In this episode of KARAMO, host Karamo brings guest Carla, who recently took a genealogy DNA test to learn about her ancestral origins. Although Carla always believed her father, Carl, was her biological parent, the test revealed a possible different father, James, and suggested she has many half‑siblings she never knew about. Carla contacts a DNA match who could be a brother or nephew, leading to the live introduction of Krystal, who is revealed to be Carla’s biological sister. Both women discover they are the same age and share the same father, James, a long‑time cab driver who fathered multiple children across Maryland, DC, and Virginia. The reveal shows that James may have had up to 14 children, dramatically expanding Carla’s family. Karamo guides the participants through the shock, encouraging them to feel their emotions, be patient, and consider building new sibling relationships. The segment blends personal storytelling, live DNA confirmation, and emotional counseling, highlighting the impact of modern genealogy testing on family identity.
Chapters
Gosh, it's a lot.
I know, 'cause my producers told me you took a genealogy test.
Mm-hmm.
Why did you do that?
It wasn't to determine who my dad was, 'cause I knew who my dad was.
Yeah.
It was to determine where my DNA began.
Yes.
So I started researching that, and I said, I wanna dig a little deeper. Yeah. Just to see where I came from, what part of Africa. Those are the reasons why I took the genealogy.
It makes sense to me. I did the same thing. I hit 40 and I said, I wanna know. I wanna have more history, so I wanna find out I wanna find this out. But you never expected that when you did this, that it would take you to now needing DNA results.
Yes.
'Cause what happened?
So after that, I discovered that there may be some, you know, family out there that I don't know about. But I was like, that's impossible.
Yeah, 'cause you know your family.
I know my dad.
Yeah, you know your dad.
I'm named after him.
Yeah.
His name is on my birth certificate. Like, I never had a doubt in my mind that that my dad isn't who my mom and my family told me.
So you immediately thought it was a mistake?
Yes.
Oh my gosh. So anyone who hasn't taken a genealogy test, once you get the results back, it will start to pop up family members or places you've been and family members. But yours popped up these other sides that you're like, I don't know who these—
I don't know who these people are. I know my mom's side and I know my mom's side so well because my dad was so secretive. He never really discussed his family at all. And I just really never questioned it because, I don't know why, I just, I'm a little girl. And I didn't understand why he was so secretive about his family. Maybe, you know, there were some deep dark secrets that he did not wanna share with me. And I dare not question it while he was here. And this desire to learn about where I came from I just happened to come when both of my parents were gone.
Oh, wow.
So they're not here to answer any questions for me, so.
Wow.
And so when you got this genealogy test, did you hear from anyone you matched with?
So I got the results and I reached out to this young man who could either be my nephew or my brother.
Yeah.
So I reached out to him and he was like, yeah, I know it's surprising. I was like, yeah, I'm not, I said yeah, 'cause I would never have thought that my dad had children on my mom. And he was like, that's not your dad.
Ooh.
And I'm 50 years old and my dad, I know, the life I live, he's just, shout out to my dad because—
He's a great man. 'Cause your name is Carla and your father's name was Carl.
Yes.
So that means y'all were close. You were like his junior.
Yes.
So what, describe your relationship.
Oh, I had a great relationship with my dad.
Yes.
My dad loved me, he supported me, he was there every holiday to the day he died. I grew up in the same household with he and my mom. He was a support to my entire family and he's always supported me.
This of course why you would never doubt that this was your father when you talking to this other person, because this man is in your life, he's supporting everybody. So when this guy says that you connected with on the genealogy test said, "Well, that's not your father," and says this other man could be your father, you denied it immediately. Yeah, I said, "You're a lie." So what about the age difference that makes this also feel impossible to you?
Well, my mom was, so on my birth certificate it says that my mom was 19 when she had me. And then this man that supposedly be my biological father would have been 33 at the time. So that's a huge age gap.
Yeah.
So that brings on more questions. You know, did he just look young?
Yeah, yeah.
Or was my mom just, you know, looking older or lying about her age? I have all of these questions.
'Cause you question how she could have met him.
Yeah, how she ever could have met him.
So what questions do you have about your potential new father, James?
This test is incorrect.
Incorrect.
Like not only You know, how did this happen? But why didn't he acknowledge me?
If he was, yeah.
If he was, like where was he?
Mm.
I know that this man has passed away, so we have your potential sister, Krystal, here. Are you ready to meet Krystal for the first time ever?
Yes, I want to meet Crystal, yeah.
Yeah. Well, everyone, please welcome Crystal to the show.
Oh, she's coming out?
She's coming out.
Oh my God.
Hi.
Hi. Oh my God.
Hi, Carla.
Hi, Krystal.
Oh my God.
Krystal, how do you feel in this moment? Let me give you this.
I'm excited. I'm shocked. But it's a blessing. If it's whatever is revealed, it would be a blessing.
So the thing that I found interesting is that my producers told me that you two are the exact same age.
Yes.
So when this would've been happening, you all were both being conceived at the same time.
Yes.
Wow.
And this all just happened 3 weeks ago.
Yes. Yeah, it turned my life upside down.
