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Identity

Body Image

News anchor has the ultimate response to a man who told her to dress ‘like a normal woman’

"These are my pants. I like them. I bought them."

via KGW-TV / YouTube

NBC correspondent Maggie Vespa

One of the major differences between women and men is that women are often judged based on their looks rather than their character or abilities. "Men as well as women tend to establish the worth of individual women primarily by the way their body looks, research shows. We do not do this when we evaluate men," Naomi Ellemers Ph.D. wrote in Psychology Today.

Dr. Ellers believes that this tendency to judge a woman solely on her looks causes them to be seen as an object rather than a person. "As a result of focusing on their outwardly visible features, we are tempted to overlook their inner states, ignore markers of their intentions, beliefs, and desires, and less likely to empathize with their plight," Ellers continued.

Women in the spotlight are constantly being judged based on their looks rather than their performance in a given field. Serena Williams once won the French Open but all the press was about what she wore on the court.

For example, Hillary Clinton has been constantly being criticized throughout her political life for what she wore or her hair style rather than her accomplishments.

Maggie Vespa, a news anchor at KGW-TV in Portland, was criticized for how she dresses by a male viewer, so she brilliantly took the incident and used it as a way to talk about the double standards women face.

Maggie Vespa, Portland, NBC, Chicago, sexism, twitter, X The sexist message Maggie Vespa receivedTwitter

"Just wanted to let you know that the clothes you've been wearing, especially those crazy pants that ride half way up your torso, are not cool looking, in any way!," Jeffrey, a male viewer, wrote to Vespa on Facebook. You're way too pretty to look so foolish."

The next day, he sent her another message. "OMG, you really looked uncomfortably tonight. Try dressing like a normal woman. Doesn't KGW pay you enough for a wardrobe makeover?" Jeffrey wrote.

Maggie Vespa, Portland, Chicago, sexism, twitter, X Another sexist message sent to Maggie VespaTwitter

Vespa posted about the emails on social media and received hundreds of responses, so she carved out a few minutes to discuss the situation on the news.

— (@)

"Let's just get this out of the way at the top. This is dumb," Vespa responded.

There was no way she was going to start dressing for the male gaze.

"These are my pants. I like them. I bought them."

Maggie went on to show photos of five different pairs of high-waisted pants that she wore in the week following Jeffrey's messages. Maggie's colleagues also got in on it, donning high-waisted pants to show their support.

Maggie Vespa, NBC, Portland, Chicago, Twitter, sexism Maggie Vespa in her previous newsroom via KGW-TV / YouTube

Vespa said the harassment "hit a nerve" with people on social media who used it as an opportunity to discuss "the pressure women obviously face, especially those in the public eye to embody the epitome of physical attractiveness at all times."

"If we don't, it's somehow seen as a sign that we're less credible or less capable and, by and large, guys don't have to deal with this," Vespa continued. " As my awesome male coworkers can and have attested to."

Vespa then brilliantly spun the harassment into an empowering message for women.

"Our goal here is to send a message, to women, to girls, to everyone: Dress how you want, look how you want, and if anybody tries to make you feel less than because of that, that's their problem, not yours," Vespa said.

This article originally appeared six years ago.

maggie vespa

Body Image

A person recently told me I was 'too short.' I finally thought of the perfect response.

"If you're looking for a superstar, start looking down."

Canva

A tall man and a shorter woman.

With every Facebook or Instagram ad, it can often feel like we're constantly being told that a beauty standard exists and none of are living up to it. "Drink THIS to get slimmer, eat THAT to gain muscles." It's exhausting and can truly do a number on self-esteem from an early age.

In Psychology Today's article "Words have Weight: the Many Forms of Body Shaming" author Alice E. Schluger, Ph.D. poses the question, "When was the last time you looked in the mirror and admired your reflection? We are bombarded with images of perfect bodies on TV, in magazines, and all over social media. In our weight-conscious culture, physical appearance often overrides health considerations."

