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Finding Lola: NYTN full documentary
#findingyourroots #ancestrydna #dnatest #louisiana #findinglola #africanamerican #creole #genealogy #findinglola #whitepassing
My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana.
Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born.
Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we? What did "passing" mean?
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I felt like I was watching my own story play out. I always knew my Daddy was part African American. I asked him all the time what we were growing up. He would say he was German, Cherokee Indian, and French. I would be like are you sure. He’s like that’s what I’ve been told my whole life. He really truly thought that’s what him and his siblings were. My Daddy passed in 2007. I lost my Uncle in 2010 and another Uncle before I was born. I lost my Aunt last year. Before she passed I asked her to take an Ancestry test for me. She obliged I told her I took one and what I had discovered. She was shocked that they had been lied too. My Aunt divulged they had a younger half brother and he took the test for me too. He said he always wondered what my great grandmother was and could never get her to say. She was always secretive he would say. I found out that the African American heritage came from both my Daddy’s Momma and Daddy’s side of the family. Tried to talk to some of my older family members, my Daddy's father side but some would dismiss me and not acknowledge it. Some literally blocked me and blocked it out on the ancestry site. I on the other am extremely proud of my heritage and there’s a lot of it. I’m what my parents made me. Still trying research and find out more about my heritage. My husband got a kick out of my results he was like you were right you always said you just knew. I just wish my Daddy would have been around to find out who he truly was. Thank you so much for sharing your story, journey about who you are and were you came from. We all deserve to know and no one should feel shame. Just be you!
@nytn
8 ай бұрын
Oh my gosh, thank you for sharing this. You belong here! I have been doing this for a year with no plans on stopping!
@kellyhickman6117
8 ай бұрын
Looking forward to more videos!
@JanSHarrison
Ай бұрын
Your story is very familiar to many.
I want to thank you for doing these, I was raised with a great deal of ethnic confusion, and had my suspicion confirmed about my father passing and my mother passing me, since doing ancestry I have found my grandfather who is visibly African American, your story gave me the courage to embark upon my own journey and discover a whole half of a family and a very different story than I was raised with .
@nytn
9 ай бұрын
Im so so happy to read this! Keep me posted on your journey
@tamaralowe8566
9 ай бұрын
Thank you I absolutely will,it's inspiring to see how your journey has unfolded I would be honored to keep you updated on mine
I want to thank you for doing this video and others that you’ve done!!!!! First, as SOON as I saw your grandma, I knew she was of our people!!! I am eastern Cherokee. My 2x GGrandma is on the Dawes Roll as Cherokee by blood! Your videos resonate with me because I get SOOO much racial hate by the other Native Americans telling me to go back to Africa when my Cherokee grandmother was as dark as you see that I am! But I wanted to tell you and your family that it wasn’t that your grandmother was not proud of who she was but was REALLY AFRAID of what could possibly happen to her and her family as well as her husband, your grandfather for marrying her! When I was little, my mom told me I was an Indian. She Never said that we were African. Just Indian. She told me don’t tell Anyone that she was an Indian because she didn’t want anyone to know. I asked grandma, her mother and she said yes, she said we were Cherokee but she told me, you can’t EVER tell anybody that! I asked why? She said that she just wanted me to know who I was . That’s it. End of conversation. There was no other discussion about it. I just found the records two month ago. I’m sorry this was so long but they could be jailed, killed And sold into slavery! So, it was a lot to unpack! ❤
@68entaustin
4 ай бұрын
So much has come to light within the past 10 years or so. What we as people of color knew and suspected is actually being proven by those who wanted to desperately know the truth of their ancestry lineage. Dane Calloway The Greatest Historian on KZread really gets viewers to think outside the box. People of Color went from being Indians to being reclassified as Negroes. There’s no possibility that Colombus crossed the ocean with hundreds of Africans in chains on SMALL SHIPS for several months at a time, those ships had no engines. If anyone abduct anyone against their will what do they do, they rebell, they will fight until they no longer can do so. Time for these text books be destroyed since it’s all was falsified……there’s no possible way to cross the ocean with hundreds of Africans, urinating and popping every day. They couldn’t drink the salty ocean water without getting sick or dying. I’m just saying ❤
@UhOhJacquinette
2 ай бұрын
Talk about it! As soon as I saw her young photo I was like… oh she look like me .. ❤
@basicallyno1722
23 күн бұрын
Many “officially recognized” Cherokees appear incredibly white or even black. Why? Because the official government-recognized Cherokee tribe’s necessity for enrollment is to just have one identifiable ancestor who signed the Dawes roll. Nevermind there are other Cherokee people who weren’t there to sign lol Anyway - as long as you keep right by your people, culture and other natives then you’re native! Blood-quantum is a controversial topic.
