Passing | Episode 5: Revelations

While in Omaha, Robin meets more of Willa Mae’s descendants, but is faced with mixed reactions from her white-identified cousins.
Directed by Robin Cloud
Watch the series: • Passing
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PASSING:
For decades, African American comedian and filmmaker Robin Cloud had heard tales about the “Nebraska cousins,” a branch of her family that moved away from the East Coast to pass for white in the rural Midwest. In this six-part series, Cloud attempts to find and understand the motives of the relatives who left everything and everyone else behind, and documents how their progeny grapple with the revelation that they aren’t who they thought they were.
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Topic is an ambitious entertainment & storytelling studio from First Look Media, dedicated to working with creators at the forefront of culture.
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[@billiejones8602]

The funny thing is most black people can spot other black people regardless of what color they are

[@africanbeautifulgirl]

Exactly!!!

[@g.andrewsmalls9852]

And that’s a fact!

[@alibalbee2883]

True!

[@dawnbrooks1309]

So true, I could see he was black in all the photos! Just like real recognize real. You just know!!!!

[@leahti4024]

I was thinking the same thing....it fooled the white people but not the people they came from. My grandmother passed and she was much fairer skinned and European features.

[@pbb228]

Honestly they all look mixed in those pictures. Me as a black person, for some reason I can always tell a mixed person no matter how deep the line goes.

[@TrinaBinaBaby]

Exactly!!

[@lf1496]

I can't imagine how those people passed for anything except light skinned black people. America is crazy 😧

[@rachelnan6875]

@@lf1496 Right!!!😂😂😂

[@lianna4686]

It’s interesting that you say that because I always get mistreated by black people. They say I’m too white. They tend to say I’m not black. So my experience has been completely different

[@krazyjnva2up2down55]

Exactly. They are neither black or white . They are MIXED

[@BrownGirlColorStruckWorld]

I'm not surprised that her cousins didn't suddenly have any epiphanies by finding out they have black ancestry. Race is a caste system (meant for the distribution of power) which is largely decided by phenotype. They do not suddenly stop being part of the "white" caste just because some of their ancestors where disenfranchised. They are comfortable in the white privilege that their grandparents sought out for them.

[@chelseaap]

Beautifully put.

[@ANGELTAINMET]

That part!!

[@demekonrn]

You definitely can't blame people for not wanting to be treated like black people have been treated for centuries. Who would want that for their children especially after seeing life on the other side😏.

[@sheluvssmokedupeyes1]

I have nothing to do with white privilege that’s in the struggle was real and some folks just don’t want to struggle anymore it’s not their fault that they had to literally do that to seek a better life it was societies problems so don’t blame the people blame society

[@BrownGirlColorStruckWorld]

@@sheluvssmokedupeyes1 huh?? No shade, but your comment would benefit from some punctuation.

[@CeCeMe1]

The guys hair in that Navy picture...ummmm...dead give away Sir. 😂

[@rowlaanbennett7296]

Hair and Skin tone! 🤦🏾 I don’t even know why HE believed he was White

[@lfreespirit]

Them genes were (are) STRONG. Every old picture they showed I could tell. Edit: after watching further, and seeing more pictures I’m just blown away that they had NO single clue. 🤯🤣

[@tinawalker5335]

. I find it hard to understand how the grandfather passed.

[@superamanda]

@@tinawalker5335 Yet he did. With zero interference or repercussions..

[@superamanda]

Interesting. I can definitely see that some of the relatives looked multiracial, but then many of the descendants in all the generations look and are completely white too. In such a very Ultra white conservative, very like Omaha Nebraska, had there been any inkling they never would’ve flourished.

[@superamanda]

Many Greek, Italian , Romani and Portuguese families with zero Black ancestry look like the grandmother and her descendants. The third generation is completely European looking.

[@lfreespirit]

@@superamanda please. that’s what they were betting on people believing, at least.

[@williamcarter1272]

Dad's in denial 😒 The truth hurts 🤔

[@salenebrom6476]

Sounds a lot more like trauma

[@nyctravis3381]

He was betrayed by his mom and dad. He probably didn't want to lose control of his emotions on camera.

[@HELL0NESSA]

Not surprised. Nebraska is super racist. And he probably grew up around d a lot of racists. So to protect himself and his family, he probably pushed his blackness out of his mind and surrounded himself with whiteness and passed out of survival. Not surprised that her cousins are super white and don't want to admit they're Black. They grew up white and being Black, even partially Black, in this world is waaaaay harder and take COURAGE!

[@lizabetx483]

I see afros. The were in denial about their ancestry.

