According to the 1940 census, his father was born & 1908 & his mother in 1910.
Name: Joseph Debro Senior
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1908
Gender: Male
Race: Negro (Black)
Birthplace: Mississippi
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Jackson, Hinds, Mississippi
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Barrett
House Number: 1408
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Jackson, Hinds, Mississippi
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 9A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 181
Occupation: Laborer
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 400
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 624
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Debro 32
Salena Debro 30
Joseph Debro 11
Julius Debro 8
Gloria Debro 5
So, his grandparents had to be in their mid 40’s when they had his parents, and have been infant slaves, to even make his grandparents slaves.
So what this 84 year old man means when he says that his “parents were slaves” is that his great grandparents might have been slaves, but that his great great grandparents probably were, and that his great great great grandparents almost certainly were.
WOW! that is some testament of bonafide blackness.