He passed For Black To Marry Black Woman - The Story Of Clarence King
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2019
- During America’s Gilded Age, Clarence King was a famous geologist, friend of wealthy, famous, and powerful men. He was a larger-than-life character whose intellect and wanderlust pushed him to survey far-flung regions of the western U.S. and South America and develop an abiding appreciation of non-Western culture and people. What his family and wealthy friends did not know was that for 17 years, King lived secretly as James Todd, a black Pullman porter with a black wife and mixed-race children residing in Brooklyn. Devoted to his mother and half-siblings, restless and constantly in need of money, King relied on the largesse of his wealthy friends to help him support both families, never revealing his secret until he was near death. Martha A.Sandweiss relies on letters, newspaper accounts, and interviews to chronicle the extraordinary story of an influential blue-eyed white man who passed for black at a time when passing generally went the other way. An engaging portrait of a man who defied social conventions but could not face up to the potential ruin of an interracial marriage.
Ada Copeland (ca. December 23, 1860 - April 14, 1964) was the common-law wife of the American geologist Clarence King, who was appointed as the first director of the United States Geological Survey. Copeland was presumed born a slave on or around December 23, 1860, in Georgia. As a young woman, she moved to New York in the mid-1880s and worked as a nursemaid. In about 1887, she became involved with Clarence King, an upper-class white man who presented himself to her as a light-skinned black Pullman porter under the name of James Todd. (Given the long history of slavery in the United States, many African Americans had European ancestry. Some passed or identified as white, given their majority white ancestry.)
They married in September 1888, with King living as Todd with her, but as Clarence King while working in the field. They had five children together, four of whom survived to adulthood. Their two daughters married white men; their two sons served classified as blacks during World War I. Before his death from tuberculosis in 1901, King wrote to Copeland confessing his true identity.
After King died, Copeland embarked on a thirty-year battle to gain control of the trust fund he had promised her. Her representatives included the notable lawyers Everett J. Waring, the first black lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States, and J. Douglas Wetmore, who contested segregation laws in Jacksonville, Florida.
Eventually, in 1933, the court determined that King had died penniless, and no money was forthcoming. John Hay, a friend of King's, provided Ada King with a monthly stipend and, after his death in 1905, Hay's daughter Helen Hay Whitney continued the support. The stipend eventually stopped, though Copeland until her death continued to live in the house John Hay had bought for her. She died on April 14, 1964, one of the last of the former American slaves.
I am highly offended the host described Clarence King as highly sexualized for being attracted to women of color. They are beautiful queens and are deserving of love, honor, and respect.
Finally, the voice of reason. Thank you.
I know. How moronic!
He's speaking from a historical outlook, not for the present tense values. All women are queen's, all women are equal
@@cathycabricesm sounded to me like he had a fetish. In my experience a lot of yt me do…
@@cathycabricesm agreed but it was a bad segway between both statements.
What I don't like about the man conducting this interview is that he prefaces his remarks by saying that Copeland was highly sexed, in order to explain his attraction to Black women. This was racist and an offensive statement. Someone needs to call him on that.
U got a point!
That why i listen these people talk BS all the time with no sense about what they really talking about or have real knowledge of it
Exactly. It plays into the stereotype of Black people having high sex drives. Horrible remark.
I caught that comment as well and was a bit surprised no one addressed it. They made several racist and stereotypical comments here.
I was wondering if anyone else noticed this and was bothered by it. He was "sexually energetic" and "liked Native American and Black women"? Why did he feel the need to say that & how the hell does he know? Is he implying that he passed as black because he was too horny to marry a white woman?
The storyteller has romanticized this story but the only thing we know for sure is Clarence King lied to this woman about his name, his family, his job, his finances and his ancestry for their entire "marriage". Then left her with nothing except 5 kids and a letter owning the con. I'm sure she didn't feel she'd been romanticized when got that letter. Something tells me any man this secretive and sneaky wasn't romantic or charming as much as he was mentally abusive and emotionally manipulative. A true narcissist. What little we know about this story is due to the fact his wife sued his estate, not because she willingly told her story.
I can see this.
He did not abandon her. He did not have another wife and family. He changed his race for her. She had a party with the press there. That he was bad with money is nothing new. While money was coming in, I would have hoped she put some aside.
He didnt change his race for her. He changed his race to sleep with her and live in her house. When he left her house he was a white man. She didnt learn who he was until he died. That’s not a good marriage. He could have been straight up with her BUT it order to have his way he SCAMMED her. Don’t romanticize it as love. Imagine if EVERYTHING you know about your mate was a lie.
Anyone who believed him to be black saw what they wanted to.
You just cut right through the crap!😅
For some reason the Loving v. Virginia story comes to mind. It is one of the best love documentaries in America history. It’s because of the Loving couple that interracial marriage is legal in America.❤❤❤Imagine someone ready to risk it all just to be with you that tears me up and I pray everyone find that kind of love❤❤❤
Right. Also it's like divine providence that their name was Loving.
Yes indeed. I am truly a hopeless romantic. Up in age and single and believe it will still happen for me!
Just finished watching the Loving documentary some minutes ago. It's touching 🥺
This happened in my family. My uncle and aunt married in 1934. My aunt was black and we always believed my uncle was just a very light-skinned black man because he and everyone else said he was black. Okay, no problem. It wasn't until after both of them died and their children searched for some of his relatives that the truth came out. Who would think a white man would give up all that privilege and pass for black for love?
😆 Thanks for your story.
