NXT star Sol Ruca was interviewed on this week’s episode of What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon.
The interview was apparently taped in February, which is the time of year when WWE is busy not acknowledging or celebrating Black History Month. Sol mentioned it was Black History Month when the topic of her racial identity came up in the conversation. Ruca talked about what often happens when people learn that she’s mixed race.
“I’m mixed. I feel like a lot of people don’t really accept that. Or I guess
some people accept it, some people don’t. I do feel like that is, it’s always crazy every year when [Black History Month] rolls around and people are like, ‘Why are you calling her Black? She’s not Black!’ Or other people are defending me and stuff. I don’t know…why would I lie about that? I don’t know. I think people just need to be a little nicer to each other.
…I just think it’s ridiculous that, I get a lot of people that are asking for proof. Like, oh prove it. Show me a picture of your dad. And then I do, and they’re like, he’s mixed. He’s not full Black. I’m like, why does it matter? It always baffles my mind every time people start finding out again. I feel like it goes in waves…I understand how I look, but genes are crazy.”
Sol is aware that she’s had very different life experiences compared to most Black women due to her skin tone, but that shouldn’t stop people from accepting the simple fact that she’s mixed race.
“I think because of the way I look, that I was fortunate enough to not have to go through a lot of challenges that people that are darker than me do experience. I completely understand that, and I completely understand when people get upset when people say that I am a Black woman. ‘Cause I don’t have those experiences that they do, and I get that.
However…I’ve never claimed that I am a Black woman. I know I’m mixed. But I still think it should be accepted. I feel like a lot of mixed people have this identity crisis because it’s like, where do I fit? And people are gonna tell you that you’re not this, or you’re not that, or you’re not Black enough, or you’re not white enough, or you’re whatever. And I’m just like, why does it matter?”
Ruca said the frustrating response to her racial identity is more of an issue on social media, and she doesn’t really know how to deal with it yet.
“I feel like I’ve had a lot more conflict via social media with it than personal in life experience with it…It’s a weird topic that I still feel like I really don’t know how to navigate. But I know who I am. I know who my dad is, I know who my mom is, and there’s nothing I can do about it. So [I’m proud of who I am].”
To be blunt about it, I think the main reason why some people have an issue with Sol’s racial identity is because there are a lot of racist assholes out there, and they are feeling more empowered to express those disgusting views today.
What do you make of Sol’s thoughts on the identity crisis that many mixed race people experience? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.
