Lots of black people passed as white during that period, Especially around the turn of the last century, it was quite common actually. I had an auntie who passed.
it happened in my family as well. my gggg uncle left Mississippi and went west to live white. Only he always kept contact with his family , but asked that they not visit, send pics etc. HE HAD 8 kids , and when he died the kids contacted family, so 5 lived as white people and three as black..
@@Rollinghard7 No, in another interview, Gail stated her mother begged her not to say anything because she wouldn't be able "hold her head high". Plus, Gail also said her father was a rascist, and dear old mom went along with it.
You mean embrace her African American heritage, if the mother is African American so is the child, and she is beautiful African American Daughter like me. It was difficult back then but now I'm hoping her both records reflects this, it's amazing to find you heritage
@@doc1946 I mean imagine the fear she had thinking “what would happen to me if everyone knew I wasn’t actually white?” That fear and belief to conform obviously carried with her to her death.
I absolutely love this story, and how the daughter found her family. I feel sad for her mother, though that she felt she had to hide her identity. Bless her heart.
They really should make a movie about this not necessarily about this ladies mum but maybe her and a few other people's stories. Would be a great movie documentary also a great way to open people's eyes!
There is a 1950's drama / film called 'I Passed For White' that parallels a lot of this woman's story, there is 'Pinky' 1930's I think, I would like to see them remade with more depth & info. - both may be on YT and of course there is the Hollywood classic weepy 'Imitation Of Life'. I would love to see a Netflix series that really goes historically & socially in-depth, why hasn't it been done?
Gail's mother knew she had an instinct to investigate and knew she would go and find her family. That is why she gave Gail the photo album of her true identity.
Great job, HP! I didn't know you guys make videos like this. You should promote your TH-cam content much more. In today's climate, stories like this is needed a whole lot.
😪wow!!! the things your mother had to indure and listen to while passing all them years of her life😪i can feel her smiling on you gail for being brave and accepting her black side of the family🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾amennn and much prayers&blessing🦋
Two years ago I found my baby Sister..... I have known that she was "out there" for 61 yrs. She and I connected after we both subscribed to a TH-cam channel . And got to know more about each other on live chats. And we do not live that far away. She and I are both mixed race. Both "white" .I was raised White in segregated Jim Crow south. My brother and I both knew , but also knew to keep the secret. I too have other family that I have never got to know. Sadly many have long passed away.
@@ritaamor283 The channel was a prepper channel. As we would be in on live shows, we gradually gave out little bits of info and were surprised to learn of our sister bonds. There are no accidents ,I feel we were meant to be able to find each other. She is such a beautiful , loving spiritual Lady and I am proud to have her as my Baby Sister.
@@lindabishop7656 thank you for answering. Blessed be your story and future❤️❤️❤️❤️ I also believe when it comes to important things there are no accidents ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Her mother seemed to be a Louisiana Creole. So sad that many years had passed without being with family and living her authentic truth. I'm glad Gail has reconnected with the family.
Penny7 nothing or no one will make me cut my family off not even a bigoted man she knew what he was beforehand don't be fooled SHE made that choice not race or racial barriers get it right just being a devious woman period!! Trifling and pathetic smh
@@crystalbrame7886 You need to think before you speak. This woman had to do what was best for her and for her future. If she had to hide half herself to live a better life, I don't blame her.
Passing was not something a person was forced into. Passing was a deliberate choice a person made who wanted to experience and pass on racial privilege. Period. And many who did this became some of the most violent and hateful racists ever born. For instance, John Edgar Hoover... smhsmhsmhsmh
Got me over here crying when I saw here hugging and having dinner with her mom’s family. She got to do what her mom chose not to do. I wonder how her children feel about their other half. I know she said her son favored her mother.
Wow! Wonderful, and it’s so beautiful that you all accepted one another with loving open arms. Of course you know that doesn’t always happen. What a beautiful story.
Really? Is it beautiful? Or tragic. There is nothing beautiful about a woman having to pretend all her life being something she's not. Sacrificing her own flesh and blood by denying their very existence so she could progress in life. If that was you in her place would you say that's beautiful?