Interesting indeed.
he didn’t give up any privilege bc he was only Black to YALL. when he wasn’t with y’all and out in the world, that man was white. y’all romanticizing white peoples lies and it’s weird
@@ToriUptown No doubt when "in the world" by himself he had freedoms his darker skinned relatives didn't have but how he chose to identify restricted where he and his family could live and vacation. He worked as a house painter and musician but who knows if his choice of vocation was limited by his racial identification. He watched his children experience discrimination and educational opportunities denied them because of their race. Finally, how many ties with his family of birth did he give up when he decided to pass for black? Nobody said he was a hero but I'm guessing he experienced certain pains by living this "lie" that you know nothing about.
@Sparks Penney In Texas, by any chance???? Sounds like my Great Auntie's storyline, too....
@@ToriUptown bingo !!!
Passing for Black and marrying an exception, beautiful, intelligent, courageous,
formerly enslaved Black woman was a step UP for Clarence King.
Yep, and unlike the masses he knew it.
@@sujane1984 Yes, he did.
Imagine how her black boyfriend felt
Exactly!!! Thats a serious lie he told. Just to be with a black woman. That says alot!
AMEN
*The courts back then took her widow's inheritance to leave her penniless but for a stipend and her daughter's helped.* Keeping Generational wealth out of mothers hands is real.
Too real and too wrong. It has devastated Black lives and continues to do so
Wow, what an incredible friend her husband had in John Hay, and his daughter, for them to make sure she had her own home and money to live on until her death after the courts dragged things on decades only to claim none of her husband's money was left. I wonder who pocketed what he had set aside for her and how the courts managed to drag it on for 30 yrs!.
Perpetuation of sexualisation of black men & women.
Today’s Courts Probate System at it’s Finest for those Who drag it on till there is Nothing in the Estate left to claim!
The descendants should attempt to sue the court system that denied her, the money dued her and be restored with interest. The individuals who did this should be held accountable albeit they are dead and their descendants who benefited from the monies be made to pay some form of restitution.; "Sins of the Father"... quote unquote
That’s how racism works. Whatever it takes to deny
It’s the odd matching of words like “man of peculiar tastes, sexually energetic and woman of my dreams.” This kind of languaging is so subtle. But trust me - it lands loudly on the psyche
Yeah. He’s gross
Just to play the devil's advocate here...considering the times (where women of color were EXTREMELY disadvantaged socioeconomically) perhaps these adjectives are not so far off (though "gross"). I always find it a little "off" or question WHY men (particularly of higher status, educated, rich, etc...) are interested in women who are disadvantaged (here her being born into slavery, most likely poor, and legally unequal). I DO NOT MEAN TO SAY SHE CANNOT BE BEAUTIFUL, ETC...SHE WAS! But, there is a creepy sort of man, even today, that prefers women in a weakened state (regardless of race, etc...). Does this make sense? This vastly unequal stance also disturbs me...even today. i.e. he could have been a power freak too!
@@NicoleM2108 you make A LOT of sense.
@@booksoflightwithdr.triphi9833 Yeah I am glad you can see that too (though I cannot say for SURE this is the case here). But I have seen it even today...those "elite" wealthy, educated (typically white, though may not be) men who are openly bigoted but yet marry women of color. Lou Dobbs is a great example of this. He built a career on smearing Latinos who travel across the border (overwhelmingly Mexicans), BUT YET, his wife of many years is Mexican!! Sometimes I think these men do not "revere" these women, but rather use them to feel superior about themselves. Likewise, I suspect these women caught on to that and take advantage of the "perks" that come along with these men (money, status, etc...)(Yeah, I know, that is weird...but I swear I have seen this in life, unfortunately!)
It’s just plain racist
I’m highly offended that the narrator thought to explain “James Todd” attraction to his future black wife was because he was highly sexualized. Very offensive! Perhaps he was attracted to her because she was a beautiful woman and not because he was sexually energetic.
I thought he said he was a highly sexed individual BUT didn’t like WW. Either way, you’re right, though. It’s still racist to imply that WW are more desirable and act as if it’s surprising he wouldn’t like them.
@@TiaHayes I heard the same thing.... he was highly sexual period. Just preferred black women
@Jordan Blackit is our job to point out conscious/subconscious error. We don't live in a bubble. This is a global mindset that seeks to dehuminiaze and de value people of color. It must be addressed so it can stop happening.
@@dr.joanmalcolm97 wisdom ✨
@@dr.joanmalcolm97:
You have the title "Dr." May I ask you in what? People of Color specifically referred to the Europeans because France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain were known for being tawny complexioned while the rest of Europe considered themselves to be swarthy complexioned = "People Of Color".
The so-called: African area was known as the land of the Ebony complexioned people and once the Moors had surrendered to the Europeans, they promised Cristoforo Colombo that they knew where the ancient world lies, it's the same place where Mansa Musa hid his gold.
Cristoforo (because it was the era of discovery) "Discovered" our ancestors here in 1492, and said our people, the Arawak/Carib Indians were of COPPER TONED complexioned. They were more concerned about the complexion of a people.
Im a light skinned Puerto Rican and I’ve always preferred my darker skinned men! I taught my children that love comes from the heart. So now I have Trinidadian and Philippine son and daughter in law! I’m blessed😍
Okay...
I don't get you black men love light skin women that normal we talking about black skin women let them shine for once
Girl stfu
I find it interesting that someone would go to the lengths he did to date and marry someone he was truly attracted to instead of allowing society dictate to him who to love. I think there were many white men who were attracted to black women for centuries but could not openly have a relationship with a black woman because the law and society dictated against it. I respect this man for being brave enough to make the move, I just wish he did it in his true identity. That would have taken a tremendous amount of courage back then.
Mite have put BOTH of their lives in danger..sometimes lowkey is the KEY
As many people have pointed out before me, saying that Clarence King was "sexually energetic" so as to explain why he prefered native american women and more so black women is highly racist!
Yes! Fetishizing us is disgusting.
Yes!!! Demons!