You did a great job, and I am proud of you. It is unfortunate only 2 of your relatives besides yourself are able to be accept the African ancestry, even in 2023. I am your cousin, but from the Black side. Metoyer, Sarpy, Meziere...great work!!
@nytn
10 ай бұрын
Yes! So many Metoyers and Mezieres in my family tree. So glad you found the video:) ETA. Im so proud to be finding my actual roots!
This is a compilation of my original "Finding Lola" series! Let me know if this is your first time watching my own journey that started everything. Im going to tell you a secret, I cried like a baby editing the portion around 23-24 minutes. It was truly overwhelming. 🟢Support NYTN! Send me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/nytn13#linkModal ⚪ Save YOUR family history with my "Be a Good Ancestor" course. Grab yours now at www.nytonashville.com and embark on a transformative journey of preserving your family's history! ⚪Want to connect? facebook.com/findinglolafilm/ on twitter @ImfindingLola 🟢Grab your own Ancestry DNA test now*! : amzn.to/3UxGKJx
@tknows470
11 ай бұрын
I’ve watched along with your finding Lola series and I’m thrilled for this compilation. Bless you and your family, what an amazing journey to share with us. As a person with many roadblocks in my ancestry, this was an amazing story to see unfold. Your gentle and loving spirit really shines through. Your Grandma would be so proud.❤
@brawndothethirstmutilator9848
11 ай бұрын
Been enjoying your content for a few months now. First time watching this whole story from beginning to end. Thanks for sharing this part of your journey 💙
@lindyashford7744
11 ай бұрын
This has been a brave journey, thing about journeys, you never do know what they will bring when you start them, you just have a notion that you want to travel somewhere, and most of all you probably have no clue of how they will change you. It has been a privilege to be on this journey with you, it has so many insights for others who have made similar journeys where their origins were hazy and they had so many questions. Wherever in the world they are. Thanks for all your questions and for your recording of your journey. There should really be libraries of journeys like this so people understand the past better and how history is not the story of famous people but the connection between ordinary men and women and families and places.
@lindyashford7744
11 ай бұрын
The Flashe paints look wonderful. I now have a bad case of paint envy!
@pamelabrinkley6900
9 ай бұрын
Just started watching your series. All I can say is wow. The rabbit hole is deep but is necessary to go down, because it’s the only way to heal and to know your true heritage ❤❤❤
Louisiana ancestry stories are the most fascinating. Two of the best eps of Finding Your Roots were Bryant Gumble and Tea Leoni. Great job
This was profound. I live on Long Island, I hope I run into your cousin who was proud of his 10% African DNA. I loved that moment.
@marilynrigsby6874
5 ай бұрын
My family has everything ❤️ A TRUE AMERICAN MUTT ❤️
I see a lot of native & African descent in all of you!!! Even if it’s not said or admitted, but can be seen regardless!! A beautiful mixture!!?
@robertamccartney5500
Ай бұрын
WOW! This is so interesting. "WE" always knew--but, we just (usually) kept quiet.
@THECROWNROYALSHollywoodFashion
25 күн бұрын
They looked Italian
Wow, Please tell me that production of this video has won you a documentary or film award of some sort. What you have done in putting this together is truly nothing short of amazing. Truly blessed by all of the work that must have gone into compiling, editing and producing this into a narrative of your family's journey, (and surely a journey that MANY certainly have, but may yet feel inhibited about )with which you've shared is worthy of at the very least some sort of commendation. It is this type of willingness to explore our stories that will ultimately bridge the perpetual, pernicious divides. Great work. Many thanks for creating and posting this and all of your many informative and explorative videos.
