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

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

478 Responses

  1. It's Me says:

    Who cares what her ethnicity is! She’s a beautiful woman, that’s all that matters! Why are some people so fixated on race!? Just shut up.

  2. chris says:

    I understand the who but let’s be real here if you are 3rd or fourth generation black you probably are mixed. So all the arguing is stupid. Blacks didn’t make the rules our white elders did. No other race really seperates them self claiming them selves bi racial. I ddont have a problem if you do. I.just think its wild that my white friends want us to say biracial on celebs but the one on the street you consider them black. As I said earlier a lot of us are bi racial and tri racial. You came have it both ways people

  3. Maria says:

    Paula Patton finds the word bi racial disrespectful no people use that word because that is what they are and are proud of both there parents races.She is disrespectful by not acknowledging both of her familys sides,,I think her mother should give her a slap for being so rude and disrespectful to the woman that birthed her`,She is denying who she is and the two people that made her who she is.And she look mixed plain and simple no question about it..

  4. Mixed Is Beautiful says:

    She looks mixed to me. There’s no way someone could confuse her for a 100% Black woman.

    • anna says:

      Then you haven’t met racist swedish people :) They even think some tanned people from Iran are black :)

      • G. Robins says:

        Anna I don’t care about what the racist swedish people say that’s their problem that they don’t get it! I would tell them what I said I am and if you have a problem with that then that’s what its going to have to be YOUR PROBLEM! I am not going to deny what my genetic makeup is to appease you when I know the truth! OH WELL!lol!

    • G. Robins says:

      I so had to reply to this comment! You said there is no way she could she could be mistaken for 100 percent black woman. ! I know some African Americans that are by far much lighter in complexion then Paula! I always explain to people so long as you are living in america and African American you may not know what the child would look like at birth! lol! We are by far the only race that can produce children that represent every race in the world!lol! I find this amazing don’t you?lol!You know why this is possible??? Because of our diversity and race mixing African Americans have been exposed to! Thats why no one of us look the same and the colors vary! I don’t understand why some other races are so ignorant that they don’t see the variations in the color of African Americans! Take your blinders off people!lol!

  5. G. Robins says:

    I am so sorry to see that the people who have trouble knowing who they are are African-Americans! This is disturbing to see that the subject of our diverse background has been restricted to just Africa. People need to learn more about African-Americans! I am sorry to tell you but a great portion of you are more than just African! That is why when you look at your family they are of many, many shades! It’s time for Americans to explain African-American culture the right way. I myself am of creole descent! I embrace my culture because of its diversity and you should do the same! The concept of African-Americans having only ties to Africa is another form of racism and the foolishness needs to end! Many of you probably couldn’t even tell what tribe of Africa you belong to! Everyone else can tell you that they are, Irish, French and Indian and no one questions their diversity. The minute a person who is African-American begins to describe who their family members are people become real stupid!!!!! I repeat African-Americans wake up! The denial of ones self only keeps you further enslaved and allows the lies to continue!!!!!! African-Americans are one of the most diverse races in the world! Never allow anyone group of people to define your makeup! If God made you African, Indian and French then guess what thats who you are! We all know that the culture of Africa is rich! It’s no disrespect to say you are genetically made up of more than African!

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