It is very likely that he had stereotyped ideas about sexual behavior of people of color. That is the idea I got when I read the book Passing Strange.
@Koriander Yander I don't know why being nothing but a sex object or sex toy in the eyes of men just because of our mostly curvy bodies and "exoticness," EVEN with LITTLE BLACK GIRLS who are oversexualized on many many accounts and with many examples is a good thing for you, but take a stroll through the comments under this video and see that you're in the minor, or perhaps, educate yourself on the subject.
Yeah the way he worded that it really did make this man seem like he was a fetish or just plain out cringe.😬🤷🏾♀️
Ironically, Clarence King is one of the "blackest" names that I've ever heard.
🤣
Istg😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
Ikr 😄
it is now that's for sure. if anything this needs to be taught in schools! this guy was way ahead of his time. he put aside his pride for love.
he didn't try to make her his Mistress, he married her properly. He let his white friends think he was a dog or a dandy, so they would leave his family alone. that was brave back then.
He should have made better previsions for her in his will. but he may just not have known how to. bad case of Afflu-insa.
I’m saddened by this story, frustrated over the fact that he put this beautiful woman and his family he claimed to love through this LIE. Love doesn’t lie, love is courageous. His lust lead him to lie. He could have righted his wrong long before his death. He was a very SELFISH and a COWARD
I feel so sorry for Ms Ada and all the legal and personal strife she had to endure after her husband died. An unbreakable trust should have been prepared and there should have been no question as to Ada's inheritance. So many ugly things such as this only because she was African-American! By the way, I am Caucasian and sincerely and deeply believe we are all Americans and deserve equal treatment and respect from the law!!
So because she was black she didn't get her inheritance but if he owe debts she would have got that inheritance
Exactly
uh oh one sentence sermon alert! alert alert alert!
Probably more likely that his actual legal name was Terrance King and she only knew him as James Todd and could not collect anything without the bank being able to find account for his fake name.
@@denicewms He wrote a letter on his deathbed explaining his true identity. His name was Clarence. She carried his real name King. I believe the court stole her money that he left for her because he was white and well known. They didn't want her to have it and lied. She spent 30 years fighting it and they refused to give it her.
@@frankieallen4900 That's a dang shame..
“He had a peculiar personal life” and was “sexually energetic” - this isn’t a micro aggression but full on macro aggression.
SMDH
It made me sick to my stomach when I heard that. Same justifications that were used to victimize enslaved women during slavery
If he'd really loved her as much as he claimed, he would have provided for her by opening an account in her name and putting money there for her to use after his death. He had to know that his friends and family would do all they could to keep her away from his fortune.
@@Belinda204 Unfortunately, there are people today ( my father was one) who make no arrangements at all for their deaths, leaving their family to do the best they can. Not everyone thinks ahead, sad to say. I wonder if it's a fear of death, ignorance or just lack of knowledge. smh
@@Belinda204, today yes that can be done but not then. I take it your elders didn't teach history to you too well? Ever hear of "Jim Crow Laws?" How about a laughing bucket? If they were somewhere in Europe he most likely could have given her her own bank account but NOT then in the U.S. of A. and live to tell about it. I was born in the mid 1950's and still recall how people of color were treated then.
The same way they did black women on the plantations. It's just like how they tried to make Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings a love story when she and her children with him were still enslaved by him.
What a disservice to not ensure that your wife and children are taken care of, especially when you lied to begin with.
She must have been one incredible woman to drive a man to such lengths for her. On the one hand to learn that your husband is not who you thought he was must have been traumatic but on the other I can only dream of being loved that deeply.
Being loved deeply would have been him not living a double life.. still embracing his white privileges.
But it is how he treated her
Disgusting he talks how he had a fedish
@@sherylfluence9278 How was he not going to have white privilege being that he was white. How was that his fault? You act as if he could have changed his skin color.
@@shelleyharris4176 The writer said that, not him. I don't even think they used that word back then. Also a fetish is when you obsess over something, for example being obsessed with dating only black women. He apparently was only with her, so it was not a fetish.
I don't believe he was broke. The courts just didn't want to give her the money. That money that she received monthly was probably a part of his estate.
I was thinking the exact same thing. smh
But his bio also states he was alwas in need of money throughout his life and relied on his friends to get by.
@@jessicaandersson4313 they did say he borrowed money from his friend. It did say that....
How so renowned yet no money all while still working which is why my thinking was along the lines of he had money.
Was he a spend thrift? Did he not get paid for his work? We know he wasn't traveling across country like he pretended.
@@staceyranee5756He might have been famous but that doesn't always mean a high income and some people spend all the money they have. Just look at the number of "celebrities" that go bankrupt every year despite having earned millions.
There was also a bit more info under the the clip. - "Devoted to his mother and his half-siblings, restless and constantly in need of money, King relied on the largesse of his wealthy friends to help him support both families" So he supported like 7 people in one family and who knows how many in the other...
@@jessicaandersson4313 ah I didn't read the info section. Thanks 😊
Definitely you can be famous and broke or rich and end up broke, just seemed a bit off. His friend seemed to be a really good one to take care of his wife after his death.
"Sexually energetic but he didn't like white women he loved Native American women and he loved black women".... He passed for black because he fell in love, beautiful. But the description given, in my opinion, described a fetish.
Well, FACTS!!! We are the ORIGINAL WOMAN!!! All others are poor copies!!!
I too didn’t like that the first speaker called his life peculiar. So because he was attracted to Black Women he is peculiar? Yeah that part didn’t sit well with me. I know his feelings weren’t the norm, but I say he was one of few men who had the guts to do whatever it took to follow his heart.
There's a difference between being open to loving any race versus having a thing for one or two particular group/s. Still, he must have loved his wife to marry her.
