Kehlani's Ethnicity: The Singer Has a Mixed Heritage That Includes Native Americans

A lot of ambiguity has surrounded Kehlani's ethnicity over the years. However, the singer set the record straight and revealed she has a mix of Black, White, Spanish, and Native American race from her parents, who were not in her life due to their battles with addiction.

After competing on "American's Got Talent" and pursuing a solo career, singer and songwriter Kehlani became famous for her edgy look and RnB sound. However, curiosity about her ethnicity continued until the musician revealed she was from a mixed background.

Kehlani is of Black, White, Spanish, and Native American ethnicity. The singer also revealed that she identifies as queer and embraces her Spanish heritage by immersing herself in the culture.

Kehlani's Parents Were of Mixed Ethnicities and Were Not Present in Her Life

Kehlani was born in a South Berkeley apartment in Oakland, California, to a White, Spanish, and Native American mother who was on the run from the police. Her father, who was African-American and already serving time in prison, coached the rapper's mother through her delivery on the phone.

Due to her mother's addiction, Kehlani revealed she was born premature, sick, on drugs, and had to go through withdrawals as a baby. Her mother returned to jail, and after spending some time in foster care, her mother's sister adopted her.

"I was really lucky to have somebody to step up," Kehlani said. However, her personal life took another traumatic turn when her mother welcomed more children and would occasionally recover from her drug addiction. The singer, who also had Nick Cannon in her corner and was invited to hear Mariah Carey sing live at their house, said:

"At that point, my mom had two other kids. I just couldn't understand why I was the only child who couldn't be around her."

According to the "Nights Like This" singer, her mother also told her that her mixed background included Filipino ethnicity. However, no one else in the rapper's family has proved this true.

Kehlani Embraced Her Spanish Ethnicity

After confirming her Spanish ethnicity during an interview, Kehlani revealed that she was embracing her Spanish background by learning the language. "I have been working on my Spanish [...] I don't speak Spanish. I'm not bilingual. I'm getting there," she said.

[...] Growing up in Oakland taught the singer never to compromise her heart, soul, and who she is and never to forget where she comes from.

Kehlani added that her Spanish culture surrounded her as she ate the food, had a Mexican stylist, a Honduran road manager, and a Mexican photographer.

Kehlani on Her Identity as a Queer Woman of Color

According to reports, Kehlani took to Twitter to confirm that she was queer and attracted to all types of people, including women, men, queer men, non-binary people, intersex people, and more.

When former President Donald Trump was sworn into the presidency in 2018, the singer recalled sitting curled up on a couch inside the Atlantic Records offices. Kehlani said:

"I'm a young black, Spanish, Native American, queer [woman] … all things that have been attacked."

At the time, she was counting down to the release of her major-label debut, "SweetSexySavage." She did not need more drama as she saw Trump as one of the most polarizing candidates in American history.

However, growing up in Oakland taught the singer never to compromise her heart, soul, and who she is and never to forget where she comes from. That same year, Kehalni performed at the "Wild Things Queer Pride Party" in San Francisco during San Francisco Pride Weekend.