support female circumcision and any other type of systemic abuse that oppresses Black woman by sending a clear message that Black women don't actually own themselves, but are "community property." These Black folks believe,as someone once told me, that the Emancipation Proclamation freed Black men, but merely transferred the title to Black women. We will always be second class citizens in their eyes.
These same people turn a blind eye to or ignore Black men in a similar position to Berry. You don't see Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones, OJ Simpson, Tikki Barber, Wesley Snipes, Jaime Foxx, Dave Chappelle or any other Black men running around apologizing to the Black community for partnering with non-Black women.
So yes, I did think Halle Berry was pandering to the most narrow minded and destructive elements in the Black community by appearing to apologize for her decision to date non-Black men. I also think the only reason she did it was in the context of promoting her movie, Frankie and Alice. I found that annoying and THAT's what I wrote about. Choosing a mate is a fundamental human right and those who seek to limit Black women's choices in that matter either by threats, intimidation or generalized hateration should not be negotiated with.
There are numerous reasons to criticize Berry's decision making related to the men she has become entangled with, but their race it not one of them.
Anyhow. SOMEHOW, my article about the One Drop Rule and Berry Pandering to Black people got turned into a discussion about Halle Berry playing the "race card" during her custody battle with her baby's daddy, Gabriel Aubrey. The version I read looked like I was attacking Berry and taking Aubrey's side. I didn't write ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
First, I hate the phrase "race card." For the same reason I hate to hear Black people popping off about the one-drop rule. We didn't come up with that foolishness, so why embrace it and adopt it into our own thinking. My race is not a card to be played.
In addition, the rest of the added commentary in the article posted under my name came off as a mean spirited and hateful attack on Berry related to her purported custody battle with her baby's daddy. Almost every single statement about Aubrey and Berry hascome from anonymous sources. Which means I give them little weight.
In addition, many folks have latched onto a meme that Halley Berry is CRAZEE. Based on what? Eirc Benet was an admitted sex addict, who's really crazee? David justice had his own issues, who's really crazee? Wesley Snipes....who's really crazeee?
So in conclusion, I have no problem saying provocative or controversial things. I don't have a problem getting into public rhetorical battles. I have no problem with Black people having very public debates about issues. I'll take the hits for what I have said and I'm willing to DIE for what I believe, but I will not take a hit for something I didn't actually write. Especially when I don't agree with what was written.
Here is a link to the original post that I submitted.
I'm not pissed off, just a little bit sad about the whole thing. I chalk it all up as a lesson learned and a signal to pause for serious reflection.
Sincere apologies to Halle Berry for the post that appeared under my name indicating that you were "playing the race card" in your custody battle. I didn't write it, but I have to take responsibility for it since it appeared under my byline.
Sometimes life just sux, this is one of those days.
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Reader Comments (24)
The link to the original post is showing as "not found".
Any thoughts as to the "editorial bias" which lead to your original article being morphed as it was?
@spinster the link should work now, if not, the link is in the menu bar.
@constructive feedback, I'm not there yet. Didn't you read the post?
Blog mother, you will always be cool with me; you have never, EVER betrayed the sisters.
I thank you for that; I may not have always agreed with you (most times I have), but you have never betrayed us.
That's enough for me. :)
I like your original article--that perspective is sorely missing from this whole Halle Berry discussion. I do feel however that with there's an increasing pressure from white America to have high profile, successful blacks claim their mixed-raced identity instead of self-identifying as black. While I agree that the "one drop" theory is beyond antiquated, I appreciate the fact that Halle has a realistic assessment if how she's perceived. She's basically saying " I'm black because you told me so." This is no different then when Pres. Obama caused a stir by checking black on his census. I get a little annoyed when white people act surprised to learn that mix-raced black folks often identify as black--that's often what they're seen as.
I did cringe a little when I read her "apology" for dating white men. I was hoping the quote wasn't true, but I guess it is. I remember when she caught so much flake from te black community for her Billy Bob scene in Monsters Ball. I can go on and on about the double standards there, but in short, I hope she doesn't think she needs to prove something to us. As you noted, black men never have to answer to folks about who they date. Even if people disagree, they still go on with their lives.
