Alex Scott learns about colourism in Jamaica in the 1800s | WDYTYA UK

Presenter and former footballer Alex Scott delves into both sides of her family history. Having known nothing of her Jewish ancestry on her mum’s side, Alex is proud to discover that her great grandad was at the Battle of Cable Street in London’s East End in 1936, facing down fascist followers of Oswald Mosley. On the other side of her family, Alex’s Jamaican grandparents were part of the Windrush generation. Alex travels to Jamaica for the first time in her life, following her beloved nan Philicita’s line, and discovers the enormous hardship her great-great-grandmother Henrietta Coombs suffered. Two generations further back, Alex is shaken to learn about another ancestor whose lifetime began during the era of slavery and ended after its abolition.
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[@missd411]

My grandfather was offered a foreman position and house in apartheid South Africa just because he was 'coloured' (what we usually call mixed race people here in Southern Africa) The colonialists really knew how to create division amongst their 'subjects'. So much so that even today these divisions based on skin shade still exist today in most places where they were.

[@traceyholt8223]

At least Robert acknowledged and made financial arrangements for his children as well as their mothers.

[@SaintSeja]

Yes, a few slave owners did that. But they were a minority, unfortunately.

[@antowalk2743]

That was rare the majority were impregnated to create more slaves for profit

[@ThisIsJ.Nicole]

What a hard truth to swallow.

[@MsRoxie718]

Skin color unfortunately still plays a role in certain aspects in Jamaica.

[@Eman14128]

never seen a dark skinned Jamaican president

[@jamaicantillidie6626]

@@Eman14128 HAHAHAHAHA LOL what? For one, we do not have a President, we have Prime Minister, we are a Constitutional Monarchy. dark skinned: Prime Minister PJ Patterson, Prime Minister Portia Simpson, Prime Minister Andrew Holness. In this day of the internet and social media one would think a person would try to access information before uttering rubbish.

[@devogrant2817]

@@Eman14128 Been saying this for years to all that know me ....pluss all the people that own the land of Jamaica as such... are from every other nation.. other than African Caribbean ...that's the sad truth ...it's owned by a corperation of other nations ...from the time of colonization from the time we were brought there accordingly ......but not even a Taino on thhe board of trustees or Maroon ......

[@jamaicantillidie6626]

what aspect?

[@aprodutube]

@@jamaicantillidie6626 Andrew Holness is dark skin?

[@jaxv4102]

“At this time skin color affected social position”… nothing has changed as it still does. Jamaican society is run by class and color.

[@skeetssaer2018]

It is not relegated to Jamaica

[@bigbirdcage753]

I wonder if she is related Jamaican media personalities Oral Tracey and Jenny Jenny as well as athlete Adelle Tracey given their Tracey roots is also from St Ann.

[@normanbrown9225]

No Matter How BEAUTIFUL THE FRUIT, The BEST OF BLOSSOM OR FRUIT WILL ALWAYS PAY RESPECT TO THE ROOTS OF ITS BEING.❤

[@winstondonald3065]

Tracey is my cousin. Yes it is a St.Ann name just like Lindo, Rose, Wisdom and Christie.

[@TheAwesomeTD]

Colorism is still a great problem today. This is why people are bleaching their skin to be received in a country (Jamaica) they are connected to and love.

[@patriciamajor9028]

When they say a person of colour add slaves it doesn't refer to a dark skin person there's a difference.

[@luke3172]

So her great grandfather was a slave owner?

[@ashleighwilliams9765]

Yep

[@winstondonald3065]

Agree colour still runs Jamaica. Don't be fooled.

[@reneesmith1339]

You can see the embarrassment for all the trash talking she's done all over her face!

[@lusimyer]

Who is she and what trash was she talking?

[@traceyholt8223]

Trash talking?? Talking negatively about slave owners isn't trash talking.

[@meonly6471]

​@@lusimyer A dutty 🐠 chi chi 🔥🔥🔥bun out all nastiness

[@devogrant2817]

@@traceyholt8223 Remember some of our own African chiefs sold us out of greed ...

[@KB-fe2pg]

@@devogrant2817 No one was more greedy than rapist, colonizing, enslavers.