[@CeCeMe1]

Man!!!! Like how can you explain that away???? Comical.

[@tamarastone141]

And wide noses 👃

[@true90skid]

Why would they call themselves black? Their whole lifestyle and upbringing is white. Yes their great grandmother was black. Just means they have some black in them. My great great grandma was a white woman. But my family is black.

[@HoneybeeAwning]

EXACTLY! These people sound desperate for white people to want to be black and it's weird and cringy, like there aren't black people in this world and they need the number.

[@daughterofzion2146]

Yes it sounds like culture vulturing at its best🙄

[@yamomma6479]

@@HoneybeeAwning thank you!! I am sorry but I am not extending them membership into being black even if they were interested...they are white period.

[@mlt1357]

What I found most interesting is that some family members who were ‘passing’ attended family reunions unbeknownst to others.

[@taq1238]

True. My family comes from a part of Jamaica where many Irish and Germans settled. Many are very light skinned - some with dirty blonde hair and blue or green eyes. We consider ourselves Black. Culturally speaking, our Irish or German ancestry has no bearing on who we are. We are descendents of Africans and that's at the root of who we are. How we got to be light skinned, for me at least, does not lead me to think anything good. The people in this video will always see them selves as white people because culturally that's who they are.

[@marylandmom]

My grandmother and all eight of her siblings could have passed as white. They all married brown skinned and dark skinned black people. And this was back in the 1920s and 30s in Mississippi. The majority of them moved to Chicago and raised their families, but moved back to Mississippi after they retired. They ran businesses, good jobs, home owners. Just goes to show you that not all light skinned black folks back in the day were trying to pass.

[@anna-mariadavis5914]

no they were i have a grand parents that could have passed none of them did we from Mississippi too. So many didn’t. I have many of them in my family all married other black folks brown skin and dark skin.

[@lakrishiw]

Wow this sounds like my grandma. They’re from Mississippi and her sisters and brothers moved to Chicago

[@tamarastone141]

@@lakrishiw it's was the "Great migration " ...they mostly settled on the Westside and a few Southside neighborhoods..that's why some people who come hear may hear a " southern drawl" in our accent. It's from their great/grandparents that came from the South. Mine did as well. I don't have a Southern drawl though. I have an actual Chicagoan Midwestern accent.

[@superamanda]

But when you say “light skin” that means that there's to a certain extent a near majority or a majority of European ancestry. So why can't people choose to identify with their European side? Because a bunch of one dropping black people and a bunch of white supremacists say it isn't OK?. These people are race busting heroes. They lived their lives and they did it the way they wanted to do it. I can't think of nothing more horrible than growing up in The Bronx and instead they got themselves and their descendants to a much healthier place to live. And now their descendants have lives and legacies

[@aquaabundance4077]

​@@superamandabecause why would we want to identify with the people who raped us, physically abused us, mentally abused us? What sort of Stockholm syndrome are you asking us to develop? Girl, bye.

[@reneebryant8270]

Dude put on a whole costume ...a towel and sunglasses

[@EchoBravo370]

People who are as white looking as these two would not publicly embrace blackness because they would not feel it is their place to do so.

[@annegracyliberal7327]

Yeah cause they’re too white to be black

[@combivan4346]

If they called themselves black, people woul laugh! Really though when your DNA says you are 15% black, you ain't black.

[@combivan4346]

Mattie B That's a crap statement, ignorant and not well thought out at all, you don't even know these people! Sad you see black people as inferior.

[@thecelestialauntie]

Right... I personally don't see them as black

[@thecelestialauntie]

@@combivan4346 I totally agree!! They are not black

[@TheMspoodle2]

I bet there are thousands of families like that. I see so many really tanned white people with loose curly hair and with black features🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@ebonynaomi1085]

My carribbean grandma said her aunty was very light skin, that her aunt, left the family, and went to Europe and "passed", she pretended she was Sicilian. She never told her husband or children until much later in life. She did write her black family and occasionally visit, much later.

[@tehutimes1]

@@ebonynaomi1085 Ironic considering that southeast Europeans are some of the darkest whites on earth.

[@jackiebrownnn]

you said it, loose curly hair, thats not what she has, she got 4B hair . She could pass for North african but defo not italian

[@sandrallewellyn2632]

Last I read at least 30% of "white" Americans have Black ancestry, the higher percentages are amongst whites who live in the South

[@milkandspice1074]

@@jackiebrownnn I met an italian I thought was biracial. People can look many different ways. It really doesn't even matter. It's their bloodline, their roots, their business.

