She was the daughter of freed slaves, born in 1902. Her grandparents were Creek Indians (the Creek owned slaves until the 13th Amendment freed them) so she was legally guaranteed land by the Treaty of 1866.
In 1912 they discovered oil and she became a millionaire by age 10.
Oklahoma decided that a black person shouldn't be that wealthy, so they made her an "honorary white," granting her elevated status and effectively making her a white person for Jim Crow purposes.
There were a lot of sudden millionaires in Oklahoma from oil being found very soon after their claims were granted. If her claim was thrown into doubt people would start doubting theirs too, so it was considered in the best interest of the newly rich to close ranks.
Unfun fact, other Black claimants who enjoyed oil profits were why Tulsa Oklahoma of all places hosted one of the wealthiest Black neighborhoods in the country. White mobs burned the Black neighborhood to the ground in 1921 after a Black man allegedly grabbed a White woman's arm. She had asked them not to press charges, but they did anyway.
The films in the 30s and 40s weren't quite as big as the later TV series, but they made a lot of them as well. There were some radio versions starting in the 40s as well, one of them starred Vincent Price.
The Saint and The Shadow are two properties that I think could do with another attempt. Kilmer's Saint was much better than Alec Baldwin's Shadow, of course, but both could be done so much better.
As a fan of both the originals of these, I agree. Both can be played in enough ways to allow writer's freedom inside layers of mystery. The Shadow is a relatable Batman and The Saint being a failed product of an abusive religious caretaking system should resonate more than ever.
The “it” in that statement refers to the act of settlement in the USA, not to the person. Though this would would’ve been better stated as “it took a special act of congress”
There was a black woman who was declared legally white only because of her wealth
Sarah Rector.
She was the daughter of freed slaves, born in 1902. Her grandparents were Creek Indians (the Creek owned slaves until the 13th Amendment freed them) so she was legally guaranteed land by the Treaty of 1866.
In 1912 they discovered oil and she became a millionaire by age 10.
Oklahoma decided that a black person shouldn't be that wealthy, so they made her an "honorary white," granting her elevated status and effectively making her a white person for Jim Crow purposes.
I'm surprised they let her keep it and didn't try to scam her out of it lol
There were a lot of sudden millionaires in Oklahoma from oil being found very soon after their claims were granted. If her claim was thrown into doubt people would start doubting theirs too, so it was considered in the best interest of the newly rich to close ranks.
Unfun fact, other Black claimants who enjoyed oil profits were why Tulsa Oklahoma of all places hosted one of the wealthiest Black neighborhoods in the country. White mobs burned the Black neighborhood to the ground in 1921 after a Black man allegedly grabbed a White woman's arm. She had asked them not to press charges, but they did anyway.
If you’re that wealthy, power and connections usually are a package 🤷🏾♀️
Oh no, they definitely tried. Lots of white guys tried to become her guardian so they could control her money. The NAACP had to get involved.
there's a movie about it. Just got released
In South Africa under apartheid Chinese people were black and Japanese people were white.
Decent movie. Val Kilmer, Elizabeth Shue.
Not quite a cult classic.
The TV series was huge back in the day. Roger Moore was The Saint before he graduated to being Bond.
The films in the 30s and 40s weren't quite as big as the later TV series, but they made a lot of them as well. There were some radio versions starting in the 40s as well, one of them starred Vincent Price.
The Saint and The Shadow are two properties that I think could do with another attempt. Kilmer's Saint was much better than Alec Baldwin's Shadow, of course, but both could be done so much better.
As a fan of both the originals of these, I agree. Both can be played in enough ways to allow writer's freedom inside layers of mystery. The Shadow is a relatable Batman and The Saint being a failed product of an abusive religious caretaking system should resonate more than ever.
The books are actually really good too.
bitch straight up solved cold fusion via fax, "divide by y" or some shit
That's the power of love!
For further examples of cold fusion via pretty people, check out the ludicrously good cast of Chain Reaction.
You can see the Act here
Indeed. Makes me wonder how many other artists and writers were blocked or delayed because of exclusion laws like that.
People in the past sure were bastards.
They still are, but they used to be, too.
I used to do drugs. Still do, but used to too.
Yes. And I think even more so now...people aren't even hiding it anymore and in fact, are proud of it.
Are you somehow under the impression that people were hiding it during the civil rights era?
Things are plenty bad right now, but if you think they're worse than they were during, say, slavery, I'm really not sure what to say to you.
The majority of the white voters, both men and women, young and old, rich and poor all voted for Trump in 2024.
This is what I mean. Not hiding it.
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The “it” in that statement refers to the act of settlement in the USA, not to the person. Though this would would’ve been better stated as “it took a special act of congress”
Your correction makes more sense.
Sometimes, rarely, unlikely but possibly maybe, perhaps, Congress does have bouts of sanity.
Ah yes, The Saint (?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saint_(Simon_Templar)
This stuff was huge back in the day.
Reason 213 I can't wait to leave the US