If black men like white women, it’s normal. If white men like black women, it must be fetish.🙄
@Discreetly Observing No not necessarily. Some people date outside their race due to bad experiences they had in their race.
Some do it because they don't see color.
Some do it for mixed children or for their bodies (so like you said a fetish)
Some people date outside their race just not to seem racist or maybe it was a dare. You'll never know.
J. Edgar Hoover passed for a white man and was the worst nightmare towards his own people.
I used to be a porter on a train, and was told that it was a historically AA job. Very moving story, thanks.
Yes and back in those days for blacks it was a highly sought out occupation. Especially because the pay was good & they traveled and saw the country.
"Sexually energetic" really! I'm insulted!
The subtle insults. If Caucasians hadn't been depraved but pretending their behavior toward Africans didn't count, there would be no depravity to shift onto Black women. Annoying.
You too, I'm pasted insulted, but for lack of another word I guess I would have to go with insulted.
Ahhhh not playing “ the plank”. 🤫🤭🙈.
Maybe he meant virile.
Men are seriously driven by sex 🤷🏾♀️
Why make it an issue of sex? Why can't it just be attraction?
@Jordan Black we have no idea what James Todd thought. Maybe he just fell in love with Ada and wanted to be with her. The fetishising comes with other people retelling the story. It's very interesting to me that between 1930 to 2000 the only option available to people in the census was to designate themselves either as black or white.
@Jordan Black there may have been a degree of fetishising involved although it's sort of difficult to avoid I think. Judy look how blondes are fetishised in Western cultures. But he married the young women at a time when it would have been illegal. What stands out to me is the way present day commentators feel they know everything about it: as if it was some kind of kink. It's highly insulting to the young lady. After all, if he was that way inclined he didn't have to marry her
@Jordan Black You're really not even helping black people feel better, by trying to make yourself sound better as if you never wanted to feel accepted before by anyone not just white people. Everyone wants to feel harmonious not paranoid everyday. You don't think lightskin humans could be attracted or sexually attracted to darkskin humans? Then that makes you the racist. Because it has nothing to do with skin color or fetishizing, but who a person wants to be in life and what they see fit.
Oh come, they are not going into a platonic sibling relationship, are they?
Look up Sarah bartman
He was not sexed he was in love. I don’t think a sexed man would stay married to a woman all his life if truly that was his intention. She was a beautiful lady and he fell in love at first sight.
Wow, I really enjoyed this! When the narrators are truly interested in the subject , it makes it so much better! 😊
I'm not surprised that the court denied her money promised by her husband which she had the legal rights to claim. They couldn't bear passing on his wealth to a black woman so kept it for themselves 🙄
Nothing new!
No surprise, Same sad story
They still do this till this day. Pay attention!
Right!!
Sickening. But courts and the legal cartel today are doing heinous stuff like this to vulnerable white women. (It's a DIRTY LITTLE SECRET...and I was threatened re talking about things done to me. And retaliated against. My life has been essentially GANG-Raped by the "legal"cartel) They are psychopath vultures and have DESIGNED laws to plunder people. Lawyers ( i.e.judges, too?) are #2 on Top 10 List of Psychopath occupations.
“White explorer” or “white missionary” is a code word for “coloniser”.
Truuuuuuu!!!!
ABSOUTELY FABULOUS!
And whoop there it is
Ha! Aho! 👏🏼👏🏼
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The court determined he was penniless? B.S. Then, a friend cared enough to give her a stipend? More B.S. That was probably her husband's money they were giving her over the years. They just didn't want to give a black woman all that money at one time, scared it would put her and her kids in a better position. SMH. Amerikkka!!
The first "Catfish" recorded in history. 😀
😂🤣🤣
UNDERATED COMMENT!
Pretty close 🤣🤣🤣🤣
And white people in America pretending to be native Americans: pretendians or $5 Indians
@@monnieeeeyt7037 drinking beer 🍺 disrespecting the hell out of nature I seen it all
This actually happened more than history shows
Yea but usually with women, I never heard of a man doing this! 👀
Yes
Yes indeed
We have a lot of very Light People
In our Race some of my Aunts
The Human Race!
Why is this not a movie. What a great story to be told.
It sure would
There’s so many things wrong with this story; for one HOW did he pass as a black man??!! He looks like a red headed white man to me .. that’s for starters not to mention HIM lying to marry a black woman and DECEIVING her 🤦🏾♀️
I would love to know where their children, grandchildren, great-grand children are.
Me too!
@@ms.teetee6913 Same here.
I believe that she knew and that her friends knew.
Right me too
Maybe Oprah can find them for us.
Can we acknowledge how beautiful his wife was? My goodness. Now I want to know about her interests, work, spirit, educational pursuits or beliefs....
She was very pretty. That's a big reason why he lied and said he was black. He had to compete with black men. He wouldn't have had a chance if he admitted he was white.
God made one race the human race God is love he loves all his children and he approves of his children falling in love one another why it a problem about color The only one that opposes is the devil so whose side are you on . The Lord is coming for his children those who love him and love one another
@@aimlessbauer9082 that is the dumbest ish I have ever heard, he said he was black cuz it would be easier on both him and her socially
but every black woman they show in this video is a picture of someone else. They are all different. Which one is she?
Calm down, she's not alive XD
Wow he did that! Damn most black men won't even acknowledge black women are human let alone a wife for his future. He traded his whiteness for a black woman he loved. Very interesting.
Yes he did he loved her bottom line .it was the color of skin he would have been killed for it and her too comon they loved each other .
My 7th grandmother did the same. She was an Irish woman who gave up her freedom to married my enslaved grandfather. Her name is Irish Nelle
She lived a long life! 103 years!
Inagine living during those years...from the 1860s when there was no electricity, cars, TV, through the early 20th century when cars, electricity, trains, tv, planes and industrialization come to be normal. So interesting!