[@DavidBenson2]

Their responses to her question at 4:29 are totally heart breaking. The statements they gave are straight out of the book of white privilege. They never had to think about their race, the implications thereof, or black people as a whole until that very moment... Grandma succeeded.

[@milkandspice1074]

I never thought about my race. But others think about my race. LoL.

[@lburg3780]

Well now they have to think about it. Perhaps they’re answers are different after some processing.

[@superamanda]

What did you expect him to do? Start tap dancing doing de electric slide? Saying that now they’re completely black and they’re going to join the cookout?

[@superamanda]

@@lburg3780 wow. You think? Maybe they needed some months maybe some years to think about having an entire new narrative edited added to their life? God for bid that people get a few years whatever they need to absorb something like potentially having their entire identity, wiped away by the one drop Jesus Christ! It’s no wonder why white people with black ancestry are uncomfortable with it. Look at the nasty , catty reactions.

[@aquaabundance4077]

​@@milkandspice1074where do you live?

[@jaclyncartwright5186]

What's funny is that if they found out they were Spanish and their Spanish side came to visit, I bet they all would be excited.

[@demekonrn]

Well of course. The closer to whyte, the more respect they will receive from those diehard nutballs upholding whyte supremacy.

[@loveheals6184]

My heart breaks for the oldest son who had his identity and family stolen from him. This reunion would've meant the world to him after decades of being forced to lie and live a lie. I hope he found a measure of peace.

[@riri-rose]

It's disappointing that Becky Joe and her siblings didn't meet with her. She came to them with history and proof of their lives. I mean to grow up and not have family to go visit during holidays must have been strange. To be raised saying you're Italian or Bohemian but never meet relatives of said groups must have been tough. Those children knew, that's why they had to fight so much throughout life when faced with being called something other than white. That's why they questioned mom on her death bed about it. Robin was offering them family, she was giving them their roots and their past.

[@MariaEOD]

rere I completely agree! Those children knew, they all knew something wasn’t all right in the butter! Lol 😆🥴 If they didn’t “know”, then why all of the doubt, why go around within their family with lingering whispers of who they really were as a race and nationality??!? To top it all off, not to have a SINGLE indication or connection to where your family tree extended from and never reveal those roots to ANY of your kids?! That’s some major deep-seeded self-hate issues! That’s why she had so many kids!! She wanted to have a good amount so that THEY can continue on with THAT side of their new made-up generation of a family and phase out the black by picking out one of the whitest states there is & knowing her future grandchildren would continue to marry white and never leave a trace of black anywhere!

[@superamanda]

Robin very pushy and one dropping. She was offering them to completely give up their identity for something that they had no experience in period nobody wants to be 1 dropped honey. Also you gonna lineup and give those white people reparations?

[@magicaltruths5539]

That's life they don't want to change the way that they have been doing thing , they know the truth but not ready to act on it maybe one day they will have a change of heart

[@caligulacaligula2810]

Maybe they're self hating and enjoy living a lie!!! That's why they didn't want to meet with her. REALITY STARING THEM RIGHT IN THE FACE!!! So sad...

[@aisensantana6765]

Her Nebraska family seemed awkward during the meeting, and the father wasn't ready to accept the truth; her cousin denial of them being related is crazy , I feel she took the DNA test hoping for no African DNA or connection to the black family

[@myabbyohabby]

WHOOP THERE IT IS! THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH BEING NOTHING BLACK.

[@lydiaedwards8100]

They should know because the phenotypes will appear in their offspring at some point. If it's not a secret, then there won't be confusion. It's not a big deal, unless it's a deep dark secret.

[@denonde1313]

@@lydiaedwards8100, You can see it in the photos of their family.

[@tinawalker5335]

Imagine growing up racist and then boom… you are what you hate. It just goes to show you though how black can become erased because a few more generations and that 15% would dwindle to nothing

[@AgingbtrthanspoiledMilk24]

the male cousin hid his identity sunglasses and head covering

[@lburg3780]

I can’t imagine finding out I’m not what I thought I was. And because my parent lied to me. They must be remembering all those times they argued with ever fiber of their being that they weren’t black. Only to find out that people saw in them something they couldn’t have known about themselves.

[@tbearsghia1]

What a hard situation to be in .... your family keeping secrets that are unknown and then truth comes out ... you can say it does not change a thing yet it does. You know.

[@bollytwazzi]

I am absolutely HOOKED on this documentary! I don't know how I came across it but Episode 1 came up and although I should be getting ready for work, I can't stop watching! 😂 Side point: no disrespect but are people in Omaha blind? These people, the ELDER ones, not the younger generation, look Black. They look like many of my family. How on earth did they pass? This is a very interesting documentary - love it!