This is AMAZING! Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Great story Danielle!!! Much love
I heard somewhere that about 6 million persons that identify as white have some African ancestry. If you add in Native American blood there even more that identify white but are really mixed. Hell I identify as African American but I’m 17% Irish and British. To be American is to be a Mutt. I will gladly take that title.
@1Denicole
9 ай бұрын
Everybody is mixed up, if only we could just come together and embrace our differences.We are all made in the image of God and we all bleed the same, we shouldn't allow color to divide us.
@deliciaford4343
9 ай бұрын
@@1DenicoleAmen!!!
@Sean-jc6cu
9 ай бұрын
Everyone has african ancestry to some extent but there is no such thing as white...people labeled as white today (Irish, Jews, Italians, etc.) were not considered as always seen as such
@joanhuffman2166
9 ай бұрын
Look up Afrikaaners. On average, 11% non-European ancestry. Even at the height of apartheid around 5,000 coloured people changed their status to white legally every year. It turns out the one drop rule is enforced only in the Deep South. Even there if you look white and leave town, you had options. It turns out that for the first hundred years of settlement in South Africa, hardly any white women immigrated. So the men had children with Koi-San, Indonesian, 🇮🇳 Indian, Chinese, and others on that trade route. 5 or more generations of only Dutch fathers and the number of people with some non-European ancestry who looked white was sizeable, as was the obviously mixed race population. The world is odder than we think and full of surprises.
@hopelewis5650
9 ай бұрын
I identify as American, family has been here for 5 generations.
Oh wow! You have a new sub from South Africa. I'm Coloured (the term that is still in official use today with our race classification system) which is the equivalent of Creole / Mulatto [mixed race]. Majority of us Coloureds can trace their maternal ancestry to a Khoi-San (which is the equivalent of Native American or FNP {First Nation People} of the Southern African region) with the paternal ancestry of another race in most cases. My particular mix is a smattering of Saint Helena and Arab on my Dad's side with Dutch and Cape Khoi on my Mom's side. It was a concerted effort from the colonisers in my country to first commit genocide with my ancestors (FNP) and then dilute it with the inter-mixing. We're still here though :)
@kimberlygodbold880
6 ай бұрын
I’m so glad that you are still here! Even paper genocide hurts us just as bad as physical genocide!
Beautiful tribute to the humanity of your family. Beautiful family that enriched the world. Just beautiful.
@nytn
10 ай бұрын
You are so kind
Your story is so interesting. Thank you for sharing. In my DNA test, I discovered I was 3% black. My great grandmother had a white mother and black father. No one in my family knew there was a secret. They were dark skinned and thought they were Native American but my great grandmother denied it. I traced the family back to a slave and slave owner. You gave me a good idea to reach out to other family members not in my immediate family for information.
Hello my NY sister ❤️ I could not miss the story in full and I must say that I greatly enjoyed. Our families stories are so similar as I’ve shared from the beginning and I am still digging for more. We had family reunions in the French quarters of New Orleans. It was the first time I saw brown people with beautiful red rustic hair. We had Boones, Ridley’s and Tyners all throughout and I knew of none of them as a child. Thank u for sharing ❤️
Danielle, what a journey! I am rapt. Your work on who is white and becoming an American is tremendously important. Keep on with the great work!
@nytn
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
@sky-pv7ff
9 ай бұрын
She's only doing it because her great grandmother was trying to passing as white even though she didn't look white. Even her grandmother doesn't look white. Even when the blacks have money they seem to what to leave the black race by mixing with non blacks. Like her family, she's supposedly half Italian because of her father side. Seems she's only interested in the mulatto side because that's where she'll get the most views. Looking for the mysterious indigenous dna line.
