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OPINION: The rock star legend explains how recognizing and celebrating all of his identities helped turn him into a global superstar.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
On the latest episode of “Masters of the Game,” Lenny Kravitz talks deeply about being both Black and Jewish and learning to embrace both sides of himself. He really opens up about what it’s like. His message to people who are Black and Jewish — or any sort of intersectionality — is that you should embrace and honor all the parts of you and your story.
Kravitz talks about being deeply influenced by his Black mother, the famous actress Roxie Roker, who played Helen Willis on “The Jeffersons,” one of the most popular sitcoms in America in the late ’70s. Helen Willis was the first Black recurring TV character to have a white spouse. Seeing her and her white husband on TV was a powerful symbol that helped normalize interracial relationships at a time when that was still stigmatized.
Touré
Associated Press
Associated Press
Associated Press
Touré
Associated Press
Mariel Turner
Associated Press
Kravitz also talks about being deeply influenced by his Jewish father and his Jewish grandparents who showed him a different side of life. It took time for him to feel comfortable with both sides of himself — he was teased at school for being biracial. But, he said, it’s not about fitting into one or the other. It’s about diving into all sides of yourself and being proud of all of the things that you are. There are lessons to be learned from all parts of your heritage and all of those lessons will make you who you are.
Kravitz needed to love both sides of himself in order to become the globally popular Lenny Kravitz the world has come to love.
Watch Lenny Kravitz get deep about what it means to be intersectional on “Masters of the Game,” Friday at 8 p.m. on theGrio Cable Network and on streaming starting Saturday.
Toure is a host and writer at TheGrio. He hosts the TheGrio TV show “Masters of the Game,” and he created the award-winning podcast “Being Black: The ’80s” and its upcoming sequel “Being Black: The ’70s.” He is also the creator of “Star Stories” and the author of eight books, including “Nothing Compares 2 U an oral history of Prince.” He also hosts a podcast called “Toure Show.” He is also a husband and a father of two.
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