[@DJRenee]

Saying they were Italian would have worked...and it did

[@kikibrown9548]

That’s because we know us when we see it. We can spot certain characteristics that give them away. The hair is probably the biggest thing.

[@MultiSmartass1]

Why would you be hooked on this? It's not like its a thriller or something.

[@7manifest1]

I think the grandparents who moved to Omaha in the first place, look more white than their children, and even some of the grandchildren.

[@MsTomas086]

Black nope lol. Now way those folks would pass as black in a black country.

[@DJRenee]

Imagine finding out BOTH of your grandparents are BLACK!

[@710MaryJane]

It would be awesome! Many Whites will be surprised when they do the Ancestry DNA, that they do have some African ancestry.

[@tehutimes1]

@@710MaryJane Well all humanity started out in Africa science has shown yet many would rather be ran over by a herd of elephants than admit to humanity was once all black folks from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, etc., that then populated the whole globe.

[@yahb-leevr3010]

@@tehutimes1 💯% facts!

[@erict7093]

I had a mexican collage friend who found out his great grandmother was Black. He found a picture of her and he wanted to know who she was. He was told the family was ashamed of her being Black and darked skinned so when she died they got rid of all the pictures of her and never told the grandkids about her.

[@lisacox3750]

@@erict7093 That's terribly sad.

[@vatricegeorge]

OMG I just read an interview Robin conducted regarding the film. In the article there pics of Wila Maes children as adults there's no way some of them didn't think they were mixed race. They had full on afros, there facial features also.

[@donnabanks7656]

That is so sad that her relative grew up looking Black but, was told that he was White, He probably couldn't understand why he looked the way he did.

[@e-maginne]

Uncle Ruckus

[@donnabanks7656]

@@e-maginne Who's Uncle Ruckus?

[@shalom5978]

@@donnabanks7656 He's a character from the Boondocks who thinks he's white even though he's black and looks black.

[@donnabanks7656]

@@shalom5978 Interesting!

[@shalom5978]

@@donnabanks7656 It's a great show. It offers great commentary on the black community as well as American society in general. It's also really funny. At least to me.

[@sasw77intwo]

This is so interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@TopicStories]

Thanks for watching!

[@luvthe80s]

I don’t know how I ran across this but I’m glad that I did. I’m from Louisiana and this was quite common. Clearly,however, they had to realize something was unique about their hair... the old pics indicate a lot!

[@mrsprimo999]

I'm surprised that the interviewer expected her cousin to embrace her "blackness" because we all know that if she DID, there would be bewilderment and possibly hostility from BOTH sides. Even biracial people (50/50 African/European) can be considered too fair to be "real" black, and too dark to be white. She's dammed if she does and damned if she doesn't.

[@mrsprimo999]

@Self Help CBT Coaching I hear you. My daughters are also the 50/50 and have their challenges in our predominantly Italian area. They're almost the opposite of you. I try to educate and expose them to their caribbean culture at every opportunity but without their father's active involvement it's difficult. Even though caribbean culture is a HUGE part of my every day life, my teenagers are only NOW starting to appreciate their "blackness", (even if it's just the commercial appeal for now) I know they've had moments of wanting to be white just to fit in (which breaks my heart!!), but all teens generally want to fit in with their peers anyways, so I'm hoping they'll soon embrace their beauty and individuality, both sides.

[@aquaabundance4077]

Black people have a long history of embracing everyone. We have only recently told mixed race people to classify themselves as what they are - mixed people. It's white people you need to take up your grievances with - they started the ONE DROP RULE

[@AmyKnits]

Boy this resonates with me. I found out a few years ago that I am part black. I never knew. So I'm trying to figure out how to embrace my blackness and honor my black ancestors.

[@DarkNJuju]

By finding out about them and telling your children about them.

[@awillis244]

💞

[@dr.bigfunky492]

You're not black and it's ok to be white or black. Don't let this guilt you into feeling like you have to pick a side.

[@moshenewsletter4620]

Some time you just have to be yourself and it will go smoothly without any stress or forcing it..

[@RETROGEMS]

Welcome to the mixed club!😁

[@staceyfromkc]

SLAVERY HURT US SO BAD

[@HippieDelicia]

Slavery is still hurting humans today. With over 40 million people worldwide in various forms. Learn from the past , so you can help our future.

[@nayemilan8117]

As i look at these pictures of relatives. How they heck did they were white? Lol like clearly they were in deep denial.

