Paula Patton On Why She Doesn't Identify As Biracial
The BET+ series Sacrifice drops today and Paula Patton is reprising her role as Daniella Hernandez, an entertainment lawyer who knows how to fix any crisis. Set in Los Angeles, the series follows the often-complicated personal life of Hernandez and her high-stakes career. Sacrifice originated as a movie of the same name that debuted in December 2019 on BET+ as the first original film for the streaming service.
While promoting the series, Patton sat down with SiriusXM’s Urban View The Clay Cane Show and opened up about working with BET. She also discussed her racial identity and why the term biracial never resonated with her.
“I was really excited to work with BET,” Patton told Cane.
“It's been an incredible experience, unlike anything else I've ever had… It's more like a family and they have come through and supported me in a way that has a different quality to it. It's hard to put your finger on, but I feel very grateful to be a part of the BET family. What they've been doing, and what we want to continue to do, grow and expand -- it’s going to make it a force to be reckoned with.”
Patton also opened up about race and why she does not identify as biracial. Her mother is white and her father is Black.
Cane referenced a 2010 quote from the actress, "I find [the term] biracial offensive. It's a way for people to separate themselves from African Americans, a way of saying, 'I'm better than that.'”
The radio host said the quote resonated with him and asked her thoughts on that statement today.
“I feel the exact same way. That's not to say that I don't embrace my mother and everything that she's brought to my life, but it was my mother who let me know, ‘The world is going see you as Black and that is who you are. So don't have any questions about that.”
She continued, “I'm very grateful for her… The politics of race in our country are such that when [some]one wants to make it very clear that they're not Black, it's a way to keep them separate from Black people. We know, we've had a long history in this country of it not being popular to be Black, to be honest with you. I've always found that to be an offensive term. I'm Black and I embrace it, that's my family.”
Check out Paula Patton in the BET+ series Sacrifice, which is streaming now.
See the interview below:
