Taye Diggs Addresses Mixed Race In Kids Book Inspired By Biracial Son: ‘Proud Black Man’ Wants Son To Choose

Taye Diggs has authored Mixed Me, a book for kids that drew its inspiration from Walker, who is the 6-year-old biracial son of Taye and singer/actress Idina Menzel. The second volume for kids authored by Diggs, Mixed Me seeks to make a difference for children such as Walker as well as adults, reported the Grio.

“When you [call biracial kids black], you risk disrespecting that one half of who you are, and that’s my fear,” explained Taye. “I don’t want my son to be in a situation where he calls himself black and everyone thinks he has a black mom and a black dad, and then they see a white mother, they wonder, ‘Oh, what’s going on?’ ”

In addition, Diggs is taking the message in his Mixed Me book and applying it to adults as well. In particular, Taye points out that President Obama frequently is identified as the first black president in U.S. history although Obama also is biracial. In reality, says Diggs, it would be “great” if the President also could be described as mixed.

“As African-Americans, we were so quick to say okay he’s black, he’s black, and then there were the white people who were afraid to say [President Obama] was biracial…Everybody refers to him as the first black president. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m just saying that it’s interesting. It would be great if it didn’t matter and that people could call him mixed.”

Taye also emphasized that his goal for his son is to give him choices and to take pride in those choices. Diggs took to social media to express his message about his own pride in being black, while clarifying his concern and caring for his little boy and goals for his future.

“I am a proud black man. I want my son to grow up to be a proud black man if he so chooses. He has a mother who is white. He has every right to be just as proud of his mother’s ‘blood’ as well,” added Taye.

Diggs was attacked on Twitter about his mixed race message, in particular after saying he does not want his son to be described as black, reported TMZ.

However, Taye is defying Twitter trolls by reiterating that when it comes to how he brings up his son, it’s the actor’s decision rather than a consensus taken from social media. Social media followers accused Diggs of suffering from “self hate issues.” Moreover,they commented on his son’s mother.

“Somebody tell Taye Diggs Black man + white lady = black baby, that’s just how it is, bro,” said one follower.

However, in response, Taye asked what happens if his 6-year-old, at some point in his life, wants to be described as white.

The dialogue generated by Diggs over mixed race identification comes just as Rachel Dolezal is back in the news. Appearing on The Real, Rachel was questioned by Loni Love and Tamar Braxton about how she identifies her race, reported Jezebel.

Rachel has described herself as black since 2006, and says she considered herself black from the time she was young, while claiming that starting in 1998, she was viewed as biracial by many people.

However, Tamera Mowry discussed the issue that Rachel brought up in claiming that by personally identifying as black, that somehow changes her race. In contrast, Mowry revealed that she is biracial while identifying as black, and that there’s a difference between that and what Dolezal attempted.

As a result of that dialogue, Rachel ultimately admitted that she is a white woman, noting that she is pregnant. The father’s race was not identified on the show.

[Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Starwood Preferred Guest]