Former England and Arsenal footballer Alex Scott took part in a BBC show where members learn about their ancestors. Reported by The Mirror.
The 37-year-old athlete and TV presenter went to Jamaica as part of the show, where she met with a specialist who had studied her family history. The discovery shocked the black soccer player – her ancestor turned out to be a slave owner.
Scott was introduced to the facts about Robert Francis Coombs. It turned out that the ancestor Scott, who lived in the 1820s, owned not only property, but also slaves. The footballer was shown a list of the names of people who were enslaved by Coombs. Scott couldn’t hold back her emotions and burst into tears. The historian clarified that in those days, free blacks could have slaves. Moreover, for the light skin tone, her ancestor Coombs enjoyed privileges in Jamaican society.
“It goes against everything I stand for,” Scott said.
Scott has been the England Women’s Football Champion five times. She defended the colors of the national team from 2004 to 2017. In England caps she has scored 12 goals in 140 appearances.
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