@@Abena425 Right! I am so dependent on technology but we really don't need it.
Same as my Grandma. RIP
We dont really need technology. Many people live without it. They're happier than us. They can easily avoid brains and breast cancers.
@@alicenathalienala5139 Your so right .....but maybe they die of other things ....that we in the technological world take for granted ....but on a whole ...i agree!!!
Could Netflix PLEASE pick this up?! Can you imagine the sets , the costumes , the storyline 😍
I would love to see it, Like Mr. & Mrs. Lovingly. I thought my father and step mother were the first mr and mrs lovingly. Seem like it, it was SOooo racist back then......smdh
Yesss
Great idea
Netflix will NOT do this story justice
Throughout the film I'd love for her family to be whispering on the side every scene, "Girrrrrl you sure he black????" lol
America has an unhealthy obsession with race down to an individual’s sexual preference.
The power of the beauty of black women👍🏽
Clarence King’s “sexual energy” has nothing to do with his taste in women, it’s the lying about his ethnicity just to be with a black woman that did it for me.
You need to study black history. Back then it was illegal in a lot of states to date or marry interracially and it was common to get killed if you dated or married interracially.
You do realize for that time period he vehemently chose to live as a black man was like a social death sentence. He must've REALLY loved this woman to actually choose to be black during this time period. Everyone black was trying to pass as white and he reversed that shit and was like "I'm passing as black fuck it cause I am in love with this woman!". He married her and had 5 kids with her and lived half of his life until his death living this lie to keep the love of his life. Only telling her the truth on his death bed. That is bittersweet as hell and if this was told today he WOULDN'T have to hide the fact that he was white to marry a black woman cause its more accepted but back then he had too. How tf can you not see that and demonize him when he was actually way ahead of his time??
@@Risingofthephoenix Finally someone who knows Black American History.
@Frida Kahlo You think she wouldn't have been punished as well. Being innocent has never protected Black people, especially back then. Ever heard of Emmitt Till?
U know t was illegal to date and marry interracially back then…right?
"Sexually very energetic"... what does that mean exactly? And what's the correlation between that and his attraction towards black and native American women?
I caught that too. I thought that was very bad taste
Racist statements
I think it just meant he was a typical man..but his preference was black/native women..he just phrased it badly.
I was so confused too....🤔
cough>dog whistle< Those types of clowns always come from a place of superiority syndrome.
Wow....so, according to this commentator, the only reason he was attracted to her is because he was highly sexual and thought she was too due to the stereotype about black women? Not because she was beautiful? Completely racist.
love that she says "ENSLAVED PEOPLE." Never slaves. 👁️
They were enslaved!
Why is that significant? Don't they mean the same thing?
@@carimamcdwyer5327 no. calling people slaves denies the fact that it was FORCED upon them. therefore, they were enslaved by those who had self-serving intentions. calling people slaves removes their humanity and infers responsibility for their condition.
@@TheHOUSEofALEijUAN I disagree. If you check the Oxford dictionary you will see that the word slave by definition implies the force involved in slavery. Removing people's humanity would imply also removing their responsibility therefore what you wrote is actually illogical forming a contradiction.
@@carimamcdwyer5327 why would I respect the Oxford dictionary when it is the western world that tries to define non-white folks as inferior? #partoftheproblem of course, u would deflect on the side of oppressors. that gives u a sense of belonging and safety. whether u are in denial or not it does not negate the history, experience or perspective of others. the oxford dictionary was written by racists and misogynistic european men. i won't give u anymore energy. u seem kind of enslaved. ✌🏿😎
He passed for black because there are about 13 shades of black. And if "ya daddy black, ya black" was probably the attitude at the time.
Definitely
More than 13 shades. We are the rainbow of the world. Hence why civilization was born from our loins
Daddy? Black daddies have nothing to do with it. It was the other way around. African Americans of mixed heritage historically were of black mothers and white men. The one-drop rule as a historical application is a way for society to reconcile that.
@@theoreticalviews2939 its just a quote i heard from my gma. I didn't think anyone would take it literally
@@yupitsme9713 Taken quite literally because its the sort of statement that affects perceptions history. This video dealt with the matter. No shade, just gentle correction.
@@theoreticalviews2939 dont think you're throwing shade, just didn't see anything to correct. My gma was born in 1897 & my gpa passed for white. It allowed him to work in another city & provide for 12 kids. My statement came from someone who lived this life & that was her personal thought process along with many others born at that time. My parents made sure I knew gma was incorrect.
He was in a position to leave the country & move to another country with her. It wasn't real love; it was lust & obsession...
So he loved her enough to marry her but not enough to not to not give up his privilege as a white man. Double life he lead.
I hope no one learns of this and romanticizes the relationship between Clarence & Ada. Dude lied to her the entirety of their relationship. He spread falsehoods about his race, his lineage, his profession, his finances, probably everything. Worst yet, he effectively left Ada in a position similar to that of a discarded mistress. Their marriage was only "common law" and NY state abolished those in 1933, which could've made Ms. King's battle for the Trust she deserved even more difficult.
While I'm sure the court dealings were shady, even now, a death bed letter of confession could be contested and the deceased mental clarity due to declining health at the time questioned. An educated man like Clarence King should've created a legally binding Last Will & Testament with the names of his wife & 5 children. Even if their last names were listed as Todd in that document, they would've been covered. Sure he promised Ms. King (name could only have been changed after she knew of her husband's true identity) a Trust, but promises and handshakes don't hold up as well has certified documents in court. Ada deserved to be protected, she deserved better from Clarence King.
Thank you for articulating my thoughts
Yes, we know no black man has EVER lied to a white woman.
