Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the late pop music icon Michael Jackson, recently shared that despite being mixed race, she identifies as a black woman.Saying her father would insist she’s black, “be proud of your roots,” Paris honors her father’s roots and legacy – both musically and physically – remarking, “I consider myself black.”

Keep reading to learn more about Paris Jackson’s identity!Born April 3, 1998, Paris Jackson, an American actress, model, and singer, is the daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe.Paris, 25, and her two brothers Bigi, 22, and Prince, 27, were born into the spotlight, with scores of fans wanting to know everything about the newest members of the Jackson family.

When they were young, the Billie Jean singer tried to protect his children from prying eyes with blankets (for Bigi), masks, and veils.In 2007, Jackson’s bodyguard told People the three kids were “well-mannered, well-behaved kids…They are really level-headed…They were Michael’s first priority.”

But in 2009, the layer of protection was removed with the death of their father and the young kids were tossed alone into the public eye, turning them into highly profitable prey for the paparazzi.