Halima Aden Quotes

Am I Latin? Am I American? What the hell am I? I love my culture and I'm very proud of my culture.

I've got the fighting Irish, and Puerto Ricans are some of the best fighters in the world. I'm proud of who I am, but it doesn't define me as a person.

I'm unique - a cosmopolitan mix.

If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.

I don't like to be labeled, to be anything. I've made the mistake before myself of labeling my music, but it's counter-productive.

I knew from an early age that people didn't see the different sides of me. I formulated a kind of bi-cultural identity quite early, and I was always very comfortable with it, but I knew people didn't quite see that.

I have an aversion to being mislabeled. Here's a label I'd accept: I'm an 'individual.' I'm someone who can't follow, and doesn't want to lead.

You call yourself what you want to call yourself.

I've tried to avoid labels, but they always find you.

I try not to define myself. Other people are going to do that for you anyway.

I am not a Hollywood Jew and I won't ever be one.

Don't classify me, read me.

I don't decide to represent anything except myself. But that self is full of collective memory.

I've never, ever labeled myself.

I was trying to establish an identity in music, and black and white had nothing to do with it.

I'm a different person. I don't want to be titled as Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's daughter. I want to be thought of as Frances Cobain.

I used to object to being called an Indian writer, and would always say I was a writer who happened to be an Indian, and who happened to write about Indians.

I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a white dude or are you a black dude?' In a strange way, music and comedy is kind of the same thing. I'm both. They're just different modes of expression.

Cultural background surely plays a part in shaping identity; but it does not determine identity.

I'm Mexican and Kenyan at the same time. I've seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan, and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos.

I have two passports because I have to have at least one, and I really don't know how I define myself. And I feel that as I get older, I feel very fortunate to have, on paper, a dual nationality.

I don't see myself as either Irish or American, I'm a New Yorker.

You can ask me about my beliefs on things; that's cool. But I think to lump in and say, You follow this person, so then, wow, who are you?' Ask me who I am.

I pride myself on being Japanese American.

I don't view myself as a 'trans actor' or a 'trans model.' I mean, I am - it's part of who I am - but it's not something that solely defines me.