Tia Mowry Says Her Mother Was Profiled at the Height of ‘Sister, Sister’ Fame

Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry is opening up about her experience with racism. On Thursday, the actress posted an emotional Instagram about growing up biracial and the prejudice she saw against her Black mother, Darlene Renée Mowry. Mowry recalled that once, while Tia and Tamera’s mother and father were traveling with them, her mother “was asked if she was in the right seat,” while her white father, Timothy John Mowry, was welcomed into first class. “My goal is to see change,” said Mowry.

Mowry has been a vocal supporter of anti-racism protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death, but yesterday, she took to Instagram to explain why the cause is so personal. “This is a photo of my beautiful mother,” she wrote. “Growing up biracial, mom is black and dad is white, it was very clear to me seeing the privilege that my dad had as opposed to my mother.”

The actress explained that during the height of their Sister Sister fame, the twins often traveled to work events in first class. While her Black mother was repeatedly questioned by flight attendants, it was implicitly assumed that Tia and Tamera’s dad was in the right seat because of his race.

“Another incident that stood out for me was when we were buying our first home as a family,” she continued. “My mother walked in the house model with us asking for a brochure. A person had said the houses were sold out. My dad walked in and it was a different story.”

View this post on Instagram

#tbt This is a photo of my beautiful mother. Growing up #biracial, mom is black and dad is white, it was very clear to me seeing the #privilege that my dad had as opposed to my #mother. Some examples, during our #sistersister days when traveling for work we would often fly first class. There were several times my mother was asked if she was in the right seat. Another incident that stood out for me was when we were buying our first home as a family. My mother walked in the house model with us asking for a brochure. A person had said the houses were sold out. My dad walked in and it was a different story. My #goal is to see #change. This year has been a tough year. Several tears have been shed. However, a friend told me these tears will not be wasted. The #love and #support around the world has kept me going. A #change is gonna come. 🙏🏽

A post shared by TiaMowry (@tiamowry) on

Tia and Tamara’s parents now enjoy their lives away from the spotlight, but they have maintained a great relationship with their children and grandchildren. “Thank you for being a mother that has molded 4 children into such wonderful human beings,” Tamera Mowry posted on Mother’s Day. “Love you with all my heart.”