Harlem to China: One Woman's Quest to Find Her Family

Jamaican-Chinese American Paula Williams Madison set out to discover her biracial roots on a journey that turned up a family of 400 across the world. The WSJ’s Ramy Inocencio speaks to Ms. Madison about the film, "Samuel Lowe: From Harlem to China."
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[@anitachin596]

My grandfather was full Chinese and married my grandmother who was mixed Black and Chinese. They were first generation born in Guyana from parents who arrived from the late 1800s.

[@NavierMasChannel]

That is so awesome. I love hearing about stories of Chinese immigrants mingling with other cultures during the 1800s...they really traveled everywhere.

[@anitachin596]

@@NavierMasChannel it is, genetics are also fun, it skipped a generation and my daughter is frequently asked if she is from east Asia, to which she responds yes, via the Caribbean!

[@NavierMasChannel]

@@anitachin596 you took the words out of my mouth. I’m a avid fan of discovering our ancestors and learning our roots. And I always post everywhere how I find it a fascinating that genes can skip several generations!

[@mariasingh3424]

Yooo im guyanese=)

[@lilpancake]

Did she say she was greeted by 300 family members when she arrived? Wow thats a lot of people 😁

[@Gorgeouslight2612]

lilpancake Yes she did

[@BaeLasso]

In China, many people of the same family name live in the same village, girls marry to men of other villages, and guys marry women that come from a different palace to keep the blood line "clean"

[@lagrangewei]

@@BaeLasso "clean" is that how u describe avoiding incest? :v

[@BaeLasso]

@@lagrangewei Right! Nobody want to have malfunctioned babies :) Villagers of the same family name are related

[@maggiejetson7904]

@@BaeLasso Not "clean", they do that to avoid incest, or in case there is an affair of men in the village with someone else's wife they are still from the same ancestors and are forgiven.

[@rosecheawu1945]

I love this. I'm so glad she was able to trace her roots. The thing about Chinese people is that even if older Chinese are resistant to change or not open-minded to interracial relationships, once children are brought into the picture, family is family. It doesn't matter what color you are, blood is blood.

[@lydmarl.475]

I’am looking for my Chinese roots, a black South American person, supposedly was one of those whom came on a ship from Macau, very complicated history.

[@idofdm7625]

@@lydmarl.475 Just happen to watch another video about another Jamaican man found his uncle in China. In it they interviewed the man and people from the services he used to found his uncle! Just type in Jamaica ( the channel ) the video will be there!

[@jeand4548]

Not if your white. A great amount of Chinese have an obsession with whiteness. They correlate whiteness with beauty, success, and etc.

[@kindface]

@@jeand4548 Not true. There are always different degrees of exceptions, of course, but for the most part, Chinese families still prefer their children to marry Chinese. Even a white would be considered outside their (the Chinese family's) comfort zone. But as @Rose Chea Wu has mentioned, once their children have made the choice to marry outside of their own race, Chinese parents tend to just accept it despite their initial reluctance. Main reason is that they don't want to lose family so they learn to welcome them into the family.

[@jeand4548]

@@kindface Agree to disagree.

[@lesstalk9287]

I am Jamaican and my father was Chinese. I always wanted to do what she did. I only have a picture and a name for my father. He went back to China and passed away there. Same province as her family.

[@JDL1115]

You need to go to China find some answers

[@chrisc1881]

You should start with your research online to contact the services available in Jamaica and Toronto that can guide you.

[@deborahbyom929]

But be the same man

[@gerardyoung6050]

go to the chinese embassy for assistance, make sure the chinese name is correct and the county or village is from.

[@joenroute9646]

Was he hakka too?

[@angelafrancis6183]

Being a Jamaican of Chinese decent as well as other ancestry. When I met my Chinese family members my experience was quite different, they were not as accepting, they were actually indifferent. I am so glad to hear yours were welcoming. I hope you enjoy a long, loving relationship with them

[@moni1952]

Not surprised

[@miamiandthailand2587]

Yeah that’s how it usually goes

[@KallusGarnet]

Your not special that's general how it goes.