[@black7604]

I thought the same thing @ deep denial

[@anitracottman7506]

I can tell right away. And see the genetics showing up in all the generations to follow. I don’t understand how anyone was fooled.

[@joycedugas4550]

Fear is Driving THAT side of the family. Some don't want to see or know 😏 how close they dodged ('That') particular bullet. Especially knowing how black 🖤 people are perceived even now. In the so-called age of awareness.

[@aquaabundance4077]

Yes. A wise women once told me that two things drive humans - fear and pleasure. They are very fearful people. Oh well. Their loss

[@shecamt]

It's funny that Katie had doubts. I feel like you can see the family resemblance. Plus she had a family picture of her grandmother at the family reunion. Why would anyone lie about all this? I can see Katie's family holding on to their identity as white, that's all they've known their whole life. After taking my DNA test I found out that I'm more than 25% European. I'm not in denial but I still consider myself black.

[@LaS88709]

This is the best gift she gave her family. It’s crazy amazing! God bless her even if they are truly happy with or disregard their new info. I mean every picture of the kids scream mixed with black. Even some of the blond hair blue eyes with full black ppl lips and nose. I mean it baffles me that they seemed so uninterested. As if she bothered them. Attention blk and white folks- if you know there is mixtures in your family stop hiding those kinds of secrets. With the millennials and gen z babies that stuff with come out on blast!

[@valariehaitshan9610]

My bucket list was Malcolm X's home and when I got there I instantly couldn't stop crying. The man running Malcolm X's building gave me a personal tour due to me arriving at closing time. That was very nice of him to do that and also I was coming all the way from Oklahoma

[@sharlylpn]

For one the entire family is super mixed with European in the first place for the grandkids to be only 15 percent african. They are mixed people of mainly european descent not black. She can't expect them to put on a black identity when they are more white genetically and their culture is white. It most they can respect and learn about some of the african roots they have, but they are not black people. The interviewer looks biracial herself because of the obvious high amount of mixing in her family. If she would like to move past or beyond racism she should consider dropping the "one drop rule" which has racist origins.

[@TheTamabur5]

if you got black family then you have black family. PERIOD. Their dad was black. How can you deny that shit.

[@sharlylpn]

@@TheTamabur5 I'm saying it's kind of naive to expect people who are mainly white to all of sudden be like "oh I'm black". They're mixed people of mainly white heritage and culture. Just like it would be kind of weird if someone who is 85 percent black all of sudden started saying they were white. It's weird.

[@sharlylpn]

@@TheTamabur5 and the people interviewed don't have a black dad. They have one mixed parent and one white parent and culturally they are white. Genetically only 15 to 20 percent black.

[@kyatri9496]

Yup thank you

[@rachelm.3173]

Well said 💯

[@darlenebattle3005]

Very interesting, young lady. I'm sorry you didn't get to meet the rest of your family. Thank you for you short film.

[@lakebafondren5868]

Thank you for your hard work on this documentary. My family too, had issues with BEING black. I hope we can reunite like yours did. In my family there was a fair bit of resentment at those who passed for white and distanced themselves from their kin instead of embracing it. I remember how awkward it was when both the black side and "Light" side visited a dying family member in the hospital. It was the one and only time we spoke. And it was limited. There was this unspoken request not to get too close, ask to many questions, and expect much after that encounter. I knew the deal. Although my grandmother was light, and my mom was tan, I was too deep a shade of brown to mistake as being white. And because my family embraced me (or the part of me that was in them), it was a hands off situation. No hugs, not kisses, and barely a goodbye.

[@lovethyself744]

This deserved more views period

[@tylerlasarow]

Let these people be white in peace, to them this is just part of a distant history. They dont face the struggles of black people, they dont understand the sorrows, the pride, the joy , the cooking and love of blackness. LET THEM BE

[@peacehappyb237]

Exactly. Nothing makes their day so bright waking white!

[@ToriUptown]

that part. let them be lol

[@lmonteiro2829]

The white passing members of my family used their privilege to get jobs, loans, buy homes, get ahead in a way my brown family members couldn't and some of them willingly forgot who they were but most were able to spread generational wealth bc of it.

[@pollypuffington2243]

They all look like highly mixed black people we all got family that looks like this...they all had to know on some level

[@mollymo6229]

True

[@Drea1239232]

Finding out you are something that you didn’t know you were is a bit much. However, it’s obvious when you look at the family.

[@letty5515]

Wow. Some of them would not have passed by me. I can see it. Surprised some of them were able to pass.

[@silvertongue00]

Bohemia is actually a historical region in today’s Czech Republic.