Beautiful! Im a Pacific islander & i have German blood running through me. During the 1800s Spain was controlling my island before handing it over to Germany. During that time many Europeans started to arrive throughout the Pacific. One man by the name Frederick Narruhn floated ashore on his Schooner via Fiji. Had two sons in the islands & one of his son is my very own great grandfather. I am of a darker complexion(Brown) but many relatives in my family are white with blue eyes. Till this day we have not met any of our European long relatives. #ProudPacificIslander❤️
So fabulous. Intriguing. She really dealt with it well. I had something slightly similar with my daughter. She’s very dark on her birth was a shock, I remember saying to the midwife! Maybe it was all The curry I craved lol. But many years later I found her grandmother on her dads side was Spanish ancestry. My daughter has very black hair and was regularly told to go back to her own country. Poor kid people are very ignorant. Wonderful story
But Spanish people who are of European heritage are white, yes they might be darker than say a British person who are of European heritage who tend to be lighter in skin colour but they both are white peoples.
@@peterpereira3653 You are correct, but we also have to remember there were Moors in Spain, so while there is Spanish heritage in the husband's family, there may be Moor as well, giving the darker complexion. My family is Mexican and my parents took the DNA testing to determine ancestry . My Dad's side of the family has some members who are either blonde or redheaded with blue or green eyes, while others looked traditionally Hispanic/ Latin. His results turned out to have Spanish, Italian, and get this...IRISH descent!! It definitely explains the blonde and cinnamon mix in my hair and why Dad's beard had a golden-red mix to dark whiskers. Through travel, colonization, or migration, the whole world has become a mix of interesting heritage. My parents' testing made me start researching our genealogy, which I believe we all should do. It would help us open our eyes that color is superficial, and heritage runs deeper. I loved watching this video.
@@yvettecuevas6365 What is traditionally Hispanic/Latin? We are so diverse and mixed, there's no traditional "look" for Hispanics. Also not all Spaniards are mixed with Moors, 1 in 10 has some Moor blood. I stood corrected many times when I tried to claim the same you just did.
This is so beautiful for this woman to speak about her mother and to be so proud of the black side of her family. My grandmother looked like a white lady and I came across a newspaper article that tried to say she was trying to pass. But my grandmother was married to a black man she never tried to be anything but black so the article was lying on her. I am thinking about contacting the newspaper because there are so many lies in that article that I know that weren't true being her granddaughter. For instance they said she had older brothers but her only brother died of a heart condition when he was very young. So I am very upset about the newspaper printing so many lies concerning my grandmother.👍🏾
She's got a book out, apparently, and was on Meghan Kelly's show when she still had one (two parts--they're here on TH-cam). You can search 'em out--she goes into more detail about the experience.
I have always believed that besides America being a preferred destination, it was equally an oasis of fathomless secrets, very dark secretes. This story is one typical example of the America that remains in shadows. I loved the way her journey to her discovery ended.
So lucky to have found a wonderful addition to your family!! Too bad so many years were lost. The best part is you get to enjoy that Louisiana culture. The best people and food!!!
My heart skipped a beat I was so happy you came to that way ♥️♥️💗💗 this is the absolute circle of life it must be made a movie please don't put it on Netflix not Hallmark
The use of “had to” is troubling. She *chose* to make the tremendous shift, she *chose* to give up family, she *chose* to give up her authentic identity. I’m sure that was incredibly hard, but not framing it up as a choice dismisses the reasons why she’d go through all of that lost (by choice) to “gain” whiteness (especially during that time). Not acknowledging that she chose this life despite the pain waters down the richness of the story and the lesson in the story. Without that part, this is just a fascinating story, but the choice part makes you think about why.
@@xionmemoria respectfully, language matters and is really important. The choice to use “had to” was also incredibly intentional here. “Had to” as used here was meant to mean she had no choice. My point (again) for anyone reading this response is that it’s powerful to think about why she chose to do this very hard, difficult thing. It points to the value of whiteness. For her, at least at some point, it was worth it. That’s the point. I hope that’s a little clearer?
