Tia Mowry Opens Up About Black Identity And Belonging
If you're a millennial like me, then there's a big chance Tia Mowry played a part in your childhood. From shows like Sister, Sister and The Game to movies like Seventeen Again and Twitches, she and her twin sister Tamera were everywhere.
And if you knew them, then there's an even higher chance you knew their younger brother, Smart Guy's Tahj Mowry, as well.
Nowadays, Tia is widely known for sharing bits and pieces of her personal life online and connecting with fans on a deep and fun level. So, over the weekend, she posted a vulnerable message to Instagram to celebrate Juneteenth, where she opened up about her experience as a mixed-race woman, and why she's proud to call herself Black. She wrote her reflections on her Notes app and accompanied them with photos of herself and her family.
"There were moments I questioned where I belonged. Even as a mixed kid, I knew I was Black. But growing up, the world around me didn't always reflect that back to me. I had to go on a journey to fully understand who I was and what it meant to walk through this world as a Black woman."
"As a kid, I noticed the difference. When I was with my mom, who's Black, she was treated with suspicion. Not receiving an application for our dream home. Questions in first class. But with my white dad, people were welcoming. That's when I realized how much the color of your skin shapes how the world treats you."
Tia said it "took time" for her to find her "place" in the world. She felt like everyone was in a clique in school, whether they were separated by interests or by race. Although she didn't always know where she fit in, she did always know where she stood.
"It made me want to be loud about my pride," Tia continued. "To be Black and proud. To celebrate where I come from. And to use my voice and platform to make sure my community is seen, heard, and celebrated."
"Representation matters. I'll never forget the messages I got: 'I never saw someone who looked like me on TV until you.' Moments like that helped me fully land in who I am and who I stand for."
The mother of two revealed she looked into her ancestry. While she already knew her grandmother came from Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas, she would later learn that her family lineage traces all the way back to Ghana and Nigeria.
"We were taken, displaced, and yet survived. There is strength in that. And I carry that strength with me every day."
Motherhood has also given Tia a new perspective on Blackness and how she wants to teach her kids to be proud of who they are and where they come from. But it hasn't come without obstacles.
"My children are already feeling the weight of the world. At five, my son was called a monkey. He was told his skin was 'ugly.' And that's why I speak up, so they know they are loved, valued, and protected."
"Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. But it's also a reminder that we're still pushing, still fighting, still rising. I carry that with me in my work, my purpose, and my motherhood."
"I am Black. I am proud. I am loud with my love for this community. And I'll keep using my voice to create space for others to be proud too."
What a beautiful message to commemorate the holiday and celebrate the culture. Fans absolutely loved it too:
You can read her full post below:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
King Charles and Queen Camilla mark Prince William's 43rd birthday by sharing photo of royal
King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Prince William's 43rd birthday by sharing a photo of the royal on the Royal Family's Instagram page. The monarch, 76, and wife Camilla, 77, posted the snap of the future king kneeling in a field on Saturday (21.06.25) as William turned 43, with the image also shared earlier this year during his visit to farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath. Charles and Camilla captioned the snap, which showed William smiling as he sat on a rock wall: 'Happy Birthday to The Prince of Wales!' The caption was followed by a balloon and confetti emoji to mark the celebration. William has also marked his 43rd birthday with a furry celebration – posing for a new photograph alongside four black cocker spaniel puppies. 'It's a very happy birthday,' he said in a caption alongside a snap of him with his pets posted on his and wife Catherine's Instagram page. He added: 'Love C, G, C, L, Orla and the puppies.' The photograph, taken by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, earlier this month at Windsor, was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official social media accounts on Friday (21.06.25) morning. It showed the Prince of Wales surrounded by the playful pups, who were revealed last month by The Sun to be the offspring of the family's pet spaniel Orla. The photo was posted with a caption featuring the initials of the couple's children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – along with Orla, and two paw print emojis. The new additions to the royal household were born earlier this year, though their names – and the identity of their father – have not yet been revealed. According to The Sun, Orla, who joined the family in 2020, was originally a gift from Catherine's brother James Middleton, 37, a dog breeder who also bred their late dog Lupo and Orla's parents. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Mother and babies are doing well.' The couple's children are said to have quickly bonded with the puppies. Last year, the Royal Family marked William's birthday by posting a childhood photo of the royal in his father's arms. Catherine also shared a personal image at the time showing William enjoying time on a beach with their children. The birthday celebration comes amid Catherine's ongoing return to public life following her cancer diagnosis. She recently pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, with Kensington Palace confirming her recovery remains the priority.