But what if we could simply deny those societally-imposed "standards," and start writing a script where we (gasp) actually love our bodies? The thing is, we totally can.

See on Instagram

This was recently put to the test for me in terms of height. "Fun-sized," is what they used to say in college. I'm five foot two and, frankly, I never gave it much thought. Not too long ago, however, I was meeting a friend's 27-year-old daughter for the first time. Upon seeing me, in heels, she exclaimed, "My dad didn't mention you were SO SHORT. You're too short."

I was taken aback. I was stunned. I don't think she meant it nefariously per se. But it felt so strange because I walk around all day in my body without thinking about my inches. For someone to fixate on it and scream it to me? Well, that felt odd.

reese witherspoon, shortness, short celebs, body shaming Reese Witherspoon saying "No." Giphy

Sure, there were "clap-backs" with which I could have replied. From the subreddit r/Comebacks, there are tons of choices, the most scathing of which might be, "I can see all your chins from here." The issue with hitting them where it hurts is you're perpetuating the cycle of shame and, frankly, becoming the very bully who's hurting you to begin with. The old adage "Hurt people hurt people" is so true, and if we recognize it before we do it, we can be part of the solution rather than the problem.

The key is to reframe what being short even means. For many, it's not negative in the slightest. While many memes will tell us how important it is to embrace body positivity, it's nice when it comes from external sources too. The more positive representation for every body type, the better. So what I wish I'd said is, "Yeah. Like Lady Gaga. And Reese Witherspoon and Ariana Grande and Salma Hayek and Scarlett Johansson and Quinta Brunson and Sabrina Carpenter. The list goes on." Or, in going back to the Reddit thread, there were lots of sweet ways to own my inches proudly without lashing back. My favorite—and what I wish I'd said, "So the worst thing about me is that there isn't MORE of me?"

Quinta Brunson hosts SNL and sings about being short. www.youtube.com, Saturday Night Live, NBC

Short men have also been an inspiration on this topic lately. Being short for guys has been challenging in years past. Just recently, a few online dating sites made the news for allowing height to be filtered, resulting in some shorter men getting pushed out of the algorithm. (In an Upworthy story, Evan Porter humorously suggests more sensible filters than height, such as "Can the person spell?")

Tom Cruise, short king, celebrities, mission impossible, short Tom Cruise in a scene from Mission: Impossible Giphy

However, there has been a clear turn in body positivity for shorter men. Articles like "5 Reasons Short Guys Make the Best Husbands" from Your Tango note that shorter men, on average, live longer. And, as mentioned, there's more representation in the media. Notoriously, Tom Cruise showed the world what a short king could do. Couples like Tom Holland, photographed beautifully with his much taller fiancé Zendaya, are giving men the much-deserved confidence boost some really need.

Just a couple of years ago, an opinion piece ran in The New York Times called "There Has Never Been a Better Time to be Short." Among many claims, writer Mara Altman notes, "Short people don’t just save resources, but as resources become scarcer because of overpopulation and global warming, they may be best suited for long-term survival.”

Comedian Dan Toomey (@Dhtoomey on TikTok) has some fun with the article as a short king himself:

@dhtoomey
Breaking news, short kings #news #short #nyc #dating

At the end of the day, it's not about being short or tall or thin or fat. It's about challenging beauty norms and embracing our wonderous, unique bodies that house our hearts and lungs and bones. Ya know, those organs that keep us breathing and alive. Oprah Winfrey's advice on the matter is perfection:

"Are you ready to stop colluding with a culture that makes so many of us feel physically inadequate? Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others."

From Your Site Articles

being short

LQBTQIA+

Miracle twins have different dads and the fathers are over the moon about it

There's a one in 400 chance of it happening.

via Twins Trust / Twitter

Twins born from different dads.

Twins born with separate fathers are rare in the human population. Although there isn't much known about heteropaternal superfecundation—as it's known in the scientific community—a study published in The Guardian says that about one in every 400 sets of fraternal twins has different fathers.

