How a single decision made a century ago split a family in half by race

NPR | By Tonya Mosley

Published June 3, 2026 at 12:31 PM EDT

Pope Leo's Black family roots inspired journalist Susan Saulny to research her Creole great-uncle who moved to Chicago, became white and didn't return. She describes her journey to reunite her family.

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How a single decision made a century ago split a family in half by race

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