Looking back to the 60's a lot of OLD men would violate young girls and nothing happened to them, but everyone talked bad about the girl. I remember a neighbor girl who was pregnant at 11 and everyone blamed her and not the adults.
@@georgina4874 Girl it always been like that. You have to fight for your virginity to keep it. Otherwise somebody will come when u least expect it and snatch it away. In a blink of an eye. People need to teach their children life ain't no damn game outside in the street. Protect your crotches.
@@LifewithDrTrishVarner So very true. When I hear these stories in the time we live in today it grieves my spirit and these stories never go away. At 58 yrs old I decided 6 months ago to start confronting my story of abuse because it has always confronted me mentally from eight years old on I was being sexual abused. When I spoke up back then everything was hush up. Never to talk about and that caused so many issues for my life. I started writing to myself about my self to start healing recently in a way that I never had. Years later I confronted my mother if my father was my biological father because all my life I was told I act and looked different in some ways than my siblings. As a child I looked more like my uncle, my father's fraternal twin. She passed away and never told me the truth. I got an answer from a relative not very long ago and it was said that my father's twin may be my uncle. I just decided to do a DNA test to ease my mind. I just hope people will keep things real and leave no secrets untold about their children's identity. I wouldn't want what happen to me happen to any one.... I need to know who I really am by unlocking my family secrets. Thank you for this posting it has truely inspired me today.
Oh my God am sorry to all girls and boys the goin true this situation stay strong 💪🙏 All you guys and please talk to someone about it if something happens to anyone please talk talk
I was adopted at 3 months old. I stayed briefly at the Spence-Chaplin home in NYC. I was raised by the most phenomenal parents. I had two brothers, conceived after the adoption. I was told at age 8 about the adoption. It never phased me. My parents loved me unconditionally. Not only dearly loved, but given many material items and fantastic vacations. I was not perfect, but finished college and taught school in NJ and AZ My curiosity got the best of me in my 20s. I joined an adoption search group in NYC. I lived in NJ. Even though it was pre computer time, I search and found biological father and later biological mother. Very interesting search….would take too long to explain it. I love genealogy and have to use my blood line. Fascinating discoveries with DNA etc. Bottom line….adoption was the best route and my Mom and Dad who raised me are my only parents. Not exactly, but exactly….I would have had a terrible life if the Lord had not put me with my loving parents. Thank you for your series. They are home in glory, Dad lived to be a pretty healthy 99 year old. Mom passed at 84. Thank you and the wonderful gentleman for his story. I can relate. When I heard his story tears swelled up in my eyes.
This brother is a legend in radio here in Cincinnati. Thank you for sharing his story. Steven you should consider a writing a book. It would be a best seller. We love you Fred E Redd!!!
What a lovely man and with a wonderful way of telling his story. My father was adopted out when he was 5-7 years old. Sadly, his experience wasn’t so good. I learned a lot trying to help him get a birth certificate so he could get a passport. In his later years, he was reunited with some siblings. But, that raised different issues and more pain. My (Caucasian) brother and sister in law adopted a biracial child. I don’t know if they were told she was biracial. They raised her as their child. A child that was loved and treasured. When at some point, she contacted her bio parents, she learned that she was biracial. It shook her world.
The interviewer does a great job by allowing the interviewee to talk. She asked great questions and just allowed him to tell his story. Great story, great job🙏🏾
One problem in families was that everyone told the girls to keep their dresses down, but they seldom told the boys to keep their pants up. The old sayings, "Boys will be boys" and "A man is going to be a man" must have made some feel that they had privileges to misbehave.
As a adoptee - and the mother of a biracial (black) son...this is fascinating on so many levels. With all the research I've done, a lot of birth mothers have a very hard time dealing with the fact they gave up their child or HAD to give up their child. It haunted my birth mother until her death. And, as Steven, my biological siblings told me I was the "lucky one"...but being adopted is a crap shoot. My adoption didn't work out. Thank you for doing this interview. Steven is extremely interesting and appears to be well grounded.
Appreciate this episode, especially as a bi-racial adoptee, adopted in 1967. I follow adoptee stories and adoptee rights closely so I was happy to find this. Thanks! ~Lottie
I too am a mixed race and was adopted. It was illegal for white women to have mixed children in 1960 in Michigan. Me and all my siblings were put up for adoption by the state, all 10 of us. I found a Sister last year through DNA and our deceased parents. Seems our Father was passing, so I popped out brown and uncovered that secret they're still covering up today🤦🏽♀️ An amazing unfolding story every day. His story is very similar. Thank you for sharing his story!