[@ReadyorNot811]

Never heard of it. Thanks for the info

[@ywee3980]

It's also used as a word to call a Gyspy aka Roma/Sinti. That group orginally came from North India in 1400. They are still being discriminated throughout Europe. They were also prosecuted in World War II.

[@meb777]

Their sons had curly suspect hair. Lol

[@nikkiboss7378]

Ooh now johnny shaved the "naps" off ohh ok Johnny I saw where you were going with that!! This is funny, sad, deep all at the same time.

[@Octayvia21]

I've got white ancestry, but a person can't embrace what they haven't experienced. Especially, if they don't look it or get treated as a black person. I look black, so that's what I embrace.

[@peggybrooks152]

I really enjoyed watching your family history. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[@essjay3051]

Great documentary. I would love to see more. -Greetings from Omaha!

[@theresawinterhalter121]

Great family story/history. Thank you for sharing

[@annalisajames6558]

My family has a very similar story... it was very common. Sad, but true.

[@rustyrelicsfarm2406]

I wish I knew more of my Native American Ancestors. I have Cherokee Blood in my veins. Like the African Americans my Native American Ancestors were massively displaced. I wish I knew more of the culture of The Cherokee Tribe. My heart really weeps for my Native Ancestors who were slaughtered by the masses. I hope to one day learn more of that part of my being.

[@cynthiapickett7403]

A lot of these family members look like my mother's family.

[@Sarabella68]

I am enjoying this series. How interesting and exciting to dig deep into family history.

[@shalanathomas7751]

Ikr!!!

[@nanayobusiness169]

I'm so proud of U & your passion stay the course 👊💕

[@moniquedavis7604]

I teach a class about passing and having a percentage of a ethnic group doesn't mean you have to identify as such. I am 12% European but I am not going to go around saying I'm white or embracing my"whiteness." They can identify as they wish.

[@JaneAtwellRobinson1825NY]

Yeah, that's how I would feel if I were told I were 15% African. I would still appear white to others and I would still have been raised white and so on. If I took a special scholarship, it would really (I feel) be stealing from someone who needs that leg up. BUT at the same time, I am not going to micro-manage how anyone else feels about it. They can feel how they wish... but... lol... I have been "white" for a long time and have never seen anyone "embracing whiteness" or showing "white pride" etc etc. Nope nope nope. Proud to be Scottish, Irish, that's ok to say tho! :)

[@Bhgh-kq6qc]

Stop the madness, your as delu as them , they look black ! They left their home for rural communities so they could pass . They couldn’t get away with this in the south , bf !

[@aquaabundance4077]

It's not the same thing and you know it. We cannot identify as white or we'd be laughed out of the room. There is no white privilege that would be extended to us. However, Black people, by and large are great at embracing people and they would be welcomed with open arms. But hey, why beg people??

[@Juice4678]

all you have to do is go to new orleans there are a lot of blacks there that pass for whites

[@chubbi44]

Thanks for sharing your journey.

[@bonniepeele1504]

Very Interesting! Funny how we are all related much more than we realize. Good piece Sis!🙏😎❤

[@armyvetgrl2731]

They lived and grew up in a white world, that’s all they know! 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@BronzeSista]

It appears that's all they want to know, they don't want to be associated with what they consider inferior =Black people 🤔 its really sad

[@cyyrious]

But Omaha Nebraska has a heavy black population it’s not all white these people don’t want to be black

[@theduke6174]

They knew 3:40 They were just forced to deny it.

[@jeaniechowdhury6739]

Excellent documentary.

[@kissed_by_sunshine_10]

Human beings are the most ridiculous creatures on the face of the earth and yet, at the same time they have the power to be kind and loving beyond measure.

[@juanitabuckingham1703]

Very interesting topic. There are a lot more out here like that.

[@mic1240]

Is so odd they would say they were Bohemian and not know what that meant, particularly in the Midwest. There are large populations of Bohemian people throughout the Midwest who came from what is now the Czech Republic (region of Bohemia) and Slovakia.

[@BronzeSista]

Probably said they were bohemian gypsies

[@DorothyDandridge]

@@BronzeSista yeah I thought they meant gypsies

[@gbrisc19]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@debradade5070]

Thank you for sharing! 💝

[@ReadingTimeWithZa]

Whenever white people tan very well, I give them the ultimate side eye. 👁👁

[@salutemyshortsnow]

The world is more than just Black and White.

[@goodaimshield1115]

Guess you don't know many white people.

[@sandradee9193]

Interesting..oh the complexities of race. I imagine some of them were asked if they were some other race or combination of races because they didn't look white.

