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muriel_volestrangler

(106,012 posts)

34. No, Dolphus, the son of the slave, was born around 1860

Sun Jun 17, 2012, 08:49 AM

Jun 2012

One of their common ancestors was Henry Wells Shields, Tribble's great-great-grandfather. He was a farmer and a family man who grew cotton, Indian corn and sweet potatoes. He owned Obama's maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Shields, who was about 8 years old when she arrived on his farm sometime around 1852.

The DNA tests and research indicate that one of his sons, Charles Marion Shields, was the father of Melvinia's son Dolphus, who was born around 1860. Dolphus T. Shields was the first lady's maternal great-great-grandfather. Melvinia was a teenager, perhaps around 15, when she gave birth to her biracial son. Charles was about 20.

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DNA helps tell story of first lady's forebears [View all] MnExpat Jun 2012 OP

Well, that was mighty white of her Demeter Jun 2012 #1

... Tansy_Gold Jun 2012 #2

What an interesting article! XemaSab Jun 2012 #3

The Balls of Charleston SC and elsewhere. Fascinating read. nt MADem Jun 2012 #14

On average, American blacks have about 20% European DNA FarCenter Jun 2012 #4

Mostly because of slave owners raping black women. Zalatix Jun 2012 #6

Did you read the whole article? XemaSab Jun 2012 #8

Yes, I did. It's called Stockholm Syndrome. Zalatix Jun 2012 #9

That's why a white man would choose to stay with his black "girlfriend" after the war? XemaSab Jun 2012 #10

Absolutely out of the question. Zalatix Jun 2012 #11

And this isn't racist why....? XemaSab Jun 2012 #12

Because if blacks owned white slaves I wouldn't say any differently. Zalatix Jun 2012 #13

Really? danadevin85 Jun 2012 #16

??? Number23 Jun 2012 #67

That's why a white man would choose to stay with his black "girlfriend" after the war? danadevin85 Jun 2012 #18

White women had the same legal rights as black women at that time obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #23

not really danadevin85 Jun 2012 #26

Yes, really obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #27

still weren't slaves danadevin85 Jun 2012 #30

"only difference, before slavery ended, was that they couldn't be bought or sold" NYC Liberal Jun 2012 #71

No shit. Number23 Jun 2012 #73

Wow. Number23 Jun 2012 #68

The only difference apparently was that white women couldn't be bought or sold. NYC Liberal Jun 2012 #72

i think it's hyperbole. HiPointDem Jun 2012 #70

Possibly in some cases treestar Jun 2012 #31

The 1870 Census is full of surprises - lynne Jun 2012 #47

very cool story waddirum Jun 2012 #63

and/or doing what you have to do to survive eShirl Jun 2012 #21

The white daddy was born in 1860. He would have been terribly precocious to have MADem Jun 2012 #15

No, Dolphus, the son of the slave, was born around 1860 muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #34

Well, let that be a lesson to ME then!!!! MADem Jun 2012 #40

And most white Southerners have some African DNA. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #7

That mendacious Bob Barr comes to mind! MADem Jun 2012 #41

Oh, that's funny! Odin2005 Jun 2012 #54

He's got kin who are ashamed to say he's a relative! MADem Jun 2012 #65

I've always loved this pic of Barr SoCalDem Jun 2012 #60

A great novel about "passing" waddirum Jun 2012 #64

Technically wouldn't all people have African DNA? 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #61

Oh, and welcome to DU! XemaSab Jun 2012 #5

WHY ON EARTH would it be difficult to accept? Quantess Jun 2012 #17

I wondered that too - why would they fear being called racists? treestar Jun 2012 #32

One's genealogical origins are interesting, but we can't take them personally. Quantess Jun 2012 #37

True. And the farther back, the relationship is really quite slight treestar Jun 2012 #38

Absolutely, I think it is interesting to find out family history. Quantess Jun 2012 #46

Yes, I don't think these people have anything to be proud of or ashamed of treestar Jun 2012 #48

I do take it personally but maybe a little differently than you think Nikia Jun 2012 #57

You see it not much differently, or not at all differently, than how I see it. Quantess Jun 2012 #58

Some people think that personal characteristics are inexorably inherited. MADem Jun 2012 #43

But nobody is completely innocent, then, if we judge them by their genetic connections. Quantess Jun 2012 #49

That's only if you believe that "sins of the fathers" rap! MADem Jun 2012 #50

I have an older relative whose own father was a total shithead (by her account) Quantess Jun 2012 #53

Yep--I don't see a need to cart around ancestral baggage. MADem Jun 2012 #69

A year ago, I had my autosomal DNA tested by the company 23andMe... Odin2005 Jun 2012 #55

Six degrees of separation, isn't it? Quantess Jun 2012 #56

I don't think FLOTUS should really gives a damn danadevin85 Jun 2012 #19

I do -- I think she should invite Ms. Tribble to the White House obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #24

Oh Please danadevin85 Jun 2012 #25

True racists wouldn't give a damn if their relative was the First Lady or not obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #29

Im quite sure they weren't the only family they owned danadevin85 Jun 2012 #35

How do you know that is so? treestar Jun 2012 #33

I think it was genealogists who were tracing Michelle Obama's ancestors muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #36

DNA tests are expensive, too, I believe treestar Jun 2012 #39

They have gotten much less expensive Nikia Jun 2012 #59

I thought they were more like $800 treestar Jun 2012 #62

There are a some families who have family reunions based on their interacial histories. One of my jwirr Jun 2012 #42

I would want to know that line if I were her. MADem Jun 2012 #44

the trouble with Tribbles eShirl Jun 2012 #20

OK--that wins the thread!!!!! MADem Jun 2012 #45

So interesting! I hope she gets to meet MObama obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #22

I'd be excited. YellowRubberDuckie Jun 2012 #28

And then there's Strom Thurmond. n/t kskiska Jun 2012 #51

Michelle should tell them that if they vote for Obama, they'll call it even. Baitball Blogger Jun 2012 #52

We're all related felix_numinous Jun 2012 #66

I *love* that! renate Jun 2012 #74