What a story, 10 of you all adopted. I came to the States in the 70', went down south with my African American husband. I had 3 children with him and life was not easy for sure with a bunch of prejudice racist people. I always stood my ground and kept my head up high.
How do u hide making 10 children? No. They were jealous of your parents staying afloat during making all those children. So they decided to strip their family apart. They couldn't understand how they feed all them mouths and still stay afloat. Amazing story about your life.
This was a great interview. Freddie Redd is a well know and liked Cincy Dj. I met him once and he was very nice, down to earth and handsome too😂. I’m happy that he’s finally receiving his family history ❤️
What a wonderful and inspiring story of our city’s best DJ Freddie Redd! I, too, recently found my brother and we made up for 56 year of laughs and cry’s before his passing. Many Blessings to you Always 🙏🏾
This is a good story, and even though he had a white mother, his family taught him to be a strong Black man. He is not confused about his identity. Thanks for sharing.
I am always interested in these types of stories. I have biracial children and I was very young. I was disowned. It didn't change me I didn't want to be part of a family that didn't put love above what things may look like to others.Later I was talking to my grandma I found out that someone in our family had a biracial baby and his it from the world gave the baby up. And this was so interesting to me because that person was the one in the family that really was close to my children. Now I wonder if it was because of what happened. And if it kills her inside. She has children that she raised well. I just wonder about things.I couldn't imagine how it was then.
Sir, You sound like you are such an amazing - person! I believe any 14 year old girl who has to give up her baby would have emotional issues -what a loss to her and a blessing to your parents!
I understand how he feels and felt as a child that the fact they were family was not as important as how they became family, they were family and that was it.
I ran across this lovely interview on RU-vid. I am from Cincy and listened to DJ Freddy Red on radio all the time. Radio is not the same without his quirky personality. I even cooked a sweet potato pie for him in which he devoured almost the entire pie during his show. Wish you were back on Cincy radio. We miss you!
I enjoyed this interview. It was very interesting. I like the guest, he sound & look like a very warm and friendly person. I wish him all the best. Thanks for sharing.💜
Yep. DNA testing opened some mysteries in my family tree, but not all of it. His eye color is like Smokey Robinson the singer. What some people don't understand is there is beauty in all shades of people. I respect his story about him and his sister.
@@vickyschaffner2672 , yes, ma'am! My family comes from a proverbial melting pot of eastern Europe where Caucasian eastern Europeans, Asians, & middle eastern people have coming together for centuries, & my family last name is historically very well known as a "mixed people", & our haplogroup is also very well-known to be one of the least "racially pure" groups of Europe. I haven't had my ancestry done yet, but I **know** from the different & very varied phenotypes in my family that I'm going to likely have about 30% Mongolian & some Turkish in me. The thought of that is exciting to me, as I've always believed in "hybrid vigor" (though I fully understand the meaning of "hybrid" & that ALL humans are of the same genus & species!).
This is so interesting. I did my DNA through ancestry about 5 years ago. I was searching for my birth father. My mother gave my grandkids his name before she passed. While searching I found a sister. I also found a cousin from my grandmother’s side. We had only know two of my grandmother’s siblings. I did find a cousin who was searching for her family. She found her siblings who had been searching for her for over 70 years. I have also found out my father’s family. You can find a lot. And yes the adults during those days took a lot to the grave. So much information is available now.
Thank you Dr. Trish for posting your interview with Mr. Bassette. Steven's beautiful voice awakened me out of my sleep and kept me transfixed throughout entire story. Steven, I congratulate you on finding out your ancestry and on embracing it. I agree with Dr. Trish, your story should to be WRITTEN and told. If told from your point of view, it certainly be one that Alex Haley's "Roots" would have to contend with. It has so many potential themes; addiction, adoption, family, interracial relationships, rape, isolation, identity, courage, perseverance, adversity, redemption. You name it, it's there. It's a beautiful story about a beautiful man with a beautiful voice. I'm grateful your mother gave up her beautiful baby boy to bring such joy into the world.
I enjoyed this interview. Other than the fact that he is a damn good looking man, his voice is so very friendly and soothing! I'm sorry he didn't get to meet his birth mother. From the little he found out, I figure his mother, being white and so young, was forced to give him up. I think it affected her and led her down the road to addictions etc. I think he was the result of an illicit and scandalous (because of not only the races but also the huge age difference of his birth parents) love affair. I hope he gets the true story soon.
He isn’t sure if the 60 year old or the 22 year old man was his dad. However, he found a sister on his bio dad’s side. He actually could figure out which was his dad even if the sister refused to meet him.
