Reuters article on historical slave owners

[jerseygirl]

Excellent Reuters articles on slavers owners
Author investigates his own family snd persuaded Reuters to do more
Looks at 100 members of congress with slave owners in their past
Even Obama through his mother


www.reuters.com/

[daisylu]

Link did not take me to the article, but wouldn't a lot of people whose family were here 150 years ago have slave owners in their ancestry? I can't recall who it was at this moment, but there was a black male celebrity who discovered he had slave owners in his lineage on "Who Do You Think You Are?".

[jerseygirl]

Jun 28, 2023 12:28:20 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Link did not take me to the article, but wouldn't a lot of people whose family were here 150 years ago have slave owners in their ancestry? I can't recall who it was at this moment, but there was a black male celebrity who discovered he had slave owners in his lineage on "Who Do You Think You Are?".

Maybe not even in the South great majority weren’t slave owners.

Too bad link doesn’t work. They’re powerful articles especially the author who investigated his family

[laterbloomer]

Jun 28, 2023 12:28:20 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Link did not take me to the article, but wouldn't a lot of people whose family were here 150 years ago have slave owners in their ancestry? I can't recall who it was at this moment, but there was a black male celebrity who discovered he had slave owners in his lineage on "Who Do You Think You Are?".

A lot of people with money would have had slaves. At least that is how I always saw it. Even if you used slave labour, you needed a fair amount of money to own a plantation. So to my way of thinking the majority not being rich did not own slaves. That doesn't get them out of responsibility. In a democracy everyone is responsible for the laws of the land.

[busymom]

I'm thankful my grandparents immigrated to the United States AFTER the Civil War was over.  And, that they lived in the Northern half of the United State.  They farmed (both sides of the family) and raised lots of kids to help with the work it takes to run a farm.

Still, our country has a form of slavery.  Immigrants often help with harvesting, and other farm work now, and most likely aren't paid as well as they could be.  I remember DH telling me his Grandpa used to have Hispanic immigrants help during certain times of the year, like "walking the bean fields".  It's hard work, but they would stop at the farms in the area to find out who needed help, as they wanted the work. 


Interesting read jerseygirl!

[Tennesseer]

Link went to Reuters. The link to the story on Reuters page. Article though says part two. Couple other links below it related to politicians whose ancestors were slave owners.

“The Slaves Built That” Part Two

Here is Part One:

America's Family Secret Part One

Explore the U.S. Elite’s Ties to Slavery

Resources for researching your ancestry

[Tiny]

The link in the OP goes to the Reuters home page.

This is the Headline for the article I think the OP wanted to link to

Following the George Floyd killing, a Reuters journalist explores his own ties to slavery
June 28, 2023 · 4:53 AM CDT

If nothing else it should be search able thru the Reuters homepage.

[jerseygirl]

Thanks tenneseer for putting links that work.
I always read Reuters, excellent news site

[haapai]

I recommend clicking on all four links in post #5.  There's stuff in each article that will help you understand the others. 

If you click on "Explore the U.S. Elite's Ties to Slavery" you should want to know more about the methodology involved in identifying an enslaving ancestor and discerning how many persons they enslaved.   If they had gone back farther, or wider, or paid more attention to slave schedules that didn't totally sync with census records, they would have found a lot more enslaved persons.  The results that they got should be interpretted as either "a d*** good start" or "scratching the surface". 

[billisonboard]

A start:
"I have learned I have ancestors who enslaved people, so today I should ..."
Or
"I have learned I do not have ancestors who enslaved people, so today I should ..."

Now a question:
"Are there difference actions I should take today dependent on the first part of each of the above?"

[thyme4change]

It is pretty common for black people to have slave owners in their history. Most African Americans in the US are quite light skinned comparatively to African Africans. Europeans got their genes in there - and sadly much of it was non-consensual and likely economic, as babies born into slavery were automatically property of the slave owner. Slaves were like 20% of the population before the civil war, and I don’t think there was a large black immigrant population before WW2. So, if you are black in the US it is highly likely you are descendant of at least one slave-slave owner pairing somewhere in that tree. You are more likely to be a descendant of a slave owner if you are black than if you are white.

