Jessica Alba: "I Want My Baby to be Brown"

11.22.09

ENTERTAINMENT

Jessica Alba: "I Want My Baby to be Brown"

by admin | 02.15.2008 | 7:07pm | 104 Comments

In Latina's March 2008 cover story, Jessica Alba gets personal with Editor-in-Chief Mimi Valdés Ryan and directly responds to the rumors that have resulted in her now-commonly used nickname, "Jessica 'Don't Call Me Latina' Alba." Check out some of her revealing answers below, and don't forget to pick up the full story when the issue hits newsstands on February 19!

On her reluctance to walk the red carpet at Latin events: "I'll support those shows, but I can't go on the press lines and have people make me feel bad about myself. Life is too short. I can't change how I grew up, and I shouldn't have to apologize for it. I know I feel close to the Latin community, because that's what I grew up with."

On claims that she's proud to have cut loose from her Mexican roots: "I never said that. Cut loose from what? What the hell are they talking about? Why would I want to cut loose from the only family I know?"

On not learning to speak Spanish as a child: "I wish to God that my dad spoke Spanish to my brother and me, but he didn't grow up with it."

On confusing other men for her dad as a kid: "When I was little, I used to go up to black men and hold their legs, thinking it was my dad all the time. I'd wrap my arms around them, then look up and be like, 'Oh my God!'"

On being accepted for who she is in Hollywood: "I was always trying to figure out: How the hell am I going to be mainstream? How are people going to accept me? When are the going to get a clue that I am American, that this is what America looks like--people like me who are mixed, have different blood, mixed with different ethnicities? When are the people who are hiring for these jobs and writing these screenplays going to realize that?"

On what she wants her baby to look like: "I'm excited for my baby to be brown. I just have to believe the dark gene is going to survive. Cash and I are like, please!"

104 Comments

ebollarsaba
05.30.2008
4:34pm

yo, why does anyone pick on her. its her life. she can do as she pleases. is one person on a cover of a magazine going to make you stop reading that magazine all together?? be serious. in all fairness, Jessica Alba could be one of many women who now, all of a sudden, claim to be Latina. but she's not. before this latin craze hit- where was anyone? she's being real about herself so much she's not gonna lie about how she was raised. she's BEING HONEST WITH HERSELF... how can anyone knock her for that. we have bigger issues than to pick on ONE CELEBRITY about her choices and the way she chooses to live her life. granted, you may have different beliefs... realize.... that is exactly what makes us, US! not one of us is exactly the same. if you're gonna hate on anyone... hate on Beyonce who magically, looks like a LATINA in everything she does. or Rihanna... or frickin' anyone else who isnt what they were before the hispanic craze hit. yo, we have immigration issues that NEED to be worked out. we have families who cant send their children to school because they can get better jobs. focus that energy into something useful, more productive. UNITE. why bicker with eachother.

Jcar
05.24.2008
4:06pm

I can't believe you guys put this FAKE Latina back on your cover! Her comments like "I want my baby to be brown" are words of a Hypocrite. She sounds so fake! And it really hurts me to see her back on the cover of Latina Magazine. I used to love this woman and though she was smart, beautiful, talented….Now, she’s just someone I never want to be like! Please find some PROUD Latinas to go on your cover. Jessica Alba=Coconut!! Brown on the outside WHITE! On the inside...

SANLETTY78
03.28.2008
2:39pm

I think Jessica Alba is so phoney! You either consider yourself Latina or not. And comments like "I want my baby to be brown" or how she used to mistake black men for her dad just shows you how stupid she is and how she is trying hard to be something she doesn't want to be. If she didn't learn Spanish as a child but it means so much to her now than why doesn't she learn the language. I am proud to be Mexican. I may not be dark and curvy and may not speak the language very well but I am still proud to be a Latina. She is what she is a Latina. She doesn't need to speak the language or eat the food or even look Latin but don't deny what you are, Latin.

josephina75
03.10.2008
9:30pm

I understand, and agree in part with the different views of many. Is there really a right point of view regarding Jessica's issues, and what it means to be a "true Latina". In my opinion, first it shouldn't matter what color she is when determining if she is a good Actor. Yes, I believe it is overdone with trying to put too many women with darker complexions on the cover. We come in all sizes, shapes, and complexions. I am first generation American on my Father's side, and second on my Mother's-does that mean that I am Mexican, or American, or both? I see myself first, as a human being, a woman-a woman of several different cultures. My father is of Indigenous blood, Mexican, French, Italian, Basque.... from Mexico. My mother also has Spanish, Native American, and Mexican ancestry. With this being said one would think that my siblings and I should speak at least 4-5 different languages.... Unless your parents, or grand-parents take the time to teach you a second, or third language other than English, common sense should tell us that this is the language that will be first in our communication with others. My mother was smacked on the hand with rulers if she and her friends dared to speak Spanish on school grounds. It's a miracle that she remembered how to speak it so well. If it is that important for someone to speak the tongue of their native ancestry today 50 years after my Mother's school days, there is always Spanish classes in school, as well as other avenues to pursue speaking other languages. I used two, home conversation and school. I started taking Spanish classes since the 7th grade to improve in speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. There is no excuse for not learning Spanish if it is important enough to anyone. Why wait until it becomes a media issue, or it may determine how well you fare with your fan base... Before Jessica tries to perfect the Spanish language, she needs to brush up on her English... What's up with " 'I'm so proud for my baby to be brown...' ", " 'People are just haters for no reason' "? Does her Press Agent not realize how ghetto, and ignorant that sounds...? That's a form of reverse racism as far as I'm concerened. How would it sound if one of Hollywood's Elite said, "I'm so happy my baby is going to be blond haired, and blue eyed...." What does it matter? A baby is a baby, a gift from God, and should be loved regardless of the color. Obviously, if the parents are darker, then the child will most probably be of a darker complexion, and vice versa. I am proud to be Latina, Mexican-American, Hispanic-what ever the government is labeling us these days, but I for one refuse to use my heritage to gain me success, or shy away from using it to gain more notoriety. When I look in the mirror I see a light complected, dark haired woman who has many talents based on what God gave me-not because of the color of my skin. Best wishes to all of my Latina Sisters, I just wish everyone would stop getting so hung up on the color of our skin, and look at the beauty that lies beneath. All complexions of Latinas are beautiful, and should be duly noted.