[@miamiandthailand2587]

@@KallusGarnet but when they come here we suppose to be excited 😒🙄

[@angelafrancis6183]

@@KallusGarnet This will be the only response you receive because decorum warrants it. Of course I'm special as is every human being is on this earth is by their existence. My interactions with family members previously unknown was unique to us as is this indiviual's experience with her own. I can not definitively speak for her but from her depiction in the video she seemed satisfied with the reaction she got, as was I with the one I received. Unlike her I didn't seek out my Chinese heritage they came to my island on their own volition to see the family connection we both shared and we were both there at the same time to do so, as it were we both accomplished and was very satisfied with that endeavor, the indifference to each other went both ways and we both were also satisfied with that as well, so it was a very pleasant evening.

[@MaxMisterC]

My father had a half-chinese half-sister. They grew up in Jamaica but he died here in UK & she passed away in Florida. She had a daughter who won Miss Jamaica in 1976 & came third in Miss World xx

[@areyoulookingbitch7065]

How when she was white?

[@cosmoray9750]

Look up " The Secret Betrayal: The left behind " on yT. Sad reality.....

[@ThePgrey98]

This not adding up. Didn't Cindy Breakspear won Miss Jamaica 1976 and Miss World?

[@MaxMisterC]

@@ThePgrey98 1981 sorry... Sandra Cunningham

[@thetreekeeper143]

I'm so happy she is reunited with her large family in China.

[@YourNeighborJenny]

So cool! I'm so glad this ended up in such a heartwarming reunification

[@toddmaek5436]

Word. Its always good when open minds prevail

[@cosmoray9750]

Look up " The Secret Betrayal: The left behind " on yT. Sad reality.....

[@safiyaayuen2230]

I am of mixed Chinese ancestry. My great grandfather was the first to leave Guangdong province in the late 19th century. My father is the last Chinese in my family, born in the Caribbean... Oh how this story resonates with me! I know so little about my Chinese roots and hope that one day I can meet my Chinese ancestors who still live there. Thank you Paula Williams Madison for sharing your story!

[@Jasahaful]

Similar story here. My great grandfather was Chinese that went to Jamaica. I have a Chinese last name but I'm black however my son has Asian eyes and people always comment on why. Genes are so strong.

[@missshannon9790]

Glad to hear you identify as and know you are Black. While acknowledging your Asian ancestry.

[@veegood6404]

What a beautiful story with a warm happy ending. I love those family photos in China.

[@mariposaorofusionfoodchann7573]

As someone of partial Chinese heritage also, this is wonderful! Also like this woman, I found out about mine in adulthood too! It is astounding how much they all look alike, including the lady who searched for her ancestors! Just lovely!

[@blackstarz02]

Bought her book, read it, and loved it!!!:)

[@carmenhomer1965]

Me too and got the documentary

[@angelahamlett8249]

I love Chinese people. People around the World! Once they are comfortable with you and open up, they are so sweet. Like anyone else. We fear what we don't know.

[@taj2177]

This is just beautiful. My great great grandfather was Chinese. I wish I knew where to start to trace our roots.

[@kugul1683]

You could possibly look up relatives names on Ancestry.com, there might be a distant relative who could help you

[@tc3475]

Wow! The story is so wonderful.

[@etloo1971]

Many ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia also intermarried with the locals. Thailand and Philippines had the most mixed race Chinese.

[@BaeLasso]

They are vey integrated into the local societies especially Thai Chinese.

[@clarissagafoor5222]

Here in Hong Kong it's Indian, usually Muslim men, who came here with the British, who married Chinese women. My father in law was half Indian half Chinese. And there is a fairly large community of Chinese/Malaysian/Indians here.

[@viciousvendetta5706]

MIXED RACE?? Chinese, Vietnamese, Thais, or Philippines or where ever else in ASIA ARE ALL THE SAME RACE. There are ONLY THREE RACES IN THE WORLD ASIATIC, CAUCASIANS, AFRICAN (NEGRO) ALL mixtures are from these 3 racial group characteristics.

[@evakeeslar1766]

Yeah but that’s been going on for centuries. A lot of our culture in Thailand is influenced by Indian and Chinese culture. Our language, our religion, our customs, most of it is influenced heavily by China and India. Lots of people say they’re mixed Thai and Chinese but don’t even know how recently they have a Chinese ancestor.

