As my departed Mom used to say, we can recognize our own, it's others who can't. So true
@lizabetx483Ай бұрын
If she was passing everyone who believed it needed glasses.
@renaissancewoman100Ай бұрын
Exactly she didn't even look biracial. Just a light skin black woman. @@lizabetx483
@Mimi-ht6xr29 күн бұрын
😂😂😂😂 l’ve passed as Hispanic and Middle Eastern because l have straight hair and lightskin. No black person has ever pegged me as black. If you have to ask then you don’t know!!!! Also, many whites don’t give a damn one way or the other if you’re light enough and they’re attracted to you. My cousin’s husband knows she’s mixed race. Never cared. Neither does mine. I think it’s only black people who care.
@desic327429 күн бұрын
@@lizabetx483I know! She doesn't look white to me.
@edenheaven517529 күн бұрын
This picture has bad light she was bright she had skin of Lena horne i think.she looked a dark Italian and she had a story to b explain the tan in her skin.but her features should have given her away.
@blackhistory76711 ай бұрын
Who knew being a librarian could be this exciting!
@mariamart_011 ай бұрын
Ikr girl, she is just giving us MORE OF THE SPICY TEA AND THE JUST MORE OLD HOLLYWOOD SECRETS 😭.
@gretchenking5952Ай бұрын
As a librarian I can say that it is a wonderful career.
@thegospelofthekingdom.Ай бұрын
@@gretchenking5952I always say librarians are artists who don't paint...😊
@gretchenking5952Ай бұрын
@@thegospelofthekingdom. I love that.
@thesweetestteas.4534Ай бұрын
It was probably akin to being a social media influencer in our time lol
@noreneal7252Ай бұрын
Correction: Her dad was the Dean of Howard law school not Harvard law school. He was the first black graduate from Harvard tho.
@4CQueen29 күн бұрын
Wow. How awesome is that!.
@RenataMitchell-u6b12 күн бұрын
Smart man
@doveflyer16363 ай бұрын
She took that tea to the GRAVE!!! Savage!!!
@JBanks33323 күн бұрын
@@DeshaunDamon 💨 🤭 really
@changes649Ай бұрын
I visited the library in NYC. She died in 1950. They have a little biography about her on the wall. She met JP Morgan through his nephew when she was working at Princeton. She is the only black person mentioned in that library. They change their exhibits every so often. But her biography is on the wall with JP Morgan and his son.
@lisabautista-sellers704411 күн бұрын
That says alot😮
@lukeerik275210 ай бұрын
There's a really interesting account of her in de Hamel's Manuscripts Club book.
@pineconebliss11 күн бұрын
synopsis please..
@joanclayton5212Ай бұрын
It’s amazing how her, Jefferson Davis’ wife and Johnnie Cash’s wife were all able to pass. They very much looked Black.
@Nightbird1914Ай бұрын
Johnny Cash had mixed ancestry too.
@joanclayton5212Ай бұрын
@ Wow! I knew about his wife but I didn’t know about him.
@sonyabell4573Ай бұрын
Johnnie Cash wife was mostly white, but had African ancestry .
@sandra-jonesАй бұрын
@@sonyabell4573 can you explain _"mostly"_
@lynnellscott9079Ай бұрын
Cash’s wife, Vivian didn’t know she had black ancestry. It wasn’t until their daughter, June looked into the family’s genealogy.
@alimazimmer381924 күн бұрын
We have always been able to recognize our people.
@Joyful_SmilesАй бұрын
The book, "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict is about her, ger family, and J. P. Morgan.
@NewYork-ly9yy29 күн бұрын
Her father was the dean of Howard University, he maintained his Blackness after graduating from Harvard.
@glennsepulveda485611 ай бұрын
After Bella's parents split, her father took for his common law wife a Japanese woman named Mishi Kawashima with whom he had 3 children, this after his diplomatic posting ended in Vladivostok Russia..Her father, Theodore Greener was an extremely accomplished and pioneering African American, the first colored man to graduate from Harvard University..Greener separated from his wife Genevieve Fleet,(Bella's mom) upon learning that she listed their family as white on the census, as this would harm all the work he was doing in his fight for civil rights and liberties..