@@xionmemoria now this one is just for you. I think it’s ok to be annoyed or disagree with a comment. I do not wish to engage in a toxic back or forth or anything like that as it took me weeks to notice even this comment, but just wanted you to know that the story didn’t offend me mama; it just annoyed me a little. I don’t have time or the energy to look for ways to be offended or to offend others. Life is hard enough. I did, though, have time to respond to you today. 👍🏾❤️❤️ I probably won’t anymore. Have a better new year. I mean it. 🙏🏾
Her mother did not "have" to give up her family and her heritage. She clearly chose to do so. All because she was made to feel ashamed that she was of African descent. The shameful part of this is not realizing the Powerful and Beautiful of this heritage.
Beautiful story love it does not matter who you are your family is your family that 's your past that's what happened in those times sometimes secrets comes out later in our life it may be shocking and nothing we can do about it but embrace it because it's part of life
She’s so pretty and reminds me of my grandma and aunts. My grandmother didn’t look full white either and my dna test came back that I am 8% African and 10% East Asian.
I’m happy that we live in a more tolerant time in which people mostly not look down at other as lesser than them because of their appearance. We truly are more than our skjn color.
![[Live] : ONE 168 วันนี้!! "โจนาธาน vs ซุปเปอร์เล็ก"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jIN65KgJsI/mqdefault.jpg)
This is so sad that this was kept a secret for so long. Family is precious. It doesn’t matter what color they are. I’m happy they finally were united.
It is sad that she felt she had to keep this a secret.
Lots of black people passed as white during that period,
Especially around the turn of the last century, it was quite common actually.
I had an auntie who passed.
WOW 👏,,,,, WONDERFUL 👏 😍 ❤
it happened in my family as well. my gggg uncle left Mississippi and went west to live white. Only he always kept contact with his family , but asked that they not visit, send pics etc. HE HAD 8 kids , and when he died the kids contacted family, so 5 lived as white people and three as black..
I want you to notice who or what race always says it doesn't matter as you what color it's not color it's race.
This is my own photo album 🥲 Welcome back Gail! Welcome back ❤️
"If your family's been in this country a long time, then there's some secrets in your closet, that you don't know about."
*That just hit me different*
I’m guessing you have a little Scottish in you lad. 🔥
This video made my eyes well up.
@@baddie1shoe I'm Northern Irish so probably.
I am sure your mom is happy to see you embrace her side of the family Gail!
Oh I don't think so!!!! She hid her family because she was ashamed to be part black!
@@doc1946 she wasn't ashamed.She wanted a better life than Jim Crow.FOH
@@Rollinghard7 No, in another interview, Gail stated her mother begged her not to say anything because she wouldn't be able "hold her head high". Plus, Gail also said her father was a rascist, and dear old mom went along with it.
You mean embrace her African American heritage, if the mother is African American so is the child, and she is beautiful African American Daughter like me. It was difficult back then but now I'm hoping her both records reflects this, it's amazing to find you heritage
@@doc1946 I mean imagine the fear she had thinking “what would happen to me if everyone knew I wasn’t actually white?” That fear and belief to conform obviously carried with her to her death.
I absolutely love this story, and how the daughter found her family. I feel sad for her mother, though that she felt she had to hide her identity. Bless her heart.
Signs of the times!!!
They really should make a movie about this not necessarily about this ladies mum but maybe her and a few other people's stories. Would be a great movie documentary also a great way to open people's eyes!
Her cousin Stephanie Frederic is doing a movie about this.
There is a 1950's drama / film called 'I Passed For White' that parallels a lot of this woman's story, there is 'Pinky' 1930's I think, I would like to see them remade with more depth & info. - both may be on YT and of course there is the Hollywood classic weepy 'Imitation Of Life'. I would love to see a Netflix series that really goes historically & socially in-depth, why hasn't it been done?
I love this...this should be told across the media for what is currently going on with the world now.
I love this toooo
@@juliesuasa2599 ….👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
NatBraddy……..👎🏻👎🏻
Julie Suasa I
P
Gail's mother knew she had an instinct to investigate and knew she would go and find her family. That is why she gave Gail the photo album of her true identity.
I loved this story. Accepting family NO matter the race. Family is important!
Her mother LOOKS like a Louisiana Creole --MANY of whom passed for white back in the day!
She does. So beautiful and that gorgeous hair they all have
Pure Americana
Her mother was creole
Yes she is Creole. Many creoles pass for white.
