Sunday, July 11, 2010

Engaged: Zoe Saldana and Keith Britton

Photo credit, Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
Zoe Yadira Zaldana Nazario is engaged to Keith Allen Britton. An actress, Zoe was born to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. An actor and CEO for My Fashion Database, Keith has been dating Zoe since 2005.

Zoe's Wiki
Zoe's IMDb
Keith's IMDb

When I go to the D.R., the press in Santo Domingo always asks, "¿Qué te consideras, dominicana o americana?" (What do you consider yourself, Dominican or American?) I don't understand it, and it's the same people asking the same question. So I say, time and time again, "Yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.") [They go,] "Oh, no, tú eres trigueñita." ("Oh no, you are 'dark skinned'") I'm like, "No! Let's get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.") IMDb 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Zoe says she is a Latina and not an bw.

PurpleNepenthe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I think she has already been quoted somewhere else insisting she was a black woman; I read an interview once where she told the interviewer "Yo soy una mujer negra" ("I am a Black woman").The thing is, she may have been talking about her ethnicity( the concept of race/culture is viewed differently in Latin America).She is most likely of African/Black descent ethnically, but her *culture* is Hispanic(and most Black Latinos will refer to themselves as Latino/Hispanic, because it is true).As a Black Latina (born and raised in the US),I can understand this since I've grown closer to my culture through research; I always tell people "Latina no es una raza, es una cultura" (Latin is not a race, it's a culture).The color of the skin,or the texture of the hair does not diminish or manifest one's "Latinidad";Latinos can be lily white, or black as a cobalt night,de muchos colores hermosos :D

PurpleNepenthe said...

Thank you for posting, Second Anon. I appreciate your input. :)

I think because she often portrays Black women in her roles, people don't think about her origins. I included her because many people have pointed her out to me, because of the roles she plays (including how she might feel about herself), and because I'm running low on couples exactly "like me" that I haven't already posted.

So I pointed out her heritage, said she wasn't exactly like me, and changed my label hoping that would be enough. Can't please all of the people all of the time. ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh yes of course,lol.Just to clarify, my comment was directed at the first Anon (I always feel the need to give some input,haha), but you are very welcome, de nada y cuidate mucho! ;)

Trae said...

Hi there I love your blog and I am a white man who loves black women. We have a chatroom on PALTALK. Go to www.paltalk.com and under govt and politics we have a room called RESOLVING AMERICAN RACIAL PROBLEMS. We would love for you to visit and discuss your site sometime.

PurpleNepenthe said...

Trae,

I'm glad you like my blog, and I'm honored by your invite. I haven't joined the forum scene mainly because there are too many argumentative folk out there.

I married my hubby because I love him, and I started the blog because it brings me joy. I don't think I'd have much to say ;) It looks like you've got a nice little group going, and I wish you all success!

Anonymous said...

There is no such thing as a Latino culture since they are all different. According the White Latinos there is no such thing as Black Latinos.

Anonymous said...

is your comment a April 1 joke? Latino and Hispanic are cultures. that is how you call people from South America and Spain.i know because im South American. you most have been talking to a a native white italian from Rome. only they would say all latinos are white. to them 'latinos' are 'romans'

Anonymous said...

People from Spain are European and they are not the same as Hispanics like Zoe who comes from African slave ancestry via Dominican Republic.

Anonymous said...

She certainly looks like a black woman.

Anonymous said...

She doesn't look Latina.

PurpleNepenthe said...

Folks, I really don't want to have a million posts debating whether she's black, Latina, or both, nor if _she_ says she's black, Latina, or both. I'd rather hear it from her personally how she'd like the post about her to be tagged. I apologize, but no more posts on the matter.