Can I just say I love John and Dan! Straight to the point! I have loved your series keep the stories coming ❤️
Thank you sister for sharing your story and testimony with us. Your such a Blessing through your encourage in claim who you’re as well as others that’s part of this amazing testimony. Your such a pillar of light to us and our people.❤️🙏🏽🙌🏽💪🏽
Wow. Incredible story. Btw you have beautiful ladies in you family. And Classy too. What a Mystery. Engaging story telling style. Black, Italian, Jewish, Irish, German, Native American, in the same Family. Wow wow wow. God bless America.
She probably went back to NY to continue to pass. Everyone knew her back home and she couldn't pass there.
@SharonDoucette
9 ай бұрын
..or maybe she went back to a place where she found it easier to survive and although life wasn’t perfect had more freedoms than she would have in Louisiana. I don’t know where you’re from, but conditions in the Deep South were even more oppressive then, than they were when I grew up there in the 60s to early 80s. I left my hometown the day after I graduated from high school. I’ve faced some difficulties over the years, but never once considered going back there to live. I’d really rather live in a cardboard box where I am than go back there.
@lovealwaysbibi3336
17 күн бұрын
She was passing. In Louisiana it's called passe Blanc. She was for sure safer, but if it wasn't to pass her family in NY would've known the family in LA. I know this for a fact because Danielle and I are relatives through our creole heritage and because my grandmother did the same thing in NJ with her mom being in CA. The truth is you are both correct. No matter the reason, we are happy that her family made it and are alive to tell her story.@@SharonDoucette
@SharonDoucette
16 күн бұрын
@@lovealwaysbibi3336My apologies if my post was misinterpreted. I meant only to state that ‘passing’ may not have been the primary objective, but a necessity given the financial challenges she faced in LA. I know it’s a choice that some in my family made as well. Thanks for sharing.
@lovealwaysbibi3336
16 күн бұрын
@@SharonDoucette I'm not offended at all. I'm agreeing but pointing out you are both right. I have family in Sacramento that went through the same things. I get it. Pointing out that both are right and possible. We would never know because unfortunately they are all passed on.
I have watched several of your presentations and I find them amazing in a gob-smacking, eye-opening, mind-blowing kind of way. I grew up in the 60's in a military family. We watched the news every night at dinner time, so as an elementary school kid, I was pretty well versed in "current events" associated with the civil rights and women's rights issues. And I'll also say that "well versed" means that I watched what the Mainstream Media was presenting (ABC, CBS, NBC). Still, that is a lot more than most elementary school kids could claim in the day. That said, there is so much that I am learning through your broadcasts. Thank you and keep on shining your light into these shadows. I truly appreciate your efforts.
@nytn
6 ай бұрын
This was really kind of you, it meant a lot, thank you :)
@kimberlygodbold880
6 ай бұрын
@@nytn please continue your work no matter what the “Establishment” tries to do! You are telling a Lot of TRUTH! Yours, Mine, and Many others! You are doing a Great Work and I believe that our CREATOR CHOSE YOU for such a time as This! Because you are chosen, I believe that you are protected! Keep Shining your beautiful Light! I truly THANK YOU!!!🙏🏾
Danielle, as a history lover, I'm intrigued by your great grandmother's story. I also admire your tenacity & respect in uncovering your ancestry. Each race is equally important & we've all done what we needed to do to survive. No one should be made to feel ashamed of that.
You did a great job,Danielle!You researched your family history and made us reflect a little on the history of ethnicities in America. Greetings from Brazil!
This story is like watching a television show you get addicted to. She didn't go back to Louisiana probably because she didn't want the creole roots to define her children and their children.
@daharris41
11 ай бұрын
It’s all about not being black. It’s unfortunate but also understandable during that time. Many people in America have black ancestry but if they can pass for white they do. That’s why so many black people left Louisiana. They knew they could pass for white in other parts of the country.
@athanksgivingbaby570
9 ай бұрын
@estryscancivilization - Your response is based in a time where that might be true. Go back even 75 years and it's not about self-hate. It's about survival, literally in some areas of the country, for you and your children. And it would not have been an easy choice to walk away from everyone and everything you knew. These were not cowards. They were just people trying to survive and thrive.
@bluesforthecool
9 ай бұрын
@@athanksgivingbaby570 agreed 🤙🏿
Great story. I would love to see a movie about your family story. It is the story of US. Love your style of storytelling.
