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Sex and the City's Kristin Davis "devastated" by racism towards her African American children

Posted by Akila, 09 Jul

Photo credit: Ga Fullner / Shutterstock.com

Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis has opened up about the racism her two adopted children have faced throughout their lives.

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As the mother of two adopted African American children, the actress was the perfect person to weigh in on the “should white people adopt black kids?” debate on the latest episode of Red Table Talk.

“Because my children are African-American, I feel like it is my duty and my job to do as much research, as much work, build as many bridges as possible, because you are their community, and that is key, and that is so important,” the 54-year-old SATC star told Red Table Talk host Jada Pinkett Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones.

“It’s one thing to be watching racism happening to other people and it’s another thing when it’s your child.

“And you haven’t personally been through it. It’s a big issue. It’s something I think about every day and every night.”

Through tears, Kristin recalled being “horrified” when Gemma (now 7) was a baby and people told her she would make a “great basketball player” when she grew up.

She also referenced how Gemma had been excluded and treated differently in her “mostly white” school, with school officials being reluctant to help.

“Well, you don’t know what those other girls are thinking. We just see them all the same. We don’t see color,” Kristin recalled being told by members of staff, who brushed of all accusations of racism and exclusion.

“It was a very harsh moment of understanding. I don’t know how every person of color has gotten through this. I don’t understand how you could take this every day.”

She then finished by adding that, as a white mother, she sadly has to accept that she could never fully walk in her children’s shoes and experience racism first hand…

“It lit a fire under me where I couldn’t be relaxed or casual about racism,” Kristin added.

“But I will never be black, no matter how hard I try.

“That is the truth, and we have to accept it. And therefore I will never be able to say to Gemma, ‘I understand how you feel because this happened to me.'”

3 responses to "Sex and the City's Kristin Davis "devastated" by racism towards her African American children"

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Cap63 says:

Posted: 26 Aug 19

"By doing this, she also joins a growing list of white celebrities who also have adopted African American kids ". Sometimes I get the impression that these folks view black kids as accessories, in the same way one might have an unusual/exotic animal as a pet. Of course they don't always want 'own' one, sometimes it's just enough to be seen with one. On this same site, I've seen women posing for pics with a young black kid sat on their knee while on holiday Africa, it would be a bit like taking a pic with a Koala bear in Australia. A piece of 'exotica'.

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elcamino67 says:

Posted: 20 Aug 19

First and foremost, I want to STAND UP AND APPLAUD KRISTIN DAVIS for having the HUMANITY, HUMILITY, HEART AND LOVE for adopting TWO African American children!! Something, sad to say, even African American themselves are unwilling to do. By doing this, she also joins a growing list of white celebrities who also have adopted African American kids. This list includes: Steven Spielberg/ Connie Britton/ Tom Cruise - Nicole Kidman/ Sandra Bullock/ Brad Pitt - Angie Jolie/ Jane Fonda, to name a few. ***** But hearing stories like this gives me bittersweet feelings: Sweet - cause it makes me wanna yell out, WELCOME TO MY WORLD!! ***** Bitter - cause it makes me FEEL GOOD when I see or hear of white folks EXPERIENCE some GOOD OLE, VICIOUS, BLOOD CURDLING, GUTWRENCHING, HEART POUNDING AMERICAN RACISM FIRSTHAND!! One can see this stuff on TV or read about it in a book but NOTHING compares to when one experiences or sees this UNEXPLAINED, UNPROVOKED, MAD DOG HATRED on their own, COMING FROM THEIR OWN. ***** But Kristin Davis also SHOULD BE APPLAUDED for having the GUTS to come forth and identifying the viciousness that she experienced firsthand. Something not only do many whites folks NOT WANT TO DO, but its also commendable because the other celebrities never related publicly themselves, even though ONE KNOWS they had to go through this also. ***** Its funny how a large faction of white folks SEEM TO NEVER want to identify or challenge THEIR OWN for being the RACIST DEVILS that they are, or know they are. Its like they don't exist. But black folks KNOW that they do cause we just keep on running into these people...over and over again... ***** What's even more interesting is that all of this comes after the "Age of Enlightenment" of the 1960s and 1970s, when people took steps to understand each other, care about each other and tried to protect each other. ***** Its amazing how we have REGRESSED so much. Racism, in all its various forms and incarnations, is here to stay.

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utilajack says:

Posted: 11 Jul 19

The first question is why doesnt she have a black male mate who can teach her about these issues and stand up for his family?

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