“Halsey explains her white-passing privilege & why she doesn’t say ‘we'” links

Halsey Donates 100,000 Face Masks to California Hospitals Amid Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

Halsey explains why she, as a white-passing biracial woman, doesn’t say “we” when talking about Black Lives. [Just Jared]
A TikTok about clocks which will blow your mind! (Not really.) [Dlisted]
Tracee Ellis Ross’s message about the protests. [LaineyGossip]
The time Princess Diana went to the CFDAs. [Go Fug Yourself]
There’s an investigation into the helicopter which menaced DC protesters. [Towleroad]
Joe Biden’s speech was so good. [OMG Blog]
A little girl tries to teach her cats to draw a flower. [Pajiba]
A horse-riding club marched on horseback for George Floyd. [Jezebel]
David & Jenelle Eason remain dysfunctional. [Starcasm]

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41 Responses to ““Halsey explains her white-passing privilege & why she doesn’t say ‘we'” links”

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  1. Betsy says:

    I did not know she was biracial; her statement makes perfect sense to me.

    • CherHorowitz says:

      Same – she must be completely aware a lot of people have no idea and her statement is completely logical and thoughtful.

      • Mel says:

        YES. as someone who met Halsey pre-fame & was impressed, I am SO GLAD she has stayed her true self. Fame can alter ppl. Oh…sidenote: Grimes was always this bad (pre-fame to now). Hope she didn’t do LSD while pregnant cuz that is Absolutely something she would do)

        On the other side of the spectrum? CAMILA f-cling CABELLO. She had the gall to be at a protest for BLM get pics taken of her AFTER ALL THE RACIST ANTI-BLACK CONTENT that blog of hers revealed. I remember clicking on it and it was So Much Worse than what I could have imagine. I believe one even mocked Trevon Martin. I am absolutely stunned ppl aren’t calling her out & still stunned all those posts didn’t kill her career. That was bigger, proud racism…it needs to be spotlighted.

    • Jam says:

      Great/

  2. tanesha86 says:

    My respect for Halsey has grown exponential over the last few weeks. She has put her money where he mouth is and her body on the line to fight this very important fight. She’s a real one unlike so many of these other celebrities and influencers who are just being performative and insincere.

    • NextToMe says:

      She’s been upfront about race and how it impacts her life as a passing biracial woman since her debut. I found her honesty very refreshing. That’s how I learned of her. No idea what any of her music sounds like, lol.

    • Otaku fairy says:

      The way she’s been using her platform for about a year now, maybe a little longer, has been awesome.

  3. Cee says:

    I agree with Halsey. I’m Argentinian so that makes me Latina in the US however I, too, pass for white because I’m descended from white Europeans. I don’t know nor understand the struggles minorities go through every day. At most I experienced micro aggressions (“can’t be Latina bc you’re white”, “how come your English is so good”, “you don’t have an accent”, you can’t be Latina and white” etc) But never full on racism. Therefore I listen to others and try to be the best possible ally. #BlackLivesMatter

    • horseandhound says:

      your post confuses me. if I understand you right…you’re white. you’re argentinean. that’s not unlikely at all. argentineans are mostly white, of european descent. you don’t pass for white, you are white. the fact that you’re from latin america doesn’t mean you’re not white. ps. argentinean accent is my favorite spanish accent. love it!

      • nana says:

        I think what @cee might mean si that while in our countries (Costa Rica for me) we are white but in the US latinx is considered a ethnicity/race but in latin america itsw considered more of a culture

      • horseandhound says:

        @nana, that really seems weird to me. the fact that some people seem to think being a latino is a race. latinos are white, black, indigenous people, etc. not one, separate race. lately people no longer make difference between race and ethnicity and nationality and culture.

      • Cee says:

        @hourseandhound I meant that in the US I’m not considered white because I was born in a Latin American country. Being Latinx and white seem to be mutually exclusive (in the US).
        I identify as white but in the US I’ve been labelled differently as we have different concepts for ethnicity.

    • Kkat says:

      To my racist parent’s they would consider Cee Latina, and not welcome here. No matter how white she looks. Because she is from one of THOSE countries down there.

      So yes, racists think latino is a race.

  4. TheOriginalMia says:

    Had no idea she was biracial. I know she’s been out there with the protestors. She maw a picture where she put her body between a fallen protestor and the police. She’s acknowledging the privilege she carries as white passing. I respect that.

  5. GR says:

    That must be really weird for her – obviously it’s easier and safer, but still strange to not have that part of her identity acknowleged.

  6. trout predator says:

    big respect for her when i saw her doing street medicine. not the most talented singer tbqh but nowhere near the worst, and she seems like a real person and a messy one trying her best.

  7. HashtagNo says:

    I’m a mixed POC who passes- have always looked like a tan white girl who highlights. My brother got the African DNA whilst I got the euro. As kids, HE was called the N word & I never defended. I was too scared- maybe relieved it wasn’t me- I had zero way to express this until he last few yrs. Biracial & passing has its own psychology- I have buried a lot of this & feel “something” when celebs like Halsey our words to it?