@nytn
11 ай бұрын
That would be such an honor.
"Finding Lola - An American Story" This needs to be a Netflix documentary
@nytn
10 ай бұрын
Im so thankful for everyone who has been on the journey with me!
@patriceesela5000
10 ай бұрын
@@nytn Keep up the good work, Greetings from the UK
@sylvias4439
4 ай бұрын
I agree indeed!
Many did ancestry, did DNA indicate any confirmation of Indian ancestry, French and African. I am from Louisiana of French, European and Africa ancestry”Creole” and proud. As little as 1-2 generations above me were listed as mulatto and/or black,much due to skin color. Many of the listed family as mulatto could have easily and unrecognizably been able to take the “passé blanc” path but didn’t. In the South life was indeed harsh, I don’t think Lola was embarrassed about who she was, just wanted to reach for a better life as she maintained family and fell in love. Perhaps revelations would upset the status quo, despite the fact the her own children were also mulatto. New Orleans, La has an abundance of Perrot, Perrault’s and derivative Perrilloux family’s, and Metyoers. You remind me of many. Thanks for sharing your Lola journey. Oddly I feel she probably would breathe a sigh of relief as she undoubtedly stayed connected to the family she loves. Many continued blessings.
@tahliah6691
Ай бұрын
That’s what I assumed creole was those with French and other Europeans and African decent….
@JanSHarrison
Ай бұрын
@@tahliah6691 Also German and Indian . Originally when established in USA/ NOLA ,The new world, it was primarily French, European , Spanish with Africans and people from the Caribbeans. Germans came a little later. An admixture of many. “Generationally mixed!” bringing in a unique language,culture, cuisine, music.
@basicallyno1722
23 күн бұрын
Lola may indeed have been embarrassed to be native and black. Never underestimate the power of being told you’re literally subhuman.
How facinating this search is. Danielle you are doing a great work for yourself, your family and lots of American people. Thank you
Thank you for sharing this story. I loved hearing everyone's perspectives and understanding of the past vs. now.
Very ambitious project! Well done!
My peoples are from Louisianna and I see the Black in all those photos. Looks just like my kinfolk
Danielle, Thank you for sharing your family’s story. I cried several times because it was so hard to hear how difficult life was for your great grandmother and other family members.
That part of Louisiana is complicated. It is the far north of French Louisiana. I am not surprised by the last name.
One thing I should have said is never let anyone in or out of your family call you MULATTO. That terminology is the slave master (branding his live stock), somewhat owning his creation without saying it out loud because it was created with a black female slave.
@VelveteenRabbit77
11 ай бұрын
Growing up in theSouth it was just a term for mixed race people. The term was used on official records in my town.
@roshellboudreaux6263
11 ай бұрын
@VelveteenRabbit77 Yes, that's true, but slaves were also listed as live stock. That doesn't make it right. It's still demeaning.
@VelveteenRabbit77
11 ай бұрын
I’ve never heard of that in any thing I’ve ever read anywhere and would be entirely inaccurate to call slaves livestock. @@roshellboudreaux6263
@alexusevans1751
9 ай бұрын
Mullato is a term that was used and erased peoples identities.
@UhOhJacquinette
2 ай бұрын
Then you get the “quadroon” and “octoroon” balls… this history goes soooo deep.
She did what she had to to survive and not be treated like an animal or somebody’s property 😢
@basicallyno1722
23 күн бұрын
Yep! It’s sad. It was no good to be either black or native.
I followed along as you shared your story but to see it altogether brings up so many feelings about my own family.
I have enjoyed this series and I like the new videos that you've made.
@nytn
11 ай бұрын
Awesome, thank you!
This was so beautiful and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing your family’s story and journey ❤
@nytn
10 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing ❤ "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” --Luke 8:17
I love your stories and I hope that you find everything that you are looking for.
I have a certain love for this family! Reminds me of my own!!! We have everything in us but the kitchen sink! So proud!!❤❤ to you all!
My new favorite You Tube channel!!! style with Babe Ruth, then to Jim Crow and now watching finding Lola. love love love the channel absolutely awesome! Raw, informative, and absolutely inspiring!!