Agreed
@@YA-qj8fx Geez...if that was what the video was about, then we would've said that. A video about poverty in China doesn't mean there's no poverty in India.
Agree. Its sad and frustrating to read. I wonder what happened to their living generation rn? If there's any left..
It’s sad ppl had to sneak, lie, and even die to follow they’re hearts
Damn, people should just be with who they love.
Truth 🤞🏽❤️
@@chrissimpson6701 So simple but we dum humans ....make everything difficult .....it's like we were created to fail ....most of us ...we segregate this ...and divide that ....and by the time you have done that ...your dead and there was no time for love ...we spend too much time in our heads !!!!
@@devogrant2817 SMFH
@@chrissimpson6701 And a good day to you !!!!
Just come to Brazil! As mixed as can be! And much, much more tolerant!
My great grandfather (white) was ostracized by his family for marrying an ex slave. They lived happily, had many children, and thrived. This guy could really have been considering the social ramifications for her. He was a notable guy and so the social fallout for her would really have been unbearable. I don't doubt that he really loved her. It's not impossible. He could have been trying to protect her. Indeed he was an advocate for social change. Part of his motivation could have been to make society more accepting of his family situation. This could not have been easy for him either. It's sad, but understandable that many would see this love story through racist lenses only.
She was beautiful I see why he lied
Exactly 🥰
This is a very shallow statement even though you mean well with it.
She is very beautiful but he definitely risked his/her life and freedom for something more than outward appearance that will fade one day.
I salute this man for his genuine love which is so hard to find even today.
I was thinking
@@joyandpeacefullaughter5307 While I get where you're coming from u must understand men are VISUAL. So if she wasn't physically his type first, I doubt he would have gone that far.
So now people like to be lied to what the hell is wrong with people
I love how we are catching certain code "words" and unwrapping them.
Me too. I've been reading the comments for a while now lol
Yup. We read right between those lines!!
This needs to be a biopic immediately.
Yes
Pinning down what race is has always been difficult? It's because it's a colonial white man concept.
Clarence King sent lots of love letters to his wife Ada expressing his love...these two in 1896
"My darling, i knew all your feelings. I knew just how you love me how you miss me and how you long for the days and nights to come again when we can lie together and let our love flow out to each other and full hearts have their way. Your letter gave me true joy. I read it over and over and felt like a new man."
- - - - -
".... i have the daily comfort of remembering that far away in the east there is a dear brown woman who loves me and whom i love beyond the power of words to describe. If it were not for the vision of your dear self, and my absolute confidence in your love and your being true to me in act and thought at all times i fear i should not have the faith and courage to struggle [work, earn money] on away from you."
Totally beautiful brought tears to my eyes that's true love 🤗🤗🤗💯💝
💞💞💞
Swoon!
That’s beautiful
Hahahahahah!! 4 little romantic ladies. Huugggg.
This is racist and condescending. I am very familiar with this story and this is the most disrespectful retelling of this narrative.
Where can learn of a more balanced retelling of their story?
@@joyoliver6346 - google it, and go to the public library, old archives, hope this helps.😁🤔🤨🙄😶😑😬
@Granville Roedolph Please stop throwing around Fox News versions of the phrase snd actually look up what it means.
There are only two races of people on planet Earth many different cultures but only two races you are either Jew or gentile on my senses that you fill out when it came to race it listed all the different so-called racist and that's what race I was I wrote human
I have been looking for this video for like a month
This needs to be a movie. Very interesting!!
It's a damn shame she died penniless. Reminds me of Malcolm X's mother after insurance refused to pay after her husband was killed. The courts refused Ada Copeland King the Trust Clarence King left for his family. What a shame!
They're doing that today to...don't won't our people with nothing.
My white 3rd GG Father passed for black to marry his black maids daughter. I’m glad to see that my 3rd GG wasn’t the only person in history who did this.
Wow.
It is hard to believe that you have white blood since you are dark-skinned.
@@mrsr4640 Lots of dark skinned people who mixed ancestry. It doesn't always show up in your skin tone, features or hair texture.
edit: have not who
And you think that's romantic ?? His black maids daughter .....its actually sickening.
This speaks volumes on how much this man really loved that woman.
No in hell it doesn’t.
Not that much apparently.
He did. Back then two worlds crossing was dangerous. It was love. It was selfish, but love
Damn! That was sad. They were obviously in love. But racism was extremely devastating back then. It's no wonder he had to lie about his race. Sad, she wasn't able to get the money after her husband's passing. 😕
Someone make this into a MOVIE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. This would be great as hell to watch
Agree
Just thinking this would make a great movie.
OK.
Gugu Mbata-Raw as Ada Copeland.
Michael Fassbender as Clarence King.
Any other idea?
Why? Are you that thirsty for W Validation? Sadly it would only show how even your identity as B people was stolen .Furthermore, it's just Another Rachel Dolesa and We've already seen that movie
NETFLIX- come on!
Very racist remark."sexually energetic". He could've left that out. He was simply in love with a beautiful black woman
Racist against whom?
The times were different back then for sure. White society put white women up on pedestals. It was considered depraved for a so called "gentile" white women to actually enjoy sex. My mother told me that she was raised believing that sex within marriage was just for the man's pleasure. Sex was a wife's duty to her husband, she did not have to enjoy it.
My white mother-in- law confided in me that she never..you know...never ever ever had the big One in nearly 40 years of marriage. My mouth just fell open. Times are definitely different these days.
Maybe the man just wanted to cut loose and be with someone who wasn't a saint up on a pedestal.
Exactly, the term "sexual energy " has always been an insult to color people.
@@kfenton4154 against black people.
