Report: Family ties Al Sharpton to (Strom) Thurmond

msnbc.msn.com ^ | 2-25-07

[lunarbicep]

Genealogists have found that civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton is a descendent of a slave owned by relatives of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Daily News said professional genealogists, working at the newspaper’s behest, recently uncovered the ancestral ties between one of the nation’s best known black leaders and a man who was once a prominent defender of segregation.

“I have always wondered what was the background of my family,” the newspaper quoted Sharpton as saying. “But nothing — nothing — could prepare me for this.”

“It’s chilling. It’s amazing.”

Some of Thurmond’s relatives said the connection also came as a surprise to them. A niece, Ellen Senter, said she would speak with Sharpton if he were interested.

“I doubt you can find many native South Carolinians today whose family, if you traced them back far enough, didn’t own slaves,” said Senter, 61, of Columbia, S.C. She added: “And it is wonderful that (Sharpton) was able to become what he is in spite of what his forefather was.”

According to the Daily News, the genealogists found documents establishing that Sharpton’s great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave owned by Julia Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond’s great-great-grandfather. Coleman Sharpton was later freed.

[org.whodat]

"“I doubt you can find many native South Carolinians today whose family, if you traced them back far enough, didn’t own slaves,”

This is a purely racist, hyperbolic statement with NO basis in fact. Mathematically, since most southerners in 1860 did not own slaves, to say a vast majority (implied in statement)of native South Carolinians today (implied white, native, South Carolinians)are descended from slave holders must be proved with verifiable data if it is to be creditable. The underlying idea is racist: that white South Carolinians today are racist decedents of slave holders. To state it the way Ms Senter does exposes her racism.

That my friend is the whole truth. And to consider that marriage among the black slaves was allowed was silly. History shows slave women were bred to get the best worker traits and one are two men may have been the fathers of all the plantations children. Which leaves sharpton a non worker throw back. Lol

[SpringheelJack]

This is a purely racist, hyperbolic statement with NO basis in fact. Mathematically, since most southerners in 1860 did not own slaves, to say a vast majority (implied in statement)of native South Carolinians today (implied white, native, South Carolinians)are descended from slave holders must be proved with verifiable data if it is to be creditable. The underlying idea is racist: that white South Carolinians today are racist decedents of slave holders. To state it the way Ms Senter does exposes her racism.

You have 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents, 16 great grandparents, and 32 great great grandparents. If just 1 of your great great grandparents owned a slave --- a mere 3% of that generation ---- then you're in the club. I think the allegation that Ellen Senter was implying that white South Carolinians today are racist is absurd, and to call her a racist herself based on her estimation of the likelihood that a native SCian had an ancestor who owned slaves is neither here nor there.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

LMAO, good skit for snl

[SpringheelJack]

Made a slip on the "greats" --- add 1 extra to the 3rd and 4th groups.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

I did not get past "one of the nation’s best known black leaders." Obviously,
written by another one of AP's 23-year-old morons. Leader, my ass.

[XRdsRev]

“It’s chilling. It’s amazing.”

When I first heard this soundbite on the radion this morning, I thought geneologists had discovered someone in Al's family tree that actually had a job.

[martinidon]

"And how long will it be before the "Reverend" Al goes after Strom Thurmond's family for reparations?"

Bingo, we have a winner. Give it a couple of days. The lawsuit is coming!

[TBP]

There goes my "descended from space aliens" theory.

Well, they had to capture the slaves somewhere!

[TBP]

what is the point of all of this...and how is this big news?

Not big news, just an interesting curiosity.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

I wonder if the Rev. Al is related to the late Saddam H. through some Arab slaver years earlier?

Michael Frazier

[jws3sticks]

“I have always wondered what was the background of my family,” the newspaper quoted Sharpton as saying. “But nothing — nothing — could prepare me for this.” “It’s chilling. It’s amazing.”

Strom to Al: I know your Great Great Great Grandaddy!. He's mine too!

ROTFLMAO

[ConservaTexan]

“I have always wondered what was the background of my family,” the newspaper quoted Sharpton as saying.

"But I have been so busy exploiting and inciting mah peole that I never gots the chance to reasearch mah lineage. I will gracioulsy accept the left testicle of evah white male in the country as reparations," Sharpton added.

[Thoro]

"what is the point of all of this...and how is this big news?"

Not big news, just an interesting curiosity.

I wish it were so benign. The first thing I thought when I heard this was "Oh boy, here we go with the Republicans are racists media template."

Of course no mention of something far more recent and relevant like Robert KKK Byrd.

[Sgt_Schultze]

There's a true southern gentleman. He's looking the woman square in the eyeball - while she's looking into his. He's just waiting for her to break eye contact for his opportunity to sneak a peek.

[proud_yank]

I wonder if anyone in his family or circle of friends were beaten or killed by Robert 'Sheets' Byrd & his pals....

[stockstrader]

I can't believe that no one has noticed this sooner. I've always thought that the resemblence is remarkable. /s

[jordan8]

I seriously doubt this can really be proven.

[alisasny]

Hi Raoul:

My 5th grader daughter had to do a report and oral presentation. The day I attended a little boy did Andrew Jackson. He rambled on and on and finally caught my attention when he recited his bio in the first person he said, " I formed the Democrat party because the Democrats don't only care about the rich."

Besides wanting to smack the kid upside the head I was tempted to ask Mr. Andrew Jackson if he owned slaves. I held my breath and didn't but was amazed by the entire presentation the kid did as his father literally videotaped his darling. It was weird when Andrew ( the kid) spoke about how he went back to his plantation. I guess he was a good honorable slave owner??

Seriously though, parents have a lot of input on these reports.

So would Sharpton be upset and amazed if the Jackson clan owned the Sharpton slaves? Or would that have been buried since Jackson cared for all people not just the rich? ( my daughter did Bon Jovi but that is only because she came home wanting to do Oprah and I had to stop that at once)

[KJC1]

And how long will it be before the "Reverend" Al goes after Strom Thurmond's family for reparations?

My first thought too.

Next, maybe we can all find long-dead people who harmed any of our long-dead family members and go after their living decendants too. It'll be great, everyone suing everybody else for stuff none of the people themselves actually did!

[Stoat]

Too bad Al didn't make better use of the opportunities available to him

and make himself something more than a garden-variety hustler.