[@monicamartin6069]

From the photos, its hard to believe that they were unaware of their African ancestry. Sometimes the truth is painful to swallow. But that what happens when societies are built on devisive hierarchies (divide and rule) that pit us against each other in fear.

[@luckymonau7426]

You are doing great job Robin, it's good to keep family together. Extend it to us-the good cousins in Africa

[@lannelbishop3668]

She shouldn’t be mad at white passing cousins. It’s not like anybody on her side of the family married anybody darker than a paper bag.

[@kic.7679]

..I don’t think she ever said she was mad, though..

[@lannelbishop3668]

@@kic.7679 she didn’t have to say she is mad. There is nothing a Foundational Black Americans hates more than people who deny their African origins because they will always side with and support white supremacy posing a immediate threat to Blacks and their families.

[@lannelbishop3668]

Also I’ll bet when her wife have a baby the the sperm will be Norwegian. Interracial lesbians couples tend to prefer White children.

[@EgyptianDarling]

There was actually a large community of Italians in Omaha at this time. I have worked on an in law's genealogy following her Italian roots and spoke with some of relatives on ancestry. Italians came over to work the coal mines in West Virginia in the early 1900's. Decades later their descendants uprooted to move on to better things. Omaha was one place a lot of them moved to. So I imagine a lot of the locals figured them to be Italian. The Italians at the time Americanized their last names. For instance Folgia was changed to Foyer.

[@superamanda]

Exactly. Many of the people don't have any Italian ancestry so they don't understand the majority of Italians especially off the boat from Southern region and Sicily look like that family.

[@kinshasav]

I loved this!

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Thanks for sharing.

[@wiltisdabest]

I get how they passed, when they were growing up there wasn't nearly as many mixed people so people couldn't tell as much back then. Sure most of us can tell they are mixed but we live in a society now where Steph Currys and Klay Thompsons exist. So many more examples to compare too.

[@peacehappyb237]

Stephen's parents are both black. But I understand the sentiment.

[@vaimende]

@@peacehappyb237 steph curry is multigenerational mixed that identified as black just like vanessa Williams family

[@peacehappyb237]

@@vaimende Yes just like me and most African-Americans regardless of skin color.

[@vaimende]

@@peacehappyb237 fair point but remember different african americans have different degrees of mixed ancestry and some african americans have over 90.per cent african dna

[@lisacox3750]

Mixed people always existed so your comment doesn't make sense at all. The only difference is that biracial people and mixed people became apart of the black community through the one-drop rule. So, basically, most of the mixed people would have married black people and the generations after them got "blacker" and "blacker". This is well-known.

[@doloresw]

Yeah the betrayal is the hardest part and then not being able to speak to the person or persons who betrayed you to ask why didnt they tell their own children.

[@LexxiMerced56]

This was so enlightening... Robin..I'm in L.A. I would love to meet you one day... 💓

[@Brix33333]

They put those ‘I don’t see color’ shades on quick 😎

[@jamielunes1841]

Katie was upset! Smirk

[@lql1094]

The more Black cousin seemed a bit antagonistic. I did get the feeling the White female cousin wasn't impressed by the news though. Also she 'is' (more) White at only 15% African dna. Maybe she was irked by someone trying to make her embrace a race she is (mostly) not.🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

[@catherinesterling1685]

Absolutely I can always tell something in the eyes

[@amranjhutti209]

Even considering this today, half my family are very fair and can pass and people treat them with more respect than they do with me so I can understand why the grandma chose to Pass

[@Nikki7664]

Wow. This is very interesting

[@eyesthatsee2708]

Who cares if they dont want to identify themselves as black..they arent. As a mixed race person I get real tired of ppl assuming that we need to pick a side to identify with! We dont have to 🤷 we have a beautiful mixture of races that we can choose to identify with daily. Some days I'm a little more "white" then "black" and vice versa. Choosing a side to identify with only leaves out the whole other side of your family out. We can acknowledge both races fluidly..that bothers some ppl...but I think its a beautiful thing ❤

[@conniegonzalez4707]

I understand

[@Bhgh-kq6qc]

Even mulattos know that their black , mixed race yes - but definitely black

[@eyesthatsee2708]

@@Bhgh-kq6qc nope, sorry you are wrong

[@aquaabundance4077]

Being biracial and having parents of two different races is a completely different experience than being multi-generationally mixed and having being brought up in Black culture. You don't get it

[@SuperFosterMom]

I’m not sure what epiphanies she was expecting them to have. Like what did she want them to do or say?

