Lots of light skinned blacks in Louisiana, descendants of plantation owners and slave mothers. Called “passé blanc” —passing for white.
Lighter than mulatto.
Many of these freed slaves actually owned slaves themselves, and it wasn’t unusual for them to own their own relatives as slaves.
These are the historical roots of self hatred and murderous infighting we see today. Blacks resent other blacks who succeed or “act white.”
Quadroons, octroons (most popular mistresses and prostitutes in New Orleans).
But if they could pass the bag test, it was probably best to send them up north to pass.
I didn’t know that, and now some of all their anger and hatred, makes sense.
High yellow, or hi yella.