I believe Halle made the comment regarding her dating choices because of the negaitve response she recieved when she stated on the Oprah Winfrey show "I tried black men, I tried". It seemed like a very odd statement to make in light of the fact that white women celebrities like Sandra Bullock, Christie Brinkley, Jennifer Aniston, Meg Ryan and countless others who have had very serious relationship problems never felt the need to declare they were done with white men.
G, cosign with Revmamafrica
Got it, thanks.
Halle has a lot of issues that she ought to seek therapy for. Race & skin color issues might be at the top of the list. Feeling a little sorry for her, actually. SMDH.
Honestly when she used the "one drop rule" as an excuse - it felt like she was pandering to white folk like it felt like she was pandering to black folk when she said she hadn't "abandoned" her people.
Honestly all she had to say was I view myself as a black woman and I view my child the same way as well. She will ultimately have to decide on her own how she views herself (she did say that part though).
As far as the rest - if she wanted a sperm donor she probably she have gotten that in writing OR when tings were good between them they should have hashed this isn out BEFORE things turned rancid.
Such is life.
I read the original post, Ms Berry can date whoever she want to. It is a good article; people will always run there mouths. For the future Ms Berry need to keep her live private and tell people to go to hell.
Iman wrote:
I remember when she caught so much flake from te black community for her Billy Bob scene in Monsters Ball.
Actually, the criticism was directed more at the Oscars than Halle Berry. The argument was that why should the first Black woman to win a Best Actress Award have to do a nude sex scene. It was hard to think of any White women who won the Award based on sex positions instead of acting ability. (Of course, Black Swan's Natalie Portman may prove the exception if she wins the Best Actress Oscar.)
The criticism that Hollywood only admires Black actresses for looks and sexual prowess is a fair one. It also explains why an Angela Bassett has a time winning an Oscar because she realizes what's going on.
I truly appreciate your willingness to apologize to Ms. Berry and your commitment NOT to publicly malign and batter Black women in the press. We have enough of that in the media and in our community. Kudos with standing your ground on all fronts and being an intelligent voice of reason and common sense in the mainstream media and in the blogosphere concerning issues pertinent to Black women and girls. I'll continue to remain a loyal reader.
I cosign with Iman. I am so sick of people running from their black roots. Yes acknowledge your complete heritage but at the end of the day in this United States if you are perceived as black you are black. Sorry but true. But why should that not be desirable? If someone says you look Asian or Native American we, in our current mind set, take that as a compliment as if looking less linked to our race is a badge of honor. You had nothing to do with your bloodline any way.
From what I read in their interviews, Wesley Snipes and Taye Diggs both give similar “apologies” for who they date/marry. Snipes goes on about how the women he has dated in the past have been overwhelmingly black women, etc. etc. and Diggs gives this speech on how he understands how black women can feel hurt by seeing black men with non-black women.
As far as the one drop rule, I personally subscribe to it regardless of the racist past. Marriage licenses were created based on racism and the minimum wage was created based on racism but one would be hard pressed to see any way that these two things are specifically hurtful to blacks today.
My thing is that I have personally observed an old trend in southern Louisiana whereas mixed blacks viewed themselves as something other than black (specifically “Creole”) and were often more racist toward those who were unquestionably black than white people were. I think that the one drop rule was something racist that has backfired on whites in that it creates larger black numbers and influence and treating mixed people of African descent as other than black only divides us.
I think that it is a shame that you feel the need apologize for something done by someone else in your name, but it is an admirable gesture that I hope, if she reads it, Halle would appreciate.
The whole " all black is black" theory has never been true. White Hollywood does not view Halle or Paula Patton the same way it views Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, or Kimberley Elise.
@wanda I didn't even want to open THAT can of worms. that's an entire blog.
@wanda I didn't even want to open THAT can of worms. that's an entire blog.
Well, the "worms" are all up in the rotten apple on this one. Real is real. Halle consistently
modifies her identity relative to her immediate circumstances.
She wasn't all Sista Souljah during her lovey dovey days with Gabriel, was she?
Ask Nia Long and Regina King whether Halle, Paula Patton,Thandie Newton and Zoe Saldana have received preferable industry treatment over them. They won't even have to say anything -- they'll just give you "the look."
I've been disgusted at the level of venom directed towards Halle Berry on most of the other forums over this issue. Whether you agree with her or not, the language has been downright hateful and inexcusable - calling her "racist, crazy and insane", some people even saying that Nahla should be taken away from her.