Beautiful 😍 interview.I often prayed for adoption as A child.my parents were two kids playing house.nothing wrong about this story.I am desirous of adopting a child.every child deserves love.This is a love story 💕
I enjoyed this interview and he sounds so content and grounded. I loved his aunt's story on screen and it made so happy I purchased the Barbie commemorating their work. Thank you for doing this.
This was so interesting about Steven "Fred E. Redd" Bassette"! I miss hearing him on the radio. I've never seen this interview. So good of him to encourage people to find out their lineage. As part of our repair, ancestry searches should be free for black people whose ancestors were kidnapped from Africa, and families separated and sold away from each other. For years my father wasn't treated for a genetic disease that only Italian & Greeks have because they didn't expect him to have. They never checked for it. Steven's father delivered me. I was born in that hospital, but my parents had been married many years before I was born. My mother worked at Catherine Booth and it was also the hospital that a lot of black women went to during the 1960's, especially if they wanted a black doctor.
My half-African paternal grandmother had skin the same color as his yet was "white." Go figure. What I noticed about him first was his *voice*. Not only is his voice mellifluous, but you can tell he grew up in an educated family from the way he enunciates.
Great interview Dr. Trish as always. Everyone deserves to know who their birth parents are. I hope he is able to find out who his birth father is. He has a great personality. I was like him when I found out about my Nigerian ancestry I started trying to find what type of hat the ladies wear.
A difference in skin tone doesn't mean you are not related. My Mum's family ranges from Ebony hued to beige. Her mother is Ebony hued, my mother is beige.
I like this man he speak the truth. I'm a light skin women. with both of my parent's are black. I hated being light skin as a child But now I'm grown and I like my complextion.
Same here. When I was growing up many of the kids in the neighborhood did not accept me. It continued in high school, college and as an adult. I’ve learned to deal with the reality that very few black people, especially women, will truly accept a very light skinned woman with blue/green eyes. However, even now in my mid seventies, it is a lonely existence.
I am so enjoying your channel so much! I from a Jewish Family that is predominantly Sephardic. My family has always been racially mixed. Many Sephardim are. I found this out at the age of 15. My Dad showed me a photo of his Great Grand Father who was definitely of Color. Then began the stories of how both sides of my family escaped The Spanish Inquisition. You never know what is in your family tree until you shake that tree. One Great Grand Father from the other side of my family, my Mom's family, was an Irish Orphan left on Jewish People's doorstep. They adopted that child, and he(My Great Grandfather James Nathan) lived his life as a Jewish Man who was Irish and a Jew. He married a Jewish woman, Berthe who was my Great Grand Mother. I am a big believer in live and let live. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the kindness of a family who took in a little kid. Life is interesting that way. And if I had the wherewithal I would definitely adopt or foster.
All my life I thought I was white. My family all look white and blonde. However, I recently I disocovered through Ancestory that I have some black in my DNA and I would like to be a part of the Black community. I would like to change my legal identity as black seeing as I am technically African-American. It would be nice if Black Americans would see that there are blonde hair blue eyed black people too and accept us.
I adopted my son when he was nearly 3. He knows who his parents are but he refuses any contact with them. Luckily he has none off their trades. He is totally different from them. He does though have features off them but none off their personalities. My daughter's are much older than him. The youngest 16 years but he is loved although he was older when he came into our life's. His father gives me the blame that he doesn't want anything to do with him. I can't force him to have contact with his bio parents. He say you're parents are the people that raised you.
I have a unique situation. I have done genealogy for 20 years. My ex husband and father of my children is adopted. He refuses to locate his birth family information. How could I go about locating information for my children ? I also strongly believe in DNA vs nurture. My son has so many characteristics of my father. He says things and does things that there is no way he would have known my Dad did or said. His build is identical to my Dad. Lots of love to you and thank you for the always amazing vlogs.
You don’t need your ex-husband. Since you’re looking for a males’ info you have 2 advantages. If you do 23& me it will show his haplo- group. If one of your children is a male he’ll carry the same dna. Additionally, your children will match people not solely on your side . I have helped four people l didn’t know find their missing parent/parents who matched/tested related to me.
Awesome interview Dr. Trish, I grew up listening to DJ Freddy Redd! he does have an interesting story, he also name the African American women golf club I'm in, his mom was a founding members. Thanks for this interview.😀
great interview about adoption and about mixed race i wasn’t adopted but i am mixed race growing up i realize my feelings of my family being the others my DNA gave me identity i love my mx i always did but now with Clarity
I am black and find it amazing that the mixing of people and cultures over the years and only looking at the surface can cause the development of notions (often inaccurate) about those around us. I admit that from the adult, still pictures of the wondeful gentleman featured, I thought he may have been from a Latin-American background but the childhood images suggested African ancestry. I reminded myself to never judge the outside and respect everyone.
