Meet The Woman Who Learned That Her Mother Passed As White | Megyn Kelly TODAY

TODAY
5 Feb 201810:11
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRGail's journey into her mother's past unveils a family secret: her mother, Oliveira Frederick, had been 'passing' as white despite being of mixed race. Raised with a mysterious mother who avoided the sun and was meticulous with makeup, Gail's curiosity led her to discover her grandfather was listed as 'black' in historical records. Confronting her mother, she learns about the complex reality of racial identity and the lengths her mother went to fit into society, as detailed in Gail's book 'White, Like Her.'

Takeaways
  • 🔍 Gail embarked on a journey to uncover her mother's secretive past, which led to a surprising family history.
  • 👵 Gail's mother, Oliveira Frederick, was meticulously careful with her appearance, which was unusual and mysterious to Gail.
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Gail's curiosity was piqued by her mother's selective memory regarding her own father, who Gail had never met.
  • 📜 In 1995, Gail began her search for her grandfather's identity through microfilm and historical records.
  • 📊 The 1900 Louisiana census records revealed a family secret: the 'B' next to family members' names indicated 'Black' race.
  • 📧 Gail requested her mother's birth certificate under the pretense of having lost it, uncovering the designation 'Colored'.
  • 😮 Upon confronting her mother, Gail learned that she had been 'passing' as white, a secret she had kept from her family.
  • 🤔 Gail's mother expressed concern about how she would maintain her social standing if her racial background was revealed.
  • 📖 Gail wrote a book titled 'White, Like Her' detailing her mother's secret past and the impact of the discovery on her identity.
  • 🗣️ The realization that her mother had been passing for white was a shock to Gail, altering her understanding of herself and her family.
  • 👀 Gail retrospectively recognized subtle clues her mother had left, indicating a hidden racial identity.
Q & A

  • What was the main motivation for Gail to investigate her mother's past?

    -Gail's curiosity was piqued by her mother's secretive behavior and selective memory when discussing her own father, as well as the absence of any photos of her grandfather.

  • What significant event in history is mentioned in the script that is connected to Gail's parents' story?

    -World War II is the significant historical event mentioned in the script, during which Gail's parents met.

  • How did Gail's mother, Oliveira Frederick, behave in ways that made her seem mysterious to Gail during her childhood?

    -Oliveira Frederick was meticulous about her makeup, even wearing light foundation to bed, never went out in the sun without a wide-brim hat, covered her hands with gloves, and didn't like to be in the sun, which Gail found strange.

  • What was the term used in the 1900 Louisiana census records that caught Gail's attention?

    -The term 'B' next to the names in the census records caught Gail's attention, which she later discovered stood for 'Black'.

  • What did Gail do to find out more about her grandfather's identity?

    -Gail combed through microfilm and looked into the 1900 Louisiana census records to find information about her grandfather.

  • How did Gail confirm the meaning of the term 'Col' on her mother's birth certificate?

    -Gail contacted the state of Louisiana, pretending to be her mother who had lost her birth certificate, and received an official letter stating that 'Col' stands for 'Colored'.

  • What was Gail's mother's reaction when confronted with the information about her racial background?

    -Gail's mother became very indignant, insisting that her own birth certificate stated she was white, and only after Gail presented additional documents did she become quiet and ask Gail to promise not to reveal the information until after her death.

  • What term does Gail use in her book to describe her mother's actions regarding her racial identity?

    -Gail uses the term 'passing' to describe her mother's actions of presenting herself as white despite being racially classified as 'colored' or 'black'.

  • How did Gail feel upon discovering her mother's secret racial background?

    -Gail felt shocked and disoriented, as she walked into the Family History Center as a white woman and walked out not knowing what her racial identity was.

  • What year did Gail confront her mother about the racial background revealed on the birth certificate?

    -Gail confronted her mother in 1997.

  • What is the title of the book Gail wrote about her mother's secret past?

    -The title of the book is 'White, Like Her'.

Outlines
00:00
🕵️‍♀️ Unveiling a Mother's Hidden Past

This paragraph introduces Gail's quest to uncover her mother's secretive past. It starts with a brief introduction to Gail's parents, who met during World War II, and her father's pride in his military service. The focus then shifts to Gail's childhood curiosity about her mother's peculiar habits, such as wearing makeup to bed and avoiding sunlight. The most significant mystery, however, was her mother's evasive answers about her own father. In 1995, Gail embarked on a search for her grandfather's identity, which led to a shocking discovery about her family's racial history. The paragraph ends with Gail's confrontation with her mother about the racial designation on her birth certificate and the revelation that her mother had been 'passing' as white.