First, Blog mother, you are truly a stand up sister; you had the courage to apologize, though I must admit, I haven't read that piece yet.
I'm a little concerned by Halle's comment; as I recall many years ago, she stated in an interview her mother taught her she was "a Black girl with a White mother." "One drop rule"? Is she serious? I understand what she was trying to say, but that perhaps was not the best choice of words.
Now we know in our history we've had Black people, sisters and brothers of African descent who were light skinned enough to "pass" and sometimes used that to our people's benefit. I'm ok with that as well. But as someone has said, Halle does not owe anybody an apology; rather, those messed up negro men she was with and those of us that made excuses for them, yeah that's where the APOLOGIES should come from.
Halle should just be happy, raise her daughter, continue to be the great actress that she is and dammit, stop doing those kind of interviews; unless it's about your next project, just keep stepping! :)
Ask Nia Long and Regina King whether Halle, Paula Patton,Thandie Newton and Zoe Saldana have received preferable industry treatment over them. They won't even have to say anything -- they'll just give you "the look."
They may get preferable treatment, yet they are still viewed by the industry as black. They just fall under the category of "light skinned black women". Look at the description of the missing little girl below:
http://www.wpxi.com/news/24542511/detail.html
@Jaime P: I don't understand your point. How can one group of actresses get consistently preferential treatment in the industry, over the other group of actresses, but then we say that the industry views them the same? Isn't that a wee bit contradictory?
Just because you're not viewed as 'white," doesn't automatically mean you are viewed as "black." Eva Longoria and George Lopez both have proven DNA African ancestry, and no one categorizes them as "black." And they're not considered "white," either. Nor are "Hispanic" or "Latino" considered racial categories, either.
@Jaime P: I don't understand your point. How can one group of actresses get consistently preferential treatment in the industry, over the other group of actresses, but then we say that the industry views them the same? Isn't that a wee bit contradictory?
Well, I have never followed the view that all black people are the same. I always viewed black people as individuals with individual characteristics. Tall women are preferred over short women for modeling, but that doesn’t make tall black women racially different from short black women.
“Black” is not a literal term for the race. None of us are literally “black” (we are shades of brown). “Race” is a social construct that has a basis in genetics. The black race has traditionally been defined by being of any degree of black African descent whereas “white” has traditionally been defined as being of near PURE white European descent. That’s just the way it has been and still is. 90% of African Americans have European ancestry.
Those women, as I stated, are overwhelmingly viewed by whites and others as light skinned black women. They are the variety within the racial group that tends to be perceived to some degree and for whatever reason as more attractive.
Just because you're not viewed as 'white," doesn't automatically mean you are viewed as "black." Eva Longoria and George Lopez both have proven DNA African ancestry, and no one categorizes them as "black." And they're not considered "white," either. Nor are "Hispanic" or "Latino" considered racial categories, either.
That is because Hispanics tend to emphasize and identify more with their ethnicity than racial origins. That is their norm. If blacks in America, Jamaica, and Bahamas did this, we would be calling ourselves Anglos. But since this would appear odd, non-Hispanics of African descent tend to identify themselves as “black”.
@Jamie P: "Those women, as I stated, are overwhelmingly viewed by whites and others as light skinned black women. They are the variety within the racial group that tends to be perceived to some degree and for whatever reason as more attractive."
For whatever reason?!!! That "reason" as you put it, isn't so vague. It is the fact that the "light-skinned black women" are favored because they are physically closer to the white, European ideal of beauty than their less-favored counterparts.
Jennifer Beals has played "white" roles in her career, despite the industry knowing of her background. The little girl from "True Grit," Hallie Steinfeld, the same thing. The only thing "black" about Rashida Jones is her name.
That "reason" as you put it, isn't so vague. It is the fact that the "light-skinned black women" are favored because they are physically closer to the white, European ideal of beauty than their less-favored counterparts.
But that is not universal among those who favor them. There are those who simply prefer mixed women and prefer them over both darker skinned black women and white women (this being more common among black men). One of the most popular mixtures that men, especially some black men, have their attentions on involve women women who are half black half Asian. Thus, in this case, there is no white in the mix.
We have all heard comments from people proclaiming mixed couples as having the prettiest babies (I have heard whites say this) and how men love "mutts". Sometimes its a case of spicing up the white as well as diluting the black and coming closer to the white standard is not necessarily always the case.