[haapai]

Jun 28, 2023 16:16:13 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

It is pretty common for black people to have slave owners in their history. Most African Americans in the US are quite light skinned comparatively to African Africans. Europeans got their genes in there - and sadly much of it was non-consensual and likely economic, as babies born into slavery were automatically property of the slave owner. Slaves were like 20% of the population before the civil war, and I don’t think there was a large black immigrant population before WW2. So, if you are black in the US it is highly likely you are descendant of at least one slave-slave owner pairing somewhere in that tree. You are more likely to be a descendant of a slave owner if you are black than if you are white.

Oh F    !  That's gotta be heck to deal with.  But yeah, I see it. 

[Tennesseer]

Dear Donald, you ignorant asshole:

your grandparents were born after slavery was banned in the United States let alone they didn't immigrate to the U.S. until after slavery was abolished. 

P.S.  You have done nothing for people of color in the U.S.

[billisonboard]

Jun 30, 2023 8:12:10 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dear Donald, you ignorant asshole:

your grandparents were born after slavery was banned in the United States let alone they didn't immigrate to the U.S. until after slavery was abolished. 

P.S.  You have done nothing for people of color in the U.S.

"I therefore need do nothing to right the lingering injustices that still exist." Is that what you mean, Donald?

[jerseygirl]

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

[Tennesseer]

Jun 30, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

You really don't get it? Trump is implying to his ignorant followers his ancestors did not own slaves so he is better than all the other recent presidents so vote for him. When in actually, which he did not point out, his ancestors were never in the United States when slavery was legal.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

So you can't be an overprivileged white dude if you didn't own slaves?  Am I understand that tweet right? 

[Tennesseer]

Jun 30, 2023 9:41:17 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

So you can't be an overprivileged white dude if you didn't own slaves?  Am I understand that tweet right? 

Pretty much.

[jerseygirl]

Jun 30, 2023 9:10:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 30, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

You really don't get it? Trump is implying to his ignorant followers his ancestors did not own slaves so he is better than all the other recent presidents so vote for him. When in actually, which he did not point out, his ancestors were never in the United States when slavery was legal.

That’s your opinion Also think his followers already know that . Also you’re calling almost 50% of 2020 voters ignorant.

[pulmonarymd]

If the shoe fits

[billisonboard]

Jun 30, 2023 11:23:25 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Jun 30, 2023 9:10:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

You really don't get it? Trump is implying to his ignorant followers his ancestors did not own slaves so he is better than all the other recent presidents so vote for him. When in actually, which he did not point out, his ancestors were never in the United States when slavery was legal.

That’s your opinion Also think his followers already know that . Also you’re calling almost 50% of 2020 voters ignorant.

FWIW: Trump got 46.8 percent of the vote. And I am sure that they were not all ignorant. Some supported him with evil intent. Some marked the box next to the "R" with no real thought to the name there. And some were ignorant. It was only that segment Tennesseer was commenting about.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 30, 2023 11:23:25 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Jun 30, 2023 9:10:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

You really don't get it? Trump is implying to his ignorant followers his ancestors did not own slaves so he is better than all the other recent presidents so vote for him. When in actually, which he did not point out, his ancestors were never in the United States when slavery was legal.

That’s your opinion Also think his followers already know that . Also you’re calling almost 50% of 2020 voters ignorant.

Do his followers really know that?

A quote trump made a while back (and it's on the bottom of each of my posts).

“Just remember, what you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening,"
-donald trump

Trump told them not to trust what they read and hear. So they don't and live in a world full of conspiracies.

[Opti]

Jun 30, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

I don't think its interesting at all given his relatives came from Germany and when they came to the US.

[billisonboard]

Jun 30, 2023 17:19:37 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jun 30, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

I don't think its interesting at all given his relatives came from Germany and when they came to the US.

