I don’t usually do this, but…

Mixing races can be very interesting and lead to exotic looks, depending on genetics. I have friends who are 1/2 white and 1/2 Guamese. They look like they are from Guam. Another woman had parents whose mother was a blonde, brown eyed Italian and father was Japanese. She had pale blue eyes and blonde hair. No one ever believed her father was Japanese. Talk about recessive gene dominance. For most people, we only know what race someone was a few generations back and not what our genetics carry from centuries ago. All of our prior genetics carry down to who we are and what we look like today.

“truth” is so very wrong. I have a first cousin, half-white, who looks nothing like his mother. Yet, we know he is hers……we were there when she carried him. AND you DO look like your mom, your smile, your eyes, etc. Some people are just so ignorant about these things. I am sooo very glad that I was at the Northwestern Auditorium in Chicago and had the opportunity to see her (you were in the audience) about a year before she died. I LOVED it when she came on stage and kicked that leg up in the air.???? She must have been a lot of fun!!

Whoever wrote that message has a basket of issues all their own. I look at you and your mother and I definitely see the resemblance. Some people just enjoy being mean, like the Sneetches and they just don’t matter. Your mother was beautiful and amazing (we saw her cabaret numerous times), you are beautiful and you look like her, and I’m sure your children are beautiful and amazing. That is all that matters. People troll on the internet because they don’t like themselves and they try to make others feel worse. In this case, that person is clearly wrong.

I also being a mixed race person who is now in my mid-50s, my mother being white from Germany my father being African-American born and bred between Virginia and New Jersey. My mother was a beautiful Caucasian woman my father was a very handsome African-American male. I am me I have attributes of both my mother and my father and I am proud of both. Just like you are. People used to say to my mother when I was a small child oh why did you adopt that little girl? Commons continue but I love who I am. Thank you for being you

Beautifully written, eloquently explained!

What a beautiful response to such an ugly comment. You are pure Class..just like your Mother. Be well.

I am blown away by the audacity of Ms. or Mr. Truth to write such a ignorant and narrow minded comment. You don’t have to prove who you are to anyone. Not that it matters but the strong resemblance to your mom is evident. This sounds like the words of a mean spirited person who would actually tell a child that did not know he or she was adopted that they were. Your response could not be any more perfect.

Genetics are magical and mysterious, and in a good way! People should see the beauty in heredity and genetics, plain and simple!

You have inherited your mother’s eyes, compassionate spirit and radiate her boundless love.

You’re such a classy mutt. Beautifully stated. It’s mind-boggling to me how people will ignore facts to support a belief of theirs. All one needs to do it to look at you and they’ll see the awesome DNA you’ve inherited, and with a few enhancements, made your own. And I’ve seen several photos of you as a child in which there was a hint of your african-american heritage. Besides, your mom had mixed DNA anyway. AND… in different photos her skin color can look darker or lighter. “Truth” doesn’t understand genetics and would probably be completely amazed if they knew the heritage of many of the people around them.

Nearly always, when someone expresses an opinion based on ignorance, the motivation is not what they are really saying, but rather a prejudice of some sort. In the end, it’s THAT PERSON who has the problem.

I guess Truth would wonder how my half white, half black child turned out looking 100% Hispanic! I’ve know many, many children who were 1/2 or 1/4 black. Some looked black. Some looked white. Some looked in-between or like something else entirely. Sorry (not sorry) we don’t all fit someone else’s preconceived stereotypes!

I agree with you — you look exactly like your mother…inside and out. Blessed.

You are so your mother’s daughter! xx

There is something crucial that’s missing in the lives of people who spruik hate and division by spreading falsehoods.
I adored Eartha kit, and now that I’ve discovered her daughter, I’m certain I adore her too; especially after having just seen a terrific 8-year-old interview of her via YouTube. Kitt seems like such a well balanced, beautiful soul!

Being a woman of color, I am always questioned about my nationality. I do not possess my mother’s complexion nor hair texture and my brothers look like her. I e always been asked if I’m adopted? I see my features in my mother in some pictures but regardless I am who I am…my mother’s child. My father is very light-skinned & off very diverse background so I took more so after him.
Kitt, you replied eloquently to someone who knows nothing & desires to shade the truth of enlightenment. Much luv & respect to you.

You are a big girl now. You don’t have to please no-one. You don’t have to explain nothing to ignorant people. I’m sorry you have to put up with pathetic people.