@whymillieАй бұрын
how would being listed as white help what he was doing for civil rights? Kindly expand.
@akufu1Ай бұрын
Reading comprehension: He said that it would hurt, not help.
@crest4sensation938Ай бұрын
@@akufu1 😅
@lizabetx483Ай бұрын
@@akufu1 I could not have said it better.
@Jaime-u5mАй бұрын
@@whymillie Kindly apologize perhaps?
@johnmoore517411 ай бұрын
Very interesting video today. I have not heard about this woman before seeing this video.
@glorymosbyfloyd3878Ай бұрын
Me either
@LovetheWordM-u3k21 күн бұрын
Me neither.
@dennismanuel615616 күн бұрын
Me neither.
@RenataMitchell-u6b12 күн бұрын
Neither have i
@elenasirena10 ай бұрын
What an amazing story! Such an interesting woman
@emzywillrich724327 күн бұрын
It is true. Her father was the first black Harvard graduate. I read the massive tome, The House of Morgan. She was pretending to be Italian. She said that JP Morgan and her tried but it didn't work out. I worked for JPMorgan Chase as a Business Analyst. Bell lived a great life and traveled all around the world purchasing art for the Morgan library.
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
So awesome!
@NayNaySayersX23 күн бұрын
Would be very interesting to see a "passing" story on The GildedAge, perhaps even this story! Thank you for sharing. 💜✨💜
@Bepop4219 күн бұрын
Rich men have and will continue this behavior ❤❤
@kendraearls4861Ай бұрын
The book on her life was AMAZING, apparently based on her personal journals.
@YogaBlissDance23 күн бұрын
READ THE BOOK IT'S amazing- she was famous at the time and passing....would even be featured in newspapers.
@moonshinesnowrich647428 күн бұрын
Many who “passed” opted not to marry or have children for fear of how their children may come out. I wonder if that was part of her fear and reasoning for never marrying and having children. Perhaps it was that, perhaps it was loving her life and independence. Perhaps it was a mix of both. She was truly living her best life and it’s a great story. Women let alone black women didn’t get paid nearly as much as she did back then. The things she accomplished overall need to be applauded.
@Mimi-ht6xr28 күн бұрын
I don’t think she wanted to be married. Have you seen her family background? That was at least three or more generations of race mixing. Her fair skin and straight hair would’ve been passed on had she married another mixed race person. I’m a descendant of New Orleans French Creoles from the old 7th Ward. Trust me many of us are very proud of our heritage and we marry wisely. They did too.
@melissaparker572327 күн бұрын
@@Mimi-ht6xrI’m just asking no judgment what is marrying wisely???
@ThePinkPantha2127 күн бұрын
@@melissaparker5723 marrying other light skinned people that can pass for white. Yep it's still a thing I am a New Orleanian too, sadly lots of locals are still hung up on skin color.
@kaioiamo150327 күн бұрын
No matter the sacrifice?
@WiiNV26 күн бұрын
@@Mimi-ht6xr Suggest visiting NYTN KZbin channel. US census didn't consider her Italian descendants YT until 1920s 🔎 one drop rule 😬
@rubychew6535Ай бұрын
Considering the time period JP Morgan was descent due to the fact that he made sure Bella De Costa Green was provided for. Here was a rich man who saw an intelligent black woman who had ability.
@DrJohnH.McClendonIIIАй бұрын
Greener was not the Dean of Harvard Law School, he was at Howard University Law School .
@zeeqq10529 күн бұрын
Big big difference.😂😂😂😂😂
@reneedennis201111 ай бұрын
Thank you for this video! I didn't know about her!
@DarniseMartinАй бұрын
I would not reduce this great woman to being a mistress as in the title. The book about her is The Personal Librarian, enormously influential.
@blackhistory767Ай бұрын
Thank you for your feedback. The titles have to draw interest, but she definitely was much more.
@whymillieАй бұрын
Who said being a mistress was a low title? You are projecting!! Relax.
