Tia Mowry celebrated Juneteenth by sharing her experiences as a mixed-race woman.
The actress took to Instagram on Thursday (June 19) to reflect on the moments she “didn’t feel Black enough” alongside photos of herself and her twin Tamera, her family and her kids.
"There were moments I questioned where I belonged,” she wrote. “Even as a mixed kid, I knew I was Black. But growing up, the world around me didn't always reflect that back to me. I had to go on a journey to fully understand who I was and what it meant to walk through this world as a Black woman."
Tia continued, "As a kid, I noticed the difference. When I was with my mom, who's Black, she was treated with suspicion. Not receiving an application for our dream home. Questions in first class. But with my white dad, people were welcoming. That's when I realized how much the color of your skin shapes how the world treats you."
The 46-year-old said it “took time” for her to find her “place” in the world. She often felt like she didn’t fit in at school, where friend groups were separated by interests or race, which pushed her to have confidence in who she is.
"It made me want to be loud about my pride," she added. "To be Black and proud. To celebrate where I come from. And to use my voice and platform to make sure my community is seen, heard, and celebrated."
"Representation matters. I'll never forget the messages I got: 'I never saw someone who looked like me on TV until you.' Moments like that helped me fully land in who I am and who I stand for."
While she already knew that her grandmother is from Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas, Mowry also discovered that her family’s lineage also comes from Ghana and Nigeria.
"We were taken, displaced, and yet survived. There is strength in that. And I carry that strength with me every day."
Being the mother to two kids has also widened Mowry’s perspective on race and how she hopes her son, Cree, and daughter, Cairo, will view themselves.
"Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. But it's also a reminder that we're still pushing, still fighting, still rising. I carry that with me in my work, my purpose, and my motherhood,” Mowry said. "I am Black. I am proud. I am loud with my love for this community. And I'll keep using my voice to create space for others to be proud too."