@nytn
Ай бұрын
Aw you made my day. Thank you! I make a lot of mistakes on here, and it's public, so that's hard, but Im really trying to learn. It's good to have you here
Thank you for sharing your amazing story!
@nytn
9 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching! I’m so glad you took the time
It’s sad that it’s acceptable to be mixed with all except for black
I have learned so much amd even understand my own family better by learning of your family journey.
I just found your story, and I'm going through the same thing. I'm trying to find out who my father was, and the funny thing about this whole thing is that he's from the exact same place as your grandmother. He was born Brown, and moved to Houston by himself when he was about 16, and changed his last name to Peace. He past when I was 15, and I'm 46 now, and I've never meet his side of the family. You have given me hope to continue to search but, I can tell you that my journey has been hard. Thank You for making these videos.
@nytn
3 ай бұрын
I’m so glad! It’s a beautiful journey
Lola looks like a very light skinned black person to me.
Hello Danielle, I'm new. I don't know if you ever spoke on the 1% Law. As far as I know, it is STILL on the "books!"
Tears my Lady. Thank you, so much for sharing these incredible life tales...There are not enough words to express how much I am feeling and remembering and wanting to discover about my own heritage.
@nytn
2 ай бұрын
You belong here! So glad. Let me know what you find on your journey
This is so amazing. Well done!
@nytn
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
@donnahughes8575
10 ай бұрын
Danielle, brilliant research on your part- a lawyer’s daughter for sure💝 My Dad had the similar story to your Grandfather/ per your Dad’s interview. WWII Navy Vet/ South Pacific, age 17, high school drop-out… Dad’s Navy photos/ ship USS Euryale could be connected, or related to us through Italian heritage. I’m on Ancestry search also…
What people don't know is that BLACK is a super natural future/colour that can't NEVER be tampered with. That is it. She nailed it. " She looked it" she said . that's all. No matter how the haters of their ancestors try to hide their identity, there is always something there to remind you. Black is beautiful, own it.
I have a lot of ancestors that have mulatto on their census page as their race and I have always thought that that was a person of color and a person of the white race. And I know I have read that a lot of people would say they are of a different race so they could get ahead in life. My people are from Louisiana and they are Creole French .
We have been so mixed up since the beginning of time. So there's only 1 race, it's called human.
Interesting video about your extended family, a very big multi ethnic and multi-cultural extended family. ✌🏼😎✌🏼
It's not "a boldness" to hide from the sun because the real you will be apparent. Those women lived lives of fear. I understand why they decided to pass, and lie, but let's not mistake it for living a life of integrity.
@tracymccarty4822
10 ай бұрын
Yes. 100% agree.
@jessmytype
9 ай бұрын
It’s bold to survive in fear of death. It’s bold to love who you choose, in the face of rejection. It’s easy to judge some of these people’s decisions, but none of us have lived a day in their shoes.
@rosalindlogan2720
9 ай бұрын
@@jessmytypebullshit. This woman was simply a creole from Louisiana, essentially a black woman. In this documentary her family keeps saying she’s part Indian/Native American instead of calling her what she was-A black woman. Lola denied her blackness and chose to live her life as a white woman. I cannot respect anyone, from any time period, who denies their blackness.
@beaujac311
8 ай бұрын
trooper190:. She was living life. You act as if you were in her shoes and lived her life.
@beaujac311
8 ай бұрын
@@rosalindlogan2720 If it is that simple then explain to me what a creole from Louisiana is? I'm a black man here in Georgia and I thought I knew some things, but Louisiana is a whole other animal. I started to have an opinion similar to yours but with all the mixing that has gone on in Louisiana I have to do some more research to try and understand things that I am ignorant about. I remember a few years ago a "black man" from Louisiana found out he was not black at all. He thought all his life that he was black but when he took a DNA test he had no black blood at all. He was everything but black.
I’m surprised they were able to pass they’re not that white looking. I wondered why my great grandmother didn’t pass she was much lighter but then I thought the same that I wouldn’t be here. But they married men who could farm and build. They were poor and discriminated against but they survived.