@evaphillips2102Ай бұрын
@@whymillie it’s certainly not a respectable title….not in America
@DarniseMartinАй бұрын
@whymillie I don't know where being a mistress is a respected title. The larger point here is that this woman was accomplished in her line of work , creating an amazing legacy and deserves respect for that, not reduced to gossip for a youtube video. Black women experience hypersexualuzation enough in our daily lives not to do it to another one of us ourselves.
@cherrywimberly5608Ай бұрын
@@DarniseMartinTHANKS🙏🏾Well SAID!❤️
@TwiSpeaker2 күн бұрын
Beautiful work again. Bella led a beautiful life. She’s the brain behind the man. I can’t imagine what her life was like traveling the world in search of rare manuscripts and exquisite books.
@blackhistory7672 күн бұрын
I agree! So classy too!
@comparedtowhat271911 ай бұрын
I became familiar with this woman while reading a bio of JP. For race, she claimed she was Portguese.
@corderomiles376926 күн бұрын
Puertoguese history is said mixed with white spanish and negro or african.
@beingmisstosha26 күн бұрын
Portuguese is not a race. It’s a nationality and ethnicity.
@corderomiles376926 күн бұрын
@@comparedtowhat2719 puertoguese history was already determined as mixed with negro to create the ethnics of the word purtoguese
@lady-w1f2o25 күн бұрын
"The original were black people" Portuguese
@bonbon-gl8qo24 күн бұрын
@@beingmisstoshaback then it was still a way to claim that she wasn’t black, even though she clearly was.
@scroogemcduckrich970529 күн бұрын
8:03 never married because she was dating rich home boy and didn’t have kids because it would possibly betray her secret. God bless her.
@eveningglow902328 күн бұрын
Kids would have definitely looked totally white.
@sharmindecruz975727 күн бұрын
She smarter than these modern day baby mamas
@exoticchocolatecaribbean_q562424 күн бұрын
God don't bless no mess!
@DeniseG-c7p23 күн бұрын
@@sharmindecruz9757 For sure.
@Msboochie210 күн бұрын
@@eveningglow9023 No, not necessarily. Genetics don’t work.
@Reg44T22 күн бұрын
Good for her. Worked the system.
@reginawilliams139811 ай бұрын
Very interesting. Thank you
@evefavorse5939Ай бұрын
Ive read the Personal Librarian by Benedict and Murray about Bella Dacosta Greene’s life and recently visited the exhibit at JP Morgan Museum. You’re history lesson was just as wonderfully portrayed as the book and the exhibit 😊
@chellelechelleАй бұрын
I loved that book it was really good, I'll have to read it again
@jaiyabyrd4177Ай бұрын
I'm so glad she was well paid
@Redro198228 күн бұрын
Me too, cause they don't want to get ya a 2 piece these days LOL
@ancestorbackforthelasttime27 күн бұрын
I was about to say, when you said this woman clearly looks black .. I said it’s funny how we can look right at them and see it. Great story
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
Lol! Just stating the obvious! Thanks so much for watching!
@Colorbrush2125 күн бұрын
She looks like a feminine version of Babe Ruth. Many people said he passed (just barely) all his life.
@morethandetermined-iyusaf24521 күн бұрын
I really enjoyed this! Thank you.
@blackhistory76721 күн бұрын
So glad! Thank you for watching!
@riggiep.710824 күн бұрын
People with money opening libraries... How times have changed. Now, they don't want the kids to learn and know anything.
@blackhistory76724 күн бұрын
SMH
@CapricornSunSagRisingLibraMoon29 күн бұрын
She does not look white doesn't have stereotypical white features. Her mother was biracial and possibly her father was too.
@DeniseG-c7p23 күн бұрын
Loved this. She passed as white and burned her records - I'm not mad at her.
@blackhistory76712 күн бұрын
Right!
@GraceZaalman-vm1df26 күн бұрын
This is a found jem, I love stories like these.
@blackhistory76726 күн бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@olowasegun682927 күн бұрын
This is the tragic story of a woman who lived an imitation of life doing what she could to survive in impossible times.
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
So true!
@MissTippiLu9 күн бұрын
This is probably why she never had children. No telling what her children would look like.