You are beautiful and your mother was beautiful inside and out. Love never dies and that’s all that is important. Your mother did a magnificent job of raising her beloved child. This person was nasty and instead of blowing him off you were patient and eloquent. Happy Thanksgiving Kitt. I look forward to meeting you one day. I am such a fan of your Mom’s and love singing her songs. xox

As someone who lost their her mother as a young child..the pain you must have felt to have someone (who doesn’t know you or your mother) deny your bond makes me so deeply sad. Your response to her was gracious and probably undeserved. But thank you. ooxx

I don’t know who the RUDE/IGNORANT person who had the audacity to write a post that, besides putting their 2 cents when nobody asked… Has constructed an entire mythology of lies and deception to explain how you came to be raised by your own mother!!! And even in a situation where it was all true??? No one but a cruel, heartless, evil , hot mess of a poor excuse for a human being would throw it in a person’s face!!! Potentially throwing your whole sense of self and those who you most love into a whirlwind of insecurity, deception and confusion!!!

I’m sorry you’ve faced people who’ve questioned and cast doubts on your origin. I’ll never understand the arrogance it takes for someone to opine on the life of a person they’ve never met. Does “Truth” have a degree in genetics? Doubtful.

By this simple and eloquent response I have no doubt you are your mothers child and she lives and is flourishing inside your heart. God Bless

I took one look at the picture of you and your mother and said, “That’s definitely her mother.” Then I read the paragraph below where you said that you do look like your mother except for hair color and skin tone. It’s sad that Mr. or Mrs. Truth couldn’t see past her own “racial identifiers” to actually see YOU. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that nonsense.

I am huge fan of your mothers and watched many of her interviews. It is clear she adored and loved you. I understand the need for you to write this post because even though it shouldn’t, race, in our society, plays a dominant role and your mother experienced the brunt of that by not being accepted as a child within her own family. It shows you the impact of colonialism and white supremacy when people within their own race can not accept one another. Truth was just expressing an opinion and I can understand that hurts and you feel it is wrong, but it’s just an opinion and I do think that we shouldn’t shun people if they have an opinion that is contrary to ours. Not everyone can always agree and if you think about the context your mother grew up and lived in then I can see why Truth would have an opinion like that. Your mother lived in a time where black people were lynched, beaten, segregated, and not considered human by many. When I first saw you, I thought the same thing, my nieces and nephews are mixed and they look mixed. Genes are a funny thing and I don’t know what the possibilities are. Mariah Carey is biracial and looks white so it happens. I’m not saying it’s a right thought or comment to have but that’s all it is is an opinion of one’s own understanding and expression. I don’t think it was meant to hurt. It’s your blog but people should be able to express their own thoughts if it’s dialogue you want to create. You can’t create dialogue if everyone just agrees with you. I don’t think you should have to defend yourself and who you are either. It’s tough, I’m not in your situation, but wishing you well and at the end of the day you had what I think was a wonderful mother that really loved and adored you and that’s what matters.

It is Wonderful you are celebrating your mother’s legacy. I just heard about Eartha Kitt Day today. I received a call about January 17th.

It is interesting that our non-profit is having a fundraiser on March 17th, 2018 traveling to Augusta to celebrate the late James Brown’s legacy.

Apparently Mr or Mrs Truth was the one who did the adoption papers for your mother. Sometimes I really wonder about people, people like ‘Truth’. Truth is probably mixed as well and is envious of the way you look in comparison to themselves and to compare you both with Heidi and her kids, I think Truth should go grow some common sense. Let me leave them alone because I am so mad, I would say things that may get my comment removed. You, my dear handled that idiotic comment beautifully. You are so Miss Eartha’s child and you DO LOOK LIKE YOUR MOTHER, and another thing you inherited from her is that ‘PURE HEART’ – ‘BLESS YOUR HEART’. Keep doing what you do and being who you are and it’s fantastic to see that the ‘Idiotic Truth’ couldn’t keep you down.

Don’t let it bother you dear, there are a lot of small minded people out there who obviously have not lived.

Dear Kitt,
Where do I begin…There is a story in my family, that my aunt Myrtis was the woman who assisted your mom in getting the audition with Katherine Dunham. She looked a great deal like your mom, and they were both from South Carolina. However, here’s what I’d like to say about you. I have similar features and a complexion to your mother as well. My father genetically is 80% Caucasian, blue-eyed and blond. My mother was dark brown skinned. I turned out bronzed like your mom. I married a man who was Italian. My daughter was born blue-eyed. She is olive skinned with thick long braids that are 3A in texture. When she was born in an Italian hospital, they almost gave me the wrong baby because they were accustomed to seeing PURE black women with White husbands who had light-skinned children. They weren’t accustomed to seeing the effect of a mother who is 44% Caucasian with a pure white husband.

