Jennifer Beal was born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, on December 19, 1963, to Alfred and Jeanne Beals. Her father was African-American and her mother was Irish-American, therefore she was raised in a mixed-race family.
Her father, Alfred, was a grocer who also controlled multiple other businesses. Jeanne, her mother, is also a former educator. On December 6, 1974, when the actress was nine years old, her sixty-one-year-old father died unexpectedly.
Beals reportedly told the Chicago Sun-Times (via UPI) that as a child she was “acutely aware” that she was “different.”
Her parents reared her in Chatham, a predominantly African-American community, where she was called “whitey.” Beals described her childhood in the region throughout the 1960s and early 1970s as “very peculiar” as a white resident of the area.
Jennifer, on Diversity and Ethnicity
Page Contents
She elaborated on her experiences as a multicultural child growing up in Chicago during her acceptance speech at the 2004 Power Up Premiere Gala.
As she grew older and became more aware of television and magazines, she sought out images of girls that like her. Yet, as a child of mixed race growing up in Chicago, she didn’t find many “good or negative” examples.
She expressed confidence in her “otherness,” which was sometimes so pronounced that she questioned whether anyone could see her.
She cautioned everyone in the group that when society fails to “write your narrative,” an unconscious message is sent that the story is not worth sharing.
Yet, she believed that she was unique for a reason and that living as an undocumented person in the eyes of society was not a “bad mistake.”
Jennifer Beal added in her laudatory address that people perceive their lives as a narrative from a young age, to which they are frequently exposed.
According to the actress, exposure alters the narrative of the life people create for themselves using their own and others’ imaginations.
She stated,
“We are constantly in the process of inventing ourselves.”
Jennifer Beal Honors Multiracial People in ‘The L Word
During a discussion of her highly acclaimed television series The L Word, she revealed that Bette Porter was not born multiracial. In fact, Beals asked the show’s writer to make the character multicultural.
During her speech, the actress spoke about how she was part of a story that provided “some sort of mirror” to those who may have never seen themselves reflected onscreen. “I am ecstatic to be a part of the L-word,” the actress said regarding her performance.
Jennifer Beal, who is strongly opinionated, continued by stating that it is gratifying to know that we all live in society as a larger, interconnected community.
Also Read: Is Deadliest Catch’s Josh Harris Wed? Family And Wealth