And Crystal, James was your father, correct?
Yes.
Okay, what was your relationship with your father like?
He was my father. We lived Together all my life. He was very protective. He was very strict. He was a great dad. He was always there for us.
Were all the different women in the same neighborhood? Because you two live near each other.
Yes.
You're in Maryland and you're in Maryland.
Yes.
Did you know that?
No.
Yeah, so I'm sorry. I know I'm, so there's a lot of information I've given to you right now that we had to discover. So you all live close to each other.
Mm.
Which would mean that growing up they were around each other. Okay. Did you ever suspect that he could have been living a double life?
Um, my dad was a cab driver for 52 years and he was all over Maryland, DC, and Virginia.
Yeah.
Kids used to come back and say, "I seen your dad here, I seen your dad there, I seen your dad doing this, I seen your dad doing that." So.
Oh, okay. How many kids did James have?
6 outside my sister and I. Mm. He passed 2016 and we have discovered 5 more.
Oh!
If Karamo's Test come back, she will be the 6th child.
6th child.
Wow.
So it'll be 14 of us.
Wow. Wow.
How does that make you feel, Carla? 'Cause I see that hit you. What about that information hit you? Here you go, love.
I just can't believe that I've been out here living all my life Feeling alone.
I'm sorry.
No, no need to apologize. This is real and raw.
And knowing that I had, I could possibly have this many siblings.
Yeah.
It's like the life that I, thought that I knew that I was so proud of being a part of is possibly a lie.
Yeah. Well, I would challenge that. I don't believe your life was a lie at all. The life you had was real. The love you had was real. If Carla is your sister, what does that mean to you? Do you wanna build a relationship?
Of course. Of course. I could not. Turn my back. It would mean another one. It would mean his story is still being unfolded. As an adult, I've matured enough to accept them all. So she would be accepted as if I accepted everyone else. Yeah.
And Carla, if Crystal is found to be your sister, Would you want to build this relationship?
Absolutely. I would be accepting to—
Carla, I gotta tell you this, Carla. Your thoughts are very powerful. And so you just need to make sure you know your own power, all right? But are you ready for this truth?
Ooh.
I think so. I am.
Well, come with me.
Oh, this—
oh, this is the truth.
This is the truth.
This is the truth.
This the truth.
This the truth.
Carla.
Your entire life you have went knowing one man to be your father. And then 3 weeks ago, after taking a genealogy test, you discovered that that man may not be your father and that you might have another father and more siblings. And you connected with somebody who has led you here to my stage with Krystal, who potentially is your sister.
Mm-hmm.
In this envelope, it will tell you if this is your sister, if her father is your father.
Oh my God. The moment of truth.
Your moment of truth. This is your truth to open, not mine. So good luck.
You want me staying with you?
You want to know?
Yes.
I want to know too. So if it's not, I still would like to, you know, keep in contact because it's nothing wrong with having a village.
Yeah.
What number would I be?
This will be 14, Carla.
14, so am I number 14 or not? Oh my God. Crystal is my biological sister!
Oh my God. Oh my God.
We look alike.
Do we look alike? Oh my God.
Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
Thank you so much.
Pressu is your biological sister.
It says that.
Oh my God, I cannot believe.
Karamo, come take a seat for me, Crystal.
Oh my God. Look.
Wow.
So, so—
Wow.
Oh my God, it's hot.
So I wanna tell you just to remember that there's gonna be a process. You're in shock right now. That as you're in shock—
Sister. I guess we should start.
It's hot. It's hot.
But I want you both to hear this because I want you to remember, especially for you, Karla, you're gonna experience a little process. You're in a process of shock right now. As you're gonna start, all these emotions are gonna flood in. You're gonna be like, "Oh my gosh." That's why you're hot right now. But once the shock wears off, there's going to be other emotions and I don't know which ones are gonna pop up. They might be anger. They could be sadness. Here you go, love. It could be a plethora of things. And I want you to remind you that when those emotions come up, Feel them. Because if you don't feel them, what will happen is they will fester and it will affect this relationship. And then it will affect other relationships in your life. And for you, you've already been through this, but just know there's a patience that has to happen.
I get it.
Because you do know, because today she could be like, oh my gosh, I want you to be my sister. And then tomorrow she might be like, hold on.
Yes.
And so you just gotta—
I kind of like feel like that now.
I know you do. That's why I have to do my job and make sure you know the process.
I'm sitting there talking, all of this is going through my head like—
I know. I know, that's why I gotta do my job.
The questions are like, I have so many questions now.
Yes, so feel the feelings, ask the questions. Your sister has said she will be patient with you. And just as you're along that journey, do not question the life you had. That life was meant for you to have. Knowing that all the parents have passed, I am a big believer that some spirits are working and needed y'all this to happen. And I think there's gonna be something even greater that's gonna come out of this. But be patient with yourself. Take your time, okay? Okay. But I'm so happy for both of you that you found your sister.
You found your sister girl.
You found your sister girl.
Oh my God.
I love it.
Well, listen everyone, make sure to come back next time, friends, so we can keep talking and growing. I love you all.