People are stupid. They have very little knowledge about genetics. I’ve even had people accuse me of not being a biological mother to my daughter because her eyes are blue and “black” people don’t carry the genes for blue eyes. They’re so accustomed to partially black people representing black people that they think all mixed race people look like seal and Heidi Klum’s children.

Nonetheless, don’t worry about it. I saw a lot of pictures in my aunts photo album from her days with Katherine Dunham. I wish there was some way to affirm the story, because it was something passed along in my family for years. Unfortunately, my aunt passed away in 2004.

Amazed at how relevant this thread continues to be, and that we seem to be regressing in time with our current cultural and political climate. Eartha’s life example and you as her living legacy of that stellarly transformational life, Kitt, are more needed than ever in these times. I addressed the insensitive “Truth” in a previous post; But in doing some further reading on your Mom’s situation and the shameful way she was treated in the South, I wish I’d come on this information earlier. I’m certain you can get your Mother’s biological Father, through DNA / genetics match sites. It’s your best chance, to at last put the mystery to rest and salve what still may be an open spiritual wound waiting to heal. As well as your curiosity about your Paternal side. You have every right to know about your Mother’s family, and where her phenomenal resilience, gifts and courage come from. As many have said, your compassionate, common-sense and gracious response is so perfectly Eartha, she raised you up in her shadow in all the best conceivable ways. All blessings as you continue on her journey and your own, together.

You have a lot of your mother’s facial features. I think you and your mom are beautiful. I also identify my race as human. Why does color matter? Your mom is a legend and I would have loved to have met her. Maybe one-day I can meet you. I have a small circle of friends. I don’t trust many people. Enjoy your life may God bless you.

Kitt,

I cannot lie, I was and still am one of those that could not bring myself to believe that Eartha carried you. I used to scour the web looking for photos of Eartha pregnant.
“Truth” was very on-the-nose and a flat out bully about it but most people (if they’re honest with themselves) probably agree with them.
But even still…none of that matters, you are here, you are human and you got to live your entire with the GREAT Eartha Kitt.
I absolutely adore that woman, we are both Capricorns and I relate to so much of her story from start to finish.
What a blessing you will always have. I can only imagine some of the wisdom she imparted on you. =)

Hi Kitt,

Your love, honor and respect for your mother and her legacy is an example to us all. Your post was from last fall and people are still commenting about it – some throwing out their own opinions (still, ugh) – but most supporting you – which is beautiful.

It is a dialogue that needs to be had. Why is it so hard to believe that we are all related? Mixed raced people prove the connectedness we all have.

And just speaking from a purely biological standpoint, a mostly white woman who has a baby with a mostly white man will mostly have brown-skinned children; all different shades of brown (like me). However, a bi-racial woman and a mostly white man could produce a “peach-skinned” child or a brown-skinned child; the skin shades would typically have a wider range and encompass more of the lighter tones, eyes and hair colors; because genetically the child is more like 75% white, as opposed to 50% white.

For example, the CEO of my company is of black descent but he looks like a white man. His mother was European and his Father was African-American (most likely bi-racial somewhere down the line). They had several children and they all ranged in skin tone from darker brown to almost white.

******
All people need to do is open their minds just a bit and get out of their own thoughts and be open to learning. If they did this, they would understand that their framework does not define life, it limits it.

Another example: Thomas Jefferson had numerous children with his slave, Sally Hennings. It is a known and accepted fact. Sally was “quadroon” the product of Jefferson’s wife’s father (yep!) and a bi-racial slave. Her children with Jefferson ranged in skin tone from white to brown. Same parents. Some of the children chose to “pass” over into white society.

So what’s my point? My point is mixed race children show up in a diverse number of ways. It has been documented in history, we see it in our communities, and it even makes sense biologically.

Light skinned people of African decent should not be required to wear a constant t-shirt around life that says “I really am black, I have the DNA to prove it” – but it seems like that is what people like “Truth” want. They want to be comvinced as if their negative opinion even matters!

So funny that a blonde woman with fair skin has a gorgeous brown-skinned mother and that just drives some people cray ????. Deal with it.

????

E. Bailey

There are many African Americans who were able to pass for Caucasians back in the day. I think “Truth” can benefit from a book called “Shades of Black” by Sandra L Pinkney.

