Ep 33. My African-American Daughter Believes She Is Caucasian
- October 24, 2018
In the 33rd episode of season 16 of the Dr. Phil Show, titled "My African-American Daughter Believes She Is Caucasian," the show explores the story of Treasure, a black teenager who believes she is white. Treasure's mother, Monique, comes on the show to share her struggles with her daughter's identity crisis.
According to Monique, Treasure has been "obsessed with race" since she was a small child and has always been drawn to white culture and customs. Monique has tried to encourage her daughter to embrace her identity as a black woman, but Treasure insists that she is not black and wants nothing to do with that part of her heritage.
On the show, Treasure explains that she believes she is white because of her physical appearance. She claims that she has light skin, blue eyes, and "naturally" blonde hair, although it is unclear whether she dyes it.
Dr. Phil sits down with Treasure to talk about her beliefs and to try to understand why she feels the way she does. Treasure initially seems defensive and dismissive of Dr. Phil's questions, but eventually opens up about her experiences being bullied and teased for not fitting in with her black peers.
According to Treasure, her classmates have always told her that she "talks and acts white" because she enjoys things like country music and expressing her emotions openly. She claims that this made her feel like she wasn't "black enough" and caused her to distance herself from her racial identity entirely.
Dr. Phil also speaks with Monique about her own experiences growing up as a black woman and how she feels about Treasure's rejection of her heritage. Monique shares that she is proud of her blackness and wants her daughter to embrace it as well.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Phil works with Treasure and Monique to help them understand each other's perspectives and come to a resolution. He encourages Treasure to explore and appreciate her cultural identity and advises Monique to continue supporting her daughter while also setting boundaries.
Overall, "My African-American Daughter Believes She Is Caucasian" is a thought-provoking and emotional episode that delves into issues of identity, race, and family dynamics. Viewers are left with a better understanding of the complex issues involved in Treasure's story and are invited to consider their own experiences and beliefs about race and identity.
