Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine is half Black, and while this may be common knowledge to many, the renowned guitarist states that he still frequently encounters fans who are surprised by his racial background.

“There’s a sizable portion of people in my audience over the decades who, when I mention being African American, are stunned and refuse to believe it,” Morello shared during a recent appearance on the Broken Record podcast. “It’s like there’s a cognitive dissonance, as if to say, no, no, no, Tom Morello’s not Black.”

Born in Harlem, New York in 1964, Morello’s father was Kenyan diplomat Ngethe Njoroge and his mother, Mary Morello, was of Irish and Italian descent. He grew up in Libertyville, Illinois, where his racial identity made him stand out.

READ MORE: How 'Evil Empire' Nearly Ended Rage Against the Machine

“According to the real estate agent, I literally integrated the town,” Morello recalled. “One Black person lives in the town—it’s me. I have a white mom and there’s one kid, and every single day I was reminded that I was Black.”

Some residents viewed Morello as a novelty, while others reacted differently.

“My hair was different; people wanted to touch it; they wanted to see that my palms were a different color,” he remarked. “There was a lot of anthropological study of this guy. At one point, there was a noose in my family’s garage. I was Black, and there was no doubt to anyone in town that I was Black.”

Tom Morello: ‘Different Groups View Me in Completely Different Ways’ Due to Race

Reflecting on those days with laughter, Morello also connected his unique upbringing to his success with Rage Against the Machine.

“Years later, I’m in a band whose music appears on radio stations that don’t typically play Black artists or rock magazines that never feature Black artists,” he noted.

READ MORE: When Rage Against the Machine Delivered Their Dynamic Debut Album

Morello compared his experience to another famous mixed-race guitarist, Guns N’ Roses icon Slash. “Guns N’ Roses fans don’t know that Slash is Black,” Morello stated. “They don’t know.”

“I think it’s just fascinating,” he continued. “It’s an interesting commentary on race in the United States; I’m the same shade I was when I was in Libertyville, yet completely different groups view me in entirely different ways.”

Morello is currently touring in support of his upcoming solo album, Everyone Gets Everything They Want. His upcoming performances include a stop at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville and his own single-day festival, Power to the People, taking place in Columbia, Maryland.