‘Summer House’: Mya Allen Breaks Down – ‘There is a different experience as a Black person in America’

In an emotional moment on Summer House, Mya Allen and Ciara Miller shared the challenges they face as the only Black women in a summer share of white friends.

The entire cast becomes emotional and Alex Wach and Daniella Olivera admit they too experienced difficulties being minorities in the Hamptons.

The conversation began when Andrea Denver called Allen the wrong name while they were at the beach. Allen was hurt because she had been living in the house for a month. She confided in Miller at the beach and said she felt invisible. Miller understood. She said coming into the Hamptons home last summer, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests was extremely tough because no one in the house could understand what it means to be a Black individual in America.

Ciara Miller and Mya Allen share how their ‘Summer House’ experience is different

In a courageous move, Allen and Miller started the conversation before the friends departed the house after a weekend together. Miller becomes emotional and began the conversation. “Me and Mya had some conversations this weekend, ” she said to the entire group. “I’m just trying to check in with her and see how she’s doing in terms of meshing with this group.”

Miller is then brought to tears when she said everyone should check in with each other. “Last summer I was super intimidated to come to the Hamptons when it was all … it’s predominantly white,” she said. “But there’s an automatic feeling of I might not be adequate enough to fit in when people don’t look like you.”

Allen is also in tears, which is when Miller shared that Allen was hurt when Denver called her the wrong name. She added that it wasn’t malicious.

“I’ve been in the house for four weeks,” Allen said. “I’m Mya …”

Alex Wach shared his experience

The cast, especially Denver looked concerned and the tone shifted. Denver wiped a tear from his eye. “I’m so sorry,” he said. He added that he knew Paige DeSorbo and Miller from Vermont so he sometimes forgets she is there and he focuses on them. But added, “I’m so sorry.”

“There’s so many factors here,” Allen explained. “I’m one of two Black people. I’m brand new to you guys this summer. And I’m in the Hamptons. No one is at fault here. But I think there is a different experience as a Black person in America that almost doesn’t get talked about while we’re here.”

The group agreed that they can’t understand Miller and Allen’s experience. Wach said that he was referred to as part of the wait staff during one of their pool parties. “Because you don’t look like everybody else,” Wach said. He then shared that a drunk guest at their party referred to him as Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan.

‘Mya is insanely courageous,” Danielle Olivera says

Olivera, who has been on the show since Summer House Season 2 said she also understands how Miller, Allen, and Wach feel. “I’ve honestly felt this way before,” she said in a confessional. “That overwhelming feeling that you’re out of place. That you shouldn’t be there.”

“I’ve been coming out to the Hamptons years and years, now” she continued. “And this just reminds me of my first time coming out here. Just feeling like whoa what did I just get myself into? I think it’s insanely courageous of Mya to talk about it. Because I don’t know if I would have had the same courage.”

At this point, nearly every cast member is in tears wanting to understand and empathize with their friends who may be feeling left out. By the end of the episode the entire house engaged in a group hug.

“I’m grateful we had this conversation because in this way I also can understand what you guys went through growing up,” Denver said.