John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, and Luna Simone
Singer and songwriter John Legend identifies as African American (including likely Fula Guinea-Bissauan, Mende Sierra Leonean), some European. Model Chrissy Teiigen is of Thai and German ancestry. John and Chrissy became engaged in late 2011 while they were vacationing in the Maldives. They married in September of 2013 in Italy. Their daughter, Luna Simone, was born on April 14, 2016.
Prior to Luna’s birth John was interviewed by USA Today and he was questioned how he would talk to his child about race. He stated he was still mulling over how to explain race to a child from a multiracial background in a country mired in racial unrest. “It’ll be interesting because our child will be mixed you know? They’ll be part Asian, part white (and) Part black. So, it’ll be interesting just to give out even the idea of race means-because it is a social construct that really isn’t based on biology-or even thinking about how they’ll identify themselves and what that’ll mean. Of course the kids are going to grow up with a lot of privilege. You know, (their) parents are very successful and can give them whatever they need. So it’ll be different than my childhood, of course. I’m not sure how I’m going to talk about it yet. That’ll be interesting to figure out.”
As a 16 year old multiracial daughter of a white mother and black father I encourage any parent of multiracial children to educate them on each race and ethnicity and let them embrace all of who they are. Support them as they embrace and figure out their identity and answer their hard and difficult questions about race to the best of your ability. Listen as they express their own thoughts, opinions, and fears. Learning about diversity and each culture makes you so proud of your entire heritage.
Makensie Shay McDaniel
Project RACE Teens President