[@taquebee]

Ahhh... This is Dr. Imani's (from Married to Medicine LA) mother. They're both such intelligent women

[@genaa6651]

Really? Wow that's nice to hear

[@marriejames01]

You’re right that is her. They actually spoke about visiting China on the show last season. Is that Imani back left about 4 over? It’s hard for me to tell.

[@mimithebantu]

Thats dr. imani's mom from married to medicine.

[@shimeicareaves]

Oh really thanks got to look this up

[@Loyale1229]

I knew she looked familiar, I think the fact that she was smiling threw me off (she never smiled on that show) lol

[@InTheEndOnlykindnessMatters]

Omg thank you for confirming this , when i first saw her I was wondering where I had seen her before .

[@InTheEndOnlykindnessMatters]

Omg thank you for confirming this , when i first saw her I was wondering where I had seen her before .

[@InTheEndOnlykindnessMatters]

Omg thank you for confirming this , when i first saw her I was wondering where I had seen her before.

[@comfortlivinghh]

amazing story! My parents are Hakka. I always feel proud of my heritage and my Hakka culture..

[@easychang4261]

Beautiful story

[@preciouslove1521]

You’re so blessed

[@viviennelowe9137]

Very interesting. I'm a Lowe and an uncle's name was Samuel Lowe

[@TWILS02119]

Wow! I am a man with both Jamaican and Chinese heritage in my distant background. This story warms my heart. ❤️

[@warriorprincessphl]

Hakka Chinese folks were the fearless travelers from the beginning .. it’s in the blood! If it’s a Chinese settlement, it’s likely a Hakka descent .. love them ... love my roots :)

[@yunielin8441]

Even in indonesia ,in kalimantan island, there is a lot Chinese haka, where they usually imigran from China at that time, but now they are part of our country, and become Indonesian citizen.

[@calvinlim2615]

in the old days, chinese immigrants, were mainly teochew, hokkien, cantonese and hakka. most oversea chinese predominantly these chinese. ethnics. hakka is the smallest number of them all. it is said hakka is the original founder of china. and eventually got push out of northern china, and they migrate down south

[@junehitchcock170]

When I undertook a study in 1999 it was the first time I discovered that there is black Chinese from Jamaica! Now to learn there is a whole community in Canada as well is truly fascinating. Look forward to reading more.

[@edwinli590]

To the best of my memory, there is a black chinese association in greater Toronto. They participated in some Toronto parades always.

[@yohanesliong4818]

Thanks for the sharing 👍👍

[@llw53one]

Wow, so interesting. I love that she shared her information with us.

[@xxhhliu6725]

Naomi Campbell is also Jamaica Chinese decent.

[@cvzdez]

I can see that

[@jemzless6447]

her real last name is Ming. campbell is her stepfather's last name

[@rachybaby72]

@clement Asampana As the poster said, Naomi Campbell is of Jamaican Chinese descent.

[@rachybaby72]

@clement Asampana Her eyes are very almond shaped. That is also a Chinese phenotype.

[@rachybaby72]

@clement Asampana Don't give an Ish about Brandy... Says who? You? 1) *Well then, you've never seen many black Chinese because they HAVE eyes almond-shaped eyes which IS a Chinese trait -- and even multiple generations removed from the Chinese ancestor. I've seen PLENTY.* 2) I NEVER said that's definitively where Naomi's eye shape came from, but YOU CAN'T definitively say that's not where her eye shape came from.

[@BigGeno]

Amazing! To know your roots.

[@eugene188]

so cool! There really are Chinese people everywhere. I've met Chinese-Trinis, seeing a Chinese person with a Trini accent is so awesome. Even on a tiny island in Belize, I met some Chinese people from Guangdong!

[@philliplyn2692]

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@guiselavaldez9850]

I am reading your book in this days.God bless you Paula,you was a brave child like your mother Nell!!

[@Sean72_]

Now that is fantastic!

[@sugarplumzredz7308]

Love stories like this 🥰

[@itawambamingo]

Amazing!

[@michelleforte8669]

This is very interesting.

[@jc9109]

Beautiful story.

[@msgshillingford4324]

LOVE THIS, PLEASE CONTINUE ,,, ONELOVE.

