Barack Obama's mother 'probably the descendant of a black slave'

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
Barack Obama's mother 'probably the descendant of a black slave'

Mr Obama was always assumed to have had no ancestors who arrived in the US through slavery, placing the first black president at odds with most African-Americans across the country.
However, researchers now believe that they have traced back the family tree of the President's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, by almost four centuries to an African servant in Virginia called John Punch.

The finding would mean that Mr Obama is in fact the 11th great-grandson of the first documented slave in American history, who was punished for trying to escape in 1640 by being indentured for life.

"Two of the most historically significant African-Americans in the history of our country are, amazingly, directly related," said Joseph Shumway, one of the leading genealogists on the project.
Records state that Mr Punch had children with a white woman, who passed her "free" status on to their offspring. They went on to be successful landowners in Virginia, where slavery was later widespread.

DNA tests carried out by the researchers for ancestry.com, suggest that Mr Punch's mixed-race descendants altered their name to Bunch, a family known to be among Ms Dunham's forebears.

While the destruction of some records means there is no absolute proof, the researchers said DNA evidence and records of another branch of the Bunch family being "mulatto" left them confident.
Barack Obama's mother 'probably the descendant of a black slave' - Telegraph

***************************************

I am sure many other white Americans, who maybe virulently racists as in the South, may too have black ancestry that has been diluted.

Reminds of the sister of the author in the book ROOTS, who hid her black parentage since she was born fairer and could pass off as a white!
 

The Messiah

Bow Before Me!
Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
10,809
Likes
4,619
There is not a person alive or dead in this world that hasn't got black ancestors.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top