Melungeon Secret Solved, Sort Of

After a history of doing what they could to "pass" for white, Melungeons are now doing just the opposite and staking claim to the identity. The lighter complexions are at least in part due to Melungeons mixing with fairer-skinned people.

"The neighbors with more money tried to keep their sons and daughters away from us, but we were just so cute they couldn't do it," said Wayne Winkler, president of the Melungeon Heritage Association.