Calimom
03.10.2008
11:03am

I really enjoyed the article on Jessica Alba and appreciate Latina showing the struggle those of us who are mixed raced can face. I have grandparents from Mexico who taught their four boys Spanish and English. As migrant/cannery workers they managed to get all four boys through college, two eventually gaining Master's degrees. This all in the throws of the racism of the 1940's when their children were born. My father and all three of his brothers decided NOT to teach their children Spanish when they married in the late 60's. Not one of my seven cousins (and one sister) speak the language. Three of my them are full Mexican and the rest of us mixed. Was is wrong? No. Our parents efforts to avoid the racism they faced was done in good faith. Does it make you less Latin? No. When does the need to speak Spanish stop? Two generations in America? Three?? My cousins are almost all college educated, two own thriving business' and I'm the first female in my family with a Masters. Should we not be proud of a family like mine who came with nothing and in ONE generation ended up with college educated middle-class children? Is that not the dream even if we don't speak Spanish doing it? Defining who we are as "Latin" can mean many things. I applaud Jessica for saying how biased the Latin Media has been because of something that does not define who she is. I applaud Latina for printing their magazine in BOTH languages so those of us who are proud of our roots can read about our culture even if we don’t speak the language of our parents or grandparents. When will be be happy to say that we simply are American’s who are of Latin decent? I’d love to see an article about this topic, the lack of Spanish, three or four generations...even some families in California can trace their roots to a time when it was Mexico. When do we loose the “Latin”? If we believe the Latin Media, I guess it’s when we stop speaking Spanish!

Nesto88
03.09.2008
12:53am

I actualy liked this article becase Jessica sort of tells how its hard to be accepted in the Latino Comunity when your a mixed race your ither not latino enough to fit in or u over do it to try and fit in .. im Mexican, Spanish,Gitano, and Native Amercican.. But un Like Jessica i was fortunate enough to be tought Spanish as a chiled. So in my opinion Jessisca is as much as Latino as any latino out regardless of wether she can speake Spanish or were she grew up ... (=

krodrigo
03.08.2008
11:16pm

I feel embarrassed for Latina magazine and for Mimi. When I read this article, and those quotes on the back cover, I could not feel any sympathy or understanding of Jessica Alba and her struggles with her ethnicity. Her examples of growing up are picture perfect and feel manufactured to evoke sympathy out of the reader. I can recognize a publicity spin when I see one and this entire article sounds unbelievably phony. I am not Latina myself, but I have lived in Spain for six years and have a Colombian husband. I could attack Latina magazine for putting olive complexioned Jessica Alba on its front cover but, frankly its no different from when you choose to feature Eva Longoria or Jennifer Lopez. In my years living in Spain and with my husband, I have met Latina women of all different shapes and shades of color. Frankly, for a magazine that represents Latina women, you're a failure. The women in your magazine come no where near, as far as substance and beauty, to the many beautiful, strong Latina women I have met in my life. P.S. When I read that Jessica wanted to have "a brown baby", I almost collapsed in laughter. What a dumbass!

cbracmmr
07.05.2009
12:30am

I love you, you were not born latin but your colombian husband has given you name and title among us, you are us, thank you for giving your womb as sanctuary to the seed of a brown man. Truly i tell you that there are latin women out there who do unlike you and we brown men have disowned them and consider them apart from us, but you are one of us and for that may you and your family be blessed all the days of your lives. Thank you for loving us, we love you too.

Mela
03.07.2008
5:43pm

What a disappointing article. Not only that the Latina layout has completely gone down hill! It's so bland and the articles aren't as interesting. I have been very disappointed in the last few issues. Go back to the old schools way of doing things because as of now I won't be re-newing my subscription. And I've been a subscriber since Latina first began.

Mikka
03.07.2008
5:28pm

I disagree with cimendoza Jessica shouldnt have to be like the other Latina actress in hollywood she should just continue to be herself yeah shes latina but she may not want to flaunt it out in front of everyone she said she didnt want to be known as a Latina actress and just as a actress I think we should respect how she wants to go about this its her life after all. But no matter what she decides she still gonna be one of my favorite actresses!!!