Al Sharpton is a desendant of slaves owned by Thurmond's family?

Question

WOW who would have thought?

Looks like these 2 individuals that first answers are harbouring a lot of "White Guilt" and this Comment/Question is putting them in an uneasy situation. So what that it was 175 years ago. It did take place and do not try and sweep this under the rug. I used to think Al Sharpton was excessive but now I'm going to try and understand somewhat were he is coming from.

If all whites of America act the way you two act American can never heal. Your attitude scratches old wounds.

Answer 1

Right you are:
"NEW YORK — 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."

Sharpton's office said Sunday morning that he would not comment until a news conference planned for later in the day.

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."

but although I'm no fan of Thurmond and no great admirer of Sharpton, either, it seems to me to be just another example historical zemblanity

"zemblanity: the opposite of serendipity, the faculty of making unhappy, unlucky and expected discoveries by design."

Answer 2

Ironic how this comes out the day after virginia decided to aplogize for slavery. Does it really make a difference? The fact that this country is still hung up on slavery over 140 years later is quite disturbing. This country needs to move on and stop crying about slavery, its done, its over. There is still slavery going on in a few countries, why not focus efforts to stop slavery in those parts of the world instead of spending money and lawmakers time in passing aplogies and doing genelogy research on thurmond and Al Sharpton?

Answer 3

So? Who cares? That was almost 175 years ago. Thurmond nor Sharpton had a blasted thing to do with it.

Answer 4

What'sw your point?...AND What's your question?