05:03
😳 A Shocking Discovery of Identity

In this paragraph, Gail recounts the moment of her initial discovery in 1995 at the Family History Center, which led to an identity crisis. She describes walking into the center as a white woman and leaving unsure of her racial identity. The realization that her mother had been living as a white woman, despite being racially classified as 'colored' or 'black' on official documents, was deeply unsettling. The paragraph delves into Gail's emotional journey upon this revelation, including her reflections on the clues her mother had left behind, which she only recognized in retrospect. It concludes with the broader implications of this discovery for Gail's understanding of herself and her family's history.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Secretive Mother
A secretive mother refers to a parent who keeps certain aspects of her life hidden from others, often due to personal or societal reasons. In the video, Gail's mother is described as secretive, particularly about her past and her family history. This secrecy is a central theme as it leads to the discovery of her racial background and the concept of 'passing'.
💡Passing
Passing is a term used to describe the act of a person of mixed race or a person from a marginalized group presenting themselves as belonging to a different, more socially accepted group. In the context of the video, Gail's mother 'passed' for white after marrying a white man and moving to Ohio, concealing her black heritage.
💡World War II
World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It is significant in the video as it provides the historical backdrop during which Gail's parents met. The war also influenced societal norms and racial attitudes of the time, which may have contributed to her mother's decision to pass.
💡Birth Certificate
A birth certificate is an official document that records the birth of a person, including details such as the person's name, date of birth, and parents' names. In the video, Gail's discovery of her mother's birth certificate and the racial designation 'colored' is pivotal to revealing her mother's secret past.
💡Census Records
Census records are official records that enumerate the population, typically collected by governments at regular intervals. In the script, Gail uses 1900 Louisiana census records to uncover her grandfather's racial designation, which is a key element in understanding her family's history.
💡Racial Designation
Racial designation refers to the classification of individuals based on their race or ethnicity, often used in official documents. The video script reveals that Gail's grandfather was listed as 'black' in census records, and her mother's birth certificate had the designation 'colored', which was a term used in the past to refer to people of African descent.
💡Identity
Identity refers to the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. In the video, Gail's search for her grandfather's identity leads her to discover her own racial identity, which was previously unknown to her.
💡Indignation
Indignation is a feeling of anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. When Gail confronts her mother with the evidence of her racial background, her mother reacts with indignation, defending her identity as white.
💡Colored
The term 'colored' was historically used in the United States to refer to people of African descent. In the video, the term is used in official documents to designate Gail's mother's race, which was a significant revelation for Gail.
💡Confrontation
Confrontation is a face-to-face meeting to deal with an issue or problem. Gail's confrontation with her mother about the racial designation on her birth certificate is a critical moment in the video, leading to the revelation of her mother's secret past.
💡Family History
Family history refers to the genealogical and biographical account of a person's lineage. Gail's exploration of her family history is the central narrative of the video, uncovering unexpected truths about her mother's racial background and her own identity.
Highlights

Gail's mother had a mysterious past and kept secrets about her family history.

Gail's father never knew about her mother's secret during his lifetime.

Gail's mother was very particular about her appearance, even wearing makeup to bed.

Gail's mother avoided the sun and always wore gloves, raising questions about her past.

Gail's mother had selective memory when discussing her own father, which was suspicious.

Gail never saw a photo of her grandfather, which was part of the family mystery.

In 1995, Gail began searching for her grandfather's identity through microfilm.

Gail found the 1900 Louisiana census records with the letter 'B' next to names, indicating race.

Gail discovered that 'B' stood for 'Black', leading to questions about her family's racial background.

Gail requested her mother's birth certificate under the pretense of it being lost.

The birth certificate revealed that Gail's mother was listed as 'Colored'.

Gail confronted her mother about the racial designation on the birth certificate.

Gail's mother reacted indignantly, claiming her own birth certificate said she was white.

Gail's mother eventually admitted to 'passing' for white after marrying Gail's father.

Gail's realization about her racial identity was a shock, changing her understanding of herself.

Gail's mother had been living a life of passing, which had a profound impact on Gail.

Gail wrote a book titled 'White, Like Her' about her mother's secret past.

Gail's mother asked her to keep the secret until after her death, showing the weight of the situation.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Woman Whose Mother Passed As White Introduces Her Mixed-Race Family Members | Megyn Kelly TODAY

Update on a story the Washington Post declared one of the most inspiring stories of 2017

Annie Louey’s dad died, then she found his briefcase | Australian Story

"All My Mothers" -The Story of Yehudith Kleinman

Catherine the Great - Not Quite Catherine Yet - Extra History - Part 1

Eartha Kitt’s Biracial Daughter Kitt Shapiro Is Tired Of People Questioning Her Race

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Family HistoryRacial IdentitySecret PastWorld War IIOhioLouisianaCensus RecordsPassing for WhiteHistorical MysteryPersonal Discovery