New York Post
23 minutes ago
- New York Post
Scott Wolf returns to social media with photo of kids after filing for divorce from wife Kelley: ‘My forever squad'
It's a party of four for Scott Wolf. The actor, 57, returned to social media for the first time since filing for divorce from his wife Kelley on June 9 after 21 years of marriage. Scott took to his Instagram Stories to share a picture of his kids traveling through the airport. 'On the road with my forever squad,' the 'Nancy Drew' alum wrote on Friday above the shot of Jackson, 16, Miller, 12, and Lucy, 11, from behind. Wolf set the image to Rusted Root's 'Send Me On My Way.' 8 Scott Wolf posts his kids. Instagram/@iamscottwolf 'After 21 years of marriage, I have made the most difficult decision of my life, and filed for divorce from my wife Kelley,' Scott confirmed to The Post on June 11. 'Our children have always been, and continue to be, the loves of our lives and our every priority, so I kindly ask for privacy at this time as we help guide them through this new chapter.' Then, days later, a reported 'family fight' occurred at the Wolf family's Park City, Utah home on the morning of June 13. 8 Kelley Wolf on Instagram. kelleywolf/Instagram An audio clip from the 911 call heard an unidentified female telling the dispatcher that she was 'terrified' and 'needed help' after clashing with her brother-in-law and 16-year-old son. There was also allegations of a 'past-occurred assault' choking incident that transpired at the Wolf residence in March. That night, Kelley, 48, was detained by police and taken to a local hospital to get 'some help' following concerns for her well-being. 8 Kelley Wolf shares her side on Instagram. Instagram/@kelleywolf 8 Scott Wolf and Kelley Wolf attend the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards. FilmMagic Part of the incident was captured on 'The Real World' alum's Instagram. After being released from the hospital, Kelley took to Instagram and alleged that prior to this incident, she was 'held against her will' by friends who were 'worried' about her well-being. 'Which is wild, considering I literally wrote a book on worry (FLOW—look it up),' she noted. 'No one showed up. No one lit a candle or asked a question. They called the cops from a beach town in Florida or somewhere seaside… while sipping cocktails. That's not love. That's control.' 8 Kelley and Scott Wolf with their kids in 2023. kelleywolf/Instagram 8 Scott Wolf and Kelley Wolf pose for a selfie. kelleywolf/Instagram The 'Everwood' actress also claimed that she was the one who decided to end her marriage to Scott. 'I initiated a separation almost a year ago. I've been trying to file for divorce for months, but delays with legal counsel slowed the process,' Kelley explained. 'Yes, the official petition came from the other party, but let the record show: I've been grieving this marriage for isn't avoidance – it's acceptance.' Hours later, the mom-of-three dove deeper into what she has been experiencing. 8 Scott and Kelley Wolf. Getty Images 'To be clear,' Kelley began beneath a picture of herself,' I'm currently in my car, parked at my home. I am not in a hospital. I was discharged with zero substances in my system, No diagnosis, No family history of mental illness.' And yet…,' the life coach claimed, 'I was handcuffed, bruised, and offered strong medications like lithium and Seroquel— Against my will. Let that sink in.' Although Scott is on a trip with their children, Kelley alleged she wasn't made aware of their travel plans. 8 Scott Wolf, Kelley Wolf and their kids. kelleywolf/Instagram As she put it, 'Meanwhile, husband he filed for divorce this past week, even though I've been trying to file for a legal separation for 9 LONG months, appears to have taken our three children to Boston— Without informing me. I'm currently trying to locate them so I can meet them there. I've barely seen my kids.' 'Getting divorced is hard enough without the public weighing in on my every move,' Kelley added. 'Enough is enough.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Jennifer Aniston reveals the one thing that is still on her career ‘bucket list'
Rumor has it… Jennifer Aniston wants to head to the Big Apple. The actress, 56, revealed her next career goal, after being a Hollywood staple since rising to fame for playing Rachel Green on the sitcom 'Friends' from 1994 to 2004. 'I definitely want to do a Broadway play,' Aniston told People in an interview published Saturday. Advertisement 6 Jennifer Aniston speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Getty Images 'That's on my bucket list,' the 'Murder Mystery' star added, 'but it's finding the time and finding the right piece, the right material.' Despite all of the factors that have to come together for Aniston to get to the Great White Way, she does see herself landing on the stage one day. Advertisement As she put it, 'I absolutely have to do a play on Broadway.' Aniston is no stranger to Hollywood and all of its facets, as both her parents, mom Nancy Dow and dad John Aniston, were actors. The 'Just Go with it' alum went to LaGuardia High School, also known as the 'Fame' school, in New York City, and acted in various Off-Broadway productions. 6 Jennifer Aniston in 'Horrible Bosses.' LM/ Advertisement Her first movie came in the form of the 1993 horror/comedy 'Leprechaun.' One year later, Aniston landed 'Friends' alongside Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. Looking back at all of the parts she played over the decades, the 'Cake' actress knows which one she would love to bring back for round three. 6 Jennifer Aniston in 'Friends.' NBCUniversal via Getty Images Advertisement 'Oh my God, this literally came up the other day: 'Horrible Bosses,'' she told the outlet. The 2011 comedy starred three friends, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, who plot to murder their awful bosses. 'Horrible Bosses 2' came out in 2014. 'Jason Bateman and I were talking about that, and Charlie Day has been talking about it a lot too,' Aniston added. 'So that's something that we think would be super fun.' 'The characters are hilarious, and we need comedy. I personally think comedy is a necessity,' she gushed. 'That's one that we would have a really fun time, I think, going back to, seeing where those crazy cats are today.' 6 Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez. jenniferaniston/Instagram Another leading man Aniston would love to get on-screen with is Pedro Pascal. In March, a source told People the two went out for 'a business dinner to get to know each other better.' 'Jen likes [Pedro's] energy and would love to work with him,' the insider added. Advertisement These days, Aniston is starring in the hit Apple TV+ series 'The Morning Show,' with Season 4 debuting on Sept. 17. The drama follows the challenges working in morning television brings. Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup and Jon Hamm star opposite Aniston. 6 'Friends' stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc. Instagram 6 Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston. Instagram Advertisement As for what fans can expect, the Emmy winner told People in January, 'Oh my gosh, it was hard. It was so hard.' Aniston went on, 'But it's a great season. It's jam-packed, that's for sure.'