This can happen the "natural" way if a woman releases two eggs during her menstrual cycle and then has intercourse with two different men within a short span of time. This could result in both eggs being fertilized by a different man. Both fertilizations would have to occur within 12 to 24 hours. But in this story, it happened due to a bit of modern science.

Simon and Graeme Berney-Edwards, a gay married couple, from London, England both wanted to be the biological father of their first child. "We couldn't decide on who would be the biological father," Simon told The Daily Mail. "Graeme said it should be me, but I said that he had just as much right as I did."

The only way to make it happen would be to have twins through in vitro fertilization. But they would have to find a doctor who would implant embryos from separate fathers in the same surrogate. They knew it wouldn't happen in England, so they looked for a doctor and surrogate mother in a different country.

"I saw Simon and Graeme's profile on a surrogacy website and I thought they had lovely smiles," Meg Stone, the Canadian soon-to-be surrogate, said. "I had recently split with my partner, and I wasn't ready for another baby, so I wanted to help someone."

Simon Berney-Edwards, Graeme Berney-Edwards, Meg Stone, surrogate parents, same-sex parents The coule and their surrogate.via Meg Seroski-Stone / Facebook

Meg was already a mother of two children, Jeffrey, 12, and Max, five. The couple flew out to Los Angeles, where they both fertilized eggs from an anonymous donor. Then, they journeyed to Canada, where they met with Meg to be sure she was the perfect fit. "We were nervous at the beginning—in case that we didn't click with her. But we needn't have worried," Simon said.

Six months later, one fertilized embryo of Simon's and one embryo of Graeme's were inserted into Meg's womb. The couple spent a stressful week hoping both embryos would take. They were afraid that one of the fathers' embryos would work, the other wouldn't, and they'd have to eventually go through the same process again.

— (@)

"She FaceTimed us from the scanning room. First of all, we saw one heartbeat, and our stomachs clenched with nerves," Simon said. "Then we saw the other heartbeat. Graeme and I just hugged each other," he continued. "We were just over the moon. We were both going to be dads—she was pregnant with both of our babies."

The couple kept in close touch with Meg over the coming weeks and flew back to Canada for her 19-week scan. The two proud fathers-to-be were delighted to touch her belly and feel their babies kicking inside the womb. At 31 weeks, Meg was in pain and thought she was about to go into labor. So the two men quickly packed their bags and flew to Canada.

"We dashed to the hospital when we arrived, to find out it was a false alarm," Simon said. "We were just so relieved that she and the babies were fine." The couple remained in Canada, and five weeks later, Meg gave birth to Calder and Alexandra Berney Edwards.

"It was the most amazing experience of our lives," Simon said. "Alexandra was born first and then Calder arrived minutes later. "When we both held them for the first time, we couldn't believe that we were both daddies," he added. "It was a long way to go and do this, but it was worth it to both be able to have fathered one of the twins each."

"Calder was the double of Graeme, and Alexandra was the image of me," Simon said. The couple remained in Canada for seven more weeks before they could take their newborns home. Then, they hopped on a plane and returned to England. But sadly, they had to leave a new member of their family behind.

"It was sad to say goodbye to Meg, When we brought them home for the first time, it was just incredible," Simon said. "Since then, they have gone from strength to strength. They are doing so well and hitting all their milestones." The twins recently celebrated their first birthday, and the fathers flew Meg out to celebrate with them. "Simon and Graeme are like brothers to me now," Meg said. "They call me the twins 'Tummy Mummy' which I love."

Simon Berney-Edwards, Graeme Berney-Edwards, Meg Stone, surrogate parents, same-sex parents Simon, Greame and their babies.via LGBT News World

This story originally appeared five years ago.

From Your Site Articles

babies

Race & Ethnicity

Man shares two lessons he learned from disrupting a racist joke in a group of white people

"Can you speak up? Because our silence is not benign?"

Paul Scanlon/Facebook

Paul Scanlon shares his thoughts.