That's exactly what I was saying to myself while listening and watching this story
Great job, HP! I didn't know you guys make videos like this. You should promote your TH-cam content much more. In today's climate, stories like this is needed a whole lot.
Beautifully narrated. Glad you found your relatives
😪wow!!! the things your mother had to indure and listen to while passing all them years of her life😪i can feel her smiling on you gail for being brave and accepting her black side of the family🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾amennn and much prayers&blessing🦋
Two years ago I found my baby Sister..... I have known that she was "out there" for 61 yrs. She and I connected after we both subscribed to a TH-cam channel . And got to know more about each other on live chats. And we do not live that far away. She and I are both mixed race. Both "white" .I was raised White in segregated Jim Crow south. My brother and I both knew , but also knew to keep the secret. I too have other family that I have never got to know. Sadly many have long passed away.
Uau that’s a movie story, meeting on TH-cam! What sparked the conversation?
@@ritaamor283 The channel was a prepper channel. As we would be in on live shows, we gradually gave out little bits of info and were surprised to learn of our sister bonds. There are no accidents ,I feel we were meant to be able to find each other. She is such a beautiful , loving spiritual Lady and I am proud to have her as my Baby Sister.
@@lindabishop7656 thank you for answering. Blessed be your story and future❤️❤️❤️❤️ I also believe when it comes to important things there are no accidents ❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤
Are you afraid to find the ones alive? You have to start somewhere!
Her mother seemed to be a Louisiana Creole. So sad that many years had passed without being with family and living her authentic truth. I'm glad Gail has reconnected with the family.
That was beautifully told. Whoever made this did very well.
Thank you!
So sad for her mother
Its really sad to cut your family off because they are Black. Its messy.
Penny7 nothing or no one will make me cut my family off not even a bigoted man she knew what he was beforehand don't be fooled SHE made that choice not race or racial barriers get it right just being a devious woman period!! Trifling and pathetic smh
@@crystalbrame7886 You need to think before you speak. This woman had to do what was best for her and for her future. If she had to hide half herself to live a better life, I don't blame her.
@Ramond’s Enchantment that's your 2020 mind frame not 1950s mentality
Passing was not something a person was forced into. Passing was a deliberate choice a person made who wanted to experience and pass on racial privilege. Period. And many who did this became some of the most violent and hateful racists ever born. For instance, John Edgar Hoover... smhsmhsmhsmh
Got me over here crying when I saw here hugging and having dinner with her mom’s family. She got to do what her mom chose not to do. I wonder how her children feel about their other half. I know she said her son favored her mother.
Kudos to her for sharing her story with the public.
Wow! Wonderful, and it’s so beautiful that you all accepted one another with loving open arms. Of course you know that doesn’t always happen. What a beautiful story.
What a beautiful story!!!
Really? Is it beautiful? Or tragic. There is nothing beautiful about a woman having to pretend all her life being something she's not. Sacrificing her own flesh and blood by denying their very existence so she could progress in life. If that was you in her place would you say that's beautiful?
This story is definitely not beautiful. "Bitter Sweet ", is what it is !!!!!!!!
@@oluapampa5075 ok boomer
@@muhammaduwaismuhsinmuaz4385 😂😂
Beautiful!
Im a Pacific islander & i have German blood running through me. During the 1800s Spain was controlling my island before handing it over to Germany. During that time many Europeans started to arrive throughout the Pacific. One man by the name Frederick Narruhn floated ashore on his Schooner via Fiji.
Had two sons in the islands & one of his son is my very own great grandfather. I am of a darker complexion(Brown) but many relatives in my family are white with blue eyes. Till this day we have not met any of our European long relatives.
#ProudPacificIslander❤️
So fabulous. Intriguing. She really dealt with it well. I had something slightly similar with my daughter. She’s very dark on her birth was a shock, I remember saying to the midwife! Maybe it was all
The curry I craved lol. But many years later I found her grandmother on her dads side was Spanish ancestry. My daughter has very black hair and was regularly told to go back to her own country. Poor kid people are very ignorant. Wonderful story
But Spanish people who are of European heritage are white, yes they might be darker than say a British person who are of European heritage who tend to be lighter in skin colour but they both are white peoples.