@@stevenbassette9472 😅 ok we'll go with what Your Kids🥰 Say🤣👍🏿👍🏿 Enjoyed Your Heart Felt Interview immensely!😊🙏🤗 From A Sista By Way Of Brooklyn NY Take Care.🙏😊
My mother's grandmother was an unwanted biracial child of a white woman from NY. The family didn't give my great grandmother up for adoption though. They loved her but they couldn't keep her because of their status and influence so I was told. They wanted my 2nd great grandmother to be able to marry a white man to start her family. They knew she wouldn't be able to find a decent white husband and keep her Black child born out of wedlock too.They hid her until she was old enough to be sent to a catholic boarding school. She was raised by the nuns at school until she graduated, her white family then gave her enough money to start a life of her own. She married a Black man and they had 12 children one of whom was my grandmother, my mother's mom. They never knew who her father was because her mother was scared of him getting hurt, arrested, or worse. I don't know anything about my great grandmother's family except that they are white and they are from NY. I asked my mother if grandma Brown was white because of how light she was, and her eyes were pale blue. I have great aunts and uncles of every shade from very light to dark brown skinned..
My cousin had 3 children by a black man. Those 3 identify as black. One girl's skin tones leans more toward black. The other girl and boy are lighter skinned but you can see the black DNA. I was single when my son was born. In 1970. Many people told me I should give him up for adoption. I didn't want to but did give it some thought. Until they put him in my arms after birth. No way was I going to give my boy away. Yes times were tough but I am so glad I kept him. He's been a joy. He was a sweet baby and loving child and is now a sweet loving man. While I couldn't give him a lot of material things, he always knows he's dearly loved.
I like this man! He has a lovely attitude and he has fond memories of his adoptive parents, his bio sis, as well as his brothers of his bio mom. His mixed race dilemma of having experienced hateful treatment from orher kids at school literally because he somehow didn't fit a nice neat category of being either black or white is sad. But his family loved him and he overcame hatred for being different and still seems to have peace and love in his heart.
This is awesome. And this man looks so much like my uncle and his younger picture looks like my son. Now I'm wanting to see what my dna is but there's some things I'm not sure I want to know.
He looks like my uncle Pepper. My grandma was bi-racial. She grew up Black. Her mother died when she was 8. Her mother was Irish. My uncle Pepper looks just like this guy. But he didn't have green eyes. But he had the hair.
Your story is amazing. Your attitude for life is amazing. Having lived for the last 36 of my 60 years near Ripley, Ohio. A stop on the underground railroad. When I moved out of the south where I lived from 4th grade to age 20, I expected so much more from the people here. What I found was at least as much racism here as anywhere i lived in the south. And much more obliviousness to how racist they are. The covid experience brought me to a new place of understanding of how little progress to a diverse world we have made since I graduated high school. I began to understand that it isn't good enough to not discriminate myself, and how many little things you might unconsciously do that hurt. I have begun to not stand silent when someone else is being treated poorly. I hope you go to whatever white bar you desire with your brother and have a great time.
I do feel for adopted children. Years ago they did not open records. I know I have people related to me and I feel bad that they do not have there family history. This man and his sister were so lucky to be adopted by such wonderful children. Years ago if children were mixed they had a hard time placing them in homes. I look at President Obama and at least he knew where his parents came from. Wonderful story.
Informative and inspiring info. Thanks Dr. Trish. I always wondered what became of my grandmother who left the Bahamas for the US when my dad was a baby and was never heard of since.
What an interesting story, friend.😮 My father was adopted and I didn't find out until I was 15. All I know about my biological grandfather is his name and the year he died.
With sincere humbleness I have to tell you we’ve been so blessed. 🙏🏽 I tell you some of my kids have been mistaken of looking Middle Eastern so who knows. 🤷🏽♀️
I come from a family of 7 children (6 Boys and 1 Girl) and we were a rainbow of Brown, my Mother was medium Brown and my Father was Light Brown with curly hair and the majority of our skin tones were an Olive Brown… 1 of my Brother’s were Dark Brown and 1 of my Brothers’s were light skinned with freckles and red hair. That is the beauty of Black folks… our DNA goes back and picks parts that you don’t know. So you can’t look at someone (Black people) and say oh I know what your are mixed with. I did find out on my Mother’s side… a lot of her relatives passed for White. DNA and family tree research opens up a lot of those Pandora boxes. 😊