I thought it interesting in an "I'll take Modern Presidents for $100" kind of way. Significant? Not at all.

[happyhoix]

Jun 30, 2023 9:41:17 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

So you can't be an overprivileged white dude if you didn't own slaves?  Am I understand that tweet right? 

I think he’s trying to appeal to black voters. “All the other presidents enslaved your ancestors, but mine didn’t - we didn’t make any money for the back of slaves.”

Which is dumb, because 1) as Tn pointed out, his ancestors weren’t in the US when slavery was legal, and 2) I bet if you did a little genealogy you’d find some German ancestors who fought against the US during WWII - and maybe even aligned themselves with the Nazis.  So I don’t think it’s a great idea for him to be bragging about his ancestors. 

[daisylu]

Mostly it's dumb because we can't control who our ancestors are.

I know I didn't ask to be born into this family.

[happyhoix]

Jun 30, 2023 9:03:44 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

During Trump’s admin the work force had increases in Blacks and Hispanics. Enterprise zones in mostly inner cities passed. With Kim Kardasian and bipartisan passed First Steps Act that commuted prison sentences mostly Black and Hispanic

Nothing??

Why do you think it’s ‘dumb’ that Trump point out he’s first and so far only President w/o slave owners ancestors? Think that’s an interesting point and also the Reuters articles point out the mostly unknown numbers of present US population that had this in their ancestry

Got it you and many including me don’t like Trump but your dislike is overcoming your understanding of issues
Don’t let your dislike of Trump make you ‘dumb’

You must not have heard about Trump’s current plan to execute the drug dealers. Had a change of mind since he commuted Kim Kardashian’s friend, the drug dealer. 

I think it’s dumb that Trump pointed out that he’s the first president so far who wasn’t related to a distant slave owner because what your ancestors did, good or bad, says almost nothing about you, unless you’re a member of royalty.  

If Trump wants to consider what ancestors did, let’s talk about how his dad discriminated against people of color, not allowing them to rent any of his apartments (Donald and his dad got sued and lost over that). Or how his dad committed tax fraud by creating fake companies run by his kids as a way to funnel money to them without paying taxes. The things his dad did are a lot more relevant to me than the fact that his German and Scottish ancestors didn’t own slaves - hardly any German or Scottish people did. 

[Opti]

I also wonder did Trump commission this article as a future soundbite? It seems like a waste of resources and nothing that useful is gained by finding out where slave-owning might be in one's family tree. Its not the 1700s, how useful is this info in 2023?

And I am speaking as someone who finds it fascinating to learn about how slaves survived in NJ. Was the point to try to say slavery is no longer relevant or give a bump to Trump?

[tallguy]

I'll forgive what someone's ancestors several generations back did much faster than I will forgive what someone does today.  Or what their father did while the child was growing up and actually in the family home.  Fred Trump has an interesting history if you are looking at negative character issues:  Racist slumlord who enriched himself through corrupt agreements with local housing officials, KKK member or sympathizer who was arrested at a KKK parade/rally, reported Nazi sympathizer....  Or his grandfather, who illegally emigrated from Germany to evade taxes and compulsory military service, made his fortune in alcohol and prostitution, declared himself a loyal supporter of the Kaiser and the German Reich when he tried to return to Germany.... 

But yeah, several generations back someone's great-, great-grandparent owned a slave.  Not good, obviously, but come on....  Is that really worse than multiple generations of lifetime corrupt and criminal behavior by the actual people involved and their immediate influences?  Tough to make that argument.

[Opti]

I started reading the article in depth, and apparently the person involved with it is looking at the legacy of slavery in the US. I think it is better to look at what officials are doing now to help or hinder non white rich men. The alleged legacy of the second amendment directly affects us day to day IMO over whose ancestors had slaves unless that is a point of pride and that person wants to enslave and putdown others now.

And I agree TG Trump's ancestral line in America does not have much to recommend it except for the ability to make money.