When news broke that Pope Leo XIV had Black and Creole ancestry, the internet practically broke. How could this white man be so deeply woven into the American south? But Black folks know the history of “white passing” is more common than you think.
“White-passing” dates back all the way to— you guessed it— slavery, when people, who would normally be categorized as Black (due to the one drop rule), instead chose to be perceived as white. In order to actually pass, some people would dye and straighten their hair, emphasize their lighter skin and even denounce their Black heritage.
Black people aren’t a monolith, and as you can imagine, there are still many folks who pass for white today…in fact many famous people. So, The Root is taking a closer look other celebrities who may pass as white but have a colorful …Black family history.