I love John😂. He is that cool uncle.
I am a louisiana Creole. My grandmother passed for white (passe blanc) on my fathers side. My Mom spoke French and was a light skinned woman. I was told my mom's dad told her to marry light skinned until your descendants passed for white.
I love this channel ❤truth is vital.
This is an excellent channel, There is so much we all need to know, and mistakes we NEED to avoid.
Isn't it funny that as long as someone doesn't know what you supposedly are they are ok but if they knew their feelings about you would change even though you didn't change so to pass was the way to go because who wants trouble.
My grandfather lived in Bastrop, LA for a time. He grew up in Eldorado, Arkansas though.
My Grsndmother had Hazel eyes, Creole!
I’m not surprised that she didn’t want to admit that she has black in her. It was the time they lived in.
I find it amazing how they down play the African blood that’s in them, I heard Mexican,native ,Irish keep it 100%
I'm Mexican descent, My grandfather came to the united states in the 1940s during world War II . Growing up I new we looked different then some of are Mexican people. I did a DNA ancestry test. Traced my family back to 1700s . It turns out I have Indigenous Americas. Spain, Portuguese, Basque, African,Italian,Jewish from Europe, Mediterranean,Indian from India. Makes a lot of sense now.
I totally LOVE this!!!! ❤
I've been following your story, it just dawned on me, why would "French" be equated with "dark"? The French are white.
@nytn
9 ай бұрын
Because she spoke Creole, I think....
I’m from South Louisiana, Houma and frankly 1/2 of Louisiana is mixed mostly with Black and many simply passed for White for privileges not afforded to blacks, Indians and Mexicans. There are even black Chinese. The sad thing is my grandma told us that the babies of these people passing for white that were born dark were killed at birth. They called it whiting out. 😢 But in they end if the people passing lived to be old they darkened up, so the secret eventually came out. My family is black and indigenous and some white.
Awesome video ❤❤❤❤
My grandmother used to say her mother died and her father was a merchant marine from the UK, she was raised in an orphan home. After she died, I did the DNA and heritage search and she was blue eyed Chinese, with Native and Irish. She denied her heritage because it didn't match WASP protocol for "white"
@LJones-tx6eg
2 ай бұрын
She was raised Catholic (not WASP), she was raised whitish (not WASP), she married a man who was raised in an orphan home (also not WASP) Pennsylvania Dutch and Irish/Scots...who swore till his dying day that his wife was a white woman from Ireland
@LJones-tx6eg
2 ай бұрын
She had piercing blue eyes almond shaped, pitch black hair below her butt and straight with skin she bleached to be paper white with a slightly hawked nose and high cheekbones. stood 5' 105 lbs
Thank for sharing
Growing up in poverty is so incredibly damaging! My fiancé grew up in poverty and wow was he wounded!! He resented me for not growing up poor.. calling us (me and my brother) dumb and spoiled! He was very hurt and always felt rejected..
This family history is so very common throughout Louisiana, and some are aware of it, many are not. Our state has had some really dark moments in history where being certain ethnicities or nationalities could jeopardize a person’s success, freedom, or their life all together. I’m so glad you and your family are telling your stories. It’s therapeutic for families who have had their heritage swept under the rug to finally let light shine on it after so many years.
@basicallyno1722
23 күн бұрын
Yes it is! And there are a lot of similarities between other border-cultures from the southwest too (minus the African mixture, and just swap French for Spanish). These histories are SO important to be literate about so we can do better today and tomorrow.
I get it; back then I would pass also if I could… Times was hard. This is a good documentary!
“Did anyone get a DNA test” 😂😂😂 I love him.
My Great Grandfather look white in some pictures of him i never ask questions about to my Grandfather sadly both of them are gone now i should ask him more about ours Louisiana family
I am living this right now as I am doing genealogy research on my father's side. It's like they [my bancestors] wanted to be accepted as white for vaious societal reasons. I look more Irish/European than my sister, but with everyone on my father's maternal side having d olive skin, high cheek bones, and black/dark brown hair, it's clear that we have american Indian heritage.