@SandraDunkley-oj3cm6 күн бұрын
That's VERY TRUE
@yvettemarshallTWNАй бұрын
❤ It. Many undercover and Unsung heroes. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge a benefactor by cover either because he obviously knew a hidden gem when he saw one. 💎
@pinkyjohns519824 күн бұрын
An Illuminated Life by Heidi Ardizzone is a good book about her.Her father was Dean of Howard Law School, not Harvard.
@TIAOFNEBULA22 күн бұрын
Half of my family are Greens and half are Morgans… this story is so interesting
@mauricarobinson939318 күн бұрын
I enjoyed this history lesson. Any spot light on or people who succeeded in a time when we were off the few to do so excites me. This is a new one for me and I do enjoy learning about our peoples stories of the past.❤
@blackhistory76718 күн бұрын
So glad you enjoyed!
@Dr.KiaPruittOfficial23 сағат бұрын
This was fabulous! Thank you, Darling. I'm subscribing! Excited to hear more!!!
@booksandstick554423 күн бұрын
"The Personal Librarian," by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
@adrian-h3dАй бұрын
nothing is hidden indefinitely
@rmdavis735210 күн бұрын
the Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a great read about Ms. Greene
@MIMI-D25 күн бұрын
It blows my mind how pple can’t tell the difference between a high yellow and a white. This is just ridiculous
@RufusCurry2Ай бұрын
He was the dean of Howard University's Law School.
@TheyCallMeCharisma16 күн бұрын
I just finished watching a documentary on Amazon Prime about him and the banking industry and how he paid for the Panama Canal. This man had the first billion dollar company in 1900.
@MrMspam0314 күн бұрын
Thanks for showing ❤ interesting story!
@blackhistory76714 күн бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@mskittyjones21 күн бұрын
Back in the day a lot of pure Italians were dark complexed with wavy hair. Many blacks tried to pass for Italians. I know a lot of people from Italy who have the last name De Costa.
@blackhistory76721 күн бұрын
Interesting! Thanks for watching.
@SusanQ-wn1gn22 күн бұрын
This was a wonderful video. In the late 1800's was the first time women were allowed to be librarians and women were not allowed to be married. Teachers could not be married either. So this is most likely why Belle was not married.❤
@RenataMitchell-u6b12 күн бұрын
Teachers and librarians not allowed to marry. How awful 😡
@Nanbebe728 күн бұрын
Wow first time hearing about your channel! Fascinating! I’m obsessed with The Gilded Age! Keep great stories coming ❤
@blackhistory76728 күн бұрын
Me too! Thanks for your support! I will.
@rolandnedd9503Ай бұрын
Her father was the first Black graduate at a Harvard college. He was not a dean at Harvard.
@blackhistory767Ай бұрын
Nice!!! We rocked back in the day!
@pwhales264Ай бұрын
Being a edomite doesn't mean that you are better than ....I just hope that our peoples have outgrown that foolishness. 2 Esdras 6:9. “For Esau is the end of the world, and Jacob is the beginning of it that followeth.”
@M-wi5twАй бұрын
@@blackhistory767we still do
@carolcollins-miles650417 күн бұрын
Awesome!
@All.Natural.Ай бұрын
Great video! Thank you!
@blackhistory767Ай бұрын
Glad you liked it!
@psycheinc-theSLC27 күн бұрын
I just tripped on this channel - this is 'so' good! Wow! Psyche aka Psyche Thompson UK 🌹
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
Thanks so much for watching!!! I have a UK story coming soon:)
@vingedheart14 күн бұрын
That was very interesting! Thank you - new subscriber here!
@blackhistory76714 күн бұрын
Welcome! Thank you!
@faithwilliams78267 минут бұрын
There is a book written about her titled "The Personal Librarian" which was a New York Times bestseller. However, it did not imply that she was J. P. Morgan's mistress. She was a very light skinned black woman and her father was the first African American man to graduate from Harvard University Law School during Reconstruction in the 1800's. His name was Richard Greene. She traveled the world to acquire rare books for Mr. Morgan and she is responsible for the library being what it is today.
@msdyamonddivaКүн бұрын
Wow. This amazes me because looking at her pictures to me it’s obvious. Lol I think some people back in the day just “acted” like they did didn’t know or chose to be ignorant. Great story.
@blackhistory767Күн бұрын
Right! Thanks for watching!