[@aquaabundance4077]

Think deeply about their previous experiences with Blackness. Be reflexive. It's not that hard for those of us who have souls

[@SuperFosterMom]

@@aquaabundance4077 they don’t see themselves as racist. Or having implicit bias. So there’s nothing to reflect on.

[@jessicahudson8763]

I’m half Ecuadorian when I got 20% indigenous blood 12-15%from Andes and 5% from Mexico ( my dad is a quarter hispanic) and my Ecuadorian side didn’t want to accept that we weren’t 100%European . Like they believe we are Italian and Spanish I only got 3% on both Italian and Spanish also had 3% from the Africa Congo too which I’ve heard rumors on my dad side we had some African ancestry. But I had never ever heard even a rumor about our native blood on my mom side. I really want my mom to do her ancestry dna test . It makes me sad to think we have this indigenous ancestor we know nothing about that we never passed down their stories bc of racism . I know all about my Italian great great grandfather who only represents only 3% of my genetic history but nothing about even the tribe of my indigenous side. I feel her frustrations about her cousins not wanting to embrace their blackness in some sub conscious way their rejecting that part of their identity bc it’s safer to be just white.

[@lql1094]

What exactly should the 15% cousins do? If it's revealed I'm 15% European, I won't change a thing. I won't start digging for my hidden White great grandfather. I won't start telling 'anybody' "You know I'm 15% European hahn..."? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheTamabur5]

@@lql1094 if ever ask, That when u speak on it. But if you say im 100% black you would be lying.

[@mariahc.crawley884]

EXCELLENT

[@vilnap3002]

After watching all episodes, I can see why Kitty Lane is so closed off. This has disturbed her sense of self.

[@kfrancis1872]

In all fairness if a white relative appeared and asked if knowing we were related made me want to embrace my whiteness more...?? "UR white...im still black...amd im confused. But nice to meet u anyhow".

[@lql1094]

True. They owe her nothing. The question was awkward.

[@TheTamabur5]

@@lql1094 she didn't ask for anything. She ask a question. Seems to me you may know you are lack as well and want deny it. DNA don't lie.

[@jem5750]

I agree. Most Black Americans DO have white in them. That's the thing. Lol Not even so much Native American, but just regular ol plain ol European white 😆😆 Buuut, we are simply not about to "claim our whiteness", whatever that means. Having DNA is one thing, it is a part of us that can't be changed, but how you move through the world is another thing. Can we claim general white culture? No. Just not possible, that's the point, they have made quite sure of that. Her cousins will never experience black culture. They could embrace it, but they could never live it. It's kinda loopy, but that's how it works.

[@schiros123]

Thats such a good point. But isnt embracing both the whiteness and the blackness important to get to the truth? To get the true and whole story? Not in saying that everything is all good but to see and discover exactly how and why things happened before the truth is totally lost on all of us.

[@josmith8233]

She probably meant embrace and claim your black family. Avknowlege...

[@imaof4]

Robin asks: 'Does this change your relationship to black people do you think?'' Awkward response. Maybe she doesn't know any black people...

[@catgirl24]

I really thinks she didn't know how to answer. Imo, it didn't make sense. I probably would have said something like, nothing would change because as friends, people are people.

[@avisrobinson1150]

Josh seems real chill! I can actually see him passing.

[@sharonmchugh7730]

Beautiful family. Times were ridiculous back then.

[@awandjaebhodaghe3151]

They are white people with some black ancestry. I don't think anything needs to change in terms of their identify, it would be weird if they weren't around claiming their blackness

[@verlenciawilliams1771]

I see the brush off

[@lildebbi1908]

Speechless

[@maritzaholloway5536]

I had an uncle that passed for White. He left NY for California.

[@Simplyeverlasting87]

Well I’m of Peruvian decent and I’m mostly of Native American ancestry but my fair share of African ancestry(lots of my relatives look it to especially the older ones). I did a 23andme ancestry test and found out I was 17% African, so not far off from this distant relatives of this woman.

[@TheTamabur5]

Sounds about right

[@ZoneOut-zp5gm]

But they're not even "passing"....not really.🙄

[@TheTamabur5]

not with us they not

[@mollymo6229]

My friend is just biracial and I can tell you she is REALLY passing for 100% white she is tanned like a white person who stayed 1h under the sun in Spring (Europe) while her mom is black

[@munix9351]

What a lot of people fail to understand is being black is culture not just skin colour.

[@5pctLowBattery]

My main concern is something like this happening: A DNA test said a man was 4% black. Now he wants to qualify as a minority business owner.