"Sexually energetic" No sir he loved that black woman. My father loved my black mother. That's just it had nothing to do with sex he loved her for her. To change your appearance I'm thinking he tanned alot to look black enough for his woman. Sometimes my dad tan and look like a light skin Indian lol. He was absolutely in love. This is so beautiful ❤️❤️ I bet he was an awesome man to her. She looked absolutely stunning.
Sis knew, she just looked the other way... HAHAHA...
America's obsession with skin colour. Some ppl are just so damn wicked
The whole world is obsessed with skin colour
What country isn’t
@@szasfriend_gina when you travel in non western's countries you will see color it is not as important like religion,ethnie,region,language etc...
Yes America is too obsess with race
@@kingpauljoel6827 yes it is.The bleaching industry is big in Africa,Asia,South America.People will always say you look so dark,or your should bleach your skin,or don’t go outside you will get dark.Everyone is color-struck
@@szasfriend_gina i did not say colourism or racsim it is non existant,i just said it is less important than in america,for exemple in america you are a part of ethnic group by how you look, redlining and others systematic racist policies did really have a big impact on how americans lives and define themselve.
I grow up in both india and DR congo,yes colourism do exist,
But people dont create communities based on skin color,the majority of people dont see themselve as a part of a one community based on colors.
Example in india religion,caste system,regionalism,tribalism are bigger issue than colourism,
In india you will see muslim area,hindu area, and how people from a particular region or caste have a hard time to live with others etc
In DR congo and most of african countries(except south africa a race and ethnic based society due to apartheid)
Tribalism,regionalism,language barrier,effect on people lifes are 100 times bigger than colourism.
Being light or Dark can impact on how attractive or unattractive people may rate you and also it can have an impact in the entertainement industry ,expecially modeling,but 99 % of africans are not in modeling industry or in others entertainement sectors and it is less of their worries ,in many african countries and according to my own experience, having the right name,coming from the same tribe or region with those in power,speaking the right language , will facilitate your social ascension bigly.
Yes americans are more obsess with skin colors.
This is horrible. He lied to get her, he lived a double life, she couldn’t get any inheritance when he died. Smh
He left her everything the courts were mad he was living a double life and didn’t let her have it
WOW, this is an eye opening story in US🇺🇸 history. Thanks for sharing!
So glad his story was told.
The way they tell this story is very condescending and insulting. The man met a beautiful woman, fell in love, racism made it complicated, he did what he felt he had to do to be with her.
He didn't love her enough to ensure she was set up after his death.
We have men that don't do that now....and they are of the same race.
I mean, neither does black men if thats the case. This is a baseless argument
@@LawOfAttractionExplained - It's not an argument. It's simply a statement.
@@TheBLACKboard65 Exactly
I also am offended by what the narrator quoted only why James King was attracted to a Black woman based on his sexuality. Where have the narrator been all of his life. Men of all nationalities have always been attracted to us because of not only our beauty but because we are kind, loving, caring, compassionate and loveable.
1:06 😂 I fell out
Simon Winchester has mentioned based on study of Sadweiss and other documents : "He (Clarence King) then developed a life where neither side knew anything about the other. He never told. For all of the rest of his life, 20 more years, he would spend his time with Ada Todd and the children in Queens, New York, and then would say to her, "Well, darling, I've got to go and catch the Twentieth Century Limited and take the train over to the West Coast. See you in two weeks." And he'd walk over the newly built Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan to the offices of the U.S. Geological Survey and say, "Well, that was a complicated field trip. I'll be here for two weeks writing up my notes." He wrote up his notes, two weeks later walked back across the Brooklyn Bridge, became Mr. Todd.
Twenty years it went on. It drove him completely potty [crazy], as you might imagine. He was once arrested for assaulting someone outside the lion cage in the Central Park Zoo. He had to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars from his friend John Hay, the U.S. secretary of state at the time.
But he never let on to anybody, not until he was on his deathbed in Albuquerque-he was struck down by tuberculosis-when he said to his doctor, "I think I ought to come clean. My name is Clarence King. You know that. But over in Queens there's someone who thinks she's Mrs. Todd, but she's not. She's Mrs. King. She should be told and she should be explained to why two of her children are white." So the word went out. But he then died.
Playing into this book, ironically, the doctor-and I've seen the death certificate-when he was writing out the race of the deceased, he scored out the word "black" and he scored out the word "white" and in handwriting wrote simply the word "American." It seemed to me to sum it all up."
I totally agree with you
On every census and *all* other forms I draw my own box and write the word *American* next to it.
There are choices for Chinese, Japanese and so on which are not colors but based on known or supposed heredity.
For many reasons I reject being labeled a color but if a label must be had then know me by my birth or legally chosen citizenship...American. 💪🇺🇸
@@mizera_mykle Well, said. Brava!
He had enough money and influence to move out of the country with his black family, why live between two worlds? Since he lived as a black train porter, did he have his black family live in poverty, while he lived the other part of his life as a rich influential white man? And it's amazing that he married a black woman, but viewed his children as white, even though he had them living in the black world. Something about this is romantic but also selfish, his actions could've bought death to his wife and children. But, this should be made into a movie.
Wow just American I love that.
"Sexually energetic...".....CRINGE
🤣
😂 sounds like my black husband, so 🤷🏾♀️
You are gorgeous, 😍
So cringe... And the I don't want to offend anyone because it's early morning. Yet, you did, dude. You did. SMH.
So his "heightened sexuality" caused his attraction to black women who were thought to be more "highly sexual". Such racist nonsense.
I was surprised to hear a Caucasian man who was a client of mine say he only liked black women
How the hell is this romantic?! He straight up lied to a woman to get her go out with him and then married her! He built a whole relationship and alternative life based on lies. Honesty and truth should be the foundation of a healthy relationship but people are seriously calling this mess romantic. He didn't even have the guts to fully own her as his wife publicly.
aww...shut up. miserable.
