Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
00:00 – Intro: Personal reflections and defining the "Brass Ankles."
01:25 – Exploring the origins and history of the term "Brass Ankle."
02:28 – Primary Sources: The 1938 Edisto Island Report.
02:57 – The 1939 Mother Heart Life Oral History Project.
03:25 – Historical photographs and perceptions of the community.
04:00 – Interview with Martha Varner: Memories of the Pine View and Varner Indian Schools.
05:25 – Living between worlds: The racial divide in the Deep South.
06:36 – Regional identities and other tri-racial groups (Melungeons & Red Bones).
07:29 – Shared family names: Driggers, Sweat, and Chavis.
08:03 – Why these stories matter today: Identity and the myth of homogeneity.
09:20 – Closing thoughts and how to support the channel.
I found this old photo labeled “brass ankles, mixed breed” — a family near Summerville, South Carolina. The caption alone raises so many questions.
Who were they? What did “brass ankles” mean? And why were they written out of the American story?
We’re going to dig in.
Select Sources:
loc.gov/item/2017799825
loc.gov/item/wpalh002103
wassamasawtribe.com
✅SUPPORT NYTN CHANNEL
👕 NYTN Merch: nytonashville.com
☕Send me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/nytn13#linkModal
📱 Connect on Patreon: patreon.com/NYTN
► 📝 My Free Weekly Newsletter: nytonashville.com/connect
▶Download the first section FREE of my "Be a Good ancestor" course here:
nytonashville.com/shoplola/be-a-good-ancestor-course-digital-download-videos-bjks6
FOLLOW ME 📸
► YouTube: / @NYTN
► Facebook: / facebook.com/findinglolafilm
► Website: nytonashville.com
► X: / twitter.com/ImFindingLola
OTHER VIDEO PLAYLISTS
► Melungeon + Redbones: youtube.com/watch?v=LyLd8rizXCQ&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hS0duqgK5mkBh_9aqIpbooI
► "Who Counts as..." Series in the US: youtube.com/watch?v=yUbLF-tgbB0&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRisWeiK9K5E8X7asZdz4X1
► Italian American Experience: youtube.com/watch?v=mGCvUFF4-_M&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRqNP0hfcOXGRuhqgJ0nPZ1
► Mexicans youtube.com/watch?v=IwJyAwnx39Y&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hSU0OWM1p4QUln0iBpI77wf
► Enslaved Ancestor stories youtube.com/watch?v=uAxyz0q0A4s&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQxDnyRTah5wYRX9b4FSrqR
► My family story of white passing : youtube.com/watch?v=SQp7jeNp_yg&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQcox9CjaJWA7QKTYXw9Zn2
--------
Come join me on a new docu-series that explores identity, racial tensions in the South during the 20th century, and the unique experiences of those who historically called Louisiana home.
My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana.
Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born.
Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we?
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If buy something through these links, we may earn affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting this project!
00:00 – Intro: Personal reflections and defining the "Brass Ankles."
01:25 – Exploring the origins and history of the term "Brass Ankle."
02:28 – Primary Sources: The 1938 Edisto Island Report.
02:57 – The 1939 Mother Heart Life Oral History Project.
03:25 – Historical photographs and perceptions of the community.
04:00 – Interview with Martha Varner: Memories of the Pine View and Varner Indian Schools.
05:25 – Living between worlds: The racial divide in the Deep South.
06:36 – Regional identities and other tri-racial groups (Melungeons & Red Bones).
07:29 – Shared family names: Driggers, Sweat, and Chavis.
08:03 – Why these stories matter today: Identity and the myth of homogeneity.
09:20 – Closing thoughts and how to support the channel.
I found this old photo labeled “brass ankles, mixed breed” — a family near Summerville, South Carolina. The caption alone raises so many questions.
Who were they? What did “brass ankles” mean? And why were they written out of the American story?
We’re going to dig in.
Select Sources:
loc.gov/item/2017799825
loc.gov/item/wpalh002103
wassamasawtribe.com
✅SUPPORT NYTN CHANNEL
👕 NYTN Merch: nytonashville.com
☕Send me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/nytn13#linkModal
📱 Connect on Patreon: patreon.com/NYTN
► 📝 My Free Weekly Newsletter: nytonashville.com/connect
▶Download the first section FREE of my "Be a Good ancestor" course here:
nytonashville.com/shoplola/be-a-good-ancestor-course-digital-download-videos-bjks6
FOLLOW ME 📸
► YouTube: / @NYTN
► Facebook: / facebook.com/findinglolafilm
► Website: nytonashville.com
► X: / twitter.com/ImFindingLola
OTHER VIDEO PLAYLISTS
► Melungeon + Redbones: youtube.com/watch?v=LyLd8rizXCQ&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hS0duqgK5mkBh_9aqIpbooI
► "Who Counts as..." Series in the US: youtube.com/watch?v=yUbLF-tgbB0&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRisWeiK9K5E8X7asZdz4X1
► Italian American Experience: youtube.com/watch?v=mGCvUFF4-_M&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hRqNP0hfcOXGRuhqgJ0nPZ1
► Mexicans youtube.com/watch?v=IwJyAwnx39Y&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hSU0OWM1p4QUln0iBpI77wf
► Enslaved Ancestor stories youtube.com/watch?v=uAxyz0q0A4s&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQxDnyRTah5wYRX9b4FSrqR
► My family story of white passing : youtube.com/watch?v=SQp7jeNp_yg&list=PLvzaW1c7S5hQcox9CjaJWA7QKTYXw9Zn2
--------
Come join me on a new docu-series that explores identity, racial tensions in the South during the 20th century, and the unique experiences of those who historically called Louisiana home.
My name is Danielle Romero, and all my life, I have romanticized Louisiana.
Growing up in New York, it represented a place where I could step back the sepia-toned life of my great grandmother, Lola Perot, who died before I was born.
Now, it was time to go back to Louisiana--although I had no idea what the truth would be or what questions to ask---who was Lola really? Who were we?
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If buy something through these links, we may earn affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting this project!