Racist jokes are one of the more frustrating manifestations of racism. Jokes in general are meant to be a shared experience, a connection over a mutual sense of humor, a rush of feel-good chemicals that bond us to those around us through laughter.

So when you mix jokes with racism, the result is that racism becomes something light and fun, as opposed to the horrendous bane that it really is.

The harm done with racist humor isn't just the emotional hurt they can cause. When a group of white people shares jokes at the expense of a marginalized or oppressed racial group, the power of white supremacy is actually reinforced—not only because of the "punching down" nature of such humor, but because of the group dynamics that work in favor of maintaining the status quo.

British author and motivational speaker Paul Scanlon shared a story about interrupting a racist joke at a table of white people at an event in the U.S, and the lessons he drew from it illustrate this idea beautifully. Watch:

Speaking up in a group setting where people have an unspoken sense of solidarity is difficult. Giving up social capital and being seen as a breaking a code of sorts is uncomfortable. But that difficulty and discomfort are not excuses for staying quiet. As Scanlon points out, our silence is not benign, it's malignant. Keeping quiet while a racist joke is being told and laughed at is harmful because it allows racism to go unchecked and white supremacy to remain secure.

racism, white supremacy, white solidarity, racial justice, anti-racism Anti-racist protest signs.Canva Photos.

An important point Scanlon makes is that not only do white folks allow harm to take place when we remain silent in the face of a friend, family member, colleague, or acquaintance making a racist joke, but we are actually rewarded for saying nothing. We maintain a sense of solidarity, we gain social capital, we're seen as agreeable and establish a sense of belonging. Those rewards are an insidious form of racism that many white people aren't even aware we participate in.

We have to decide ahead of time that we're going to give up that reward and embrace the inevitable awkwardness in order to do the right thing.

In a useful video based on her book Difference Matters: Communicating Social Identity, Professor Emerita of Communications and Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Colorado Denver, Brenda J. Allen, PhD, breaks down how each of us can use our privilege—whether that's white privilege, gender privilege, financial privilege, education privilege, etc.—for the good of others. Watch:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

We have to decide that ending racism is more important than embarrassment. The more people who stand firm in that decision, the less awkward it will become and the sooner we can redefine what social capital and solidarity really mean.

This article originally appeared on 6.30.20. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles

racial justice

Identity

Creepy guy wouldn't stop staring at her working out. She knew exactly what to do.

He had no idea he was being watched.

TikTok

Heidi staring back at her harasser on TikTok.

When lifting weights at the gym, the discomfort you feel should be coming from the workout. Not from other people with no concept of boundaries. However, this is an all-too-common occurrence for women. Personal trainer Heidi Aragon (@fit_with_heidi) is used to sharing her fitness journey on social media. Her video, which has now garnered more than 8 million views on TikTok, didn't go viral because of the workout. Instead, people are responding to how she confronted a man who not only wouldn't stop staring at her, but denied the fact that he was. Until Heidi beat him at his own game.

Heidi explains in the text video, "This creepy old guy at the gym kept coming over and staring at me." Sure enough, the video shows a man in a green shirt, eyes undeniably fixated on Heidi. Uncomfortable, Heidi tries to get her husband to stand between her and the man, hoping to send a not-so-subtle cue to back off. But subtlety is clearly not this guy's language.

So what does Heidi do? She stares back. The strategy seemed to work, at least for a while, but eventually Heidi had to go over and confront the guy directly.

Her video text read: "I told him if he's going to work out in this corner, he needed to stop staring and making me uncomfortable. His response was, 'I'm just looking around.' I then told him I record my workouts and I have him on film. He shut up real quick."

@fit_with_heidi
Don’t sit there and tell me you’re not doing something when I have proof. 😡 #gymtok #fittok #influencer #viral #trending #tiktok #fitness #gym #gymgirl #fyp #fypシ #foryou #foryoupage #gymcreeps

I know what you're thinking: "Wait, didn't we just hear a story about this?" Why yes, you're right. Our very own Tod Perry covered another woman who had to deal with a guy at the gym who couldn't take a hint.