@anthonylester262428 күн бұрын
So glad I found your utube account. Keep up the great work
@blackhistory76728 күн бұрын
Yayyy! Welcome. Thank you for watching!
@st827529 күн бұрын
Well done and kudos 🎉
@blackhistory76729 күн бұрын
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed!
@eveprivate84962 күн бұрын
Thank you. New subscriber ❤
@blackhistory7672 күн бұрын
Welcome! Thank you!
@veronicajade2028 күн бұрын
Interesting! I never heard about this woman before but she has an interesting life story! I don't blame light-skinned black people for passing back then b/c white racists made it extremely hard to live a decent lifestyle as a black person.
@blackhistory76728 күн бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@TellingStewart27 күн бұрын
🌱 Partus Sequitur Ventrem, was the American deciding factor as to how people were identified then. 🍃
@pamelamack766020 күн бұрын
Wow Thank for the FYI
@mariamart_011 ай бұрын
Who knew this would be some JUICY CLICKBAIT for some HOT TEA AND GOSSIP. HEHE JP MORGAN KNEW HE WANTED A CHOCOLATE SISTA 😭😭. HE WAS IN LOVE WITH THEEEEE COCOA!! ✨
@abrahamisaacmuciusiii91928 ай бұрын
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@ravenrebel3183Ай бұрын
That woman was barely “black” but ok…
@exoticchocolatecaribbean_q562424 күн бұрын
More like biracial committing adultery!
@aikishaholly17 күн бұрын
The book The Personal Librarian introduced me to this story and I was hooked! I wanted to know everything about Ms. Belle!!! Absolutely AMAZING!!! But like my folks say in Mississippi….. we know our own! And she was definitely US! LOL!!! 😂
@blackhistory76717 күн бұрын
lol!
@annecollins174125 күн бұрын
Her father was the dean at Howard University.
@hairbytyger691627 күн бұрын
Great Commentary
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!
@acquanellaogbemudia9930Ай бұрын
Very informative Thanks ❤❤
@blackhistory767Ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@abundanceprosperityangelic794919 күн бұрын
In my opinion, she clearly looked like a black woman. I guess J.P. Morgan overlooked her race and acquired a great friendship with her. In today’s times, J.P. Morgan legacy lives on as being a leader in investment banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. 💰💰 Thank you, great story!
@blackhistory76719 күн бұрын
Glad you enjoyed!
@ms.fabolusmorgan427912 күн бұрын
Exactly 💯💯 she looked Black and I'm sure at time when her guard was down it came through she was just refined and probably seen as Rich white men see ,Halle ,Meghan,Zendaya Mariah, Meghan Good,Lisa& Zoe Kravitz The late Quincy Jones daughters ,and the ladies from Bridgeton .As EXOTIC. Interesting piece of history. 😊
@jrloisharris556Күн бұрын
A man wants what he wants.
@getyourlife26 күн бұрын
Great story!
@blackhistory76726 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@Soso-ou2mz21 күн бұрын
I think they published a novel that tells her story recently?
@jamellfoster6029Ай бұрын
This lady looked like my Nanna (maternal grandmother). My Nanna looked Hispanic (somewhat).
@Raven-ug8uw29 күн бұрын
Thanks. Keep bringing ur channel.
@blackhistory76729 күн бұрын
Thank you so much!
@Joyful_SmilesАй бұрын
I dont think there was any romance or she was his mistress. I think he appreciated her work and understood the volatility of her situation, so protected her. As did the owner of Little Caesars provide for Rosa Parks and many others have supported BW without devolving into a Black woman selling herself.
@ravenrebel3183Ай бұрын
Both those women are mixed, and barely black
@Lisa-eh1is25 күн бұрын
Thank you
@corderomiles376926 күн бұрын
My grandmother brought up the jp morgans. Im not sure if it was about jp morgan or someone related to him im hearing alot of the family came at once. We from Ga but it's said the morgan name from him was very prominant and were the celebs of that time in a sense.. but she said the morgans in those southern areas were also mixed .. from my family stories. It said we mixed with the morgans and then they that side of the family moved west towards Texas. Its said that alot of these women who passed for white up north came from south..