@@peterpereira3653 You are correct, but we also have to remember there were Moors in Spain, so while there is Spanish heritage in the husband's family, there may be Moor as well, giving the darker complexion. My family is Mexican and my parents took the DNA testing to determine ancestry . My Dad's side of the family has some members who are either blonde or redheaded with blue or green eyes, while others looked traditionally Hispanic/ Latin. His results turned out to have Spanish, Italian, and get this...IRISH descent!! It definitely explains the blonde and cinnamon mix in my hair and why Dad's beard had a golden-red mix to dark whiskers. Through travel, colonization, or migration, the whole world has become a mix of interesting heritage. My parents' testing made me start researching our genealogy, which I believe we all should do. It would help us open our eyes that color is superficial, and heritage runs deeper. I loved watching this video.
@@yvettecuevas6365 What is traditionally Hispanic/Latin? We are so diverse and mixed, there's no traditional "look" for Hispanics. Also not all Spaniards are mixed with Moors, 1 in 10 has some Moor blood. I stood corrected many times when I tried to claim the same you just did.
This is so beautiful for this woman to speak about her mother and to be so proud of the black side of her family. My grandmother looked like a white lady and I came across a newspaper article that tried to say she was trying to pass. But my grandmother was married to a black man she never tried to be anything but black so the article was lying on her. I am thinking about contacting the newspaper because there are so many lies in that article that I know that weren't true being her granddaughter. For instance they said she had older brothers but her only brother died of a heart condition when he was very young. So I am very upset about the newspaper printing so many lies concerning my grandmother.👍🏾
I wonder how Gail is taking this new revelation of Black cousins? It's a interesting story, but a sad one too.
She's got a book out, apparently, and was on Meghan Kelly's show when she still had one (two parts--they're here on TH-cam). You can search 'em out--she goes into more detail about the experience.
She's white and I'm sure she will continue living the way she always has.
Definitely a sad one 😢
@@terreciakennedy3265 Well she passes as white because she looks white but she identifies as being mixed race.
th-cam.com/video/d9qnB85QIMw/w-d-xo.html
I had no idea our family experience was so common. Beautifully done, thank you for sharing
Love this story, Gail. Happy your mom trusted you with her secret🦋🦋🦋
Wonderful to see you in them. I love how your heart is full with love.
Can we appreciate the cinematography ❤️
Thank you!
Aww 🥰 the beauty of finding family is priceless. So happy for you.
Such a beautiful story.Your mom can rest in peace now.
Wow. Brought tears to my eyes. ❤️
Such brilliant told and shot story. Thank you HP for investing in filmmakers to tell meaningful stories like these!
Such similar stories within my family. 😢
ellimaC H awww 😩
I feel she fulfilled her mother’s dream of reconnecting with her people ❤
Had me crying over here !
Story so beautiful, I'm crying too. 80 and white ..I think...
I'm in floods of tears watching this story but they are happy tears.
I have always believed that besides America being a preferred destination, it was equally an oasis of fathomless secrets, very dark secretes. This story is one typical example of the America that remains in shadows. I loved the way her journey to her discovery ended.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! SO BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL! NO PUN INTENDED!
Beautiful, I am so happy you found your family, and you can add to your photo album ❤!
What a tragically beautiful story. I'm so glad they all embraced each other. Family is everything.
The mom were just gorgious. How sad she felt a need to turen her back in Herslev like that. What she must have liver through....
Gorgeous
Absolutely so happy for you and your new found family.🙏🌹
Oh man I almost cried …this touched my heart ♥️
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Open arms of LOVE!
Tears 😭.♥️ family.
I had tears that I could not stop... it started with the email she got! ❤️ this family!
wow. what a story!
Family is everything, glad they found each other.
So lucky to have found a wonderful addition to your family!! Too bad so many years were lost. The best part is you get to enjoy that Louisiana culture. The best people and food!!!
what a BEAUTIFUL STORY AND FAMILY It made me cry
Lovely story. Thank you for sharing. They embraced you.
My heart skipped a beat I was so happy you came to that way ♥️♥️💗💗 this is the absolute circle of life it must be made a movie please don't put it on Netflix not Hallmark
She wrote a book about this in 2017! "White Like Her"
I saw her interview on TV. Great story.