    • Jay says:

      Thanks for sharing this, that must have been really difficult to confront those guilty/relieved feelings.

    • osito says:

      Thank you for being so honest.

    • Reece says:

      I’m mixed POC too. However I got a mixture of features because both of my parents were mixed POCs with brown skin and “good hair”. When I was a child a passed for white, although I didn’t really understand it I just knew people would think my mom was my nanny. As I’ve gotten older and tan-er I get asked what island I’m from a lot because people think I’m Pacific Islander.

      Being bi or multi-racial POC is like existing in a void because you don’t “fit” into either culture completely and are therefore othered by everyone.

  8. Pandakeeper says:

    Mexican-Irish, born in the states. All my life I’ve had white people commenting that I’m not white enough and Latin people ( mostly Mexican and Mexican-American) call me a white girl.

  9. InsertNameHere says:

    If you didn’t realize that Halsey is an intelligent, outspoken woman, you need to go find her speech from the Women’s March. She is pretty incredible.

  10. Alissa says:

    I’m white passing, and was raised by my white mother primarily, but my father is black/native American, and my grandmother was raised on a reservation. I know exactly what she means – I would never say our because I’m white passing and therefore experience white privilege. about the most I for was before I straightened my hair regularly, people thought I was Mexican or Latina.

  11. Valiantly Varnished says:

    She has spoken many times about being biracial. She’s never hidden that fact.

    • osito says:

      She hasn’t hidden it at all, so I don’t entirely understand her use of “white passing” here. She’s never actively been like “I’m just white” and has repeatedly acknowledged her non-white ethnic heritage. I know people assume she’s white, which I buy more than how people used to say it about Duchess Meghan, but is being intentionally clear about one’s racial heritage a form of passing? I’m feeling genuinely conflicted about her statement, and trying to find empathy for an experience that isn’t my own, but it sticks in my craw. Maybe it’s semantics… I dunno.

      • Angie says:

        She says “white passing” because a stranger seeing her will likely not see her as bi-racial. They will likely see her as white.

    • Tia says:

      She’s not going to be followed around / refused entry to expensive shops by staff in case she shoplifts (see Oprah in Switzerland). If she drives past a police car in an expensive car, a racist police officer isn’t going to think at first glance it’s being driven by a black woman (and therefore might be stolen). If she is recognised as Halsey the famous person, her actual ethnicity will be known but it’s all the little day to day interactions where people *don’t* recognise her where she is saying looking white at first glance means she can’t speak for people who can’t say the same.

      She’s not *trying* to pass for white (hence mentioning she is biracial), she’s saying she gets *treated* as white in day to day interactions and sadly that often means being treated *better*.

      • Racheal says:

        Beautifully stated

      • osito says:

        I see. I’ve never seen that phrase used in this passive way before — only in the intentional obfuscation of one’s racial identity in order to assimilate into white culture. It still feels like an odd way to phrase it to me, but I think that’s just based on my previous understanding of that label.

  12. detritus says:

    Halsey is phenomenal. Both her words and using her platform for a great purpose, but also less importantly that sweet purple number that looks comfy but would make me feel quarantine fabulous

    Non sequiter – Cole Sprouse (Jughead from Riverdale) was arrested for protesting recently and made some absolutely excellent comments.

  13. Tiffany says:

    John Boyega….he just has my heart. I am just so proud of him.

  14. Lwt00 says:

    Haley’s statement is spot one. I’m also white passing mixed, as are many of my cousins. We’ve been discussing this very thing and have the same attitude she has.

  15. JRenee says:

    She uses White passing because she appears White, not because she doesn’t acknowledge her biracial heritage.

  16. Liz version 700 says:

    Ummmmmmmmm so remember the “Rehome their adopted baby” couple? The cops are investigating because they can’t find the kid!

  17. O Joan E Ayers says:

    The powers that be love us fighting over racism because it stops the conversation from moving on to classism and economic inequality.

    • goofpuff says:

      who says it’s not all related?

      • O Joan E Ayers says:

        It is but you rarely hear the word ‘classism’ get mentioned in the media reports.

    • MarcelMarcel says:

      Lmao classism & economic inequality was built on slavery. If we undo systemic racism than we can create a much better world.
      #BlackLivesMatter

  18. Eugh says:

    This is a good teachable moment. I hope she continues her growth, for her own sake and given her sizable platform, allows her to inform others. She has said many disparaging things about Asians (“the Asians are multiplying”) in the past so I hope she realizes the harm.

  19. BB says:

    I’m also a white passing biracial woman but I grew up in a predominately black neighborhood and had to defend my right to exist there my whole life. I say “we” whenever discussing these struggles because even though I’ve never personally been victimized, I saw it in my neighborhood and identify more strongly with my black side. I understand what Halsey is saying and don’t feel it’s a negative thing at all, I just feel differently. I’m married to a black man and have 2 son’s who will grow up to be black men in this country so I do not feel like I’m outside these issues