Hello Kitt. I have been a fan of Eartha Kitt and in doing some research came across this site. My first reaction was what business is it of hers? I have made it a rule to sign my name to what I write because I have nothing to hide. Sadly, there are underachieving envious petty individuals who take their frustrations out on others. I have been at the receiving end of this mean spiritedness intended to hurt and demean. But that sort of behavior cannot stop you from living your life and accomplishing your goals. I’m also as blunt and controversial a lightning rod as your mom continues to be in her writings and the heck with it. Thanks for reminding all of us of the wonderful human being your mom, Eartha Kitt, was and how there should be more like her everywhere. Love. Migdia Chinea.

My mother never knew who her father was. After my 15 years after my mother died, one of my sisters started to investigate by submittedher own DNA to ancestry.com and she eventually pieced together through family trees who my mother’s father was. She then had the daughter of the man take a DNA test to verify. The man was Italian. She had no idea she was half Italian but she ended up marrying twice, both to Italian men. She was treated a bit as an outsider by my father’s family because she wasn’t Italian.

Kitt, you look like a white, blue eyed, blonde haired version of your mom. It would be interesting to see what her father looked like. Probably the male version of you.

Hi Kitt!
As a “mutt” myself, I get where you are coming from. This “truth” person needs to expand his/her surroundings. I can clearly see the black in you. I think if your hair were darker, it would be even more obvious.
To accuse you of being adopted is silly…your mom couldn’t go into certain places because of her skin color at the time,but they allowed her to adopt a white baby??? Right……

Silliest comment ever.
You so obviously look like your mom. I cannot add any more narrative to that which has been already stated.

I have always been fascinated by your mother’s work and outspokenness.. I remember hearing your mother in an interview stating that she was part Native American as well. Curious if you’ve taken an Ancestry.com test.. to get your DNA.. You can write a story about this journey.. about race and genetics..

Some people just look at color and especially so in America. Deviding people into races seem to bee important in the US, in Europe we don’t really get why it matters. I have seen photos of your handsome son and it is clear he is part african-american if people need “proof” of blackness. Genetics are unpredictable and can sometimes skip a generation or more.

I am a mutt, black white and Cherokee, and I have a brother who has several children with his wife who has black and white in her genealogy as well. Their children are a variety of colors.

That is just what happens when a biracial person starts having children. You have no idea what they’re actually going to look like. It’s a total mystery.

I took a trip to Belize and saw things I’d never seen before. I saw Black people with light hair colors and blue and hazel eyes. It was mentioned by the local who gave us a tour. The island is such a melting pot that the people there are diverse and rare beauties she stated. I think it’s amazing.

Have you ever thought of doing a DNA test, not to prove that you are Mrs. Eartha Kitt’s daughter? To find out the depth of your history and through that, you could find Mrs. Eartha Kitt’s family. I have done a DNA test because I have always known that I had Spanish blood in me, and my DNA test proved it. I was surprised to find that I was also 30% Caucasian.
To the person that stated that Kitt doesn’t look like Mrs. Eartha, that’s ridiculous. DNA pulls from every which way, and it possible that it pulled Mrs. Eartha’s Caucasian DNA, which probably dominated the gene pull. By looking at Kitt’s, you can tell that she is mixed even though she looks Caucasian. You can look at her oliva skin tone, the texture of her hair. She looks like her father to me, plus her body build resembles Mrs. Eartha Kitts.

I sincerely thank God for people like you, such a Beautiful Soul. Unfortunately we do reside in a society of people that are Hateful and Mean spirited, your mother was truly a wise woman. May you continue to carry her legacy, God Bless you and your family.

I have 4 grandkids, they are mixed race. While they do look like siblings, each one has their own particular skin tone, from dark to very light. One of them looks like she is white and not mixed race at all. Also, I have a young friend who has a black dad and a white mom. I didn’t know she was multi racial until about 5 years into our friendship. She is very blonde and very fair. Her brother looks the opposite, as if he has no white in his background. And what’s really important about this, is the only thing that matters is that they are beautiful individuals. They are blessed with loving and interesting families. The person who left the original post which questioned your race and background is extremely ignorant and lacking in wisdom and decorum.

I dont know who or what Truth is but he or she is an idiot! You do have your mother features. And since your mother was mixed on the lighter side and your father was white your skin tone is lighter. All the money sparring put into education it was wasted on Truth. Never worry about what people say. OTH, if you would like located your grandfather on your mother’s side.. 23 and me, or maury have a DNA test done and let your mom’s spirit rest in true peace. She could be another Sentor Strong Thurmond case which is why the black-outed the name on the birth certificate. #JMT

Thanks for posting this. I’m a child of an Egyptian dad and an Irish mom. My brother (same parents) had black hair where I have brown and olive skin where mine was, well, less olive (?). Anyway other people often considered the four of us to belong to different races. Sometimes that judgement extended to ourselves. It was a drag not to have my own tribe. As you wrote, mixed race people, especially when we present as just one race, don’t fit a simple narrative. It’s empowering to hear your story and feel represented. Thank you

I just read the beautiful article about your mother and you in People. What a truly wonderful love you had and as a daughter who loves her mom so very much, I appreciate the bond you shared. I’m always so amazed at the insensitivity of some as I read the Truth comments. Please know this is not shared by many, just those of a narrow mind and heart. I’m of the same race as my parents and look nothing like either of them nor my sibling. Genetics is a funny thing. You share much of your lovely mother down to her sweet nature. Bless you and your family.