Love this story so happy your Reunited with your family what a blessing
I appreciate the tribute to her mother at the end of the video rather than criticizing her.
You did a great Job telling your story and I am sure your Mom is proud of you .
This makes me miss my family in the south. It's so much fun when you reunite with distance relatives.
I can’t imagine the amount of guilt and shame this woman must’ve felt on her deathbed.
The use of “had to” is troubling. She *chose* to make the tremendous shift, she *chose* to give up family, she *chose* to give up her authentic identity. I’m sure that was incredibly hard, but not framing it up as a choice dismisses the reasons why she’d go through all of that lost (by choice) to “gain” whiteness (especially during that time). Not acknowledging that she chose this life despite the pain waters down the richness of the story and the lesson in the story. Without that part, this is just a fascinating story, but the choice part makes you think about why.
Imagine the whole picture! What women back in that era HAD to do under the circumstances.
@@xionmemoria respectfully, language matters and is really important. The choice to use “had to” was also incredibly intentional here. “Had to” as used here was meant to mean she had no choice. My point (again) for anyone reading this response is that it’s powerful to think about why she chose to do this very hard, difficult thing. It points to the value of whiteness. For her, at least at some point, it was worth it. That’s the point. I hope that’s a little clearer?
@@xionmemoria now this one is just for you. I think it’s ok to be annoyed or disagree with a comment. I do not wish to engage in a toxic back or forth or anything like that as it took me weeks to notice even this comment, but just wanted you to know that the story didn’t offend me mama; it just annoyed me a little. I don’t have time or the energy to look for ways to be offended or to offend others. Life is hard enough. I did, though, have time to respond to you today. 👍🏾❤️❤️ I probably won’t anymore. Have a better new year. I mean it. 🙏🏾
Her mother did not "have" to give up her family and her heritage. She clearly chose to do so. All because she was made to feel ashamed that she was of African descent. The shameful part of this is not realizing the Powerful and Beautiful of this heritage.
"What a great story, with such a great, and rewarding ending" .. Blessings always, Ms. Deborah Steele - 11/18/21
The story should be made a move
This is beautiful 🥰
It’s truly an emotional story I can identify and empathize WOW
We are a mix of different heritages especially here in America. I'm Cherokee, English, Irish, German, who knows what else
nice story, so sad for your mother in having to hide her identity but happy ending in finding your new family...
Why ...in all I'm finding on this...can't I find a picture of her grandfather?
Such a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. ♥️🙏🏼🙏🏽🙏🏻🙏🙏🏿🙏🏾♥️
Family is family. We should always love our family.
I just love this story ❤️
They keep naming folk azemar that's tradition gotta love it 🔥🔥 😂😂
Thank you for sharing! So sad and so amazing!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
This should be made into a movie
Awww....❤❤❤ Blessings to their family
Beautiful story
Touching. In her white high school, my mother's nickname was "blackie" because of how dark she was.
Maybe there is something to it
That's a beautiful beginning and ending. Well worth the effort!!!.
Such a great story with a phenomenal end.
Lovely story I love happy endings not enough of them in this day and age
So beautiful and inspiring
Beautiful story!
Maybe its bc some of my ppl are creole, but To me she looked mixed until she was really old
The ending is great! That is the way America should be!
We are glad you liked it.
An amazing touching story! Thanks.
No matter the color, family is a blessing.
Beautiful story love it does not matter who you are your family is your family that 's your past that's what happened in those times sometimes secrets comes out later in our life it may be shocking and nothing we can do about it but embrace it because it's part of life
So nice you have wonderful family 👪 ❤
She’s so pretty and reminds me of my grandma and aunts. My grandmother didn’t look full white either and my dna test came back that I am 8% African and 10% East Asian.
ugh, that's terrible i'd hate to live a life like that hiding who i am but believe it or not, many people do this!
Wow! This made me cry. 😢😢
This video made my eyes well up.
Truth be told that's America's story!
I’m happy that we live in a more tolerant time in which people mostly not look down at other as lesser than them because of their appearance. We truly are more than our skjn color.
All those wasted years
Her book is amazing!
who's cutting onions aww
How precious is that !