[@verminwatch_out1283]

Fascinating story

[@HuesoAmarilloAfricana]

I LOVE this!

[@kemabyrd8273]

She look like them wow amazing.

[@5bLucky]

Wow I am happy for her!

[@asakidesigns]

You go girl

[@goldenrayofcentralsun1111]

1:03 can see the similarity.

[@lorrainewade6956]

So happy for you and family god bless you all

[@egyptianprincess6006]

My daughter is blck Chinese, old lady from many moons ago💎👸🏾🌻🙏 I protect her with everything I got❤️💯💋💪

[@shanipie3]

What a beautiful story and beautiful woman!

[@yoni-in-BHAM]

My great-grandfather was from the same area in China. He and my great-grandmother had my grandmother in Chicago.

[@happygirl864]

Beautiful family.

[@ayo30s]

🇯🇲🇨🇳Very Beautiful and Interesting Story, 👍🏾👊🏾✌🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸

[@leilaleila4874]

300!!! Lawd, I’m feeling tired and they aren’t even my family. Do you know how many grandma hugs she’ll get? 😭😩😍

[@nicolelove54321]

That’s awesome

[@amandalove3368]

Simply beautiful.

[@75carameldiva]

This is a amazing.

[@nicolelove54321]

Awesome

[@isaiahkenny3544]

Phenomenal

[@Savvynlady]

I know plenty Jamaican Chinese people. Good friends with one. I'm not surprised here. There's a song by Lord Melody call "Chinese Children calling me Daddy"

[@HollywoodCharityAuctioncom]

Beautiful.

[@prettycyber8332]

This is like my Family. My great grandma was Chinese /Spainiard (Filipino)

[@apollard1968]

Too cool

[@benitaesq_]

Beautiful

[@LIBqueen]

So when is the movie coming out?

[@sexyndacityable]

Her daughter is on Married to Medicine LA.

[@literarylady1125]

Why ch one is her daughter?

[@sexyndacityable]

@@literarylady1125 the tall pretty bald Psychologist

[@marriejames01]

@@literarylady1125 Dr. Imani I think she’s in the photo they show, back left.

[@julieelizabeth510]

I would never have thought she was half Chinese.

[@nirbija]

She is not "half Chinese", more like a much smaller percentage of Chinese. Her mother was the "half-Chinese" from her statement: Her grandmother "hid her mother from" the Chinese father.

[@jillenehall301]

Ppl LOVE to say they are mixed with some.....of this and some of that!!!! Chinese have being mixing with others races for centuries.....

[@AuntyM66]

Her grandfather was Chinese. It is her mother who is half Chinese.

[@jillenehall301]

@@LaAerial I am not mad..... I am happy for her to have fought her family.

[@LJ-yp8vx]

I have Chinese heritage.. had no idea! Would love to learn more about my family. Always had a love for learning mandarin and not a clue!

[@kugul1683]

Just because you have Chinese ancestry doesn't mean they spoke Mandarin. A large number of people from the Guangzhou /Hong Kong /Shenzhen area (and generally the Guangdong region) emigrated to different places around the world (including my Grandma) who speak Cantonese.

[@FreeSpirit47]

FASCINATING!!!

[@fredjohnson5458]

Hello Brenda how are you doing

[@trysimmahdownk2060]

Isn’t her daughter on that Doctor show???

[@ramadhanmohammed8193]

Wow.

[@Itsonlyvibes]

out of many we are one!!

[@kaleahcollins4567]

Actually theres been blacks in China since way before the europeans came to africa.

[@salingstuff8085]

Blacks in china and Japan before they where there.. first shoagun and samurai where black, intact it was exclusive. The thing is they call us black so it destroys old words like swarthy. People dont understand its 2 dark races ham and shem. Shem produces various shades of brown. Jepeth was cursed white

[@gregorybrooks1888]

@Kaleah...Look up the Scythians in Aria Nesi Research. That story will give you a idea how far back Israelites go in Chinese History.

[@coreylevine3856]

The Arab slave trade is part of that

[@gracelove886]

I married a British Afro-Carribean in 1986 and my children are half black Chinese. The Chinese genes is strong but they still have the curly hair. Each of the children have different types of curls.