@blackhistory76726 күн бұрын
No doubt. Our captors often assaulted black women.
@alviencelamb533423 күн бұрын
I Thanks for the info❤
@blackhistory76712 күн бұрын
My pleasure!
@kathleenharris882424 күн бұрын
We can definitely tell.
@scroogemcduckrich970529 күн бұрын
wonderful video
@blackhistory76729 күн бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@paulac87524 күн бұрын
It's sad and unfortunate that people have to live double lives.
@javawatson25 күн бұрын
Thank you for this I’m a new subbie because this video ❤
@blackhistory76725 күн бұрын
Yayyy… welcome Subbie!
@denice-wz2hr12 күн бұрын
Wonderful Don’t hate
@Ah_Leh10 күн бұрын
"We tried it"... Gurrrl 😂😂😂😭🖤
@cadillacdeacon12 күн бұрын
You need to link with Dane Calloway
@DD-vc8yh23 күн бұрын
Looking at the pictures her dad and her were mixed no wonder they passed, off topic eleanor rooselvelt also look a bit mixed but with what ...dont know
@JJW77Ай бұрын
Something tells me that JP Morgan and Bella had a father and daughter relationship. I enjoy listening to your perky personality!
@blackhistory767Ай бұрын
Thank you so much!!!
@marthaalexander7362Ай бұрын
@JJW77 ... that would make it incestuous considering the facts/speculation.
@melissabramm46727 күн бұрын
Hi first time here!
@blackhistory76727 күн бұрын
👋! Welcome and thanks for watching!
@RenataMitchell-u6b12 күн бұрын
Sad. She had to pass for a different race to be successful. That had to come with many hardships also. May she RIP🌹
@tammardacosta709425 күн бұрын
And she passed away in 1950 not 1949..had to look her up,we share the same sir name. Thanks
@blackhistory76725 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching. Her death varies in different sources. They kept such sloppy records about us.
@missladyanonymity20 күн бұрын
I wonder if you know/will collaborate with lady boule?🤔
@blackhistory76720 күн бұрын
I don’t know her but I’m always ready to collaborate for Black History 😀
@sheriaustin875026 күн бұрын
Beautiful and interesting lady.
@blackhistory76726 күн бұрын
Indeed!
@annettejohnson268326 күн бұрын
An autobiography is written by the subject. His biography was written by an author.
@faithwilliams78262 минут бұрын
I believe that Belle eventually saw her father again, according to the book.
@sharongillesp25 күн бұрын
If you look at photos of white people during that time period, especially many wealthy ones, they look just like this family. Today, we may notice it more because a lot of those “olive skinned” whites back then intermarried among more white Anglo saxon whites.
@fslovelyangel27 күн бұрын
The book, The Personal Librarian tells her story
@edenheaven517529 күн бұрын
I read a book about her 2 years ago they never mentioned it.
@blackhistory76729 күн бұрын
That’s why we have to have Royal, Black, and Elite. Thank you for watching!
@tonimarie9985Ай бұрын
JP Morgan CHASE BANK ?! 🤔
@track1949Ай бұрын
Yes.
@thomasfoss9963Ай бұрын
J.P Morgan was always Chasing her around, and thus, the name!!!!
@LoveWisdomFreedom13 күн бұрын
JP Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank merged in 2000 to form JP Morgan Chase & Company
@doveflyer16363 ай бұрын
I don’t know she was passing….she looks totally black to me…
@s.rosesmith6525Ай бұрын
PORTUGUESE had many dark complexion folk.
@samanthaenfiedjian7354Ай бұрын
@@s.rosesmith6525 They still to this day have swarthy looking people. Living here in Lisboa, I see them daily. 😂 🇵🇹
@s.rosesmith6525Ай бұрын
@samanthaenfiedjian7354 some get angry at this truth but the first humans were brown .
@ravenrebel3183Ай бұрын
She looks totally mixed to me, not black (partial ancestry doesn’t make someone black).
@renaissancewoman100Ай бұрын
@@s.rosesmith6525nobody cares. Stay on topic.
@PrincessPowerranger28 күн бұрын
Her parents both look very mixed, so she came from a multigenerational mixed family