Sunny Hostin, co-host of ABC's daytime talk show "The View," recently made a startling revelation about her family's history on the PBS documentary series "Finding Your Roots.
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Hostin discovered that one of her maternal ancestors was likely a participant in the colonial Spanish slave trade, owning at least one individual. Despite this revelation, Hostin remains steadfast in her belief in reparations.
"I still believe in reparations, by the way. So, y'all can stop texting me and emailing me and saying that I'm a White girl and I don't deserve reparations!" Hostin asserted during Thursday's episode of "The View." She further emphasized her stance on racial justice in America, stating, "I still believe this country has a lot to do in terms of racial justice."
Hostin admitted to initially feeling "deeply disappointed" upon learning about her family's past. However, she now views this knowledge as enriching, providing a deeper understanding of her family's journey. "I'm enriched by knowing that my family has come so far from being enslavers to my mother marrying my father in 1968," she said.
Her co-host, Joy Behar, responded by reminding her that she is not accountable for her ancestors' actions.
Hostin also shared her mother's reaction to the news, which was one of profound disappointment and sadness. "She was deeply disappointed. She actually cried about it," Hostin revealed. Despite this, her mother felt a deeper connection to Black culture, viewing it as a form of spiritual atonement.
Hostin further disclosed that her family history includes slaves on both her mother's and father's sides. She also discovered her family's indigenous Puerto Rican roots, accounting for seven percent of her heritage.
The revelations also led to a reassessment of her mother's racial identity. Despite her mother's strong identification as Puerto Rican and active involvement in the civil rights movement, Hostin stated, "but her race is White. She's European. I know."
Hostin's family history also includes a testament to resilience and progress. She discovered that her third great-grandfather, born into slavery in 1835, registered to vote in Georgia in 1867, a significant milestone in the face of adversity.
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