My mom had a friend when she was little who could pass as white, while her sister was extremely black. Both sisters had the same parents, too.
I'm surprised her Great Grandmother was able to "pass".. She definitely looked like the lighter skinned Black woman she was..
Very interesting and fascinating.
Great overall true American story. There are so many Lola’s out there and I am glad you were able to face the past in order to continue to build your families future.
@nytn
Ай бұрын
Yes! Thank you!
My heart goes out to Lola. She had to deny part of who she was to have a better life. Her and her children lives would be worse if she identified as Mulatto or Black. Her mother sacrificed her relationship with her daughter in order for her to have a chance.
I belive Lola is living within you now !!!
@nytn
11 ай бұрын
I named one of my daughters Lola, so in a way, she definitely is! ❤
Every child has questions about their heritage, but it’s hard when you ask about your parents background and are told not to ask, I was only told about being Scottish and Irish.
My mother's name was Louise and she was called Lulu
My grandma passed for a min. But she moved to California and was able to be herself. She still looked Caucasian or Asian
I live in Hawaii born and raised of Japanese ancestry. I was so enthralled with Lola’s story.. I find that she was a very , very brave woman!!!! Everyone has their own story they lived through and was trying to protect her children. Like it was said.. times were different back then and you needed to figure out a way to survive the “climate of the times” nowadays, we can be brave of who we are. I think our mindset is different as well. There’s still racism around, but we will not let others dictate our lives and try to shame us. It would give them power!! We don’t need to give power to negativity!! I loved your story!!
@nytn
9 ай бұрын
I am so glad to have you here. What a beautiful family story you must have. I have read a little about the Japanese experience in Hawaii.
I didn't know you had family in Albany. Wow, also from the 518 myself
Your cousin from Baton Rouge looks just like this thumbnail of Lola
Danielle, you have Lola’s eyes. Same shape. 😊
wow this is so funny to me.. Natchitoches is about 27 miles from where my mothers & fathers came from but I also believe THERE people grew up and or also live in Natchitoches as well. The other thing is my mothers family has a similar trajectory as yours in terms of race etc. Very fair skinned people... my mom said that either HER grand mother used to tell a story about her father being a "white man" but no one ever knew much about those folks OR even most of the off spring of that part of the family. I've since been able to locate some of the "black" part of the family but haven't fully delved into the "white" part lol.. I've been doing this since i was about 17 and i'm 48 now and I"m STILL finding out stuff. Oh and the last part, was that when I saw your grandmother, looking at her and hearing her made me see my grandmother and her sisters as she reminded me of them.... Really good work 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯
Great stuff. Peace and love
I see Lola and I see a Native woman. My grandfather was “Mestizo” from New Mexico but some of the elders liked to say they were only Spanish, even French. It would always change. That family used to hide their native roots because it was seen as worse than being “Mexican.” Even though the entire region was Mexico until 1918 😂 my grandfather though always told me we were native - Pueblo and Spanish. Some of his siblings said otherwise, even my grandmother (hiswhite wife) tried to say we weren’t because she only wanted her kids to be European! Well…we took that DNA test and boom - it showed my grandfather is half native. We did more genealogy and found out his older brothers were in the residential schools. So I’m assuming his mother (my great grandmother) wanted to try and save her other kids.
Listening to this really hurts. I have the opposite issue because my great grandmother and great great grandmother were shunned from their families because they married black men. There’s a part of your family that you don’t know because of racism
Danielle, Do you have your Ancestry com results uploaded on one of your videos?
@dontbelongherefromanotherp9807
11 ай бұрын
There is one reported case in the late 1800s of a "black passing" white. He was a white male who lived as a black man and married a black woman. For the obvious reason, that had he not said that he was black, he wouldn't have been able to marry a black woman. Other than that, I don't think he would have been comfortable or confident to pull this one off. I don't know and they say "Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction"
I think you look mixed because you have dormant genes from your great grandmother, because your parents are definitely mostly European and look mostly European
Execellent video ❤❤❤
My lineage is from the Choctaw tribe too ❤
Campti is my moms hometown. Thats wild.
@nytn
Ай бұрын
no way!