[@gregorybrooks1888]

@Grace.. That is because, the Bantu if that person is Bantu is dominate over all genes.

[@kevinj2261]

Largest North America Hakka comnunity is in Toronto? Wow first time to know that, thanks

[@manilil4258]

Cantonese culture is littt!!

[@kindsoul8120]

2:58 That's a big family.

[@Allister2000]

Shout out to all others of Hakka Chinese Jamaican decent in Toronto!

[@davidgray4685]

What the name of the movie

[@Gorgeouslight2612]

david Gray Maybe if u watch the video u will know

[@indriadrayton1132]

I know there is a big Trini Chinese population. I learned so much!!!!

[@Jenjen-qc5eq]

Many Jamaicans are part Chinese, my cousins on my father side are part Chinese, Naomi Campbell has Chinese ancestry.

[@turnerc13781]

I wonder is my mom part of this heritage

[@lolollolol1436]

China is so cool

[@madreep]

That's interesting. I took an ancestry DNA test a few years ago and was surprised to have Asian DNA markers. Mine is still not determined to be a part of any particular community, it's people who historically were travelers. It's closest linked to the Philippines, Pacific Islands, and Australia. I am a history buff but never have explored the histories between Asia and Africa which seem to be fairly significant. More so than what we already know about the ties between the Hebrews in North Africa and the middle east.

[@ruqayyaabdus-salaam4724]

Get a book called "African Presence in Early Asia" by Ivan van Sertima. It's a good starting point for further information if you're interested.

[@sweetpea6814]

Hakka food is delish!!

[@theonlyladybella44480]

There was also a black and Chinese community in the Mississippi Delta. Mae C. Jemison is a descendant.

[@juanshaftpatel7488]

she even talks like those old kung fu movies with the english dubbed over

[@askiasabur381]

Lol

[@damienabsalon]

This is Dr Imani’s mom from Married To Medicine LA

[@tenga3tango]

This explains to western audience the Chinese people place importance of knowing your roots and prrserving the bloodline.

[@XBASS247]

one people

[@reyandrocruz2037]

My Great Grandfather was Chinese But I do not have the time and energy to trace back But Somehow I have a calling for herbal medicine

[@ysivasan]

Please correct your opening statement. The woman is not Chinese and Jamaican. She is Chinese and African descent as Jamaican is not a race but a citizenship, like British, European, etc.

[@emilianchux5789]

Wow, all from one 15 year old Chinese boy!

[@d.m.5017]

So Awesome, Your Family Is Beautiful! 🗽🏙🇺🇸🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇹🇹🇮🇳🇵🇦🇨🇦🇬🇧Brooklyn Love 💙❤🖤💛💚🧡🙏🏽

[@HardCold-Alquan]

How is someone of 'mixed Chinese and Jamaican' if the Chinese (or East Indian) is a Jamaican?

[@blessedandhighlyfavouredhe8564]

West Indian

[@cooliegee]

You got the actor @ 1:03 from "Golden Child" in your family. "I,I,I,I,I,I,I want the knife!!!"

[@calexrose]

pleassse

[@davidgray4685]

Lol

[@desireecase7870]

Isnt this imani's mother from married to medicine?

[@dblessed7860]

JAMAICA out of many we are

[@ytcy11]

yea, family is family, it doesn't matter what color

[@cavalier2097]

Same story in Suriname. Alot hakka married afro women.

[@THEDISH54]

To find your ancestral connections that lead to finding your blood relatives any where in the world is magnificent. GOD BLESS THEM.

[@Zermelo]

The Hakka Chinese Jamaicans left Jamaica PRIMARILY because of Ethnic violence against them by the majority African Jamaicans. Regardless of what the case may be that fact shouldn't be glossed over. And the fact that she doesn't mention it when answering why they migrated from Jamaica to Canada says a lot.

[@Element_Z48]

@Devonta Williams it'd be nice if you learn to speak a human language

[@rqubed2603]

Zermelo...should she also give a dissertation on what initiated the violence as well?

[@shawndeagan7457]

Good. Stay out!

[@kwikky22]

It is a bit more complicated than that. Plus, her story is not about ethnic violence.

[@etloo1971]

Many Jamaican went to USA driven by economic opportunity.

[@tcnbrooklyn2638]

They all look alike