He May Have Had Black Ancestors
Despite his attitudes towards black people, some believe Hoover may have had some African-American roots. Rumors swirled that his mother was black and he was adopted by the Hoovers, but there is no proof to back up that claim. In 2000, Millie McGhee wrote the book, Secrets Uncovered: J. Edgar Hoover — Passing for White?
McGhee, an African American, wrote that she and Hoover had an ancestor in common, making them distant cousins. Some of Hoover’s family from his father’s side were from Virginia and Mississippi during a time when interracial relations weren’t uncommon. However, there’s no definitive proof that he had black ancestry.