And her and their kids didn't get none of his coins......because.....HE WAS WHITE. PERIOD.
Tatlone, you have a good point, but what about the time of this marriage? At that time it was unlawful for blacks and whites to marry each other. They could have been killed if discovered. Not that I approve of a lie, but it is possible that he wanted to protect her and avoid a lifetime of severe racism.
I knew a mixed couple years back. The white man tried and failed to convince someone white that he was a black albino. I also know of mixed couples who married before the law changed. Apparently, they lied, too, or married in a state that permitted it. Such marriages probably happened in greater numbers than many people think.
He even gave a fake name wtf 🤔
@@carolynsteele1465 I don't get it. If he wanted to protect her his best bet was to leave her alone. By deceptively entangling her he literally put her in danger.
how beautiful and
sad at same time to hide his identity from his black love
i hope they are enjoying themselves in heaven in freedom
I'm about 99.9% sure she knew.
Hello Nancy
What’s ironic is I’m from Chicago and the name of my neighborhood is called Pullman and the building I live in is called Pullman wheel works it was once the office building and workshop for the railroad down the street and once it was closed down for many years they never tore the building down because it was historically built so in 1982 they made it an apartment building and many people think it’s a school or a warehouse until they come inside and see how nice the apartments are lol. Also the Pullman museum is across the street. I know this didn’t have much to do with the convo but this was the first time I ever heard of Pullman pullers outside of my neighborhood
This needs to be made into a movie.
Hello Dear
How are you doing today?
My mother always said, "If someone tells you they want to leave you an inheritance and they are old when they say it, tell them to give it to you now, or you may not get it". Mom had already been burned by a relative like that!
I would never tell anyone that I'm leaving him/her an inheritance, since that may hasten my demise. Many wicked people these days, even among family members.
@@TheDarkDresser real talk!
Ancient catfishing!
Bwahhahaha 😂😂😂
First Rachel Dolezal
And very successful too. 😂😂😂
You do it now and get busted on the first date.
😂😂
😂😂
And, of course, it could not possibly be that he, himself, was color blind, met her, got to know her, was attracted to her beyond a sexual attraction. Actually fell in love with her, knew she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with.
Couldn't be anything like that, right? Right?
It's painful to hear people still segregating people based on skin color.
He was the original Rachel Dolezal he should've chosen Ricky Dolezal as his name.
Lmao!
😅
Thanks for the laugh. 😂😂😂
My thoughts exactly. Rachel Dolezal still can't find a regular job and is still telling people she's black.
😂😂
My great grandma passed in reverse.. After WWI she met her husband my great grandpa. She was Spaniard/chinese (filipino) she passed as white sometimes. she was racially ambiguous. She got on a boat passed as white. once landed in NY she passed as black to marry my great papa. Yes there are many stories like this
My grandmother was native. Married a black man, had black children, became black.
It's very interesting to see WP acknowledging their biracial grandchildren. Something you didn't see 40 years ago.
My great-grandparents did that same thing. My great grandfather passed for black to marry my great Grandmother who was already considered an octoroon and came from one of those families in Louisiana that lived in that craziness.
I so wish I knew my grandfather’s history. He was from Louisiana. Very light. I didnt know his family until his funeral. His siblings didnt even look black.
To think, a white man passed for black to marry a woman who probably could have passed for white...
I wish I could see the day when we're all better than this.
@@oOLycorishOo Apparently he did that so that she didn't have to give up family that she loved who could not pass for white because once she declared she was white, there would have been cousins and other relatives whom a woman, in particular, would not have been able to be seen with. And no one would question his presence with either race, particularly with someone of the opposite sex.
@@robbey10 Sad that there even had to be a "choice" made. But hats off to them both for being strong enough to choose each other regardless of all else.
Black women aren't fast like the media portrays and are difficult to get. If he was "sexually energetic" he would've stayed with his kind. We've seen the commercials for Girls Gone Wild. Not a black chick in sight there. In his own prejudice he can't figure out how this man could simply love a black woman. They are the most loveable people.
You hit the nail right on the head. This guy is projecting his on thoughts onto the other man. His revealing his own attitudes. Disgusting
@avid book reader. You’ve explained the situation perfectly.
Let's not go krazy now. Blk Women are not Saints and perfect. They portray themselves as they are. Go Google Ghetto Gaggers. U will see the RAW REALITY.They are no different than any other women except for the indoctrinated hatred for their male counterparts especially here but yes many BW are easy and whorish its and uncomfortable truth just like many BM are criminal minded but God loves us and we always have a 2nd chance called tomorrow but let's not be disingenuous and create a false narrative that doesn't line up with what our eyes see. The BW of that time are NOT equivalent of the BW of today and to be fair the same on the BM side
I honestly wished that I did not click this video and unheard everything that I did.
Interesting point about the shifting designations. A lot of people miss that when they talk about that period in history.
Fascinating but a bit sad. Their descendants must be still alive. Any information about them?
Very good question!!
I'd assume that they are probably considered to be "white" now like many descendants of mixed people. This couple's grandchildren would be considered "Quadroon" and probably just "passed" into white society as time went on.
@@ilovelife3328 That doesn't mean they unaware. There's a documentary of British Blacks and Whites finding each other and acknowledging they share common ancestry through slave logs of the West Indies. If such can occur, with similar occurrences of Thomas Jefferson family, it goes back to the question of why this couples descendants are so quiet an private about beautiful love story that transcends racial barriers.
@@MrAkilwil Maybe they just don’t want to be bothered and want to live quiet lives.
@@ilovelife3328 or they could have continued to live as Black people. It would depend on what the children looked like. If they could pass for White then yes your statement would most likely be true, but if they looked mixed or more Black than White. Then there is no way they could pass for White.