My original ancestor to this country settled in Virginia in 1692 and following generations moved to Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri. I cannot find a record of even one of them owning a slave. I suspect it was because they were too poor as they were mostly small farmers and some share croppers. Being southerners they fought on the side of the confederacy.
I’m not ashamed of that. They fought and died for a cause they believed in.
On my mother’s side I am a direct descendant of John Brown - I’m not ashamed of that either.
Nor am I ashamed to be a Texan. More than a dozen members of my family fought for the South including B L Taylor, Capt 4th Texas Calvary - General Mouton, 18 Louisiana Inf. - and Major Gen Gardiner.