Kian and Remee biracial twins. Look them up if you still have questions truth person. God does things his way not yours.

I’m sitting here on a day off from work and while cruising through youtube, I came across an interview you and your mom did some years back on Sally Jessy Raphael. I wish I could have met her. I always thought she was of a class that I would want to always surround me…the intelligence, the wit, the unabashed candor for telling the simple truth….and definitely a gift for story-telling events. When I look at this misguided comment that is at the center of this article, it just makes me wonder at just how far we have come. It seems as if we (society) have not put one step forward if one person could take the time to create this type of post. Something you said definitely struck a cord with me as I had to smile when you mentioned ” The Sneetches,” because I brought this very book, televised cartoon up to a co-worker recently. I had not seen or heard the word, “Sneetches” since some 40 years ago. The point you brought up was the same as mine and of the meaning of Dr. Suess’ book. I also said it should be a required reading starting from when a child starts to learn to read, although it may not be a bad idea for adults to read before starting any job, but I will add that I have never classified myself as any race, and I am a 55 year old male born and reared in the south living in NYC for 31 years now. I have only always identified myself as the son of my parents because that was always more than enough for me.

What many commenters fail to realize is the Eartha Kitt was mixed raced. Frankly, nearly all African Americans are, although most do not have one white parent. Therefore, our bi-racial children are almost always more than 50% White. So if you figure a bi-racial “Black” child is 55%-65% White, then it makes sense that a bi-racial “Black” person who has a child with a 100% White person can have a child who looks “White.” Heidi Klum’s children look Black because Seal likely has no White DNA. Black genes do dominate. But when a perswon is only about 20-25% Black, they are not likely to look Black.

One of the reasons why we are still having this discussion in the 21st C is because only the “Black race” was defined, but only in the U.S. and it’s a standard that U.S. Black people use to describe people of African descent world-wide, even if not all Black people world-wide have the same perspective. It’s difficult for many of us to let go of the definition because doing so causes an identity crisis in ourselves. For instance, if the matriarch of my family was not really “Black,” but instead bi-racial, then what am I and was my family truly a Black family? So the issue is not trivial.

I just found this, and I must say, as a mixed person, only 1 of my 3 children look remotely like me. My youngest is in fact blonde and blue eyed woth very fair skin. Even if she was adopted, it is noones business. People are gross and just want attention.

I find a lot of satisfaction that so many decent people have responded to what can only be described as a thoughtless comment. I had the pleasure of meeting your mother a few times in NYC and treasure the memories. God bless you and yours~
Mark

I’m so sorry that you had to endure this kind of blatant racist comment from someone who is truly misinformed. All four of my grandchildren are biracial, with the older of my two granddaughters having a tall blonde haired mom and a much taller very dark-skinned black dad (he is my beloved stepson.) When I see photos of you as a young girl with your mom, my immediate reaction is “Oh my gosh – our granddaughter Ruby looks just like Kitt!” We continue to hope and pray that the world general, in the United States in particular, will emerge from this time of hostility and lack of acceptance into a more evolved state.. This country will be “majority minority” about 20 or 25 years from now. These narrow minded folks had best get used to it.

You are your mothers child. A beautiful soul. I love Eartha Kitt. I’m also a Capricorn ♑️ My Beautiful black daughter married a white man and I have two beautiful biracial granddaughters one who looks like her mom and the other one her dad. That’s the beauty of DNA. So I personally feel you shouldn’t have to explain yourself to anyone. There are people out there who are ignorant about things they don’t understand therefore,they will question it or just be in disbelief all together. So people like that don’t need an explanation.

Firstly let me say people are ignorant. I gave birth to a moor and Christian as my family puts it. One twin was white blonde hair pale blue eye the other dark brown eyes brown. A black wome. Can give birth to a complete white childs yes. I also have friend with complete white chikdte and straight hair blonde blue eyes looks nothing like the father who is black. .and just so all yall ignorant people know. Brown eyes and brown hair and olive or yellow to dark skin is tge minority on our planet