Verda Byrd: Texas ‘Black’ Woman Discovers She’s White – After 70 Years

Verda Byrd is yet another white woman who identifies as African American. However, her story differs vastly from Rachel Dolezal’s because there’s a legitimate reason why she’s considered herself to be African American her entire life. Apparently, she never really knew otherwise – until now. The astonishing details about her childhood led to the shocking discovery. Now, her story has gone viral.

According to KHOU, the 70-year-old Texas woman was actually born Jeanette Beagle in September of 1942. Her parents – Earl and Daisy Beagle – were both white. So, why did she believe she was African American? Well, a number of circumstances altered the course of her life. At a very young age, her father Earl Beagle deserted her mother who was left to raise 10 children alone. Then, tragedy struck when Daisy Beagle fell 30 feet in a trolley accident. Her injuries left her unable to care for her children so they were put up for adoption by the state of Missouri.

Jeanette was adopted by Ray and Edwinna Wagner, a prosperous black couple from Newton, KS. The Wagners legally changed Jeanette’s name to Verda. Since the Wagners were black, Verda always assumed she was as well and was never told otherwise. She was often seen as a “fair-skinned black child” and no one ever questioned that.

“My adoptive mother, Edwinna Wagner, never told me that she had adopted a white baby,” she said. “She took it to her grave that she had a white daughter…I grew up not questioning birth or anything else because it was never told to me that I was born white.”

Byrd has lived as a black woman her entire life, but things took an interesting turn when she decided to research her biological parents back in 2013. While researching, she discovered how she ended up being adopted. Once she learned the names of her biological parents, further research revealed that they were both white. Needless to say, the startling discovery was quite mind-blowing. “It’s was unbelievable,” Byrd said.

However, the shocking revelation changes nothing about her life. She still identifies as a black woman. According to Breitbart, she offered a detailed explanation why she has no plans to change any aspects of her life simply because of what’s printed on her birth records.

“I would not go back to my birth name if I had to.” She continued, “Jeanette Beagle does not fit Verda Byrd. Jeanette Beagle does not have an education. Jeanette Beagle has no social security money because she never worked. She never went to kindergarten…I’m comfortable with being a black woman,” she said.

When asked about her opinion of Rachel Dolezal, she made it quite clear that although their stories are similar, one distinct difference. “She lied about her race,” Byrd said. “I didn’t lie because I didn’t know.”

[Image via YouTube Screen Capture]