Soledad O’Brien: A woman of many backgrounds

Posted in Articles, Biography, Media Archive, United States on 2012-12-26 16:01Z by Steven

Soledad O’Brien: A woman of many backgrounds

Irish Voice
2009-07-22

Cahir O’Doherty, Arts Editor and Feature Writer

Maria de la Soledad Teresa O’Brien’s name is like a bridge across cultures. In Spanish her full name means “The Blessed Virgin Mary of Solitude,” and when she first started working in the media many people quietly suggested she change it.

She refused. Pride in her cross-cultural heritage demanded that she be true to herself. Growing up on the North Shore of Long Island, she had always been Soledad O’Brien, she saw no reason to alter the fact.

“As much as my name is unusual, it aptly describes everything I am,” O’Brien, 42, told the Irish Voice. “I’m a light skinned black girl with fuzzy hair who’s got freckles.

“I think my full name kind of references that all in. I just didn’t want to lose that, and so I really held onto the name.”…

Read the entire article here.

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When no one else looks like you

Posted in United States, Videos on 2012-12-26 01:59Z by Steven

When no one else looks like you

Cable News Network (CNN)
In America: You define America. What defines you?
2012-12-15

(CNN) – “Who is Black in America?” explores how color affects identity. In this video, Danielle Ayers, a biracial woman, discusses her search for identity and the challenges of being color blind after growing up in a primarily white Mennonite community where race was not discussed.

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