Paula Patton
Patton in 2011, photo by s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Paula Maxine Patton
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: December 5, 1975
Ethnicity:
*father – African-American
*mother – German, English, smaller amount of Dutch
Paula Patton is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films Hitch, Idlewild, Déjà Vu (2006), Jumping the Broom, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, 2 Guns, Warcraft, and Sacrifice (2019).
Her father, Charles Patton, is black. Her mother, Joyce (Van Raden), who is white, has German, English, and at least 1/16th Dutch, ancestry. Paula has identified herself as Black. She has stated:
I find it [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.’ I’m black because that’s the way the world sees me. People aren’t calling Barack Obama biracial. Most people think there’s a black president.
Paula has a son with her former husband, singer and songwriter Robin Thicke.
Paula’s maternal grandfather was Benjamin Alexander Van Raden, Jr. (the son of Benjamin Van Raden and Grace Read Alexander). Paula’s grandfather Benjamin was born in New York. Paula’s great-grandfather Benjamin was born in Nebraska, the son of Carl Edward Holeman Van Raden, whose father was Dutch and whose mother was German, and of Louisa Bergman, whose parents were German. Paula’s great-grandmother Grace was born in New York, and had English ancestry. Grace was the daughter of Robert Read Alexander and Laura Davis, who were from Massachusetts.
Sources: Genealogy of Paula’s maternal grandfather, Benjamin Alexander Van Raden, Jr. – https://www.wikitree.com
Obituary of Paula’s maternal grandfather, Benjamin Alexander Van Raden, Jr. – http://www.legacy.com
Marriage record of Paula’s maternal great-grandparents, Benjamin Van Raden and Grace Read Alexander – https://familysearch.org
Paula’s maternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Van Raden, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Paula’s maternal great-grandmother, Grace Read Alexander, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Paula’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Carl Edward Holeman Van Raden and Louisa Bergman, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
dude why are ya’ll focusing so much on that little bit of info she gave about her race when she talked about everything in that article..i admire her for saying what she believed about her ethnicity even though i dont believe it myself (im 50% black and 50% white also or bi-racial)..i really just think its soo sweet that she’s pregnant and doing what makes her happy with a man who loves her unconditionally..he seems like the perfect partner
It doesn’t make any difference what she is.
They make a beautiful couple and will have some healthy, beautiful babies.
You 2……………..do your thing! You’re gorgeous!
I’m a beautiful African American and look like it with a gorgeous white, French husband.
I think you should spend your life with the person you’re in love with.
foxy, when I went to France i was astounded by the number of pretty African women waling around Paris. and interesting you mention French guys, in France I saw a lot of French guys with African women. Many seem to love Black girls.
its suppose to say black and white on where it says “ethnicity” becuz, dats wat she is, black and white
It Says African – American Because She Self – Identify Herself As Black.
yeah but dis is a celebrity,ethnicity, etc. website,so its suppose to say wat she(which is black and white),not wat she identify herself with.
Ya, I Your Right!
but she might not necessarily be biracial..she could be black..and by the way the word is that not “dat”
i kno
Who cares! Everybody knows hollywood movies and the music industry discriminate and are prejudice towards women with two black parents. They will cast lighter skinned before brown or black complexion women. So, who cares…she’s only in the place where she is, because of color. I thought Robin Thicke is truely in love with her. Most white brothers who are into black sisters, go for darker complexion anyway.
not really..im biracial and am light skinned and i know a lot of white guys say they like light skinned black girls..and i only date white guys but all of them i’ve dated say they like lighter skin better..i know in other places, like the lady mentioned earlier, that French men like darker skinned women but not really here..
It’s so effin funny how White people now want her to claim white but if this was segregation or slavery she would be just another n*gger that really kills me. She consider herself black because you guys made it like that bi-racial is not considered a race Black and White is, SO what would she look like going around saying “I’m a white woman” or Obama going around saying “I’m a white man” like seriously, the 1st thing in a white man head is “silly n*gger get real” but since they’re good little n*ggers one is a phenomenal actress, and the other is President they need to claim white huh wow. Like she said whoever goes by that is trying to deny who they really are, and if bi-racial was really the case or mixed at all, then all Black people are “Bi-racial” or “Multi-racial” whatever you want to call it, because we are not pure blooded Africans you got the white men to thank for that. But white people could never claim Black people because guess what society say’s that majority black people are good for nothing that’s why they’re trying so hard to seperate Paula Patton, Halle Berry, Barack Obama etc. My little sis and mother is whats considered “Lightskin” lighter then Paula Patton I guess they’re Bi-racial huh, Me I have what’s considered “good hair” I guess I should coinsider myself bi-racial too. Thats all Bull CRAP so stop it really. She’s black and she knows it better then her denying who she really is.
Well, I disagree with what she said about being offended at being called biracial. That is what I am. Biracial, Mulatto, or whatever you want to call it.
I have HALF of my White mother’s genes, and HALF of my black father’s genes. I do NOT care what “society” wants to call me- yes, my skin is a light brown/olive color. BUT, that does NOT define me. My BIOLOGICAL MAKEUP is who I am.
The blood of my ancestors from Russia/Poland (Jews) runs through my veins, as well as my African American (going back to Africa) runs through my veins as well.
Unless a new word can be found, I will ALWAYS remain exactly who I am- biracial. It has NOTHING to do with me not wanting to identify with blacks– that is asinine. When you see me, clearly my skin is NOT white. I know who and what I am– a woman blessed to be half of two different cultures. I am PROUD of BOTH!
I agree with you Linda, If you are Biracial and you deny one of your ethnicities, its like saying one of your parents doesnt exist.
I Dont Totally Agree With You Two!
If You’re 1/2 White and 1/2 Black etc. And You Say That You’re Black, It Doesn’t Mean Your Denying Your White Parent, It’s Just How You See Yourself.
But One Thing I Do Agree Is If You Are 1/2 White and 1/2 Black etc. And You Say That Your Black And Don’t Mention That You Have A White Parent. Then That’s Where It Should Be A Problem!
dude thats not true at all..i seriously doubt white people go around thinking “silly n*gger get real”..i mean yeah there are still racists out there but majority of people aren’t like that..im biracial and yes i identify as BI-racial because thats what i am..its not a matter of denying that ur black but a matter of acknowledging ur other side..my mom is a black women and my father is a white man..i like to say im both because i am..im light skinned and have curly soft hair..thats just because i have the roots for that..and just because someone has lighter skin or softer hair doesnt make them bi-racial..it makes them black with lighter skin or black with softer hair..and i dont deny im black even when im with a white person..i dont “act” like im white which by the way is considered white only because a person isnt loud and ghetto..i act like myself..i was brought up in a nice surburban white area so im closer to white people than black people..i date white men only because i find them more attractive than black men as far as the way they look and carry themselves but in the end that has nothing to do with my ethnicity but who i am as an individual