Yes, almost back-to-back stories of women who have had enough of fellow male gym-goers. And still, there is victim-blaming. In the video's comment section, one user wrote, "Wear pants like that and expected something different??" "Man let the old man enjoy the view!!! But it’s ok for all of us on tiktok to stare?" another added.

How many videos have to go viral before we stop blaming a woman's choice of clothing (which were really quite normal gym attire, by the way) for a man's obviously intrusive behavior?

@fit_with_heidi
Get after it today #gymtok #fittok #gym #fitness #tiktok #follow #fyp #foryourpage #viral #influencer #trending #fitgirl #workout #personaltrainer

Others also seemed to assess that because Heidi was a fitness influencer, she more or less signed up for this kind of attention, invited or not. This completely negates this woman having any choice in the matter. However, a lot of people did support Heidi in the comments. "This happens too often to women from old guys. Happens to my girl all the time. Sorry y'all gotta deal with this but Proud of you for addressing him," one man wrote. "All the men saying it’s your fault. That attitude is the problem."

After the video went viral, Heidi did post a tongue-in-cheek follow-up video thanking those who posted negative comments, as it gave her more followers and likes. So I guess there's some small victory.

Though we may never have a consensus on proper gym etiquette, a good rule of thumb is keep to yourself. Getting the gumption to go work out is hard enough; don't make staying there a hardship as well.

This article originally appeared four years ago.

From Your Site Articles

gym

Golden Years

20 people over the age of 50 share their tips for aging gracefully

"Grace means moving, listening, engaging. And the older you get the more intentional you have to be in finding opportunities to do so."

Image via Canva

People over 50 share their best tips for how they aged gracefully.

Aging is a wild journey, and the battle against growing older is something people choose to handle differently. Many people strive to "age gracefully" by choosing to accept and embrace the passage of time and the changes it brings while continuing to live a full and meaningful life.

On a Reddit thread where people are discussing aging, member oaksgreenbean posed the question: "What are your tips to aging gracefully?"

A number of people over the age of 50 had plenty of sage wisdom to give on accepting aging with grace. Here are twenty of their most helpful responses.

aging, aging gracefully, graceful aging, aging well, aging advice Age Getting Old GIF by PBS News Giphy

"Eat better, keep moving, seek joy & no more negative self-talk. Self care is vital ❤️🔥 keep ur mind active and find a good moisturizer." —New-Advantage2813

"The sit-stand test. I do that one and my own extra little thing. Whenever I take off shoes, whether they are lace up or not, I stand on one foot and take them off (and socks) with my hands by bending my knee and bringing my foot up to where I can reach it. I often do the same when putting them on too. It's a good balance check." —1happylife

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Re moisturizer: pure shea butter. I cannot recommend this enough. Cheap on Amazon. No other expensive creams are needed and they're all a bunch of BS anyway. My one tub of shea butter costs (US)$6.00 and lasts over a year." —analogpursuits

"Was at orthopedist and PT both instilled in me I need to walk on different surfaces and I need to walk. When I don't, my body feels not good." —User Unknown

"Another tip: When you get out of bed sit on the side of the bed with your feet on the ground before standing up and walking. Apparently lots of folks fall getting out of bed because they don't get their feet under them." —TwiceBaked57

"As I often mention here, I partake in no vices....no smoking, recreational drugs, drinking, weed, etc. I brush and floss, so at 67 years old I still have all but my wisdom teeth. I see my doctor regularly and he keeps a check on my blood work. I eat sensibly, get lots of sleep at night, drink lots of water, no sodas, exercise, and I take my vitamin supplements as recommended by my doctor. The least amount of stress possible. That means no toxic people are allowed in my life, and that includes energy vampires and dramatic family members. My husband and I enjoy a peaceful life together. We enjoy our never-ending conversations, eating our meals outside (when we can) so we can enjoy the fresh air and surrounding woods. We're not in debt, we don't watch the news, we only belong to Reddit, as far as social media is concerned, and we love binge-watching our favorite series together. We guard our peaceful and happy lives with our teeth. We built this together, we'll protect it together." —moviesandcats

protect peace, peace, peaceful life, aging gracefully, age well The Kardashians Peace GIF by HULU Giphy

