I've had ancestors in the US for 401 years (Nov 1621) and there were already slaves here before that. Some of my ancestors owned slaves. All branches of my family benefited from slavery. The one ancestor I may exempt from that is a 2nd great grandma's brother who arrived in the US from Germany in 1860, enlisted in the Union army in 1861 and fought in many major battles of the Civil War. He was at Appomattox. #Genealogy #fairness #restitution
@dauphin87 Yes. Right after the Civil War, Congress passed a law for reparations to slave owners for their lost "property." A bill for reparations to former slaves for their slavery failed to pass (I believe by one vote).
@dauphin87 @poemblaze I would say too late and too confusing to sort out. The best reparations would be the immediate end of racism/discrimination ( not holdinhg my breath )
@gemswinc @dauphin87 I understand that view.
Much of my family too has been in the US for not quite that long, but nearly.
It doesn't make sense to deny that slavery & racism are intertwined with so much of the U.S. history. Well, and the U.K. too, for that matter -- but that's a different story.
Although I do not know of any direct ancestors who owned slaves, they sure as heck fought to maintain slavery.
I don't want people to lie about it or pretend it doesn't exist. I know I was lied to about it as a child.
@poemblaze
Do you feel... like, I don't know, angry or threatened when people talk about it?
I don't.
Seems like a lot of white people do, though. Disproportionately!
I can't change the past, but I can hopefully influence the future.
@janallmac Not at all.
@poemblaze My family beat yours by one year (1620). π Even in New England, they profited from slavery. Small-scale slavery was common in New England. In fact for some time Rhode Island was the center of the American slave trade. My family sold and transported slaves, even though they never had a plantation.
Also, two of my ancestors were involuntary indentured servants. I will happily explain why this was NOTHING like slavery to anyone who thinks there were 'white slaves' in the US.
@Myana Mayflower! Cool. My 1621 ancestor arrived on the Fortune, the ship after the Mayflower. Our ancestors had to know each other.
@poemblaze I have four Mayflower ancestors. Some people think that's something to be very proud of. I think it's a sign of MASSIVE inbreeding. π
One of my colonial Cape Cod families had eight daughters and no sons. I am related, through different lines, to five of those daughters. You don't expect your family tree to narrow down to a point but, uh, there we are!
My husband jokes that I couldn't legally marry anyone born in my home county.
@Myana You can safely be proud of your inbred ancestors because they're 400 years ago and don't affect your health. π
@Myana My Plymouth ancestors had surnames Deane, Ring, Twining. Can't think if there are others. My 1621 ancestor was named Stephen Deane.
@poemblaze Shockingly, none of those names are familiar! Though I'm sure our ancestors at least knew each other.
Mine ended up quickly heading in two directions: Nantucket and Maine.
@poemblaze Righting past wrongs is a thorny issue.