"Eat less, move more, don't dwell on the past, be kind to others and yourself. Pretty simple." —DifferenceNo5715

"Aim to grow old disgracefully, it's more fun 🤣 being the 'oh no, what's she up to now' kind of old person is more realistic for me . I set goals and I stuck to them 🤣." —legoartnana

"Once you reach a certain age, you tend to have more self-knowledge and therefore, more self-acceptance. That allows you to "become more of yourself" (more of your real self) as time progresses. Most in my age group say 'I feel like I'm the most ME that I've ever been!'. There is a lot of freedom in that, and it carries over to what activities you enjoy, etc. If that is not the case, then time for some self reflection, therapy, whatever helps that process along." —10MileHike

"Accept your age. It's a number. It represents the number of years you have been on this earth. That's it. Be proud of your age. You've worked hard to get here. If you're lucky, you'll be redefining your age for people who with preconceived notions. I opted to quit dying my hair, because nobody was being fooled by the unnatural reddish brown tone with the gray roots. Now, some people assume I'm old because I'm gray. Whatever. Watch what I do next." —TooOldForACleverName

gray hair, going gray, aging gracefully, aging with grace, aging well Helen Mirren GIF by SAG Awards Giphy

"Stay mobile, stay engaged mentally and socially. The people who really stand out are those who make an effort to LEARN NEW THINGS, not those who set out everyday to “teach those kids a lesson”. Grace means moving, listening, engaging. And the older you get the more intentional you have to be in finding opportunities to do so." —dewayneestes

"Variety in life. Could be new books or films in a genre you like, or trying a new genre... going out to try new cuisine or cooking something totally new to you. Walking different routes for a change of scenery - there are lots of small choices that help keep life interesting." —UpDownCharmed

"Give no f*cks. Take no sh*t. Do what makes you happy. Spend time with those you love, be they blood or friends." —HalimaDances

"Everyone dies. Not everyone lives. That’s why at 71 I still fly, ride my motorcycle, skydive and have a fabulous girlfriend." —Even-Vegetable-1700

live your life, living well, happy life, live happy, happy aging Happy Live Your Life GIF by CBS Giphy

"Stop worrying about it so much, don't listen to society. Take care of your body (eat well, exercise, don't smoke etc), challenge your mind, feed your spirit, everything else will happen as it will. Teach others what you've learned in life. You are a treasure trove of experience. Realize it's all temporary, including ourselves. Lots of other things, but these to me are the most impactful. There is no beating age, so get it out of your mind." —User Unknown

"Just in terms of personal appearance - makeup and hair dye can be incredibly aging. When I look around at women my age or a little older, the ones with perfectly crafted makeup and hair coloring look much older than the ones letting their grey show and wearing little to no makeup. The women around me who aren't fighting the aging process tooth and nail look a lot more fresh and vibrant." —sqplanetarium

"I think you need to be classy and avoid being sucked into gossip or drama, being toxic and sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Be kind, respectful, and be above those that want to pull you down. Limit your time with those people and give your time to those that further your peace." —Wild929

no drama, no gossip, avoid drama, aging well, aging gracefully lil wayne drama GIF by Oxygen Giphy

"Embrace every decade as a gift. I loved my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, etc for different reasons and refuse to pine for youth as I age." —yay4chardonnay

"I dress like I did in high school, minus the Levi's big bells since they don't make them anymore, lol." —myatoz

"Embrace aging and the concept of moderation. Accepting our flaws, reconciling with our character defects and being mindful also help us with the irritability of physical and mental aging. Living in a senior park has opened my world to senior aging. Everyone of us is different in how we handle life but by far the ones who seem the best adjusted and "aging gracefully" are the ones who are comfortable in their own skin, are self aware and who try to get along accepting the differences in others. Definitely staying physically active and social keeps us from isolating, becoming bitter and self absorbed. The better adjusted we are throughout life helps how we age out." —CroneDaze

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aging gracefully

Race & Ethnicity

Woman's rare antique turned away from 'Antique Roadshow' for heart-wrenching reason

"I just love you for bringing it in and thank you so much for making me so sad."

Photos by Murat Rahim Caglak and Antoni Shkraba via Canva

Woman's antique turned away from 'Antique Roadshow'

People come by things in all sorts of ways. Sometimes you find something while at a garage sale and sometimes it's because a family member passed away and it was left to them. After coming into possession of the item, the owner may be tempted to see how much it's worth so it can be documented for insurance purposes or sold.

On a recent episode of BBC One's Antique Roadshow, a woman brought an ivory bracelet to be appraised. Interestingly enough, the expert didn't meet this rare find with excitement, but appeared somber. The antique expert, Ronnie Archer-Morgan carefully explains the purpose of the bracelet in what appears to be a tense emotional exchange.

There would be no appraisal of this antique ivory bracelet adorned with beautiful script around the circumference. Archer-Morgan gives a brief disclaimer that he and the Antique Roadshow disapprove of the trade of ivory, though that was not his reason for refusing the ivory bangle.

"This ivory bangle here is not about trading in ivory, it’s about trading in human life, and it’s probably one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever had to talk about. But talk about it we must," Archer-Morgan says.

Ronnie Archer-Morgan, Antiques Roadshow, BBC, antiques, ivory Ronnie Archer-Morgan on an episode of the BBC's Antiques RoadshowImage via Antqiues Roadshow

Turns out the woman had no idea what she had in her possession as she purchased it from an estate sale over 30 years before. One of the elderly residents she cared for passed away and the woman found the ivory bracelet among the things being sold. Finding the bangle particularly intriguing with the fancy inscription around it, she decided to purchase the unique piece of jewelry.

After explaining that his great-grandmother was once enslaved in Nova Scotia, Canada before being returned to Sierra Leone, Archer-Morgan concluded he could not price the item.

Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Ronnie Archer Morgan Ronnie Archer-Morgan holds the ivory bracelet he refused to valueImage via Antiques Roadshow/BBC

"I just don’t want to value it. I do not want to put a price on something that signifies such an awful business. But the value is in the lessons that this can tell people," he tells the woman.

In the end the woman leaves without knowing the monetary value of the item but with a wealth of knowledge she didn't have before visiting. Now she can continue to share the significance of the antique with others. Watch the full explanation below:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

This article originally appeared last year.

From Your Site Articles

antiques roadshow

Identity

News anchor has the ultimate response to a man who told her to dress ‘like a normal woman’

"These are my pants. I like them. I bought them."

A person recently told me I was 'too short.' I finally thought of the perfect response.

"If you're looking for a superstar, start looking down."

Miracle twins have different dads and the fathers are over the moon about it

There's a one in 400 chance of it happening.

Man shares two lessons he learned from disrupting a racist joke in a group of white people

"Can you speak up? Because our silence is not benign?"

Creepy guy wouldn't stop staring at her working out. She knew exactly what to do.

He had no idea he was being watched.

20 people over the age of 50 share their tips for aging gracefully

"Grace means moving, listening, engaging. And the older you get the more intentional you have to be in finding opportunities to do so."

Woman's rare antique turned away from 'Antique Roadshow' for heart-wrenching reason

"I just love you for bringing it in and thank you so much for making me so sad."

Chinese teacher shares 18 American names with delightfully awkward meanings in Mandarin

5 ways people with perpetually tidy homes see things differently than the rest of us

Boomer professor perfectly lays out why Gen Z developed a 'lazy' attitude

5 ways people are going all in this week